The Grand Sport. Part 2: The experience.

[Jeff V.]

Now it's time to move on to more fun topics. I for one am tired of talking about registration hassles for a while. So we're not even going to mention the S word here. :lol;

Friday was the first time I've had it properly clean since I took deliver of it. It was parked outside the whole time while I got the Stingray sold. I really, really love this color combination. It's really the biggest reason I bought this car.







Vira and I took it out to dinner Friday night. It's amazing how it can be so similar to my Z51, but still feel so different. The Grand Sport is basically the Z51 but with wider tires and bigger brakes. The difference is really noticeable. I'm sure the tighter Z07 suspension helps a lot too. It just feels tighter and more responsive. It corners so flat.

The alcantara on the seats is a huge improvement too. I always had to readjust in the white car because I'd end up sliding down. It's one reason I don't like leather seats in general. But I'm just glued in with these.

Speaking of the alcantara, the steering wheel feels great too. But it's got some uneven wear on the left side. I'm watching a video right now on how to fix that by sanding it? That'll be interesting.

It doesn't really need anything else at the moment. I've got a few things in mind that I want to do, but there's no hurry. I really want a carbon spoiler to match the carbon ground effects, but they're kind of pricey and they're on loooong backorder at C7 Carbon.

I also want to get the exhaust on it, but I need to make some brackets to lock down the AFM valves. I don't really need to since they're spring loaded, but I'd feel better having them. Or I guess I could just do a shitty welding job like the last guy did

I also need to get rid of the crappy hydrodipped center console. It's an eyesore. I may just buy a new OEM one and keep this one as a core to use if I can find someone to do a carbon version like I want. The only off the shelf ones I've seen eliminate the aluminum trim piece. I want to keep that if possible.

[Duck Vader]

That is a bad ass looking car for sure dude.

[DCIV]

I’m glad your moving forward and are happy with it. It’s an amazing vehicle! Did he have to order the wheels in black?


Coop

[ChargerX3]

I think the blue might be growing on me a little. Now does this car get the garage treatment or not?

[Jeff V.]

Thanks guys. It's in the garage under a cover now that the Stingray is gone. Mostly because our cat likes to walk on it, and his dusty little footprints are really noticeable on the matte black stripe that runs down the middle of the car.

The stock wheels on the CE package are solid black.



The wheels on my car are from a 2018 Carbon 65 edition. Same wheel. Just with a polished lip.



The previous owner offered to sell me the original wheels with the worn out Cup 2 tires on them. I'm not interested. The stock wheels on the widebody C7s are known to crack and bend, so I'd rather put the money towards forged wheels. It's a shame because I really like these wheels otherwise.

[ChargerX3]

Glad to see a worthy car take the garage spot. Ps I’d kill a cat.

[mjannusch]

The widebody really does look sweet on the C7. I bet that color combo is really nice in bright sun.

[alienviking]

I am digging the exterior look of that car. Might be my favorite C7 look hands down.

[aaronatstate]

I really, really like the blue as well.

I think Obsessed Garage did a video about restoring the Alcantara on his steering wheel. If I remember right he bought some new stuff, and ended up not really needing it because he was able to restore it (and I think he sanded it even).

I love the Alcantara in my RS, and in the new seat covers I put into my Stealth as well. It grips so well, don't slide around at all like the leather I had in my ST or my previous seat covers in my Stealth.

So can we use this thread now to look for wheels

[Jeff V.]

I watched his video about the alcantara, and also cleaning the seats. I may have to try some of that. The seats are pretty clean, but I can still see a fair amount of dirt on them. Keeping these things looking good is going to be tough.

I've got a list of wheels going

Apsis makes the center console I want. Their stuff is top notch, but pricey. I asked them for a quote. We'll see how that goes.

[Jeff V.]

Apsis wants $1500 to do the center console, driver's window switch bezel, and the little HUD control bezel. Their stuff is nice, but not that nice.

Been talking to the prior owner some more. He's got a brand new steering wheel and center console arm rest / lid, along with a few other odds and ends. Those are high wear items that I wanted spares of anyway, so we're putting together a deal for me to buy all of it for a pretty reasonable price.

I also found out there's a company that makes forged replicas of the stock GS and Z06 wheels. So I might not have to give up this style of wheel. We'll see. It's still very early on that topic.

[Chris GTO TT]

Nice find!

On the wheels it's one reason I've been hesitant about a C5 Z06. I basically have to find a stock equivalent width and offset in 18 for the street class in Auto-x. It's doable but basically 4k in wheels and tires.

[Jeff V.]

What's wrong with stock C5 rims? I thought they were pretty sturdy?

[Chris GTO TT]

Tire options are very limited, Tire Rack doesn't even have anything listed for stock size C5 Z06 tires. Additionally I'd like to swap back and forth for Auto-x and street so as to not wear out the Auto-x tires fast.

[Jeff V.]

Thoughts on Tension Blue calipers? It's not anything I'll do soon, if ever. The stock light gray color is kind of growing on me.

[ChargerX3]

Hmmmm...why yes!

[Chris GTO TT]

[quote=""ChargerX3""]https://www.nj.com/resizer/fxRh_-d3IQR3 ... 6RHVO4.jpg

Hmmmm...why yes![/quote]

Love the BMG

[vegasidol]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]Thoughts on Tension Blue calipers? It's not anything I'll do soon, if ever. The stock light gray color is kind of growing on me.

[/quote]

I like it.

[Duck Vader]

I say leave it as is.

[Jeff V.]

I am going to do something about the Grand Sport logo on the fender though. Stock is silver and red, and they're raised above the black background. I want it to be silver and blue. I can buy a vinyl overlay for the red, but those are tiny and tend to peel because of how the letters are rounded on the edges. I think I'm going to try painting it.