Car Review: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette

There are really only two questions you have to answer before deciding to buy a 2014 Corvette.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

The first is whether you and whatever family may have can live with a two-seater. It doesn’t mean you can’t have kids, you just need another family car that can do the necessary hauling.

The second is whether you can afford it. And that’s not as tough as you might think. The price for the base 2014 Corvette is $53,000. I saw some advertised for about $55,000, which means you could get out the door for around $60,000. Not cheap, but frankly a screaming deal for what you’ll get.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible is Great Looking From Every Angle

If the answer to both those questions is yes, then what are you waiting for. Run. Run right now and buy one.

I can tell by that slightly skeptical scowl that you’re still not convinced so I’ll have to make the case for why there is absolutely no excuse for not owning one.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Engine
Who Wouldn’t Love 460 HP?

Let’s start with performance. The new, and definitely improved, Corvette has a 6.2-liter V8 engine that develops 460 horsepower. For those of you who don’t know much about horsepower in modern cars, that is a lot. It’s enough to push the Corvette from 0-60 in 3.8 seconds. Trust me, that is uber-quick for any modern car. Most folks are shocked to find out that the Corvette actually delivers great mileage: 16 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. My week with the car averaged close to 20. The LT1 engine does it with features like direct fuel injection, variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation.

Chevrolet says it’s the quickest and most capable Corvette ever made. Their engineers would know. This latest version uses magnetic selective ride control, 7 speed transmission with active rev matching and 5 driving modes: Weather, Eco, Touring, Sport and Track. Frankly, most cars you can’t tell much difference when you switch between driving modes. The Corvette not only drives different it sounds different. Switch from Touring to Sport and suddenly baffles within the exhaust system shift to give the car a distinctive growl. My test showed it was 5 db louder. I tend to be pretty cheap, but this Multi Mode Exhaust is truly worth the extra $1,195.

You can get the base model or you can bump up to the Z51 performance package. You’ll get stuff like bigger wheels, larger brakes, dry sump oil system, different gear ratios shocks and springs. Frankly, the base Corvette delivers so much performance, I just can’t see paying to add more. That’s not a knock on the Z51, but a compliment to the basic model.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible interior
The New Corvette Delivers Quality Inside

The Corvette has to handle two significant wants. Performance and luxury. When you pay north of 60 grand, people aren’t willing to accept average materials. The new Corvette delivers inside. Wonderful leather seats, baseball stitching on the dash and all the modern electronics will make just about any luxury car owner feel at home. My test car was the convertible. Base price was $56,000, with the final sticker price coming in at $67,430. It also had the $4210 2LT package which added includes premium sound, heated and ventilated seats, heads up display and more. Again, it was nice, but you could still have a lot of fun with the lowest priced model. The one thing you lose with the convertible is luggage space, which is actually excellent with the hardtop.

Driving the Corvette is simply a blast. The first thing you’ll need to do is find a place where you can accelerate every day. There’s one on ramp on my way to work that is a little longer. Even in rush hour it gives me plenty of space to accelerate. It was a thrill every morning and something you won’t tire of quickly. But this car isn’t about brute power. It drives pleasantly at any speed. Yes, it’s slightly stiffer. After all, it is a sports car. But the various modes allow you to adjust it to a comfortable point. Chevrolet points out that the new Corvette is 100 pounds lighter and more rigid than the last model, which makes for better handling.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
Those Hood Louvers Really Work!

And if that’s not enough, this car looks like something special. The fastest way to start an argument is to ask a group of Corvette fans which era looked the best. As much as I liked all the previous versions, this one stands out even more. The aggressive angular styling tells everyone that the car is built to move. Trust me, you will get noticed. Even better is the fact that louvers and vents that are just for show on most cars are very real on the Corvette. Like the air extractor on the hood. It actually pulls air through the radiator and then vents it in such a way that it helps the aerodynamics of the car.

Don’t get me wrong, the Corvette is not perfect. At times I thought the traction control struggled to keep up with all that horsepower. I also found the electric door handles a little odd, and had to use the manual release several times. Still, those are minor annoyances for what you’ll get in return.

Corvette Dash With the Chevy MyLink System
Corvette Dash With the Chevy MyLink System

And there’s one last reason to buy a Corvette. It may be the best performance package you can buy for the money. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not cheap. But most of its competitors cost a lot more. Sure, you could get something more exotic, and you might get more performance. But you’ll pay a lot for the privilege.

So ask yourself the two simple questions. Can you live with a two-seater? Can you afford $60,000 to $70,000? If the answer is yes, then there’s no excuse not to own the new Corvette.

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “Car Review: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette

  1. I have read lots of good reviews, but I was not impressed with the pictures. Then, I saw one on the street and it looks gorgeous! Very sexy and sleek. It is a wonderful looking car. I think it may be the best looking corvette ever…

  2. Which just proves I’m a writer, not a photographer! I do try to make it a point to take my own pictures so that it’s the exact car I test drove rather than some artsy photographs issued by the manufacturer. Having said that, I agree, the new Corvette is much better in person.

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