- A lot of Corvettes are only driven on special occasions but this 40,000-mile road test shows that it can handle just about every situation.
- The Car
A lot of Corvettes are only driven on special occasions but this 40,000-mile road test shows that it can handle just about every situation.
The Corvette world has been going gaga recently over the new C8 Z06. It is so fast, it sounds so good, it is so expensive, so hard to get and so on. But let’s take a step back and not forget the standard C8 Stingray is a great car in its own right. A sub 3-second 0 to 60 time and a top speed of 194 mph means the regular C8 has plenty of performance. In fact, it is more performance than a lot of people can handle. But surely a 2-seat sportscar with those sorts of numbers can’t be practical or reliable over 40,000 miles of daily use, can it? Can it handle trips to Home Depot? Driving in the snow? And track days?
The folks at Car and Driver set out to determine exactly that. They got a 2021 C8 Corvette with the Z51 package and drove the hell out of it. They racked up 40,000 miles on it in a relatively short period of time by using it everyday for all manner of activities. The C8 was treated as if it was the only car in the stable to see if it really could function as a daily driver. They recently posted their findings on their YouTube channel. It is a great video and worth the watch, but we will save you the suspense. The C8 Corvette passed the test with flying colors.
The Car
The car tested was a 2021 C8 2LT Coupe. It was further optioned with the front axle lift, Z51 package, and the Magnetic Selective Ride Control. It is a well-built Corvette with all the key options selected. This 2021 C8 cost about $80,000. Building a 2023 example like this will set you back about five grand more. But this is the amazing thing. Even with 40,000 miles on this 2021 example you would probably sell it for close to original MSRP. So, if you scored an MSRP deal on it to start then you had a world class sports car for 40,000 miles that cost you basically nothing. Tough to beat a deal like that.
Performance
We are not going to spend much time on the performance from a typical sportscar perspective. We already know that the C8 is a terrific sportscar. It goes, stops, and handles as good or better than some cars costing twice as much. But what about practical performance? Slap a set of snow tires on your C8 and it will get you just about anywhere. Guess what folks, the car doesn’t melt in the rain or snow. Sure, wash off the road salt when you can but other than that this Corvette with the proper rubber will get you through even a Michigan winter with ease. And for a 2-seat sports car there is plenty of room in the trunk and frunk for you to carry a surprising amount of gear. And thanks to cylinder deactivation the C8 will even return decent fuel economy. It really can do it all.
Downsides
Surely not even the new C8 Corvette is perfect right? Of course not, but the complaints were all very minor in the grand scheme of things. The trunk can get a bit warm, rear visibility is limited, the engine bay gets dirty, it is tough to do burnouts, and the car attracts attention. 40,000 miles and those are the biggest complaints. That is remarkable for a car as capable and practical as the C8. The transmission service is a bit pricey at a bit over $500. But have you priced a similar service for a Ferrari or McLaren recently? That 500 bucks will barely cover the tax for that service. The car needed a couple minor warranty repairs and the a/c compressor failed at one point. The Car and Driver team also bent the C8 wheels. But that could be more the terrible Michigan roads than any part defect.
Summary
Those of a certain age may remember the classic Shimmer Floor Wax skit on SNL. It’s a floor wax, AND it’s a dessert topping! Shimmer can do it all and so can the C8 Corvette. It’s a high-performance mid-engine, naturally aspirated, track car. It’s a practical daily driver. The C8 can be used on a long road trip or a trip to the grocery store. The C8 can even tackle the worst winter weather with a set of winter tires. All for a price that undercuts the competition by tens of thousands of dollars. The lesson here is if you have a C8, go out and drive it. You don’t need to save it for a special occasion. A C8 Corvette makes every drive a special occasion.
Keyword: Everyday Sportscar: How Does the C8 Corvette Hold Up To 40,000 Miles of Hard Use?