- coupe 89,327
- Madison, VA
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- autoshopper.com
2008 chevrolet corvette review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. The great american sports car. introductionthe corvette is the great american sports car. It's thrilling to drive, with breathtaking acceleration performance and excellent grip for hard braking and high-speed cornering. value isn't the first thing that comes to mind when talk turns to the chevrolet corvette, but the corvette is one of the best bangs for the buck when it comes to high performance. For the price of a midsize luxury sedan, the corvette delivers supercar performance. It's easy to drive on a daily basis, and maintenance costs are not exotic. 2008 brings an all-new v8 engine for the corvette coupe and convertible. The new ls3 v8 is larger, at 6. 2 liters versus the previous 6. 0-liter ls2 engine. Output is now 430 horsepower, an increase of 30. An optional dual-mode exhaust system raises horsepower to 436. indeed, the 2008 corvette can lap a racing circuit nearly as quickly as the previous-generation z06, a legendary car. The new ls3 engine rumbles wonderfully, and the acceleration it produces is intoxicating. we love the standard coupe, with either the manual or paddle shift automatic. It quickly infuses a driver with confidence. Its brakes are fantastic. And, it's blazingly fast. The six-speed automatic transmission works great and lives up to the advanced technology in the rest of the car; it can be shifted manually with levers on the steering column. and the convertible is plain wonderful. It's a fantastic feeling, and at those moments the corvette more than justifies its price. The latest-generation corvette is not a crude car, and its performance does not exact a painful toll on driver or passenger. It gets an epa-rated 26 mpg highway, better than most suvs. the corvette z06 is a true supercar for a price that's merely expensive, as opposed to insanely expensive. The z06 gets the 505-hp ls7 v8, a lightweight chassis, and upgraded brakes. If any $70,000 car can be called a bargain, this is the one, at least in terms of raw performance. The corvette z06 accelerates faster, grips better and stops shorter than european sports cars that cost twice as much. And we find it easier to drive than a viper. It takes an expensive machine to compete with a z06. for 2008, chevrolet corvette gets more standard features, including onstar tele-aid service, xm satellite radio, an auxiliary audio input jack, and auto-dimming mirrors. A more luxurious leather package has recently been added as well. lineupthe 2008 chevrolet corvette is available as a coupe or convertible, with either a manual or automatic transmission. The z06 model is available only as a fixed-roof coupe. the corvette coupe 45,170) and convertible 53,510) are powered by a 6. 2-liter v8 with 430 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission is standard; a six-speed paddle shift automatic 1,250) is optional. An optional dual-mode exhaust system 1,195) raises horsepower to 436. the corvette coupe features a one-piece removable roof panel in body color (standard) or transparent plastic 750). The dual-roof option 1,400) includes both. The convertible comes standard with a manually operated soft top; a power soft top is part of the 3lt option package 5,100) and has a heated glass window in back. standard features for the corvette include leather seating surfaces, dual-zone automatic climate control with a pollen filter, power everything (including seats), cruise control, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote keyless entry and starting, am/fm/cd stereo with auxiliary input jack, xm satellite radio, auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic headlights, alarm, fog lights, xenon headlights, onstar telematics, and p245/40zr18 front and p275/35zr19 rear run-flat tires on alloy wheels. The convertible adds sport seats with adjustable lumbar support and side bolsters. The sport seats are included with preferred equipment group 2lt 1,495) for the coupe, which also adds six-way adjustments for the passenger seat, side airbags, a rear cargo net and luggage shade. two suspension options are offered for both coupe and convertible. Preferred equipment group 4lt includes 3lt and adds custom leather upholstery on the top of the instrument panel, upper door panels, and console cover, as well as extra armrest padding, crossed flags seat embroidery and a special console trim plate. options include dvd navigation 1,750), which includes the bose audio and voice recognition; chromed aluminum wheels 1,850); polished aluminum wheels 1,295); and dark gray painted wheels 395). Customers can also opt to take delivery of their cars at the corvette museum 490). The event is broadcast on the internet and customers receive a plaque, special door badges, and a one year membership to the museum. the corvette z06 coupe 70,175) comes with a 7. 0-liter v8 producing 505 horsepower, with dry-sump lubrication and coolers for the power steering pump, gearbox and rear differential. Beyond the engine, the z06 package includes a host of high-performance components, starting with hydro-formed aluminum frame rails (rather than the hydro-formed steel rails used in the standard corvette). The z06 hardtop is fixed in place. Its brakes are upgraded, its tires are huge (p285/35zr18 fronts and p325/30zr19 rears), and it's offered only with the six-speed manual transmission. The head-up display comes standard. two option packages are available for z06. The 2lz preferred equipment group 3,045) has side airbags; power telescoping steering column; steering wheel audio controls; heated seats; memory for the seats, mirrors and steering wheel; the bose audio system; universal garage door opener; cargo net; and cargo cover. The 3lz preferred equipment group 6,545) has the 2lz equipment plus the 4lt package items. The 2008 chevrolet corvettes look the same as the 2007s, in spite of their bigger engines. the corvette is low and sleek. From some angles it's almost pretty, and it shows a bit of italian flair. Throughout the car, functional elements dictate design and the result is a forward motion that implies performance. the lines of the bulging hood, the shape of the fenders, and the cat's eye headlights all point forward to a subtle beaklike shape. A pair of fog lights flank a wide air intake below. vents behind the front tires let hot air out of the engine compartment. The sculpted fenders, sharp creases that sweep dramatically up to the planed rear deck, call to mind race cars as well as jet fighters. On the functional side, the optics of the reverse lights magnifies the light they throw out to help when backing up in this beast. To move weight from the front of the corvette, the transmission is mounted behind the seats and connected to the differential, rather than being attached directly behind the engine. in the z06, this quest for front-rear balance extends to the weight of the battery, which is relocated in the rear cargo area. the z06 is distinguished from other corvettes by lots of subtle appearance tweaks, starting with the roof. It's fixed rather than removable, adding an extra element of structural stiffness for track driving. Its fenders are wider front and rear to cover massively wide tires and rims (the rear wheels are fully 12 inches wide or two inches wider than those on the standard vette). The frame is made entirely of hydro-formed aluminum (the standard vettes have steel rails), with a magnesium engine cradle, and its fenders are formed from ultra-light carbon fiber. As a result, and despite a much heavier engine and drivetrain, the z06 weighs 50 pounds less than a standard corvette coupe. interiorthe corvette cabin features premium soft surfaces, nice grain in the materials and elegant tailoring. The dashboard is finished in a soft material that feels rich to the touch. Real metal accents are used, but they don't generate glare. The electronics displays serve the driver without getting in the way. the steering wheel is relatively small, measuring just 9. 4 inches in diameter. It feels good in the hands, and it affords a good view of the instruments. the seats are comfortable and fairly easy to adjust, though moving the manually operated backrest for. Climate Control✔ AM/FM✔ Heated Seats✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Changer✔ Aluminum Wheels✔ Front Airbag✔ Alloy Wheels
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