2017 Chevrolet
Corvette Stingray

10 Things To Know About the 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

When you drive a 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, all eyes are on you, all the time—just like KK. Whether because of its distinctiveness, its loudness, or its reputation and lore of the quintessentially American sports car, this is the car that simply can’t go unnoticed. Gas station, library, highway, daycare…doesn’t matter where you are—when you pull up in the ‘Vette, everyone will be checking you out. So if you’re a subtle, earth-tone, understated kind of gal, this is not the car for you. But if you want to be the center of attention and don’t want to spend $100k on a Ferrari, this will get you all the head-turning you can handle. 

Because regular selfies are just not enough when you’re living your Kim Kardashian fantasy, the 2017 Corvette Stingray has an available Performance Data Recorder, which logs video of your driving sessions, along with real-time performance data! All this goes onto an SD memory card so you can analyze your technique and improve your driving abilities—and post all of that online. Now THAT is how you win at Instagram. And when someone else is driving the car, Valet Mode can capture video and data so you can know where your baby has been.

Now for a reality check: for a car that seems to be the mid-life crisis dream car of a whole lotta middle-aged dudes, (I peeked inside the tiny glove box to see if the car came with a special Viagra dispenser) this car is pretty rough on a Gen X or Baby Boomer bod. The car is really wide, (insert your own Kardashian joke here) and very, very low to the ground. This can make getting in and out literally a pain. Since you sit super low in the car, you’ll feel the road in a way you might not want to. Plus, it’s hard to see out of the car. It’s a pretty rough ride if you’re used to an SUV or sedan.

Having said all that, the interior itself is quite nice. The seats are comfortable in their own way—well formed, with good bolstering. Wide enough for an ample Kardashianesque behind, if you’re blessed with that sort of thing. Nice interior materials with good quality leather and stitching is a big improvement over the lackluster Corvette interiors of old. Again, the design is flashy and sporty, but hey—it’s a Corvette, so it works. 

Chevrolet has upped its tech game, and offers more connectivity gizmos than you might think on an old-school sports car. The myChevrolet Mobile App (iPhone or Android) turns your phone into a virtual command center, letting you control your car even when you’re nowhere near it. Some of the features require OnStar to operate, but not all. The app allows you to do some pretty cool things—stop and start your car by remote, or send locations directly from your computer or phone directly to the navigation system in your car. It also helps you find where you parked your car, and will show you your gas and air pressure levels.

Everyone loves a hotspot. The 2017 Corvette Stingray keeps you on your internet game, with a standard 4G wireless hotspot, allowing you to connect up to seven devices. Any time your vehicle is on, your Wi-Fi is on, too. 2017 also added Apple CarPlay capability, and a front curb view parking cameras.

Although not an economy car by any means, the 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray does offer a lot of performance for its price. Sure, there are lots of high-end performance sports cars out there from Porsche, Jaguar, Maserati, and the like, but you will go far above the 50k range to get an equivalent amount of power. If you exercise restraint with the seemingly endless array of cool options available, this car is less pricey than other sports cars. But if you go nuts with the extras, they will add up quickly.


Of course, the real reason you get a Corvette, envious looks and attention aside, is that it’s flat out fun to drive. The acceleration is thrilling. The engine and exhaust sounds are about as vroomy as it gets. What’s the point of making a big entrance without some serious noise to announce your arrival?  Going from zero to sixty in 3.7 seconds is not something that’s a necessity in life, and is rarely recommended  for anyone, really. But when you get that urge, this car will definitely do it. And boy is it fun!


The Corvette Stingray is one of a vanishing breed of cars left that are available with a manual transmission. And this is the kind of car that just begs for a gear-shifting good time. It’s well worth brushing up on your skills or learning to drive a stick for the first time if you’re considering this car. However, if you insist on an automatic, this does have a cool eight speed transmission, which is nicer than the norm.  

The 2017 Corvette Stingray is available either as a coupe or a convertible. The powered convertible can be raised and lowered  while the car is in motion, up to 30 mph. If you want the wind in your hair, this one will give it to you. The coupe and the convertible versions are very similar, and a drop top adds $4000 to the price. But think of the tan you’ll get!


*As of this writing, Kim Kardashian does not drive a Corvette. But you never know.