CD Article: 2005 Chevrolet Corvette convertible

[mdxtasy]

I'll still take it...........to heck with the nits you pickers are complaining about..

I just want to understand why....

Still a nice car.  Does anybody know if GM still puts in that 1-4 shift?

[Brigitte]

Still a nice car.  Does anybody know if GM still puts in that 1-4 shift?

According to the review:

The standard six-speed manual transmission, which is mounted at the rear for better weight distribution, offers quick, short, mechanical shifts; and clutch pedal effort is surprisingly light. However, the manual transmission has the annoying '1st to 4th' feature which guides the shift lever from 1st gear to 4th gear at low speeds to save fuel.

Is that what you're talking about?

[wing]

Yeah, that's kind of annoying as well.  But not really an issue if your not tracking it, and if you are you should never be light on the throttle

[wing]

I thought the reason was that a larger/wider rear tire gets the power to the ground more effectively? D'oh. Oh well, learning all the time...learning all the time.

That's another reason but usually a secondary one.

[mdxtasy]

Thanks B....yes...that stupid 1-4 shift....that's the first thing all Camaro/Firebird/Corvette owners take out.  It would be a major pain in my opinion....but to get good EPA ratings....

[chrischasescars]

Love the photo of the Vette in front of the fighter plane mural. Just hope the plane isn't a P51 Mustang...  but wouldn't that be ironic? 

Actually I think it is a P51 Mustang fighter!! 

Heh... Thanks ovr, and Mr.T for clearing that up for me. Just funny... gotta wonder if Russell (the photog for the article) knew that when he was shooting the car. 

[sterling]

That plane is a Spitfire not a Mustang.

[ovr50]

On closer examination, you could be correct, Sterling....I never claimed I was an expert on WW2 fighter planes....

[Drivesideways]

And the rationale would be?  C'mon...  Talk nerdy to me.   

And Bridge, if you're asking about the rear wheel being 19" in diameter vs 18" at the front, I'm not really sure.  Mathematically, upping the wheel size an inch over the 18"er means about 4.4% more speed over the road at the same RPM.  So if top speed (without electronic intervention) was 250 kph on the 18s, you could squeeze it up to 261 on the larger wheels.  Although the extra aerodynamic drag would grab some of that back.  At more reasonable speeds, that would translate to lower engine speeds for a given vehicle speed, which would have fuel economy implications...certainly an issue in places like California.

So why not up the size of front ones too?  The Carrera S is running 19s all 'round.  My guess is it's a styling thing....keeping the nose low and maintaining that dramatic wedge profile.

Or maybe I'm just talking out my arse.

[wing]

19's == $$$$$

[sterling]

Mathematically, upping the wheel size an inch over the 18"er means about 4.4% more speed over the road at the same RPM.

That is true, assuming that in both cases the tires have the same sidewall height. It may have been necessary to go to 19s in the rear to accomodate the lower profile tire required to meet handling goals.

[chrischasescars]

That plane is a Spitfire not a Mustang.

So much for irony. Oh well... 

[Brigitte]

Or maybe I'm just talking out my arse.

You're nothing if not consistent, DSW.   

Thanks for the tech-talk to James as well.  I think I understand.

[Drivesideways]

That is true, assuming that in both cases the tires have the same sidewall height. It may have been necessary to go to 19s in the rear to accomodate the lower profile tire required to meet handling goals.

True.  I did the math using the 'Vette's wheel and tire combos.


Ohh...and Bridge....

[thebigbadwolf]

Nope.  It's either a Spitfire or a Hawker Hurricane.  Probably the Spitfire....the Hurricane is like Rodney Dangerfield.   


Edit:  Dang.  I spoke too soon.  The RCAF (RAF?) markings mislead me.  It is a P-51...the RCAF used them in addition to the Spit and 'cane.

I think it is meant to be a Spitfire. I took photos of a red Mustang GT convertible there too, but they weren't used by CD. That building was a bar and grill at Abbotsford Airport.

[mrthompson]

Upon further examination, I believe Sterling is correct...it is a Spit.

Saturday morning in Cobourg, I saw a Corvette identical to the one pictured in the article.  It is one nicely chiselled piece of machinery.   

[safristi]

..DSW talkin' out his arse..now thats nerdy....I didna see yer lips movin' man.....saw lotasa RED covertible vettes down South..NOT the BEST colour IMHO for them and I agrre with Dr MdRee the Niagara Falls Off butt is Fugly..maybe the KEEPER(for 40 years hence) is a model away...?...Ovr can have the Free one CanDriver is giving away..I'll take the next iteration......it..it..it's myy..myy.mmy Generation....!!!!!

[Drivesideways]

..DSW talkin' out his arse..now thats nerdy....I didna see yer lips movin' man.....

I'll take that as praise for my ventral locution. 

[safristi]

No...more like "spray" frum yer KumQuat location....!!!!!the brian in Spian shtupps manly on the plian......good heavens he's GOT IT???