Review: 2022 Chevrolet Corvette 2LT

[Hagerty]

We ask our possessions to speak for us. Shoes, cars, phone cases-what we own says something about who we want to be, or who we once were. Rarely does a car cross those categories; nostalgia bombs draw a dividing line between old and young. The eighth-generation Corvette is one of the few exceptions.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/new-car-reviews/review-2022-chevrolet-corvette-2lt/

[CitationMan]

A great real world review of the actual car, not the perceived image of the car.
GM has a history of issues with their Active Fuel Management, including all years of the C7.
That’s why there’s so many after market methods to defeat the system.
Owners in-the-know never put their cars in Eco mode, which triggers the AFM.
A class action suit was filed in Michigan in December 2021, naming a number of GM cars and trucks with AFM issues.
My manual C7 will get 30 mpg on the highway, so there’s no point to the AFM anyway. Just a way to meet the imaginary EPA targets. You shouldn’t buy any Corvette for the gas mileage, obviously.

[Grace]

agreed on the mpg.... but all the same, super impressive stat from Chevy given that efficiency *isn't* a top priority for most vette customers.

[hyperv6]

This car is a great example of what GM can do if their are few limited budget issues. Due to the long development of this car they were able to take the time and money to get it right.

Sure there are some limitations but then again you are not paying a Ferrari price either.
All mid engines have a blind spot and if they don't they are a convertible or a very odd looking coupe. But that is why we have mirrors. Even A Fiero can hide a semi in the blind spot so it is just a small price to pay for the better dynamics.

As for the AFM and the like it is all there to keep the car alive and the power up. GM would love to remove them too but these are required to meet their numbers with EPA.

The Cylinder drop really has not been a big issue as it was in the past. There have been a few limited issues in some models but it is not a big deal anymore.

As for styling and design. As a GM manager told me with every new car like this. When it first arrives 50% love it and 50% hate it. over the next six months the numbers of love got to 90% love and 10% hate. It happens every major change. You just can't please everyone so 90% is a win. Especially if they are new to the model people.

Yes this is a GT car as it has been for several decades now. The trunk is shaped for a golf bag just as the Fiero was. This is not the car you take to Home Depot for a 2x4. I would love to see a special car done that eliminates the trunk and makes the car shorter. It would be interesting to see how much weight it would cut and what they could do with the shorter styling.

The keys to take away from this car is price is still in relation to where it has always been. Not cheap but much cheaper than most. It also a lot of car period not just for the money but just for what it is.

It is not going to be mistaken for anything but a Corvette.

It also advances the brand in a step as large as the 63 did.
I have been in every generation of Corvette and this one really is a big deal in a number of ways.

Now here is my dilemma. I want to buy a Corvette once my son is out of school. The two Corvettes I like are about the same price. Do I go with the C8 or do I go with my long love a C1 59-60? I am at both ends of the spectrum. The C1 is a better investment but the C8 is a much better car that I could drive anyplace. Hmmmmm?

[seinfeldbasslin]

seems like a subtle way of affirming that the car is well tailored to the geriatric set in base form.

[9lbhammer]

For better or for worse, that's who buys most new cars. For socioeconomic reasons that are both off topic and go over my head nobody else can afford a big car note like that. You'd also be putting some insurance company executive's kid through college in a bright orange vette unless you're a 48 year old eunuch who works as an accountant.

[seinfeldbasslin]

car insurance, what a scam! (please dont cancel my policy)

[9lbhammer]

You're ahead of me. Hagerty didn't want to touch either my truck (79 f250, should be right in their wheelhouse) or my bike. Makes sense on the truck though, I'm in the odd place where the normal insurance companies want no part of an old car, but the classic car guys don't want to play cause I actually drive my crap.

[Sajeev]

Speaking as someone who can't insure all their old cars with Hagerty, mileage restrictions exist for a reason, I guess! 

[9lbhammer]

If you don't mind me asking, who do you get insurance with? Despite how it sounds I'm not salty about it. Nobody should insure me for anything I drive like a butthead.

[Sajeev]

All of my low-mileage classics (i.e. I barely drive them or they are in pieces) are insured with Hagerty. My daily and my high mile classic are insured with one of the big name carriers you know very well. 

[hyperv6]

Yes to be fair you have to consider insurance like any other product. Hagerty is a company tailored to limited use cars that are exposed to much less risk. So hence they can offer lower price coverage due to less pay outs. 

As for high miles drive. More exposure and risk and more pay outs so higher cost.. 

if you want a hamburger you go to Mc Donalds and if you want steak you go to the steak house. Both meat but two different products. 

[seinfeldbasslin]

hear hear, 200k mile Z car i can barely get anyone to touch.

[Tinkerah]

So I guess I have to admit there's one tiny advantage to living in Massachusetts where insurance is mandatory: They HAVE to sell it to you.

[CitationMan]

It’s great that Chevy can tailor the C8 to different types of buyers. You are correct in that the base C8 is more of a Grand Tourer, which is going to meet the needs of many buyers.
I read that a C7 Grand Sport is faster around a track than a base C8, for what it’s worth.

[seinfeldbasslin]

it wasn't necessarily an indictment of the car, just an observation- although it defies logic to me, personally, that they made this car to (from a volume perspective) largely cater to the Naples Florida set and then give it such massive sills as to prevent ingress/egress.

[HoustonNurse]

Great article and it makes me want one even more. Funny thing though... the part about MagRide.... My 2005 has it and when they went bad a year ago EVERY shop around me told me to get rid of them... The dealership, of course was happy to install them at $900 per... I wanted my Princess to be a Survivor... all original, no frills so I Rock Autoed and put them in myself. I recommend them... they make it far more comfortable than I thought... less rough than my BMW X2... But when they were first offered.... were severely trashed......... Even Top Gear hated them. I can only imagine how far they have come! Dang... now I really want the new one.

On a side note.. I was at a BMW event just as the ZO6 was being released... some OBVIOUS GM reps were there for some reason. SIX.. count them SIX new ZO6s were there.... when they left I was worshiping them.. they talked to me and treated us all to a simultaneous burnout on the way our........ now THAT was amazing. Sounded more American than I thought they would.....

[MeJ]

When the worst complaints of a car are getting in or out of it, you know it's a winner.

[Rons]

I have 2 issues with the C8
1. no Manual available
2. The rear of the car is way too busy. Looks like 4 stylists each contributed various surfaces and lines, and they all got put into the rear.

Other than that, great job at a very tough task. Bringing the Vette to a new generation without losing too many of the traditional buyers.

I am also glad to see the Corvette available in actual Orange, as opposed to the C6 and C7 “burnt Orange/ coppery color”

[zappafanx]

“Rappers and sports stars are buying C8s and decking them out in custom paint and color-matched Forgiatos.”

Which should be illegal !! Like taking a Mercedes and turning into a ricer.

[DaleL]

I drive a Porsche 718 GT4 which I enjoy a great deal. I recently drove the C8 for two days at Spring Mountain in Nevada. The author does a good job of describing a car than is the first Corvette that I would consider buying. It is that good.

[Flashman]

You're a brave woman reviewing the same car that Mr. Baruth did. You've put your own spin on it (so to speak) and written an excellent article. which captures the 'Vette's essence and explains its appeal. A pleasure to read. It may even have been proof-read.

[Gary_Bechtold]

I like the new Corvette but I don't love it. Time and some more seat time might change that. It seemed like a very partitioned car with the mini wall between you and your passenger. When I sat in the passenger seat for a very limited time I didn't really like it. Maybe that perception might change also. Either way it's America's best sports car right now.

Bring back the Viper!

[Tinkerah]

Things like sill widths and cargo space shapes generally aren't chosen, they end up being what was necessary and available after the design of the more important features of the structure have been committed.

[BobbyBobby123]

Incredible new technology mid engine naturally aspirated world class handling. GM has done it all. But why does the styling have me yearning for a 60's STINGRAY?

[cassman66]

I ordered my '22 C8 in March of '21. I got it on Pearl Harbor Day, '21. To date, I've put 2,000 miles on it. I'm 71 and this is my 7th Vette. So, geriatric. I love the car. What I don't like: (1) I wear graduated bifocals (Varilux?). When the rear view mirror is in "camera" mode, it is blurry unless I tilt my head back so I'm viewing the "mirror" out of the bottoms of my glasses. (2) No way to hang your elbow over the door. As for getting in and out, at first, everyone was laughing, including me, at the sight of me egressing. As with most physical endeavors, one develops a technique. It has gotten easier. So, in the aggregate, I love this car. Finally, I had a '56, '66 and a pair of '72's that I thought were nicer looking cars. However, I can comfortably go anywhere in this one. And, I DO own the road.

[okfoz]

For the first time in a long time I thought to myself, "wow! That is a Corvette I really like, and I want one!" But as time has gone on, now into its third year of production, I see a lot of these. When they were released, you take one to a car show and everyone was looking at it and checking it out, now, it is just another car, and there are 2 or 3 of them sitting there to check out. The dazzling newness of it seems to have worn off, but they are still really cool.