Make no doubt about it, I love my baby.  But - I have been looking at the new Z06 and have to admit I am really impressed.  When the 05's came out I thought they were boring and that Vette lineage was headed for the ditch, again (circa C4 era - my bias).  Don't know what happened, but engineering and design came together this year and honestly I get chills reading about the performance stats. My 81 was produced in a year similar to this year with regard to gas prices and inflation. Auto production responded to the economic crisis and I have a stock 350 w/ 190 hp, top end 85 on the speedometer and I am happy. A little more umph from stop would be nice but I'm not complaining. However, when I read about a 505 hp engine on a light weight aluminum space frame, 477 lb-ft of torque that will pull you from 0-60 in 3.6 sec and 100 in 8 sec., I'm blown.  At the Nordschliefe track in German, this baby has eaten the McLaren SLR, Lamborghini Mercielago, and the Pagini Zonda S.  So far, the only thing faster is the $441,000 Porche Carrera GT.  Not bad for a car baselining at $65,800. This girl cruises at 150 mph and will stop time on a dime with six piston calipers operating six separate brake pads and that is just the front rotors.  The styling is pure sex and the chopped, sudden death rear end has been nicely re-designed, i.e., she has a great a**.

Where am I going with all this. Man, am I proud to be part of a lineage that has come to the Z06.  I think the C3 was cutting edge design and will continue to hold its own infinitum.  Now it has a respectable cousin. I truly believe Corvette is more than a car, it is, as the sign says, "a state of mind", Picasso on wheels, and the true American icon. Thank you Dave Mc for getting me excited again.

Whew. Glad to get that out of my system.

Paul

IT TOOK ME 3 YEARS OF WHINING AND POUTING TO GET MY C3, and I figure when we sell our other house in or around 2007, that should put us debt free with a little change, so I have been warming her up already for a new vette, things like, alot of vette owners have more than 1, then we go to a show and she hears people talking about the corvettes that they have (purals), I say things like I am a true vette head, and it is the ONLY car I will buy from now on, and the fact that we are spending 50 G's on the mini van for my daughter who is in a wheel chair, softens the blow, and then the final thing I say is " honey, I know you won't drive the LT-1, but you'll look mighty fine in a new one with all the bells and frills.  at the last show we went to (her first) she did mention that she would have a newer one if if have a graphic on the hood (person there with a very tastful eagle and flag), and then she saw the lambo door kit and that got a second look, and the strobe lights in the parking lights, hightened her interest, and she even mention the C3 that blew flames out the exhaust. 

Figure a few more shows, little more yes dears, nd all I will have to do is decide on a color, and coupe or vert.

Love is grand, like 70 of them.

BadLT:

You have discovered "The Forumula!" I am referring to the process of how to pull Mrs. into "The Plan". All the right pieces are there, most important is the TIMING.  You are starting early enough to plant seeds that just need time to grow. Women have known The Formula for years. It is taught them from an early age in benign activities like "sewing circles," "bridge clubs," "bingo".  Those are actually Secret Society meetings where women 1) teach daughters The Formula and 2) refine The Formula among themselves.  After thousands, perhaps millions of years of cultural evolution, they have created The Formula, which, you must know has infinite combinations.  The highways are littered with the decaying bodies of men who unknowingly went up against The Formula and lost. Any doubts about The Formula can be laid to rest by one simple proof.  Have you ever heard of a woman who, during an argument, could not remember the exact details of every argument you've ever had back to when you were just hanging out in high school? What they use to confuse you creates doubt and you know and she knows you know you can't remember.  This sets up the "kill shot" and its all over.  And you thought she was going to a baby shower!  You have tapped in to "The Force, Luke," and that is all it takes.  I would just suggest, every now and then you ask her, just before going somewhere, (remember timing) "Honey, do these jeans make my butt look too big."  Those perfectly timed comments will keep you sailing in the stratosphere, which is where you are headed.  Congratulations.  Let me know when the new Vette arrives.

  "The Forumula!"   

That is so true and it only takes a couple of years of explaining to them - that our C3 just wan't made with this or that - but you understand that the newer Vette's may have a better this or that.

She's already looking forward to another (newer) one and can easily describe it in great detail.

so true, so true ( you 'gotta love a wife like that!)