Mid Engine Drivability Around Town

[John]

We know there will be ME over FE advantages when doing spirited driving, and even for braking, but what advantages would a mid engine have for daily driving, I.e., might a ME be easier for maneuvering the car when running around town errands? Or would the advantages be the reverse, for an FE?

[Brian Kissel]

I have found the mid engine cars to be a little easier, as the front is a tad lighter. But with todays modern technology, the variable power steering on the FE cars pretty much negates that problem too. If GM doesn't hurry up and get the car to us, we won't have to worry about it. A 570 maybe in my future. Please GM read this and debut the darn thing. BUT make it perfect out of the box. That isn't asking too much is it.


Regards Brian

[JB]

Mid engine cars with proper tires are great in the snow. One of my first sports cars was a rear mid engine turbocharged lancia scorpion...it was a hoot in the snow.

the rear mid engine design allows for a very quick turn in. Almost god like fun even around town...half the porsche 911s sold are never run hard and put away wet....

its the immediate and quick turn in even at 6/10s that is so intoxicating to its owners...

todays vehicles including front engine sports cars are so capable but that intoxicatingly light turn in....that immediacy as the driver commands a change in direction thats so addicting.

no engine up front but rather behind is the reason....

noticable around town by everyone driving..

[MikeC8]

The 05 ford GT had no nannies and this is what happens to a lot of mid engine cars with no nannies and 550 hp on Goodyear’s.

[George]

I believe the question is not so much drivability, which I'm sure will be very good. Around town it will be more about the ease of getting in and out, plus the ease of accessing any storage areas in the car. Also, things like seating positions, and little things like cup holders that are actually useful, etc., etc.

[Racer86]

The 05 ford GT had no nannies and this is what happens to a lot of mid engine cars with no nannies and 550 hp on Goodyear’s.

Do you have any links or facts to prove your statement other than one picture you googled?

[noxqq]

While this doesn't have so much to do with a ME, I think that the possibility that the C8 could have frontal lift capabilities will greatly enhance daily "around town" driving.

[John]

Question please: Having driven tractor trailers, and even with my crew cab pick up, as is known, when one takes a 90 degree turn, say turning a corner in a city with parked cars at the curb lane, one need to swing wider to counteract the rear wheels cutting the corner tighter than the fronts.

While clearer it would be a much smaller amount, though as we know the ME Corvette is the same length as a FE Corvette, will one have to watch out that the ME’s rear might cut the corner tighter by a couple of inches due to the driver being located further forward several feet compared to the car’s total length? Or am I amagining this incorrectly and we will be able to set up the corner identically as we have been doing with our FE? Thank you.

[Shrike6]

I think, looking at the pictures of the C8 running the ‘Ring, that you should be able to locate the corners of the car a bit easier, especially in front. Not having the long hood. But that is not what I’m thinking about. It’s the DCT. The C8 is supposedly going to use a Tremec unit. Now, it has taken several generations for the current crop of DCTs to have good in town, stop and go driveability. I don’t know about the Tremec. Is there any car using it now? The ZF, at least, has good reports from cars using it. And there may be one or two others that are good out there. But the Tremec is unknown to me. Anyone know anything about it’s qualities? Aside for being lots cheaper for GM to buy?

[John]

I believe the question is not so much drivability, which I'm sure will be very good. Around town it will be more about the ease of getting in and out, plus the ease of accessing any storage areas in the car. Also, things like seating positions, and little things like cup holders that are actually useful, etc., etc.

What if the exterior structure of the FE’s cabin just moves forward, and becomes the ME’s exterior cabin structure, e.g., same access with the same interior sizing?

[whl3]

The C7 was my first Corvette. I was surprised at how little blind spot there was through the passenger side "B" and "C" pillar. Of course the small "Opera" type window helped. From the looks of the latest C8 renditions, it seems that it may have an issue with a blind spot from that same area of the car as the C7. Of course with latest technology, I'm sure the outside rear-view mirrors will have some electronic warning of traffic at the rear quarters of the car. Backing from a parking place in a crowded parking lot may be another issue. Only time will tell!

[Shrike6]

Of course, having a backup camera will help.

[Racer86]

Question please: Having driven tractor trailers, and even with my crew cab pick up, as is known, when one takes a 90 degree turn, say turning a corner in a city with parked cars at the curb lane, one need to swing wider to counteract the rear wheels cutting the corner tighter than the fronts.

While clearer it would be a much smaller amount, though as we know the ME Corvette is the same length as a FE Corvette, will one have to watch out that the ME’s rear might cut the corner tighter by a couple of inches due to the driver being located further forward several feet compared to the car’s total length? Or am I amagining this incorrectly and we will be able to set up the corner identically as we have been doing with our FE? Thank you.

The tires don’t know where the engine is located. The Me will drive the same as a FE.

[Fireeagle]

John, I know all about the swinging the front end around a bit to make a tight turn but I don't think the wheelbase of the C8 will require that maneuver. Just driving around town, I don't think that there will be any significant advantages or disadvantages to the ME C8. Depending on your errands, I think the cargo space in a C8 will be much smaller than what we have in the C7. Brian above will find all about that if he goes the route of the 570. If you're taking your C8 to pick up mulch at the local Lowes or Home Depot, use another car.

[John]

Good points whl3! With the ME having blind spot protection )BSP) and a 180 camera on its halo bar or on the top of the rear window, we could well have better visibility. However, one minor negative, is that at least on HT vert version, the side “window” is very small, and even on the coupe, does not appear to be as big as on the C7. Even more critically, we do not yet know if that is really a see-out-able window, or just a visual treatment. But even if the latter, I am optimistic about the roof camera and the BSP system making it easier and safer to drive the ME in terms of visibility. Of course, we are just surmising about some of these things, though we have repeatedly seen the roof camera.

This 1 minute,10 second video is worth watching.