Why do you like the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1?
Posted by admin at 15 June 2014, at 20 : 25 PM
It seems that most people can agree when it comes to the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. But there are others that don’t care about having the title of “ZR1″, they see it as a base model Corvette with a supercharger (I hate calling it “base model”). Actually, there are plenty of things that have completely changed from the regular old Vette. I think it’s kind of collectors/status car if you ask me. And I’m not saying that in a negative way, because if I had the money I would buy it.
But I couldn’t see myself adding another couple hundred horsepower to a car that can already smoke the world’s best cars. Not that I’m the type to be content with stock. That’s the farthest thing from the truth. I think 1,000 HP is just getting warmed up. There’s just something about the ZR1 that makes me not want to touch it, to just leave it alone and let it be. I guess what boils down to is I’m part of the group of guys who would spend the money on a Z06, and spend the rest of the money I saved by not buying a ZR1 on twin turbos, forged pistons, and all kinds of other goodies.
But remember this is coming from a guy who doesn’t even have the money to put a down payment on an Impala. I’m sure that when/if I actually have the money to choose between buying the ZR1 or the Z06, things would look a lot different. Part of my brain would be saying “It would be nice for everyone to see me in the only ZR1 in town.” The other part of my brain would say “Why would you spend that much on a car with 638 HP just to look important when you could get 800 HP out of a Vette Z06 for the same price?” I guess the reason you see so many guys going this route is that we as Americans have learned to look at value more than status in our cars.
A lot of true American “car guys” buy a car based on what they like instead of what they think will make them look the best. That’s one major difference between us and the “Ferrari guys”. But the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is really the first time that an American car has received this much attention in the magazines and TV, at least in recent history. From what I remember even the SSC Ultimate Aero, breaking the world’s fastest car record didn’t achieve this much fame. So it has this god-like status now.
I think one reason that true “car guys” do buy the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is that it’s a symbol of the first time the world recognizes us as a legitimate performance car superpower, or something along those lines. Which I think is a good reason. So for the most part, I don’t think people who buy the ZR1 do it for status. I still think someone who wants to be seen would probably say to himself, “it looks too much like a regular Corvette, they might not think it costs a lot.” I think that’s one thing keeping the yuppie millionaires away, and the fact that they can’t drive a standard and that there isn’t 10 cupholders.
So I guess it’s a rhetorical question, meant for us to think about why we are who we are. I guess that’s why I’m so proud to be associated with American “car guys.” It’s the fact that they want something for the right reason because they truly love it, rather than just have status, an overpriced “exotic” car and empty pockets.
So, why do you like the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1?