Little Red Corvette

• By STEVE WHEELER
• Advocate WHEELS editor
• Published: Apr 3, 2009

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When I learned that I would be test driving a 2009 Corvette, thoughts began running through my head.

“I wonder if it will be the Z06 with its 505 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque?!”

“What if it’s the new ZR1 supercar, the most powerful production Corvette ever built with 638 horses that can sprint from a standstill to 60 miles per hour before you can count to four? How cool would that be?

But, alas, it was neither; it was the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette convertible. But I was not disappointed in this “regular” Corvette at all. In fact, Edmunds.com says you can’t find a better all-around sports car.

I’m down.

The thrill ride begins when the 6.2-liter LS3 V-8 engine roars to life. Twice, I was in enclosed parking garages when I pushed the start button. The sound that came from under the hood frightened little children and made pedestrians hurry to their cars, lest they confront the beast.

With the optional dual mode exhaust system, the sound from the Corvette  engine snarls even more.

But the car isn’t limited to bruising sound and smoky burnouts. It’s also a comfortable daily driver that just happens to be an iconic America sports car. The model lineup includes a coupe, convertible, the Z06 and the ZR1 supercar.

My well-equipped test convertible had the hide-away canvas top that must be released manually, but then rises and folds into its storage compartment automatically.

Once I maneuvered my 6-foot frame through the door and down into the driver’s seat, I found surprising room and very comfortable seating inside. It is, however, much easier to get into the car when the top is down.

Instrumentation is simple and basic. My test Corvette had the optional six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. On the center console was a button for selecting either sport or touring modes offered by the magnetic selective ride control. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard.

The few changes to the 2009 model include the addition of Bluetooth, a new 1LT convertible model, new colors, new steering wheel audio controls and a variable steering ratio standard on all models.

But when you crank the engine and take the Corvette onto the highway to stretch its legs, the car is awesome. The standard small-block V-8 is rated at 430 horsepower and 424 lb.-ft. of torque, and the dual mode exhaust system adds even more horsepower.