2017 C7 Corvette Pictures & Images
Check out these great 2017 Corvette images. The C7 Corvette ties a lot of the Corvette’s history into one car and you can see from these photos and images that it was a huge success from a design perspective. The C7’s grille is similar to the original C1. The exaggerated arches of the front fenders are all C3 “Coke bottle” while the roofline is definitely a C4 carryover. The side panels and vents resemble the C5 and the C6’s tall back remains for the C7 generation. Overall, a much more aggressive looking car when compared to the C6. These 2017 Corvette pictures say it all.
See full 2017 C7 Corvette Overview / More pictures on Instagram
I am totally confused about Corvette models. What is the “el cheapo” model, what is the elite model and all styles and models in between. I currently own a Porsche Boxster Base. If I would have known better at the time, I would have held out for an “S” type. What? At this time I might go Mercedes, because I kinda know an AMG from a c250
This is a great question, though it can be a bit complicated to answer.
An “el cheapo” model of Corvette suggests poor quality, and that’s not always true, though there are some eras where the quality control behind a Corvette build was certainly not as good as it is today. Corvettes built in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s are often considered some of the “cheapest made” Corvettes in the history of the brand. In reality, however, this is not necessarily true. Yes, Corvettes from 1976-1985 were low horsepower, sluggish cars that were more about handling and appearance than they were about actual performance. However, these Corvettes are incredibly affordable today – and while they may not produce the type of horsepower that some owners look for in a sports car, the cost of ownership is pretty cheap, making a late-model C3 or an early C4 a very cost-effective way to become part of the Corvette community.
If performance and handling is your thing, then you need to fast-forward at least a few years to the more powerful C5 (and later) generations. Even among these cars, there are some special variations that produce considerably more horsepower, such as the Z06 coupe, originally introduced as a 2001 MY, that took the stock C5 up to 385 horsepower and offered drivers a track-ready sports car. From the C6 era (2005-2013), you had the base coupes, which produced 400hp (from 2005-2007) and 430hp (2008-2013) respectively. Add to that the C6 Z06 Corvette, which produced a breathtaking 505 horsepower and then the 2009-2013 ZR-1, which produced 638hp, and now you’ve got some Corvettes that will shove your eyeballs into the back of your head!
The C7 – 2014-2019 – took it even further, producing a Z06 variant that produced 650hp and 650lb/ft of torque and put the 0-60 times at just under 3 seconds, and then, in 2019, you had the C7 ZR1, which produced 755 horsepower and became the first production Corvette to have a pricetag in excess of $100k.
Which brings up another point – buying a Corvette is a little different that buying a Porsche. With Porsche, you’ve got different models (Boxsters, Caymans, 911’s, 928’s, 944’s, etc.) that all offer different featurs and provide different driving experiences. With Corvette, you have one base platform for each generation that offers improved powerplants with its upgraded versions (the aforementioned Z06, ZR1, etc.) However, you need to know what you want out of your Corvette when shopping, because even most base models will melt tires and launch you up to speed pretty quickly.
If you want unprecedented power and track-ready capability, our recommendation is to invest into a 2014-2019 Corvette Z06 coupe or convertible. That 650HP we mentioned will give you more power than you’ll ever really need, and will also offer you compromised handling, cornering and driveability – both on the track and on the open road. Just be prepared to part with $50-60k (or even more).
If you want great power, reliability and fun without breaking the bank – look for a late model C4 (1992-1996) which offers you a respectable 305hp LT1 and all the torque you’ll ever really need, a C5 (1997-2004) coupe or convertible, which ups the ante to 350hp and improved handling and cornering, a C6 (2005-2013) coupe or convertible, which provides you with 400+ horsepower (430hp on 2008 and later models) that will rival any Porsche Boxster and most Porsche 911’s on the open road, or a C7 (2014-2019) coupe or convertible, that delivers 460hp without upgrades…these cars look sharp, are loaded with technology, and turn heads everywhere they go.
If saving a few bucks is your thing – look at a late-model C3 (1976-1982) or an early model C4 (1984-1991)…these cars stil have a LOT to offer…they may not be horsepower hogs at the racetrack, but they deliver a driving experience that promises to leave a smile on your face. Ask me how I know? I’ve driven all of them, and I’ve yet to drive a Corvette that I hated…yes, there are some where I’ve found the gas pedal lacked the “wow” factor that the newer Corvettes provide, but c’mon – you are driving a CORVETTE! How can you not love it, even its a little sluggish off the line, when you see those cool signature front fenders framing your windshield in the way only a Corvette can….it just doesn’t get much better than that.
I hope this helps answer your question!