Why is the Corvette so inexpensive in comparison to similar (or even less-performing) sports cars?

Question

Is it because they are cheaply made?... Is it because they are as common as oxygen?... Is it because they borrow all their technology so they have no R&D overhead?... Maybe it's because "speed" is cheap and "class" is expensive? What say you mullet donning, IROC loving, Corvette fans?

Answer 1

I thought my Dad's 427 1969 Stingray was the best thing since sliced bread...


and then I drove a 911, and my God, the sky's opened...and I never looked back at that piece of garbage GM product again.

Answer 2

Look...it is really quite simple: there three ways to buy fine art; there are those that prefer an original work, there are those that are just as happy with a print, and then there are those that are happy with a poster of the print. Fine art is subjective, but regardless of taste; if it is not handmade, it cannot be original. If it is not original art, it is novelty.

Sportscars can be looked at in the same way; anything handmade can be considered original fine art, anything not handmade but original and rare is a print and anything mass-produced is basically a poster of a print.

For example; the Corvette race car is clearly a fine work of art, Callaway, ZR1, and other special edition Corvettes are rare prints, and the showroom Corvette is a mere poster. Some might say a ZR1 or Callaway etc are too works of art, however I would contend that paitning a moustashe on the MonaLisa or affixing arms on Venus de Milo doesn't cut it. It is generally accepted that art is handmade and original (if machines are used, they are used thru human input...not robotics). Therefore all handmade cars are works of art: Ferrari's, NSX, Lambos, Rolls Royce. Whether or not the art is to your taste...that is up to you. Special editions like Saleen, RUF etc are limited prints, and basically everything else is a poster.

Anytime you are buying original fine art, you will be paying a premium for obvious reasons. Thus, the following conclusion : since Corvettes are simply "posters" they are inexpensive.

Answer 3

I'll be the first one to say that Corvettes are great cars in terms of performance. It's one of few American cars that can go fast in a straight line and around a track.

That being said...

Compared to other cars in it's class the Corvette is cheaper because it was made cheaply. Compare the interior of a Corvette to the Mercedes SL, Jaguar XK, or Lexus SC. You'll know what I mean if you sat in the Corvette and then sat in one of those foriegn cars back to back.

Some of the body panels are poorly made too. Especially the upper rear panels between the tail lights. The material is very flimsy. So flimsy that if you leaned on the car it would make an indention and then return to its normal shape after you got off the car.

Answer 4

Yeah the Vette is pretty damn sexy but it all depends on whether ur a General Motors/ Mopar/Ford guy since u chose the Corvette im assuming ur a Chevy fan so we'll go from there. Some other sexy Amercian Muscles are the Nova, Chevelle, Camaro, Impala, Bel Air If ur a Mopar fan theres always the Charger, and Challenger And if ur a Ford fan theres no help for you sorry Maybe Mustang if ur desperate

Answer 5

Cause we don't gouge the customer,thats why!!!We put the speed ya need using an engine that was first introduced in 1955 We call it the small block and its evolution has proven ya don't need 5 valves per cylinder with quadruple overheadcams to achieve the speed of over priced Vipers,Ferraris,Lamboginis,etc,etcGood ol' fashioned American enginuity and a classic American made sports car. Makers of what once was a well engineered car porsche spend nore time in the shop than on the road.Parent co. Volkswagon engineering and design has more cars in the "Lemon Law line at car auctions than any other auto manufacturer in the world

Answer 6

On the contrary, the Corvette is actually one of the cheapest but yet one of the best performing sports cars on the market. Compare it to most other Chevrolet cars or Dodge or Ford or really Anything, the Corvette is one of the best 2-seated deals on the market.

Hope this explains it!

Answer 7

The Corvette has always been a show piece for GM. It has never really been a money maker and is not really intended to . It is world class and anyone who says otherwise is a dope and knows nothing about them. To those who said it is "cheaply made", back up your facts. You don't know what your talking about. I guess that's why you have to make childish statements .

Answer 8

not a fan of the vette's there as common as a honda around here. I do belive they are made cheaply, but they are also priced low to sell alot, still making gm millions if not billions of dollars a year. So if the car costs 20,000 to make then they still make what 19,000 per car, obviously that is split up many diffrent ways, but still you see how many people buy them and it adds up quick, with a higher price tag i dont think there would be nearly as many vette's on the roads today.

Answer 9

i got an idea quit complaining. why would you want to spend 80,000 dollars on a viper who gets destroyed by the new z06 vette that only cost you 56,000. as much as they build these cars they are trying to make them not in the exotic class. there a high end sports car.

Answer 10

You wish you had a camaro or corvette, but you probably can't handle a car with a real man's engine.