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The original was posted on /r/cars by /u/Carbosuchus on 2025-08-10 21:56:39+00:00.
TL;DR: The C8 Stingray is a fantastic starter sports car, with some limitations on the far ends of the dailyable vs fun-factor spectrum.
The car & buying journey: 2023 Corvette Stingray: 2LT, Z51, HTC. Generally "moderately optioned," doesn't have front lift or magride (some regrets about this, but still good enough).
I wanted to get into a usable sports car after owning a mild-mannered Audi A4. Purchased new in 2022 while car inflation was still fairly high (paid a $5k markup). Cross-shopped against Porsches of various types, BMW M3, Audi R8, Nissan GT-R, but pretty quickly settled on a Stingray as the more reasonably priced option in the market at the time, plus what it brought to the table which I'll get into.
How I use the car: Mainly a weekend car, with a mix of running errands, back roads, group runs, and road trips. At first it was my only car, now it shares a stable with my 2025 Mercedes-Benz E450 All-terrain. I'm a long term oriented owner and plan to own the C8 for at least 3-5 years more. I have done HPDE with a C8, but it wasn't with my own.
Driving dynamics: Pros: Fantastic for the right type of driver. After driving 911s (Carrera S), a Cayman, an M3, and a couple Audis in my past, what I liked about the C8 was its addictive smooth-but-strong power delivery, strong but non-jerky brakes, and confidence-inspiring grip and stability in the corners. It struck a nice balance of having fun-factor-at-legal-speeds while still being very technical, predictable, and trust-worthy. The sound of the NA V8 was also a big selling point for me. On track, the C8 felt far more capable, planted, and powerful than a similarly priced Cayman.
Cons: Yes, it lacks a little in steering feel, but most of the cars I compared against did as well; consider it the curse of modern cars. It's also prone to mild understeer on street alignment, probably by design.
Usability: Solid for a 2-seater. The frunk and wide trunk are a big leg up vs most comps. The ride height is an occasional pain when entering drive ways. Still, it's top of class IMO for the comfort features it provides for the money. I have front cameras, rear mirror camera to combat inherent mid-engine visibility issues, comfortable heated seats + steering wheel, and a solid sound system, all for minimal add-on option money.
I also love love love the simplicity and driver focus of the UI and interior layout despite not being the most visually impressive. Volume is adjustable via knob. Android Auto always stays connected. Steering wheel buttons are actual, clickable buttons. No piano black where there shouldn't be. Shouldn't have to say this, but here we are in 2025!
Cons: A little more unpleasant at low / stop and go speeds and needs vs the competition: turning radius in tight spaces is an occasional issue, the door is massive and can get you trapped if someone parks close, shifts are not butter smooth, and the Z51 track-oriented brakes are dusty and will start to squeal with displeasure with too much stop and go driving. Noise insulation is not as good as an e-class, but good enough for an HTC.
Looks: Subjective. Not the most traditionally beautiful of the group. Somehow, though, looking at it puts a smile on my face because it looks how it's supposed to look: a little brash, a little American, and like it prioritizes giving you space for your golf clubs. I love all the smiles it generates from people of all ages too.
Reliability and cost to own: Mechanically and electronically, this car has been dead reliable for me. Its only fault is one headlight rubbed a against the corner of its housing which created a tiny scratch on the paint; a known defect. Other than that, no problems at all. Costs are not Toyota level, but compelling vs the competition: a dealership oil change and simple check up runs about $250, less than my old A4 even.
FAQs:
Why not the Z06? At the time, Z06s in my area were selling for astronomical $80k mark ups. I knew they were going to depreciate like rocks, which they did. As for why I don't upgrade now, honestly the C8 Z51 gives me all that I need, and the Z06 is more compromised vs the Stingray on dailyability: an even wider car to navigate around an urban area, firmer ride, louder volume that will grate over long periods of time (I have tinnitus). The Z06 is of course the more fun, higher performing car. At the moment, I get more joy in investing in improving myself as a driver with seat time and training vs buying even more power and track performance that I won't realistically use most of the time. When it's time to upgrade for fun, I'm more likely to jump all the way to the C8 ZR1, an R8, or even a 296.
Are you worried about the transmission breaking? Maybe a little, but I'll accept the small x% risk for everything else this car gives me and its reasonable day to day running costs. A $20k repair bill would suck but is not a financial issue for me. I also bought a 5 year extended warranty for $2k for added peace of mind.