Five Things We Don’t Like About The Corvette C8
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From the off, lets get one thing totally clear – the Chevy Corvette C8 is awesome. In fact, we outlined the top five things we love about the Corvette C8 Stingray in a post last month. However, nothing is ever perfect, so now, we’re taking another look at the first-ever mid-engine Chevy Corvette to talk about five things we don’t like.
1. Driving Experience Not As Aggressive As The C7
The Corvette C8 provides a surprisingly quiet and refined experience in the cabin – in fact, that’s one of the things we love about it. However, the tradeoff here is that the eighth-generation loses some of the aggression of the previous generation, feeling a bit more subdued by comparison. That could come as a disappointment for some buyers hoping for the same in-your-face attitude as the C7.
That said, an aftermarket exhaust could go a long way towards fixing this. And of course, there’s also the upcoming go-faster Z06 and ZR1 models for those buyers that need a more visceral experience.
2. Less Usable Trunk Space Than The C7
Even though it technically has two trunks/cargo compartments, the Corvette C8 has less usable cargo space than the C7. We explored this issue in-depth in a video previously, check it out below:
3. Reduced Outward Visibility, Especially In The Rear
With the engine mounted in back, it was almost inevitable that rear visibility would suffer with the introduction of the Corvette C8. This is indeed the case, and the fact that the rear quarter window is fake doesn’t help. As a result, the blind spot alert camera is an absolute necessity, but it isn’t available on 1LT models. Luckily, it is equipped as standard on 2LT and 3LT trims. The rear-facing camera helps quite a bit as well.
4. Useless Wireless Phone Charging Setup
Wireless phone charging is supposed to make things easier. Such is not the case with the wireless charger in the Corvette C8. Positioned in the center console between the seats, the charger is difficult to reach, and even harder to get a phone in and out of. Because of this, we doubt anyone is actually using this feature.
5. Front Passenger Gets Left Out
The cockpit design of the Corvette C8 is heavily focused on the driver. The way the controls are oriented and the way in which the center console is configured is all to provide the driver with a feeling that they are cocooned in the vehicle, like a fighter pilot. However, this also isolates the passenger completely, perhaps making them feel a bit left out of the action.
Bonus Item – No Auto-Dimming Passenger-Side Mirror
Unfortunately, the Corvette C8 is like every other Chevy on sale in that it doesn’t feature an automatic-dimming passenger-side mirror, which is an issue when every rival product has it as standard. This is particularly troublesome when you consider the range of more-affordable models that have had this feature for roughly a decade or more, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
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#1 The reason the C7 was more aggressive is because it was at its limits. The C8 has yet to be challenged yet. A good handling car is one that makes going stupid fast easy and feels slow.
Heck my Fiero feels more aggressive too due to flawed handling.
#2 This is a sports car and handling comes first before cargo. Let’s face it you have enough room to travel.
#3 less visibility…. Yes it is a mid engine but you have so many cameras you can see all you need to see.
#4 Useless wireless charging is a tradition at GM. My Canyon can not charge a IPhone 12 with a case in because the charger is too small. Other have similar issues.
#5 yes I agree the passenger experience is like a motorcycle side car. They need to lower the wall.
Mr Juechter Tear down this wall.
2 out of 3 are legit.
Your dislikes, well are what I want. I don’t want to hear a noise, well maybe just a little, but I am tired of hearing rumbling exhaust, which only makes me put my foot in it more. Finally I can listen to tunes on the road. Wireless charging is perfect; when I drive, I don’t want to see my phone, just need to know that it’s connected to the vehicle, charging, and in a safe location.
I happy to have my passenger closed off to all controls less climate features. My wife brings a blanket & her phone for the whole trip. She knows I love to drive, so conversation is only when necessary.
Poor visibility, I use mirrors exclusively when I drive my truck, if my Vett ever comes in I’ll get used to the cameras. And just maybe GM will have auto-dimming mirrors in all positions for any vehicle stickered over $40k.
Storage, I’m need to learn how to pack less, always come back with three days of clean clothes.
Not deterred, still waiting.
How do i hate thee? Let me count the ways.
Design: looks like a 3rd grader designed it
Interior: dismal. Concept car video gamer design ruins it. The Camaro is especially bad but at least it gives you a choice of transmission. And tablet screens stuck on a dash will never look classy or luxurious regardless of what the car is.
Driving it: fast cars should never be boring to drive. The C7 was a Bengal Tiger in that you had to have the utmost respect for it, because it was easy to find yourself in over your head if you’re stepping up from a car with considerably less power. That was the important part of driving a Vette, where you earned what the car gave you. The C8 is badly dumbed down. No character, no soul, nothing about it really says “Corvette”.
Quality: it’s no secret that Chevrolet is not a paragon of overall quality these days but with a car like the Corvette it’s just inexcusable. The low entry fee seems to exist simply so Chevrolet can have an excuse for skimping on quality like they always do.
Layout: there’s a reason more manufacturers don’t have mid-engine cars in their lineup outside of Porsche and Acura. Even in their best years most MR cars just barely sell enough to break even and then the sales just drop and drop and drop until finally they just get discontinued.
You clearly have never driven a C8. It does not even sound like you have actually seen one in person….
LOL !!!!!! Someone needs the experience of C8
I can’t tell if you’re trolling or are just very, very dumb. The new Corvette continues to win top marks for quality and value. Not to mention the fact that they are flying off the shelf faster than any vehicle in America at the moment. And history will be repeated with the Z06 and every successive variant of this car. You are apparently part of an exceedingly small and increasingly irrelevant minority.
LOL. Just LOL. Yep, C8 sales sure are going to “drop and drop and drop.” The C8 is outselling all the other cars in it’s class COMBINED. In the 3rd QTR it accounted for 76 percent of the category. A suggestion: before you make idiotic comments, drive one.
“The performance represents an ongoing improvement in Corvette sales volume, following strong numbers posted in Q1 2021 and Q2 2021 as well as Q3 2020 and Q4 2020. During each of these quarters, Corvette sales accounted for 51 percent segment share or higher. However, as we typically note, many contenders in this segment cost significantly more than the Corvette and naturally see lower sales volumes as a result.
During the third quarter of 2021, Corvette managed to grow its segment share to an astounding 76 percent from 55 percent a year ago. The second-place Porsche 911 – the most cross-shopped rival with the C8 – accounted for roughly a sixth as many sales with a 12 percent segment share, down from 14 percent in the year-ago quarter. The Porsche 718 line, comprised of the 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster, followed in third place with a 6 percent segment share, down from 9 percent compared to the year-ago quarter. “
I don’t like being walled off from my passenger, and that is what stopped me from ordering the car in the first place. Aside from that, the visibility is a common issue with modern vehicles. Trucks, cars, you feel like you are in a dungeon. Look at the glass area on some of the classic trucks and sedans that come up for sale on the BAT auction site. Supposedly it is a combination of safety, weight savings and aero needs and the fact that cameras are cheap, but it could also be fashion – too many comments about “popemobiles”, “fishbowls” and “dorky looks” mean manufacturers favor the gangsta small window approach.
Who cares about the passenger? They should be glad they’re riding in a C-8.
I know I appreciate the ride when I am the passenger in a C-8
You really should actually get in one, instead of making judgments based on pictures and asinine internet comments. It doesn’t “wall you off” at all, unless you and your passenger are only 2 feet tall.
You forgot one!
# 6 It’s a Chevy!
Why are you even on this site? Go troll the Prius site where you belong.
I was sure I would never agree with this list. But I do agree. I do not use my wireless charger.
The wall between seats does not allow for more intimate interaction with passenger.
But do I love it? Yeah I Do!!!!!! The incredible power is so subtle, this car does incredible things with ease.
I have almost 6,000 miles on it and have been to Ron Fellows owner school which helps.
It carries 3 carry-on size bags, and I do not mind visibility, the cameras help.
My complaint? the steering wheel controls on my Prius are far better. C8 wheel controls are useless. Prius has dynamic safety radar, corvette tech is 15 years behind. It is true, Chevy tech is a decade old when released. But this car is fantastic. Get one, join the club!
Alex must be hard up for subject material today. I suppose he would have kicked Marilyn Monroe out for eating crackers. There HAS to be something he doesn’t like about EVERY car. Going to have to wait to get all the bugs out. We could run the same thing with Alex’s daily letter, Reason #1 is “It’s too GM.” Give the new engine location a full 7generations and then we can compare.
Visibility or lack thereof I have learned to drive around. Would have liked the side mitrors to employ a camera just like the rear. Can’t argue the charging phone placement is awkward. The other gripes are laughable. My wife loves the new vette, so much so that we are currently on a 12 day roadtrip. As for aggressive, the stock z51 exhaust is quieter than I likes so I put a racing exhaust on, can make it quieter by manualing shifting so no issues with exhaust noise.
Some of these comments crack me up. If you don’t like Chevy or don’t think the Corvette is up to standards then its simple don’t buy one. GM had some 18 engineers develop this amazing Corvette. I am sure they picked the best options available for perfomance and reliability. Personally I love mine as I have the other 11 Corvettes I own and have owned over the years. This car is light years ahead. And yes I have driven other sports cars.
Uhhhhhh, this isn’t the first mid engine corvette. It is the first rear mount mid engine corvette.
We have had our C8 for 13 months. It has been flawless, no problems at all. GM did a great job on the 3LT interior, which is as good as any . It could use a little more power, but I’m sure the C8 ZO 6 will cure that small problem. The C8 is a great balance of performance and long drive comfort. And on the Highway, it can get 30-31 mpg. It’s not a race car , which some people think that is what they are buying. I do know about race cars as I have owned and driven in NASCAR, SCCA PRO Trans Am series, Prototype One in IMSA .
The C8 is not the top dog on the street, but again, it does a lot of things well, and that is what makes it so good.. I’m happy with our’s
Want passenger intimacy get a hotel room. Want loud exhaust Dodge Charger is out there. At my age I like a little peace and quiet.
Exactly… LOUD does NOT mean FAST. It just pisses off your neighbors… especially when you come in late at night, and they are already trying to sleep. Personally, I am more interested in the ‘tone’ of the exhaust, than with VOLUME… just take the mufflers Off and run Straight pipes! why have mufflers on your car at all..? Make it sound like an 8-cylinder Harley…
Sure, when you drive ANY car with a long hood in front of you, you feel kind of like you are guiding, or aiming, a giant missile at whatever is in front of you. When you sit in the Front of a car, you don’t feel like you are driving a Battering Ram… I don’t drive my car to be “Aggressive”… I drive it to be Skillful. I am not ‘running Moonshine’ and trying to knock everybody else off the roadway. {and I am NOT a NASCAR Driver..}
And BTW — I have NEVER had a Passenger that was “Involved” with driving my car… other than possibly helping a bit with navigation, or tuning the radio.
I love everything about my C-8. The price of the car, everything. I have a friend who bought a Ferrari, he paid $375,000.00. He said that he should have bought a C-8 for the price difference you can’t beat it.
I just got back back from a 10 day 3,000 mile road trip in our 2021 C8 3LT Metallic Yellow and the points you are trying to make are all wrong. We had a change of clothes for every day, plus jackets and sweater if it got cold. We also had room for 2 cases of beer (96 cans of Coors & Bud) in the front and a case of pickled beets from relatives and 2 lap top computers. If you cannot get the 3LT option maybe you should not buy a C8. If you want performance switch on the Z Mode. My wife had no problem programing our destination, searching for hotels, or places to eat of music on Sirius Radio. The cameras are great when parking, passing, and speed bumps. Seats are so comfortable and we drove up to 8 hours / day. Gas mileage was great, better than my wife’s car or my truck. We charged both our phones and had no problems for the passenger.
We have 7k on our C8. It just works perfect for the trip we take. Enough room for luggage in soft bags. Enjoy the quiet cab. Handling is amazing because of the different modes available. And I find the wall to be very comfortable for holding my wife’s hands when driving. Along with tapping the side of the wall when my favorite songs comes on the premium sound system which seems to get overlooked. Not a bad ride for what I paid 🤗
It took years and several models to get to the C7. The C8 will progress too. I have heard for 45 years that a mid engine corvette was in the wings, and now its here. So give it time to mature.
Seems like it was BORN as a Teenage High School Athlete… Rather than a screaming baby.
Z06 will be like becoming a College Athlete, and the ZR1/Zora will be Professional Grade. (smile)
And you can even have an option to get Electrocuted, with the coming “E-Ray”…
At least it would have to go to USMC Boot Camp to “mature”… I kind of did the “College Level” in about 4 months, and jump right from High School to “Professional Grade” in just about 6 months. Corvette C8’s will take a little longer than 6 months… But they are pretty darn impressive Athletes already! And actually ‘friendly’…
2020 C8 HTC…what I would change in no order:
The phone placement had to be an afterthought – terribly inconvenient – since I have a 2020 you have to use a cable to get into Apple CarPlay – so I bought an aftermarket product to accomplish CarPlay conveniently – since it’s so inconvenient somebody should come up with a place to put your phone closer to “the wall”
Since every control on “the wall” can be addressed through the touchscreen they should’ve made that space “something else”
Cup holders – if you close the “lid” your elbow hits it and pops it up – poor design
With the HTC your rear view is pretty good – only complaint I have is the camera view – I have trouble adjusting my eyes from front view to camera view
Air vents – very bad location – the air flow hits you in the elbows and the adjustments are comical – it almost feels like they were an afterthought – so location and adjusting are a thumbs down
I like the “cockpit” design – Illuminate the wall and give the passenger a small touchscreen so they can adjust everything that was on the wall AND do nav/radio/etc – it would certainly take some of the duties off the driver which in turn eliminate many distractions
Never liked the black trim on the side scoops and every time I get out of the car I look at the inside of the scoop and feel it’s incomplete – put a screen in there so we don’t have to
Certainly not enough flexibility in ordering what parts go on, what part stay off – what parts get painted and parts don’t get painted certain colors – I would have spent more to get some flexibility
NEVER liked the wheel selection – probably the most disappointing design feature – the C7 Z06 wheels in different colors would have been much more desirable
Rear tail lights look like a Camaro – way too many things going on
To be fair I don’t have enough room to list everything I love about this car – I have friends with Ferraris and Porsches and this is certainly so much for your money you can hardly believe it compared to comparable cars
Why did you ever buy a car that you dislike so much? You should have bought an entry-level Hyundai. Maybe you would have liked it better.
Some of these people who comment on the C8 are so far OutToLunch that it is Really Pathetic to read there response .Mine is a 2021 3LT ,Yes it’s Red ,This s My 12 th Corvette,My last one was a 2018 C7 Grand Sport ,Very Nice but this new C8 ,maybe not Perfect but still the Best Corvette yet .Just Love this thing ,I could have sold this vehicle to one of the 59 guys waiting for a new C8 at my Dealership that they are not going to receive for a minimum $25,000 over Sticker .A really Unpopular vehicle LOL.What more can I say ,I don’t care if anyone you doubters or Tire Kickers ever Purchase one .I Love Mine .Sorry that you guys are Missing Out .Have A Good Day .
Who cares about the passenger? They should be glad they’re riding in a C-8.
I absolutely love my C8, but have to agree with a few of these points. Storage “could” be a challenge if you’re a heavy packer. I haven’t done a road trip yet, so storage is not on my personal fault list. And as a former long distance motorcycle enthusiast – I doubt this is going to be a problem. Side visibility is only an issue until you get used to the car. The mirrors are great and if you have the rear view camera mirror there’s really no blind spot. So, once you discover the workarounds – the side visibility is not a problem. Now, on the phone charger. True, True, and True. I’ll add one more. If you do have a phone in the charger cradle with the top off or down on a sunny day – the phone easily reaches the charging cutoff temperature from being in the sun. But all of these are but a small price to pay for such an awesome car.
I am an old guy and this is the first Corvette that I fell in love with at first sight. It is fun to drive and I feel the best bang for the buck. As I drive around town, I get more comments and looks from people than cars costing 2-3 times the price. All these younger guys with their hot cars want to build their egos up by testing you on the streets. Hey, people can get hurt. Take it down the track and do it the right way. Life is too short. Enjoy your car. Enjoy life. Have fun. I am.
Ya don’t buy a Corvette for luggage space, sheesh…. get a truck. And a nutta ting, whose driving the Corvette you or the passenger?