2002 Chevrolet Corvette

While the big news in Corvettes for 2002 is the hardtop Z06 model bumping from 385 horses to 405 with 400 foot pounds of torque, I had to settle for the lowly 350-horse Convertible this time around. Poor, pitiful me. I made the best of things, however, by (a) taking advantage of December’s unseasonably warm weather to cruise around open air and (b) disposing of everything else on the road in second gear. Believe me when I say that although 405 horses are nice, they are far from necessary.

I took this Electron Blue Metallic ’Vette (a brand new hue) on a road trip, which gave me renewed admiration for how distance-worthy it can be. It’s no limo, but its big car stature among sport coupes and its forgiving ride made it far more compatible than I expected. I arrived refreshed even.

What makes it the great interstate ride, however, is its bottomless reserve of power, even in sixth gear. As one who never fully trusts a semi-truck, I love the way this Corvette makes quick work of passing in all circumstances.

Of course, that same juice gives the Corvette its fine reputation as a rod around town. The 5.7-liter V-8 delivers such muscle and torque at every opportunity, it is a blast to drive. Figure in its razor-sharp reflexes and excellent stability, and you have everything a sports car is meant to deliver.

Best of all, you have the relatively raw rumble of that big V8 filling the cockpit with the right kind of roar and vibration. It involves all the senses in ways the turbo 4s and 6s don’t, making it a real muscle-car experience. I find I often drive Corvettes more slowly than some of their slicker competition, because there’s something very satisfying about its sound and fury, even without speed.

The Bad News
Even though many would argue that a Corvette’s exhaust note is all the music anyone needs, I happen to believe a great audio system is an integral part of the sports car image. Nice wheels require good tunes.

With that in mind, the Corvette needs a better system. They have finally added an in-dash CD player to some units, which is an improvement (mine had the 12-disc trunk setup I despise, but only because it had in-dash cassette). But the overall sound quality lacks the kind of sparkling definition and separation I’ve heard in less expensive sedans. I realize the tight cabin presents difficult audio challenges; I still think Chevy could do better.

Unlike the vast majority of two-seat convertibles, the Corvette’s top is still fully manual. No punching a button to watch the magic disappearing act. But it is a relatively easy, one-man process once you get the hang of it, and it does stow away beneath a handsome hard cover. Of course, you then have very little trunk left, but let’s not be picky.

Gas mileage
EPA rated at 19 mpg city/28 highway. Not bad at all.

Price
Manufacturer’s base, $47,330;
Price as tested, $53,515

Is it worth it?
This generation Corvette continues to surprise me in wonderful ways. I expect it to be beautiful, bold and brash; I don’t expect the level of competitiveness and refinement it now represents. It is less domestic loudmouth, more world-class exotic than ever before. Yet the price remains thousands below its formidable competition.

Chevrolet has done a great job of balancing everyday comfort and driveability with sheer ferocity in this Corvette. It’s an American icon that hasn’t rested on its laurels, but instead continues to evolve in ways that make it worthy of the tribute.

Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville’s daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television.