1969 Small Block Driver for trips��..

[Terry M.]

Dave,
I have made many trips in my 72 sb 3:36 rear. I usually have my wife along and the biggest challenge has been the storage area for a 10 day trip. We found that e bags are the best solution to limited storage. As I get older the 72 doesnt feel as comfortable as I remember 45 years ago. Terry has it right that the newer cars make for a more economical and comfortable ride. One other note when on the road with a older corvette, I dont like to cruise over 70mph as you are reving at 3000 rpm (3:36 rear} which I found the limit for noise, gas mileage and engine life. Dont mind taking it up to the red line occasionally just my 2 cents from my experience from driving Corvettes for over 50 years.
Best of luck
Ed

Just to drive a point home: The 2008 cruises at 80mph at just over 1600 maybe 1700 rpm. 2000 rpm in 6th gear is 90 mph. And 26 to 29 mpg. Yes it likes premium gas, but no worries at almost any gas station. I can set the AC and forget it.
I am not trying to talk Dave or Ed H out of the C3, but rather to justify at my age why I prefer the comfort and reliability of the C6. Yes, in many ways (tires and maintenance) it is a lot more expensive than a C3. And if it fails on the road (It hasn't yet in 87K miles) there is almost no chance of fixing it on the shoulder.

[Ed D.]

[Patrick H.]

Just to drive a point home: The 2008 cruises at 80mph at just over 1600 maybe 1700 rpm. 2000 rpm in 6th gear is 90 mph. And 26 to 29 mpg. Yes it likes premium gas, but no worries at almost any gas station. I can set the AC and forget it.
I am not trying to talk Dave or Ed H out of the C3, but rather to justify at my age why I prefer the comfort and reliability of the C6. Yes, in many ways (tires and maintenance) it is a lot more expensive than a C3. And if it fails on the road (It hasn't yet in 87K miles) there is almost no chance of fixing it on the shoulder.

I've taken the 72 on a few road trips when getting its awards, and prior to that the 71 went on some too.

There's a reason I drive the 08 on road trips now, as both Terry and Ed relate. It may be "boring" because it's a modern car, but I think that if you ask my usual riding companion he'd tell you that our trips are not boring when I'm driving the C6.

Even a nice C5 can make a good driver, and a nice C4 coupe is almost "vintage" when you think about it. I say coupe both for luggage storage and for rigidity; the C4 convertibles F-L-E-X. However, they are all much nicer highway cars than a C3.

[Tom B.]

[Peter H.]