The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Still stunning 8th generation Corvette is a supercar, top-down dream
It was the ride of a lifetime. The year is 1966. A marina blue Corvette convertible with a four-speed on the floor, chrome wheels, chrome emblems and optioned chrome side pipes pulled into your driveway. That iconic 427 cubic inch rumble powering out 425 horsepower at 5,600 RPM, right off of the lot and no one had one ... you instantly knew this car was going to be worth something some day. Decades later, the value has crossed the six-figure mark in original, rust-free condition, and is still rising. But that is not the only thing rising: the interest in the mid-engine Corvette is surging.
Now it’s 2021. Chevrolet crushed the execution of the eighth-generation Corvette by placing the engine in the rear of the chassis, granting it the European styling with a supercar stance and now adding a convertible option.
The sound of the engine is superb, crisp and just loud enough to make heads snap. In some instances, consumers are awaiting the arrival of their preordered Corvette from last year, and other instances, dealers are slapping hefty premiums on them as demand is at an all-time high.
Powering the convertible-optioned C8 Corvette is the base level 6.2-liter V8 direct injection engine at an impressive 495 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. Pairing with the mid-engine configuration is the eightspeed dual clutch transmission, which is smooth and has plenty of continuous power and torque.
The Sky Gray interior was spacious and nice as I was expecting it to be slightly darker but really liked the lighter color option. The 8-inch HD color touchscreen with voice recognition and Bluetooth audio streaming was simple. Apple Carplay and Android Auto were also standard. The Bose 10-speaker audio system and a 12-inch color driver display cluster was vibrant and sporty.
Our base Rapid Blue ‘Vette had a few options such as carbon flash-painted nacelles and body color convertible top, performance exhaust and tension blue seat belts. These options came to a total of $3,385 including the rapid blue color option.
Listen, this is very simple, a Corvette is an American iconic vehicle that will always feature power, head-turning appeal, and great looks for years to come. Compatible to the illustrious European supercars, the ‘Vette is a third of the price and twice the car in my opinion.
Get yourself one, drop the top and enjoy what life has to offer, because 2.9 seconds comes around quick.
Chevrolet Corvette
MSRP: $66,400
As tested: $70,880
MPG: 15 city, 27 highway, 19.4 as tested