I have a 2010 Grand Sport convertible automatic but I absolutely love the car it’s plenty fast for me. Another great Video Lyle always look forward to the Friday video.
I have a 2010 version of this. The 436hp (dual stage exhuast) is plenty terrifying. It accellerates hard enough in 1st that it's really hard to keep off the rev limiter. In the snow, I CAN NOT break the rear tires loose with traction control turned on. I truly think any enging upgrades would wind the car too tight to use as a touring car. Oh, btw, 26mpg @65 on cruise control. 17mpg around town. Being a hand built LS3, I feel cracking the engine unless required would just mess up reliability.
Just picked up a torch red 2013 GS manual with 3300 miles, the previous owner mentioned these facts about the engine and I was unaware, glad to have confirmed it here, thanks Lyle
I literally just bought this exact Grand Sport you’re talking about. i’m a research junkie. I like to buy once cry once and I found her with 15,000 original miles garage kept since 2010. What a blast to drive !!
really enjoyed the deep knowledge that I will never need, life's funny that way. makes me glad I am just a top down rubbernecking tourer, life's easier without track days.
Interesting comment about the aluminum frame. I avoided the Z06 and went with a 2013 427 to avoid the aluminum frame mainly because the steel frame makes for better road cruising. Also, I wanted a convertible. Additionally, I've seen where the LS7 can drop a valve if heavily moded. It makes sense that a Grand Sport manual with some modifications to an LS3 would indeed be the best C6 track car.
They drop valves stock not modded. Anyone whose gonna mod there vette it’s going to be aftermarket heads and cam. The after market heads is actually sometimes referred to as the “fix” for the heads. Also great car man I have the same I hope you’re enjoying it
Why would a valve drop if modded? Are the engines that poorly made or that close the their operating envelope that anything that pushs them past that causes failure??!!!
Lyle, is the frame the reason for your z06 c5 choice? Thanks for this knowledge. I’ve also been looking at Gran Sport c6 models. Of course I’d rather have a c5 z06 as well. 😮😊
Man this is great to know, i have a c4 as my start into corvettes and was looking at c6 as the only other model i like in corvettes. Great to know the better buy is the gs manual. Too bad they seem to be rare.
I just bought a 2012 Super Sonic Blue GS 6M. I pick it up today with 33,500 miles. I am thinking about port and polishing heads, stage 2 cam, long the headers, exhaust. I have the factory NPP exhaust, so I am not sure which direction i will go. Awesome video. I don’t know what I had until I saw this video. Feels like I won the lottery. 😂
Congrats, Daniel! That is an excellent car, and in a very rare color (428 GS Coupes In Super Sonic Blue). My suggestion would be to get used to the car before planning any big upgrades, and to add the Soler Programmer after a week or two to eliminate the throttle lag built-in by GM. Let us know how your experience goes! Lyle :)
Nice Video, like every Saturday morning 👍 What i dont like about GM, it seems like they build different Engines, but give them the same Name. Veeery confusing. In the C5 there was differences between 97-00 and 01-04. But both Engines was the LS1. In this Video Lyle talk about the LS3, and the LS3 in the GS from 10-13 seems to be a complete different Engine than the ordinary LS3. But both name LS3. I think they could handle it better.
As long as it’s a manual transmission AND is a coupe, it has a dry sump. There’s also a plaque at the front, passenger side of the motor right under the covers that has the name of the person who built the LS3
As much as I want to buy American and a Corvette, at every turn, there always turned out to be unforced errors made by GM that have forced me to turn else where and look at German manufacturers. Before the C8 came out, I went to a large local dealer in Southern California and was asking about a C7 Z06. I was interested in what GM had before the C8 launched. I actually drove one and it was nice. In the showroom, there was a very low mileage C7 Z06 that they were showcasing. I noticed that the leather cover on the dash had peeled and separated. Not sure why the dealer didn't see it or if they did, didn't bother to repair it! It's quality like this with lack of attention from the factory that is a complete fail! I never went back to look at Chevy after that!
