I rode as passenger only, however...
My quick observations in a 10 minute ride keeping in the lower RPM band.
There is no off idle torque. It will take some time for new owners to get used to and not stall. This could be in part due to the drive by wire throttle.
It feels docile and well mannered in normal traffic driving.
It looks like a vette over the front fenders. It blends in with traffic like a vette.
The handling and chassis felt very tight in what little we could do on the street.
Brakes....as a passenger the 3 point belt is useless. It hurts a bit when the slack runs out. I would not ride in this car without a harness at the racetrack. It slows down that fast. I've been in racecars as a passenger where you legs went out straight in long brake zones. I suspect it will be the same with this car.
Power....we couldn't get into it but I feel as though the cars going to rocket through the RPM band and that torque band is real flat after 2K. Meaning it's going to pull hard, then harder once it "comes up" on the cam. I want to feel this car again after it's got break in miles complete.
Summary:
I expect the '08 to be very fast at the track (roadcourse). I currently track my Gen 2 and typically don't have an issue being faster than the few Gen 3s I see there. I believe a few laps in the '08 and I could shave 2 or 3 seconds off my time at Willowsprings. Between the better brakes and the more docile secure feeling I think it will be easy to drive fast, and it will be fast enough to scare alot of folks. The downside to being so easy to drive this car is going to get alot of folks in trouble quickly. Folks that don't have experience with higher HP cars and have more money than sense will have an opportunity to get in over their heads in a heartbeat. Just as we saw the Z06s smashed in their early release, there is going to be the "I've bought first" crowd that stacks these up. This issue will be compounded as it's going to appeal to a broader spectrum of the market whereas the earlier gens were geared more to the ******** crowd. It's a real shame but we're going to see some folks "snakebit". Those with track experience will fair better and enjoy the changes....we'll everybody but Chuck. I believe Chuck will not like the docile feeling and not enjoy the car. That is, until he can get one on the track and see how fast it can really go, then he's going to be sold.
Being a low budget track rat and not a professional racer I think there's a lot in this car. The thought of the ACR although appealing, is also damn frightening.
All you '08 brethren enjoy your cars and please be careful. Get to a driving school soon!
Carl
My quick observations in a 10 minute ride keeping in the lower RPM band.
There is no off idle torque. It will take some time for new owners to get used to and not stall. This could be in part due to the drive by wire throttle.
It feels docile and well mannered in normal traffic driving.
It looks like a vette over the front fenders. It blends in with traffic like a vette.
The handling and chassis felt very tight in what little we could do on the street.
Brakes....as a passenger the 3 point belt is useless. It hurts a bit when the slack runs out. I would not ride in this car without a harness at the racetrack. It slows down that fast. I've been in racecars as a passenger where you legs went out straight in long brake zones. I suspect it will be the same with this car.
Power....we couldn't get into it but I feel as though the cars going to rocket through the RPM band and that torque band is real flat after 2K. Meaning it's going to pull hard, then harder once it "comes up" on the cam. I want to feel this car again after it's got break in miles complete.
Summary:
I expect the '08 to be very fast at the track (roadcourse). I currently track my Gen 2 and typically don't have an issue being faster than the few Gen 3s I see there. I believe a few laps in the '08 and I could shave 2 or 3 seconds off my time at Willowsprings. Between the better brakes and the more docile secure feeling I think it will be easy to drive fast, and it will be fast enough to scare alot of folks. The downside to being so easy to drive this car is going to get alot of folks in trouble quickly. Folks that don't have experience with higher HP cars and have more money than sense will have an opportunity to get in over their heads in a heartbeat. Just as we saw the Z06s smashed in their early release, there is going to be the "I've bought first" crowd that stacks these up. This issue will be compounded as it's going to appeal to a broader spectrum of the market whereas the earlier gens were geared more to the ******** crowd. It's a real shame but we're going to see some folks "snakebit". Those with track experience will fair better and enjoy the changes....we'll everybody but Chuck. I believe Chuck will not like the docile feeling and not enjoy the car. That is, until he can get one on the track and see how fast it can really go, then he's going to be sold.
Being a low budget track rat and not a professional racer I think there's a lot in this car. The thought of the ACR although appealing, is also damn frightening.
All you '08 brethren enjoy your cars and please be careful. Get to a driving school soon!
Carl
