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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Bad news about the angle of the touch screen. Being 75 years old I need my co-pilot to operate the technology in my ’19 XTS. When I drive alone I set the temp and the radio station and shut it off.
If you publish any further stories such as this useless use of the English language I’ll quickly delete your site. This is trash.
You’re gonna delete the actual site?! Please provide step-by-step instructions.
I love my C8! It is so incredible in so many ways! The engineers at GM deserve an infinite amount of credit….and a pay raise too!
Now, there’s a few things that would make me happier:
1. It’s a Corvette! the 12V accessory power plug for my RADAR DETECTOR is located in the ….passenger compartment under the dash? Fix it, please.
2. Manually unlocking the door from the inside is a challenge. Yah, I know it can be set to unlock when the engine shuts down but, like many others, I like the door to be locked when I turn off the engine. Maybe the door locks can be moved behind the window switches.
3. When I put the car in Park, the car rocks back and forth even with my foot on the brake. Why?
4. The upper snaps that retain the seat belts frequently come loose and vibrate at higher speeds.
5. The rear trunk needs to be better insulated from the engine and exhaust. I prefer my ice cream to be frozen when I get home.
#1. Come on man, the C8 will run rings around a C7 on the track or anywhere. (I’ve owned both)
#2. The luggage capacity in the C8 is effectively more and more useable than the C7 considering the two
locations. The difference in cu ft capacity is miniscule.
#3. “outward visability” is a complaint not worthy of addressing. What did you expect in a mid-engine car?
#4. You’re right about the phone charger because the phone will not fit in the slot with the accessory
cover and “handle” installed on the phone.
#5. I drive the car, not the passenger. They can access the heat/ac controls. Would be nice though if the
passenger had better access to the info screen.
#6. And this is the BIGGEE in my opinion: The outside rv mirrors are triangular in shape– the absence of
a “bottom left corner” allows for a blind spot. Shape should be same as C7– rectangular.
#7 These mirrors should also be equipped with a “beep” when passing car comes in view. I find it
possible to have a car between the mirror blind spot and the warning yellow spot spot before I can
see it.
I love this car!
my 3LT does have blind spot beep, ref: #7
Didn’t know that—- mine’s a 2LT.
I think Jim Lill is mistaken. The only beep my 2021 3LT has is the cross traffic alert when in reverse. When that beep is heard there’s also a red triangle on the screen showing the direction the “intruder” is coming from. No beeps from the blind spot monitor though. Probably a good thing as that could really get annoying
I may have confused the various indiocations and beeps. Yes, for sure there’s the behind you beep… there is also a visual indication the the side mirrors when someone is in that blind spot. I’d have to go for a ride to sort out the truth 🙂
SBZA only gives a visual indiocation in the side mrrors, no beep
I rented a Jeep Cherokee which had the “beep” mirror.
Thought is was a very good feature and miss it on my C8.
Did it beep every time another vehicle was in your blind spot, or only if you used the directional to turn into someone in your blind spot ? I think that’s what my Highlander does.
As I recall, it beeped every time a car approached.
I did not find it annoying. Wish it was on my C8
Having driven and owned 4 generations and currently have an 85 cpe 90 convert, all have had manual trans. Biggest gripe period. And no interior space for anything we always have on our road trips, which have been many. Both our vettes have over 125,000 miles on them. We take trips in them. I want space inside for what we need. But they are sexy as hell…
I have only one real complaint and that is the phone charging system. I have the convertible and when you put your phone in the charging bank with the top down, it won’t be long before you get a message that the charger is too hot and won’t charge!!! My wife drives the XT6 Cadillac and doesn’t have that problem. Did the engineers miss this???
I just drove from Florida to Alabama, 1400 miles And stopped at a dealer with 2 Vettes, both 2020’s. he wants 109K and115K .
Are you crazy? I’ve had One on order since Aug. 2020 and am still on the waiting list. Everyone I’ve seen at the dealer has been marked up at 20K. They have no idea when this thing is coming, told me I’m getting a 2022. I know guys trading them in because their wife’s can’t fit in them and making money. I”m tired of waiting. I’m not getting any younger. I should have never sold it back to the dealer, my2017 C7. Coved 19, sat in garage, no place to go. Good luck. I give up.
Respectfully Frank, if you’ve been on a list since Aug 2020 than there’s a good chance the dealer is jerking you around. either the dealer hasn’t gotten squat for allocations, has a VERY long list for an allocation – or – it;s likely that others willing to pay the dealer’s markup keep being put before you. Either way it sounds like you’re so far down the list that the dealer should level with you. As an example… my dealer received 15 allocations in November 2020. He had to order seven immediately and I got one of the remaining eight allocations in late November. Had the car in April and that was with it taking Chevy a month to get it from Bowling green to the dealer. Not saying this to make you feel bad but it may be time to work with another dealer. And yes, I did pay a small 10% markup. I didn’t like it at the time but given where the market has gone I never looked back and have been enjoying the car for five months now. Good luck – you’re gonna love it.
My Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy has auto dimming mirrors sides and center..
Jesus Kramer don’t you know you can only post positive comments. Your supposed to say it’s the best car ever or the other kids will ignore you at recess.
2 things I don’t like about it is it’s lazy body design (it looks like the designer just decided to put a c7 front end and a Camaro backend together due to lack of actual design talent) and that stupid bar that separates the driver from the front passenger!
The engineering\mechanical parts of the car are on point tho ..
I wanted to sell My C8 from the git go almost 2 years waiting . Picked it up last week and after sitting in the car immediately decided not to sell – I am going to enjoy this baby period. Have have a number of Vettes but this one take home the prize. This is an AWESOME all American product. Don’t talk about the thumbs up from other drivers and pedestrians. Patiently breaking that bad boy with the Z51 package. for $87,000 i considered it a steal and a show stopper. Way to go Chevy
Congrats and glad you chaged your mind. Break it in using Manual on the transmission, that’ll prevent it from going into 4 cyl mode during the break in. It will also increase the width of your smile
Passenger may feel a bit left out of the action? I don’t think I know of any car where I DO FEEL part of the action as a passenger. Perhaps on a fire engine ladder truck if I were steering the rear section?
I love the car. First car that I really liked in decades. The main thing I hate is that many options are only available at a higher trim/performance levels. I know many car brands do this, but this is the crap that drives people to buy Teslas.
And the dealers add these stupid, vastly overpriced things like painted calipers. It is just ordinary paint. I’d pay $500 for the “Rapid Blue” body color on the car body…any day…but hundreds of dollars for paint on calipers? That is ludicrous. As is paying $395 for a color seat belt.
And that lifting nose memory thing needs to be standard.
They have made all the features you want only available on higher trims, as a result, everyone orders the higher trim and gets 3 MPG worse gas mileage. Then they tell the reporters that people all wanted the higher performance packages. That is nonsense. Many of those people probably wanted interior options that were not available, the lifting nose, or better shocks…but were forced to get worse gas mileage from the forced upgrades.
I don’t need it to accelerate like crazy. I want it to be mildly practical and look very good. And have everything at my fingertips.
I would definitely pay for the real convertible, mostly because of the improved appearance, but also the quick automatic change to convertible and back.
The display? I think they should just have a second identical display for the passenger, but where the driver can choose to have some things not available in case the passenger is a child, or a brat teen.
I also love the wall just as it is.
People are not stupid. They see these absurd prices on options, extras they are virtually forced to buy, and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. It is the old $500 ashtray on the bureaucrat’s desk thing, that gets under people’s skin.
I will probably buy a used one eventually. Hopefully this chip issue will end, and they will make a bunch of these before they listen to the idiots and remove the wall or do other things that kill the appeal to me.
Mindbreaker, why piss and moan when anybody who wants one can have a VW. Your post shows a total lack of Corvette knowledge. Your buying the new Corvette would be a traviety of justice. Do not let anybody sell you one. No sir, you have NO interest in this car. Actually, you are a walking advertisement for a bicycle.
For the owner who complained about the price of the painted calipers, well its not ordinary paint , has to be able to resist heat. I think it’s powder coated. The detractors who complain about passenger being walled off and the camaro style tail lights. lack of rear visibility and a host of other cry baby issues , buy a car and then review the experience like myself. All car manufacturers have to make compromises that’s the name of the game. For the price of the car , it is a bargain. I did not hear of anyone being forced to buy a C8 if you are lucky to find one. I do not work for GM, I simply have an aversion to people who do not own a C8 to be complaining and whining. I could have made between $20,000 and $30,000 by selling the car but after driving the car that feeling went out the window. Some individuals complained about lack of aggressiveness because of the muted exhaust , my car came with the Z51 package and when you step on that bad boy you hear that growl. Enough said already
Danny Peters – I fully a agree. I paid a very small markup to lock in an allocation for my 3LT, but could have still easily sold it for a quick $25K windfall. But no freakin way. I’m just having too much fun with the car. I have absolutely no regrets.
Oh, and on the price options prices that Mindbreaker mentioned… yes, they do seem pretty high for some, but my wife just ordered a Porsche Boxster. Think Chevy’s prices are high – Porsche’s are egregious.
4 and 5 are hogwash. I use the wireless charger all the time. Yes, it’s awkward, but far from impossible to get a phone in and out. (And I’m above the age for full social security, so it’s not like I’m super flexible. The biggest issue is that it’s easy to forget your phone is there when you get out of the car, but you can train yourself to remember that.
And the passenger is hardly “left out.” I’ve ridden in the right seat, and can reach and operate the audio controls on the screen, and the passenger HVAC controls. And even rest my left arm on the console lid armrest. My wife has no issues riding in the passenger seat, either. Unless your passenger is only 18 inches tall, the “wall” isn’t in the way at all.
Oh, and if you have rear visibility problems your outside mirrors aren’t adjusted correctly.
And the entire set of custom C7 luggage fits in the trunk and frunk of the C8. (Unless you store the targa top – but with the HTC you don’t lose any space with the top down.)
Finally, if the driving experience isn’t aggressive enough, that means you’re simply not driving it aggressively enough. Put it in Z-Mode, the DCT in manual, and use the gas pedal and it’s plenty aggressive. Ask my 911 Turbo S owning neighbor who’s wondering why he paid so much for a USED Porsche.