Who buys Corvettes in Europe?

[gasoline]

How much do they cost?
How much do they sell?

What do the magazines think about them?

What do the people who can actually afford them think?

[Lebowski]

Same as in the US - balding 40 year old perverts.? Mullet is optional.

[850CSi]

Same as in the US - balding 40 year old perverts.  Mullet is optional.

Whoa Adam I thought you were closer to 25... 

[Raza]

From what I hear, Corvettes cost about the same as 911s in Europe, so they're not the performance bargain they are here.  And, the history of the Corvette doesn't matter as much to them as it does American Corvette buyers, and Corvettes are only sold in LHD which limits its markets, so they don't sell many.

Top Gear ripped apart the Corvette, but other journalists have been nicer to it:

Here's a solo review from Evo (of the Z06)
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/61257/chevrolet_corvette_z06.html

Solo standard C6:
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/52263/corvette_c6.html

Z06 in a group test against 996 GT3 RS, Exige Cup, and Noble M400:
http://www.evo.co.uk/cargrouptests/cargrouptests/64130/corvette_z06_v_exige_cup_v_gt3_rs_v_noble_m400.html

[pommes-t]

Corvettes are way more expensive here.

The Corvette has the image of beeing the number one pimp car. And I guess that's even true. Although the C5 and the C6 are real good sportscars most Europeans (or at least germans) would buy a Porsche over a Corvette anyday. Noody will turn the head for a Posche in bigger cities (for a Carrera), but a Corvette screams "Here I am, bitches!!!!".

Many people who buy Corvettes have a special faible for US cars. Those are weired people. There are many US-car meeting with such people who wear cowboy-boots and hats. They think they were Johnny Cash...

There are some normal people who buy a Corvette, too, I guess...

Corvette starts at 62450 and the ZO6 at 79950. ?! Thats even more in Dollar....

[cawimmer430]

Pommes nailed it. The number one buyers of exotic American cars in Europe are pimps or drug dealers. Then there are a couple of enthusiast who generally like the car and some folks who want to be different. 

[AutobahnSHO]

lol
"Here I am, Bitches!" 
I saw a "D"-plated H1 parallel-parked downtown Darmstadt one time. (With only inches to spare in front and back, it was still sticking WAY out into the street.  It turned my head to even see a US minivan or pickup truck with Euro-plates, because it's so different.
Then you should have seen the looks I got driving the SHO through France to Spain. 
 
Porsches and the such are so common it barely even excites you after a while. On a nice-weather Sunday in the summer go on the Autobahn and I GUARANTEE you'll see Ferraris and Lamborghinis (PLURAL,) especially if you stop at the reststops..

[gasoline]

Gee! Thanks guys!
Now I'm really afraid to ask who drives Dodge Vipers abd Ford Mustangs!

[cawimmer430]

Gee! Thanks guys!
Now I'm really afraid to ask who drives Dodge Vipers abd Ford Mustangs!

Gays and Lesbians respectively. 

[gasoline]

Those are some...different...gays and lesbians to the ones we have! (Miatas and Subarus)

[cawimmer430]

Those are some...different...gays and lesbians to the ones we have! (Miatas and Subarus)

[Raza]

Vipers, at least the first generation, were crude and horrible cars here, too. 

The new Mustang is a bit different.  Evo says that it turns heads constantly since they're so rare, but they do complain about the size, and about the gas mileage.  When they first got it, it was completely stock, and they were pretty rough on the way the ends liked to swap so often, and so often without warning.  Later on, a switch to "proper tyres" on Roush rims sufficiently quelled the Mustang's impression of snap oversteer. 

[sandertheshark]

Say what you want about the German sex industry, those pimps have good taste.

[cawimmer430]

Say what you want about the German sex industry, those pimps have good taste.

Most of their girls are Eastern European. Cheaper and sexier. 

[ChrisV]

Vipers, at least the first generation, were crude and horrible cars here, too.   

They were supposed to be, like the original Cobra, itself based on a crude and horrible British car.

[Laconian]

Those are some...different...gays and lesbians to the ones we have! (Miatas and Subarus)

More like BMW 3ers.

[Raza]

They were supposed to be, like the original Cobra, itself based on a crude and horrible British car.

Haha...I suppose that's true.  I remember seeing a video of a Viper and a Ferrari on some mountain roads.  The Ferrari came around the bend first, with little drama, and then the Viper came about at the same speed or so and fell off the mountain.  It slid right off the road at the apex and started rolling down.  The guy was okay, but the Viper looked like a featherweight who tried to take on a heavyweight.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Vipers, at least the first generation, were crude and horrible cars here, too.?

The new Mustang is a bit different.? Evo says that it turns heads constantly since they're so rare, but they do complain about the size, and about the gas mileage.? When they first got it, it was completely stock, and they were pretty rough on the way the ends liked to swap so often, and so often without warning.? Later on, a switch to "proper tyres" on Roush rims sufficiently quelled the Mustang's impression of snap oversteer.?

I love crude horrible cars. I could just barely afford a used Viper for about $40k; but if I want a modern crude horrible car, I might have to settle for a Mustang.

[sandertheshark]

I love crude horrible cars. with ridiculous power

Me too.

[Raza]

Crude, horrible cars have their charm, indeed.

[SVT_Power]

Haha...I suppose that's true.  I remember seeing a video of a Viper and a Ferrari on some mountain roads.  The Ferrari came around the bend first, with little drama, and then the Viper came about at the same speed or so and fell off the mountain.  It slid right off the road at the apex and started rolling down.  The guy was okay, but the Viper looked like a featherweight who tried to take on a heavyweight.

I thought that part where the viper falls is fake

[Raza]

I thought that part where the viper falls is fake

Looked real enough to me. 

[gasoline]

More like BMW 3ers.

Oops! hehe...

[gasoline]

Haha...I suppose that's true.  I remember seeing a video of a Viper and a Ferrari on some mountain roads.  The Ferrari came around the bend first, with little drama, and then the Viper came about at the same speed or so and fell off the mountain.  It slid right off the road at the apex and started rolling down.  The guy was okay, but the Viper looked like a featherweight who tried to take on a heavyweight.

Here you go champ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4iokQPVWrY

[280Z Turbo]

From what I hear, Corvettes cost about the same as 911s in Europe, so they're not the performance bargain they are here. And, the history of the Corvette doesn't matter as much to them as it does American Corvette buyers, and Corvettes are only sold in LHD which limits its markets, so they don't sell many.

Top Gear ripped apart the Corvette, but other journalists have been nicer to it:

Top Gear reviews suck, though. They always say stuff like "it's lighter than a feather" or "I won't bore you with how this works". I thought car guys cared about that kind of technical stuff. Maybe Jeremy Clarkson is too dumb to explain that kind of stuff.

[nickdrinkwater]

It is a show made by enthusiasts, but for a wide audience, as one of the only car shows on TV.  Most people aren't too bothered about stuff other than the essentials, which are given on TG.  It's more about entertainment, and facts and figures don't usually provide that!

[AutobahnSHO]

Here you go champ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4iokQPVWrY

Idiot driver.
First off, you don't race on public roads.
He was going too fast, then kept on the brakes too long,  you can't steer when the wheels are locked...