Goofy Test Track question?

[GoofyDad869]

OK, here I go. First, let me say that I'm a car nut. Subscribe to many, many car magazines... All that being said, I'm usually somewhat disappointed by the new model displays at the exit of Test Track (you know, right before you get to the store). I still spend an hour easily each time I'm in that part of the ride, so not too disappointed.

My question is: Do they have the new Corvette Z06 on display? Not the base model Corvette (which is a hot enough car in its own right) but the 500hp, 7.0liter, 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, 0-100 in 7.0 seconds, breathes fire, etc., etc... It is just now starting in production run at the Bowling Green KY factory, and I'd love to see one "in the flesh" before I stomp to a dealership to sign up for one (it will be red of course, or black, or yellow...). I'll be in Epcot Sunday morning so I'll get my answer soon enough.

 

[safetymom]

I don't think they have it. Too bad you aren't coming the first week of November. They have a giant car show in the parking lot at Epcot. You can drive lots of GM cars and they always have a Corvette there.

 

[GoofyDad869]

I'm planning a trip up to Bowling Green for late November or early December - I know someone who just might "let me drive" (my childhood friend's big brother is fairly high up in GM's Corvette brand bureaucracy)...

 

[safetymom]

That sounds even better. Enjoy the ride.

 

[FigmentGuy]

We will be there Nov2-15th. We are big car fans. Just got me a new Chevy Cobalt! Can you please provide us with more information about this "epcot parking lot car show" is there a link? anything would be appreciated. I would love to visit this! (we live in michigan and try to make it to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to see concepts, new models, etc!) Thanks.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.autoshowinmotion.com/index.asp?flash=True&s={E72629D2-1B17-4B01-97E5-49003A55B164}

Here is the website for the Auto Show.

 

[FigmentGuy]

Thank you!

 

[GoofyDad869]

Yeah, thanks!

I am the proud owner of an '01 black Trans Am. Nothing like blasting down mountain roads with the T-tops out.

 

[indigoxtreme]

The GTO is there in its full glory.

 

[68firebird]

http://www.autoshowinmotion.com/index.asp?flash=True&s={E72629D2-1B17-4B01-97E5-49003A55B164}

Here is the website for the Auto Show.

This is awesome. Thanks safetymom! This is actually during my trip so I will be there for sure. I have already pre-registered...

If it wasn't for this great forum then I wouldn't have known about this.

 

[cleo]

I don't have the first idea what car that might be or if it's there, I just wanted to chime in to say that in all the years I've been a moderator here I've never seen this question asked! Very refreshing.

 

[ilovedale3]

There was a Corvette in there (as of when I was there 2 weeks ago), but not the beautiful Z06 that they had on the turntable last year.

On the turntable this year was the new Chevy HHR. It looks awesome and I really thought I wanted one... but then found out that it only came with a disappointing 4-cylinder (a 6-cyl. is not even offered!).

Have you ever been to Bowling Green before? It's awesome! Even if you can't drive, maybe they will let you crank one for the first time on the assembly line!

 

[GoofyDad869]

Yeah, I went to Bowling Green (both the 'Vette museum and the Assembly plant tour) in late '99 when the C5 Z06 was introduced as the "Hardtop" name - I thought it (the name at the time) was kind of wimpy. The C5 was the previous generation Corvette design, now they're producing the C6 (starting with '05 model year). They usually hold the high-performance packages back a model year or two (like other manufacturers/models sometimes hold back the convertible body styles the same way), so now's the time. I've been a gearhead for a long time and the Corvette has held a special place in my heart. They have F-body (Camaro & Firebird) gatherings at the 'Vette museum there (I think) twice a year - I'd like to go to one but my car is a daily-driver and is not display ready. Since the F-body is orphaned (not being produced by GM) I'd like them to bring the Camaro & Firebird back - but not if they do it like the Ford Thunderbird abortion from a few years back. I've been to the Chicago Auto Show in (many) years' past, but never to the Detroit Auto Show. The annual show here in Knoxville is nothing to compare with them.
But, the convention center is two blocks away from my office, so I head over there during the first day's (usually Thursday) lunch hour and spend time with the cars (I sat in a C6 'Vette convert, Ford GT, and the Dodge Charger last spring) in an uncrowded setting (there were maybe 100 guests in the entire convention space). Yeah, I'm a geek...

Now that I'm approaching middle-age (36)

I hereby designate the Z06 as my pre-planned mid-life crisis car (should be somewhere between 40 and 45). Some may say it's not an 'official' mid-life crisis if it's a pre-planned mid-life crisis - so if that's the case my "real" mid-life crisis car will be whatever little hottie Ferrari I might be able to swing sometime down the road (key word: might).

OK, so I shouldn't get my hopes up about seeing a Z06. A base 'Vette is good enough for me. They do have a GTO, cool. Nice car, and if I were in the market right now, that's what I'd be looking at.

How about the new roadster Pontiac Solstice (model year '06)? Or maybe - fingers crossed - the Solstice-based Saturn Sky which will be starting production in '07 or '08 (I'd put my money on '08). I realize GM uses this display space primarily to push trucks - I bet there's at least three truck models, and possibly (probably) a Hummer or two - that's their bread 'n' butter and well they should... They also seem to be using it to display alternate fuel technology.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Yes! At least they did have the new Z06 Corvette on display in January. DS had to take a picture of it for DH, the Corvette fanatic. It was bright blue, on the right (I think) as you come out of the ride.

 

[ilovedale3]

Since the F-body is orphaned (not being produced by GM) I'd like them to bring the Camaro & Firebird back - but not if they do it like the Ford Thunderbird abortion from a few years back.

You and my husband would get along like peas and carrots. He is a huge Camaro fan and has owned five or six over the years. Right now he is rebuilding his '67 Camaro. He wants the Camaro to come back so badly, but like you, he's afraid that Chevy will screw it up!

I asked DH what cars he could remember specifically from Test Track. he says that on display were the GTO, GMC Canyon, a Chevy Equinox, a Cadillac CTS, a Hummer H3, a Chevy HHR, a Corvette, and some sort of Saturn (maybe the Sky? DH doesn't know b/c he hates Saturns!).