This article is part of the GM Authority Mailbag series, where the GM Authority Crew features and replies to your questions, comments, and observations.
The following came to us from Diane R. two days after the reveal of the 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray:
I’m fairly new to all this, so please forgive me if I don’t speak “the lingo” (which I’m hopping to be fluent in very soon). I just want to share my story and maybe make some friends along the way.
I have never had much of an interest in cars… never really had a reason to. I’ve driven and bought Toyota Corollas my entire 38 year-old life. My first car was a Toyota Echo, which I didn’t really like since it was too small. The Corolla seemed like a perfect fit for me: it was safe, reliable and affordable, and I couldn’t care less about any other features, options, or bells and whistles. I just wanted to get places without any fuss, safely. From what I gather, those attributes and priorities, let alone the cars, aren’t all too respected among “car people”.
All that changed for me on the evening of Sunday January 13th, when I was at home browsing around… I accidentally clicked on a Twitter link that was re-tweeted by one of my (male) friends. I came to your GM Authority site and I wanted to hit the back button, but I instantly fell in love with what I saw and couldn’t click back. What I saw was a red 2014 Chevrolet Corvette.
I never paid attention to any cars on the road, let alone Corvettes. I knew what a Corvette was, but I never really knew what it was all about. Still, I’m not sure what happened that night; I don’t really understand it yet. The only thing I know is that I will own a red 2014 Stingray Z51 when it comes out later this year.
I will drive it on beautiful roads, on the tracks, and everywhere in between. I want to wash it every weekend, and not in one of those automated washes either, but by hand, with a bucket and a hose. I want to wax it and park it in my garage, and park far, far away from everyone else in parking lots so that no one “accidentally” rams my new Corvette with their door (as I have done to others by accident with my Corolla).
I have never had such a feeling for cars in my life; maybe for shoes and jewelry, but even those things don’t need as much TLC as a car does. I already called my local Chevrolet dealer to reserve a spot to order one. In the time leading up to the summer/fall, I will do my best to rent as many 2013 Corvettes as I can, learn to drive a car with a manual transmission, and drive my Corolla to work and back with disgust and disdain.
I guess I fell in love.
Diane
Diane — thank you for such a wonderful letter. Love is definitely a strong emotion, and we don’t blame you for falling for the C7. It is, indeed, a beauty (an opinion with which others don’t agree). And if any car can get anyone into loving cars, it’s the Corvette.
Also, congratulations on finding the wonderful, wacky, and wondrous world of cars and car culture. We love it, too.
Comments
Welcome to the club. It’s a crazy addiction that most people really don’t get.
That’s a really huge step from a corolla to a Corvette but welcome to the club!!!
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I must say I’ve not seen the C7 from that angle before. Still looks damn good.
I agree! I wish I could hang it up on the wall when not driving. Car art on the wall.
A brilliant group of individuals “The GM Team” created this masterpiece. When you create something with so much passion and commitment, somehow it speaks to people in a deeply emotional sense. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s undeniable. 🙂
I’m sure she’ll enjoy the sound of that american V8, now if only my dad would buy one….
I’m sure she’ll enjoy the sound of that american V8, now if only i could get my dad to buy one….
Well diane welcome to the club! Ive always been a fan of gm cars (my old man only but gm cars not even other american cars let alone foreign):: but intersetingly enough i wasnt a huge corvette buff. I always liked and respected it especially admiring its performance for its price point. That all changed w the c7. I will try to make every concerted effort to get one in my driveway. Diane its a great time to be a gm buff they truly are firing on all cylinders
I must totally agree with Diane, as I find the C7 Corvette to be the most beautiful car I’ve seen in decades, and I’ve been a serious gearhead since I was a child. In my opinion, the C7 is far more attractive the any Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Jaguar or Lamborghini. I intend to purchase one myself once the ZR1 version hits the showrooms (I’m hoping it won’t take three years as it did with the C6). I already seen the rendering for the C7R on this site, and if that’s an indication as to what the ZR1 will look like (sans the wing), I’m sold. Cannot wait.
what i great story, you never no when you will get hit by the bug, she now will love cars the rest of her life !
That was an awesome story of another enthusiast being born! Love it!!! Welcome to the club, Diane! I hope you join in our discussions about this amazing new car. The first one that gets to drive it has to make a report to the rest of us!! 😉
Welcome to the v8 club diane. There is nothing like a gm american car/truck v8 to own and drive. I have owned several gm v8 trucks and 2 camaros. At the present time I can’t afford a corvette, with 3 teenage boys running around. But one day I sure hope too. That red c7 corvette with black rims is seriously the best looking car on the road. Red and black interior too. Wow, I am and will be jealous of you and anybody who buys a c7 corvette. I will certainly go to the dealership and check one out. Congrats to diane, you will love it I’m sure. And yes diane must come back and post how the car drives and what she thinks of it once she buys the car and drives it everyday.