C7: Optional Interior

[Chris Draper]

I hope everyone realizes these premium interior materials are going to be optional (like the C6's 3LT). They will not be standard on the base car.

This is the thing I never understood. Why do people bitch and complain about the Corvette's interior when it only cost about $50k.

If the car came STANDARD with this premium interior and sold for $70k base price, the car would no longer be attainable to the masses, and we would hear cries louder then the taillight drama.

[Texdentist]

Very good point. I want a Corvette, but I don't want to pay a whole lot more than I would for, say, a fully loaded Silverado pickup. Premium interior is not important to me. Having a Corvette I can afford is. For those who want the luxury, I'm glad it's available.

[bkuper]

An observation...from this perspective, not only does the dashboard take cues from the late C4 interior, it also appears that the seats are shaped similarly to the late C4 sport seats as well.

[91redragtop]

$50k for a car isn't attainable for the masses! Very few people in todays economy CAN pay that much for a car!! Especially for a two-seat sports car that is only practical as a DD if you live in a warm-weather climate where it can be driven year-round! That's why targeting it towards a younger generation doesn't really make overall sense!! The Vette is an older-mans car most of the time for the reason we all know!! You have to be older to have that kind of disposable cash or don't mind being in debt up to your eyeballs!! Not saying there aren't young people who buy new Vettes, but I'd say there aren't many who can afford one!!

[Chris Draper]

The average American truck nowadays (F150, Silverado, Ram) cost aprox $50k....it's attainable.

There's a reason why Corvette sells 2-3 times the volume of other sports cars....even in a bad economy.

[91redragtop]

Originally Posted by Chris Draper

The average American truck nowadays (F150, Silverado, Ram) cost aprox $50k....it's attainable.

There's a reason why Corvette sells 2-3 times the volume of other sports cars....even in a bad economy.

Which brings me back to my don't mind being in debt up to there eyeballs statement!! Lot's of people CAN'T afford something that high but buy it anyway and have huge debt and huge car payments to do it!!

[Chris Draper]

That is their personal problem. If someone can't afford something, then they shouldn't buy it.

That's why there isn't a Corvette in my driveway right now.

This has nothing to do with this discussion though....

[Texdentist]

Cost has always been a factor that deterred young people from buying new Corvettes. In the mid-70's when I was first looking and in my mid-20's, a new Corvette was a little north of $10k. You could buy a loaded Camaro for a little over $5k. Most 25 year-olds simply couldn't afford the payments on $10k, but if they had a good job, they could afford the Camaro. BUT....the ones, like me, who just HAD to have a Corvette, backed off and got a used Corvette from 2-4 years old. That put you in the range of the Camaro. So.....there won't be a lot of twenty-somethings buying new C7's in 2014 (unless mom and pop spring for it), but a lot of them will start keeping their eyes out for deals in 2-3 years. This is just the normal economic reality and pretty much always has been.

[Sevenfold]

Is the this C6 Premium interior your talking about?
Even the C6 Premium interior is marginal at best. Too much cheap plastic being used.

[Chris Draper]

I was referring to it being optional, like the C6 3LT. I know the C6 interior isn't great.

[Texdentist]

I guess I haven't spent enough time in a Maserati or Lamborghini because I've always been a little stumped by the disdain for the Corvette interior. It doesn't seem cheap to me and it certainly isn't uncomfortable. Yeah, there is a lot of plastic, but what $50k car has a lot of hand wrapped exotic leather on the dash and doors? I understand that racers may want better support, and the aftermarket does a good job of making lots of options available. And from what I have seen, that optional C7 seat looks pretty race worthy. Like I say, I don't know what people expect in a $50k sports car. The reason it costs $50k instead of $30k revolves around the drivetrain and technology. IMO you would have to expect to pay a lot more if you wanted both performance and European supercar style interior finish.

[GhostShadow]

Originally Posted by Chris Draper

I hope everyone realizes these premium interior materials are going to be optional (like the C6's 3LT). They will not be standard on the base car.

This is the thing I never understood. Why do people bitch and complain about the Corvette's interior when it only cost about $50k.

If the car came STANDARD with this premium interior and sold for $70k base price, the car would no longer be attainable to the masses, and we would hear cries louder then the taillight drama.

I think people started to bitch and complain when the $70,000 to $123,000 Corvette had the same low rent interior.

Don't kid yourself, the $50K car had a nice markup, Chevy should have spent a couple of dollars to make sure the interior was not made by playskool. Cars that costs 23 grand had better materials. Not saying the best of materials should be used in the base car, but materials that would fit right in.

[AlexY]

Originally Posted by Texdentist

Cost has always been a factor that deterred young people from buying new Corvettes. In the mid-70's when I was first looking and in my mid-20's, a new Corvette was a little north of $10k. You could buy a loaded Camaro for a little over $5k. Most 25 year-olds simply couldn't afford the payments on $10k, but if they had a good job, they could afford the Camaro. BUT....the ones, like me, who just HAD to have a Corvette, backed off and got a used Corvette from 2-4 years old. That put you in the range of the Camaro. So.....there won't be a lot of twenty-somethings buying new C7's in 2014 (unless mom and pop spring for it), but a lot of them will start keeping their eyes out for deals in 2-3 years. This is just the normal economic reality and pretty much always has been.

This will be my plan!

Also just to make a point, I think some of us are forgetting just how many rich people there are out there. Last year, for instance, 235,000 people earned over $1M in 2011. If even just a tenth of them bought a C7 for their son/daughter/mistress/love-child that's more Corvettes than were sold last year, before even counting those who are not multi millionaires and will buy the car for themselves.

$50-80k for a car also has very different meanings in different parts of the country. $50k in Memphis is gonna be a whole lot more expensive for your average person than $50k in New York City. IMO this car is not gonna have any problems selling well

[Upheval]

When I bought my 07 Vette, I just wanted 4 wheels and an engine, anything else was a bonus to me. I thought and still think the interior is fine for my new below 50k Vette. As Tex said, I have not spent too much time in fancy cars so I would not be an interior expert.

I certainly can see the argument for the 120k$ Vette having the same interior.

I am excited and can’t wait to see one of these bad boys in person.

[elegant]

The only difference is the material. 1LT is vinyl; 2LT is leather; 3LT is premium napa leather.

All previous info is from a presentation by Tadge to NCM Reveal folks.