MotorMouths

The Corvette is a great car by any matrix. But could I be a Corvette guy? By the time I got out of the special edition Z06 Carbon, I’d come to a decision. It was so full of attitude, you simply couldn’t miss it. When I stepped out, I wasn’t at all embarrassed.

Not so much car as rocket-powered scream machine, the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 improves on the previous model by being even more focused on being a track car. Don’t expect German refinement or Japanese technical wizardry, as the Z06 is all about low-down power.

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon is one hell of a machine. If you’ve got enough money to afford one, then why not go for it? Well, If I were buying a ‘Vette, I’d go for the 430 hp Grand Sport instead.

While most of the Grand Sport’s lofty performance can’t be truly realized anywhere but on a race track—an environment where the steering in Corvettes seems to come alive and all their power can be utilized—the GS convertible is easy to drive and more than capable for day-to-day running.

For a relatively modest premium, Chevy has one-upped itself. Anyone looking to Europe for a real performance machine would be foolish not to take a look a the 2011 Corvette Grand Sport.

The 2011 Corvette Grand Sport convertible costs a lot of dough, but not when you consider how much performance you’re buying. It’s different from almost any other car you can think of and is arguably the ultimate expression of “good ole American Iron.”

Serious driving enthusiasts would be hard-pressed to get more performance at thrice the price of a 2011 Chevrolet Corvette.

Sure, the 2011 Corvette needs a new interior and better seats, and it’s not the world’s most practical car. But find a nice stretch of unmolested asphalt and wind the exhaust to 11, and you might find that you just don’t care.

GM is going with a less is more mentality for its all-new Z06 Carbon Limited Edition Corvette. You get the look, feel, sound, and most of the capabilities of the ZR1 without the six-figure price tag.

What’s the hottest Corvette convertible ever made in the ’Vette’s storied 58-year history? If we’re talking production models, then it would be the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible.

Today’s ‘Vette is a badass sports car. It’s not hard to get a sense of this car’s seriousness. But “serious” isn’t quite the adjective that comes to mind when you slip inside — the better descriptor for the cabin is “dated.”

When it comes to performance, the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette is one of the world’s best bargains. A lack of refinement proves you get what you pay for, but since you get a whole lot of old-school American muscle, that should be more than enough for many.