GM Corvette Dealer Training....911 involved :)

Ok, i went to GM's 05 Vette training yesterday at Phoenix International Raceway... Drove a few of the 05 vettes, 911 carrera, boxter s, new ssr w/ 6.0 (not 4.3) and a bmw z4...

With proffesional instructors in the passenger seats.. I really noticed a similar drive feel with the 911 and my 356... front end PUSH!!! the z4 is weak but rides, handles and sounds great, the boxter s was ok but lacks torque of course, and the 911 had the power and feel but talk about having to shift a WHOLE lot more than with the vette. This new vette is AWESOME... if you get the chance to drive one, take it. 400hp. 0-60 in 4.2 - 186 top speed, improved front suspension geometry and lower center of gravity that the c5... it was almost scary fast. I would like to feel an awd turbo 911 but the price puts it out of the same class. the viper is also out of price class.

Anyway, I just dropped the 1600 out of my speedster the other night, then i drove these things... I was debating on rebuilding the 1600 or going bigger. The debate is over, I MUST HAVE BIGGER... the vette boasts a lb/hp of 8. better than any above mentioned. To match a 1700 lb speedster = 216 hp. I think ill be upgrading to something turbo soon :).

just thought i would share my impressions of the track comparisons... what are your thoughts of the compared cars if you've driven them.. i'd like to hear.

Damn....... Any openings where you work?
ed

Nic
Please email an employment application ASAP !

No doubt about it, the Vette is the greatest bargain in the showroom, has been for a number of years now. Another great bargain these days is the new Mustang GT. 300 HP and about 325 # of torque for about $25,000. Not bad looking also! They will sell a bunch I'm sure. Even the standard V6 has over 200 HP from the V6. Guess the ragtop comes out in the spring, good timing.

Bruce

One of the enjoyable aspects of my job is the opportunity to accompany some of the OEM's during hot climate test trips.
These typically involve a week of testing in and around Las Vegas (Mt. Charleston and Baker Grade on the highway to LA), followed by a few days in Death Valley. It can be interesting because at any time in summer there are always a couple of carmakers testing. Because everybody stays at the Stovepipe Springs Hotel, in the valley, you get the opportunity to chinwag with engineers from BMW, GM, MB and a load of others.

Regardless of nationality - a gearhead is a gearhead!

The last part of the test trip is an extended period at the OEM test track. (The Ford track is in Yucca, AZ).

One year, due to some insurance requirement or other, everybody who was going to the track had to have some training in high speed manoeuvres. So a few of us got sent to Silverstone race track (where the British F1 Grand Prix is sometimes held) and spent the day driving race prepared BMW 330i's around the track. These were stripped down race cars and went like the proverbial S**t off of the shovel. Great fun!
The high point of the day, however, was when one bloke overcorrected on left-hand bend, spun it back the other way and proceeded to spank the car rearwards into the armco at around 80mph! Totalled the car, but driver and instructor walked away without a scratch.

Have also ridden in, but not driven alas, the MacLaren F1 and the Jaguar XJ220 - both of those were incredible rides and beyond comparison (for me).

Jim