2008 M3 to 2011 Corvette Grand Sport

[mdosu]

damn, love the Corvette though my preference would be a the Z06 with the carbon package or the ZR1 of course.

So the Grand Sport is a regular Corvette engine with all the other Z06 add-ons like the dry sump?

[cole328]

Enjoy the car, as you seem enthused. Personally,I am still affected by the "american" car stigma, and the fact that these cars have horrible, horrible seats.Zero lateral support, and you can literally rock them back and forth with your hand. That said, the car is blazing in a straight line. Just not my thing tho.

[RedGT3]

Originally Posted by cole328

Enjoy the car, as you seem enthused. Personally,I am still affected by the "american" car stigma, and the fact that these cars have horrible, horrible seats.Zero lateral support, and you can literally rock them back and forth with your hand. That said, the car is blazing in a straight line. Just not my thing tho.

And also in the bends.

[Brosef]

congrats to the OP. I'm a big vette fan and would love a C6 Z06 (cammed, full exhaust, completely blacked out, debadged, stripped interior and race seats... basically a bat-mobile).

btw, isn't the vette smaller than the M3 in every dimension? someone posted in this thread that it was larger, and I feel like that's a common misconception with the vette due to its shape. I remember being shocked to learn that a vette was shorter than my 997.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Brosef

congrats to the OP. I'm a big vette fan and would love a C6 Z06 (cammed, full exhaust, completely blacked out, debadged, stripped interior and race seats... basically a bat-mobile).

btw, isn't the vette smaller than the M3 in every dimension? someone posted in this thread that it was larger, and I feel like that's a common misconception with the vette due to its shape. I remember being shocked to learn that a vette was shorter than my 997.

When sitting inside one gets the feeling that the car is long and wide. That sensation goes away quickly however.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by cole328

Enjoy the car, as you seem enthused. Personally,I am still affected by the "american" car stigma, and the fact that these cars have horrible, horrible seats.Zero lateral support, and you can literally rock them back and forth with your hand. That said, the car is blazing in a straight line. Just not my thing tho.

Not just a straight line

[Echo M3]

Originally Posted by alms211

Congrats on the GS. Fantastic car.

Put these seats (Caravaggio) and these door panels from Apsis in it and you are golden.

Holy crap, those seats put the standard M3 seats to shame. Would love to retrofit my car with those or the BMW performance seats

[Subw00er]

Originally Posted by 1love

When sitting inside one gets the feeling that the car is long and wide. That sensation goes away quickly however.

Yah, it does. It seems weird at first, but you grow to like it. I used to play a game in the rain where you could catch water in the valley of the big bonnet. At like 40mph, you could create a huge lake of pooled water.

I like the laid out cockpit feel of the vette - makes you feel like your in something a little more special than a standard car, and the boot was quite big!

[King Tut]

Originally Posted by mdosu

So the Grand Sport is a regular Corvette engine with all the other Z06 add-ons like the dry sump?

Not exactly. The two major things it lacks are the LS7 engine and the lighter aluminum frame. It has the Z06 bodywork and a dry sump oiling system though. Welcome to the club TRZ06. I was originally looking at getting a GS, but I got over $15k off MSRP on my Z06 last year. Cyber Gray was my second choice after Jetstream Blue.

[evanescent03]

very nice looking car! i've never driven a vette but have ridden around the track with instructors at HPDE days and they were a model or two behind, albeit Z06s. Def on my list for a dedicated-ish track car when I stop moving so much.. have fun!


matt

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

SEXY!!!

[graider]

i still think the c6 z06 is a better looker than the grandsport.

[Peteypab2133]

great purchase!!! Z06 body for $10,000 less!!! not to mention they are ripping killer deals at dealers on these right now. (we had a 09 z06 loaded that stickered for $73,000 and we sold it for $60,000 with 11 miles on it last year..)

[Peteypab2133]

Originally Posted by graider

i still think the c6 z06 is a better looker than the grandsport.

I dont understand your thought process on this one.

The only differences are:

wheels are a different design (but same size)
vents on front fenders are shaped differently.

The cars sit with the same width, length etc etc. Infact the Z06 suspension is a nightmare compared to the z51 package.

Sooo other than the higher HP. (which the cyl walls are thinner in a Z, making boost less desirable) there are really no better reasons to buy one...

[scheherazade]

Does this variant also have the wider track and flared fenders like the Z06/ZR1?

-scheherazade

[saeedg48]

sick color

[cole328]

lets just stipulate that for that HP, the OEM seats are horrible make one quick turn, and you could fall out of the car! ha Anyway, those upgrade seats are amazing..I bet that would really allow someone to bring the fun factor out in that car...

[RedGT3]

Originally Posted by Peteypab2133

I dont understand your thought process on this one.

The only differences are:

wheels are a different design (but same size)
vents on front fenders are shaped differently.
The cars sit with the same width, length etc etc. Infact the Z06 suspension is a nightmare compared to the z51 package.

Sooo other than the higher HP. (which the cyl walls are thinner in a Z, making boost less desirable) there are really no better reasons to buy one...

This is why I like the Z06 better.

[DaFish]

hi, tell me about the driving dynamics compared to the M3 if you would please.

As a DD

crusing on the highway
passing on the highway, pulling out and stomping on it.... do you loose the back end?
low RPM pull must be great, so much nicer than the M3
overall daily driving impressions.
cornering - transitions, (does it understeer or push like the m3 does (albeit slightly), turn in quickness.....
what about your confidence. The BMW instills a lot of confidence in stability and safety.... do you loose some of that?

On the track - if you have taken it there yet....

speed, turn in, cornering, braking.....

I have been thinking of going to a M3 or a GS vette

thanks

[Subw00er]

Fish, I dont think the m3 will be as good a track car. I tracked my c5z for several years, but have pretty much no desire to track my e92M.

[M3Fool]

Want the supercar performance with a decent price tag???.............. WELL some parts have to be used from the general parts bin.... comes with the territory. Want a fantastic supercar with a second to none interior....... WELL fork out 250K+

Corvettes are AWESOME,by far the best AFFORDABLE American Sportscar on the market.... at the cost of using some bits and pieces from the General Parts bin.

Congrats on a stunning ride.

[bobbyd1961]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

So, I have made the switch.

I am loving it.

They are so very different cars. Here are some observations.

1. The M3 is easier to drive fast (until you get really used to the Vette) and build your confidence. The Corvette is a car you man handle more then the M3

2. the Corvette generates a much higher handling limit. You take a tight turn in the Vette and it is completely flat, sharp, direct, and you can run faster and deeper in corners, where as the M3 leans and is a little wishy washy (I said a little, not a lot)

3. I went with the LT3 interior, very nice, not low scale at all. Corvette has come a long way in the interior department since I had my C5 Z06.

4. Power is awesome, I so missed the low-end torque that the M3 just didn't have. The Corvette is completely comfortable from 1500 RPM and up.

5. Gas mileage: So much better then the M3. In 6th gear @ 80 MPH, the tach sits at about 2000 RPM and gets about 25 MPG

6. The shifter: I always hated the shifter in my M3, the Corvette shifter is now a joy to row thru. It is smooth, direct with no slop or rubbery feeling, and short direct throws, OH and it does NOT grind 1st to 2nd either. IMO the only tranny to get in an M3 is the DTC.

Both are great cars and serve different purposes. The M3 more refined, a jack of all trades but a master of none. The Corvette more raw (but less so then the C5 Z06), a world class handler, with plenty of power and torque. The Corvette feels like and IS a sports car, the M3 is a sporty car.

So here are the specs....

2011 Corvette Grand Sport
Cyber Gray exterior
Ebony w/ light gray 2 tone interior
LT3 Interior package
Nav.
Magnetic Ride Control
LS3 Dry sump oil system
Two tone leather seats
heated seats
HUD
Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 tires
275/35/18 Front
325/30/19 Rear

Paid $2500 under invoice.

great looking car! id get the grand sport too but keep the M3 sedan