Toronto Star

Worth the wait for the wow effect

Corvette Stingray C8 delivers Ferrari looks and performanc­e for about a third of the price

- SARAH MOORE SPECIAL TO THE STAR Want to be featured in Why I Love My Vehicle? Email us at wheels@thestar.ca.

Carlos Nunes is a patient man. Once he decided he wanted the 2021 Corvette Stingray C8 convertibl­e, he knew he’d have to wait, as production of the new mid-engine sports car had been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He waited 22 months. Yet, minutes after picking up his new hardtop convertibl­e in early August from WilsonNibl­ett Motors in Richmond Hill, he knew the wait had been worth it.

“Now that I’ve been driving it for a week, I like it even more than I anticipate­d,” said Nunes. “It has that wow effect. People take out their phones and cross the street to take pictures of it. I had one guy ask me what kind of Ferrari it was. It does look similar to a Ferrari — meanwhile it’s a third of the price, and, performanc­e-wise, it could beat a Ferrari. You have the look of a supercar, but with American muscle. It’s the best bang for your buck.”

What else? “It sounds amazing,” said Nunes. “That’s one thing you really can’t know until you get it, but with the 6.2L V8 LT2 engine, it’s a beautiful sounding car.”

Nunes also appreciate­s the hardtop. “I really wanted a convertibl­e,” he said. “The other day when it looked like rain, I pressed the button and, in a few seconds the retractabl­e top was closed. And you can activate it at speeds up to 50 km/h.”

Look and performanc­e are important to Nunes, but so is being able to use the C8 as his everyday car.

“You can fit two golf bags in the trunk, and it has a small ‘frunk’ where you could fit a couple of handbags or some groceries,” he said.

“For everyday use, the computer switches the V8 engine to four cylinders, which makes it economical, especially at the gas pump.”

This article was edited for space and clarity.

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 ??  ?? Due to pandemic production delays, Carlos Nunes waited 22 months to get his 2021 Corvette Stingray C8 convertibl­e. But he says the wait was well worth it.
Due to pandemic production delays, Carlos Nunes waited 22 months to get his 2021 Corvette Stingray C8 convertibl­e. But he says the wait was well worth it.
 ?? GEORGE PIMENTEL PHOTOS FOR THE TORONTO STAR ??
GEORGE PIMENTEL PHOTOS FOR THE TORONTO STAR

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