Took museum delivery of my ’23 Stingray HTC this week. After delivery I dropped it off at Auto Armor near the NCM Motorsports Park for ceramic coating. Rudy and Kat were terrific and did a wonderful job – the car looks amazing. Then hit the road for the drive home to TN.
I had an opportunity to sit in a C8 last year at the Bash, but had not driven one until now. As others have stated, it was worth the wait. The cockpit is very tight but not cramped. Everything is centered around the driver – makes it feel like a fighter jet. Interior quality is much improved over the C7, and it is much quieter. Feels like a luxury car. But the main thing is how it drives. Very smooth and even though I was taking it easy during break-in, it is very quick – feels quicker than my C6 or C7 GS. The DCT is amazing. Shifts were instant and almost imperceptible. When going slow and then stepping on the throttle, downshifts are instant – no waiting for the transmission to figure out what to do. My C6/C7 are both manual trans, and while rowing your own is fun, I can’t say I miss it in this car. Also noticed that I could not detect the transition to V4 mode and back to V8; the only way I was aware was when I saw it on the display.
Getting it on the backroads of TN was really fun, and you can really tell the advantage of the mid-engine design. Again taking it easy during break-in, you can still feel the difference in the center of gravity and how the car moves through the curves. Once I get past the break-in period, I’ll go through it again with the DCT in manual and really check it out.
Bottom line is I am a very happy camper. Although I have never driven a Porsche or Ferrari, in my opinion this is a Supercar. Planning to be back at NCM for the Bash next month to see what’s up for ’24.
I had an opportunity to sit in a C8 last year at the Bash, but had not driven one until now. As others have stated, it was worth the wait. The cockpit is very tight but not cramped. Everything is centered around the driver – makes it feel like a fighter jet. Interior quality is much improved over the C7, and it is much quieter. Feels like a luxury car. But the main thing is how it drives. Very smooth and even though I was taking it easy during break-in, it is very quick – feels quicker than my C6 or C7 GS. The DCT is amazing. Shifts were instant and almost imperceptible. When going slow and then stepping on the throttle, downshifts are instant – no waiting for the transmission to figure out what to do. My C6/C7 are both manual trans, and while rowing your own is fun, I can’t say I miss it in this car. Also noticed that I could not detect the transition to V4 mode and back to V8; the only way I was aware was when I saw it on the display.
Getting it on the backroads of TN was really fun, and you can really tell the advantage of the mid-engine design. Again taking it easy during break-in, you can still feel the difference in the center of gravity and how the car moves through the curves. Once I get past the break-in period, I’ll go through it again with the DCT in manual and really check it out.
Bottom line is I am a very happy camper. Although I have never driven a Porsche or Ferrari, in my opinion this is a Supercar. Planning to be back at NCM for the Bash next month to see what’s up for ’24.
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