You are here

Corvette Stingray

8/10
Overall verdict

The Top Gear car review: Corvette Stingray

£69,490

Driving

What is it like on the road?

Yep, left-hand drive is still a hassle in the UK and you have to get used to looking out over a plain of bonnet, but the C7 is an equivalent size to a Porsche 911. That double-wishbone, transverse leaf rear suspension works exceptionally well, and it has the magnetorheological damping that means you can switch from track-tight to cruising at a flick of the Drive Mode Selector (Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport and Track), which ‘optimises’ no less than eleven of the car’s systems including exhaust, diff, steering, damping, traction, launch and fuel management.

Touring or Sport work best in the UK, and the compliance is fantastic. Add 50/50 weight distribution, three pedals and a slightly long-feeling manual Tremec ‘box, and you’ve got a suitably old-school package. However, with little body roll, great grip (unless provoked), linear reactions, top notch brakes and a chassis that’s remarkably friendly even if you switch the stability systems off (seriously…), it’s a great car to play in. And the noise is just sublime – pure V8 fire and brimstone from the four centrally-mounted exhausts. It’s lovely to bounce it off bits of the UK; parts of the country were made for listening to this great engine.

Wildcard

How about something completely different?

Wildcard

8/10

Porsche 718 Cayman

£44,790£75,348
A Porsche Cayman covers most of the bases for less money than the Stingray. Or an Exige S for purer driving thrills

COMPARE CAR FINANCE