If you believe what many say, there is no way that a sports car makes a good daily driver. The ride is too stiff, the trunk is too small, the fuel efficiency is woefully bad, and so on. The truth of the matter is, however, that those that are not in the know think of supercars as sports cars. They aren’t technically wrong, as the term “supercar” is a contraction of “super sports car,” but there is a difference between a true sports car and a true supercar.
The Corvette, throughout its life, has always balanced between the two. The base model has always been steadfastly a sports car, and the up-market versions, like the C7 ZR1, the C8 Z06, the C2 L88, and such have ventured into supercar territory. They live in the same market space as other sports cars like the Porsche 911, the BMW M3 and M5, the Lotus Emira, and the like.
But, which Corvette (or Corvettes) fit the bill as the best daily driver sports car? Let’s find out!
What Defines A Daily Driver?
You can ask anyone that question and get a different answer every time. However, there are many points that will overlap, and by focusing on these, we can nail down a definition.
Reliability
The overriding agreement among all definitions of a daily driver is that it first and foremost must be reliable. If you’re commuting to and from work five days a week, then taking a short trip somewhere on the weekend, you can’t have your car breaking down once a month.
Efficiency
A daily driver needs to be decently good on fuel. This has been aided in recent years with multiple technologies such as stop-start engines, hybrid assist, cylinder deactivation, and the like. There is a reason many economy cars are equipped with inline four engines, as they are inherently efficient, especially if paired with a hybrid system or low pressure turbocharger.
Practicality/Usability
There is a reason that one of the terms for a daily driver sports car is “Grocery Go-Kart.” During daily life, it trundles about doing the mundane things you need it to do, but when the weekend comes and the canyon roads call, all of a sudden it’s a rip-snorting, corner-carving monster. The best daily drivers are highly practical while also not forgetting that fun needs to be had.
Comfort/Features
There’s no point driving a car every day if it hurts your back and leaves you sore after the length of a commute. Hardcore sports cars with stripped out interiors make great track cars, but for day to day life, you want air conditioning/heating, plush seats that are supportive, a big chunky steering wheel to grab a hold of, and a decent infotainment system
The Best Daily Driver Corvette Generations
There are three generations that we think fit the bill as a perfect daily driver. We also understand that this might be a controversial selection, but please do remember, this is just our subjective opinion and it very likely will not match yours.
C5 Generation
The C5 Corvette is really the first generation that could be considered as a daily driver. For sure, earlier generations were used by some as daily drivers, the C5 took all that was learned over the years and added modern reliability to the mix. This isn’t a criticism of build quality of previous generations, it’s that the LS1 was, and still is, a pretty much bulletproof V8.
The C5 also added in a whole new way of laying things out inside, with a very driver-centric dash, lots of legroom, and quite plush seats. It wasn’t the greatest in terms of practicality, but it still had enough storage space and a decent trunk to be able to safely go on long-weekend getaways without much issue.
The only thing about the C5 that knocks it down a peg is that it was made in the time when fuel efficiency was starting to become important, but wasn’t a main concern yet. It was fairly thirsty even at highway speed, and despite its fairly hefty tank at 18.5 gallons, it would only get about 400 miles to a tank if driven with mileage in mind.
C7 Generation
The C7 generation is perhaps the best balance of all things front-engine when it comes to Corvettes. It has a very strong engine that sips fuel if you’re mindful of your right foot, it has very comfortable seats, and it’s even somewhat practical with a pretty decent trunk. It’s also got the best feeling clutch of the manual transmission generations, and a really nice, notchy shifter so you can make sure the gears have slid home before lifting said clutch.
It’s also a very wide car, which on major city roads isn’t much of an issue. In suburban side roads, it could be a bit of a squeeze, especially if you look at places like Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, et al. It is also mechanically sound in comparison to older Corvettes, as the quality of the production line has been constantly improved throughout the 2000s.
Keep in mind, we’re not thinking about the Z06, Z07, or ZR1 in this frame of reference. Just a bog standard base level Corvette C7.
C8 Generation
The newest generation of Corvette, the C8, has a lot going for it. Not only is it one of the more powerful Corvettes when new from the factory, it also has all the modern technology that can be jammed into a sports car. It can sip fuel while cruising, or guzzle a full tank in an hour of track time. It’s also a genuinely nice place to be, with very comfortable seats.
Where it starts to lose out is on practicality, but truth be told, you don’t buy a mid-engine sports car if you want to be practical. It’s got enough of a frunk for a small bag or two, and there is enough space in the rear storage maybe for a weekend bag, but that’s really about it for storage.
If you’re looking to get the most out of both performance and fuel efficiency here, the only real option is the E-Ray, as uses the hybrid motor on the front wheels to assist in pulling away from the line, which is generally when a car uses the most fuel in regular day to day driving. The counterpoint is that the E-Ray is almost as expensive as a Z06.
How Reliable Are Used Corvettes?
Used Corvettes are typically considered to be reliable. However, this can vary based on different factors such as the the model year, maintenance history, and if they were driven hard by the previous owners (they are sports cars after all).
Model Year and Generation
Different generations of Corvettes have different reliability records. For example, the C5 (1997-2004) and C6 (2005-2013) generations are often praised for their reliability, while earlier models might require more frequent maintenance.
Maintenance History
A well-maintained Corvette with regular servicing and proper care can be very reliable. It’s crucial to review the service records of any used Corvette to ensure it has been properly maintained.
Previous Ownership and Usage
Corvettes driven hard or used extensively on race tracks may have more wear and tear compared to those used as occasional weekend drivers. As a result, common issues may up pop including electrical problems, transmission issues, suspension wear, etc. Thankfully, Corvettes also benefit from a strong enthusiast community and a good availability of OEM and aftermarket parts, both of which can make maintenance and repairs more manageable.
If you’re shopping for a used Corvette, you can use EpicVin’s free VIN decoder to get more information on the vehicle history including engine specs, model/trim, safety equipment, options, and other tidbits like whether it has damage claims.
Don’t shy away from used Corvettes as there are hidden gems out there, especially if you apply due diligence in researching to ensure that the vehicle has been well cared for.
Our Pick & Why: 2014-2019 Corvette C7
Despite the C8 generation being very competitive, our personal pick for the best daily driver Corvette is the C7, either base or Z06 model.
The most important reason here is that the C7 has more than enough power, but if you aren’t absolutely mashing the pedal to the floorboards, it is one of the most efficient Corvettes ever made. If you take care to drive it sensibly, you can expect anywhere from 27 to 30 MPG, and with a fuel tank of 18.5 US gallons, that’s up to a realistic 400 to 500 miles per tank. We factor in a few weekend hoons around some twisties in that equation, too!
The next most important is that since there is no engine in the middle, and there are only two seats, the C7 has a surprisingly large trunk for a sports car. It can easily hold a week’s grocery shop, a couple of decent suitcases for a long weekend away, and the like. At a claimed 15 cubic feet, that’s more than enough if you do a little Tetris with your stuff to fit it all in.
As well, the Corvette C7 is immensely comfortable. The seats are plush, with ample cushioning and big, fat bolsters to hug you tight, it also has a very decent infotainment system and the A/C actually blows cold air. It may not be as space-age and streamlined as the C8’s cockpit, but that’s part of the charm. The passenger, as long as they aren’t 7 feet tall, can comfortably fit in, and even has decent leg room so they won’t feel cramped.
Even better, after working through so many generations, the C7 is hilariously reliable. It’s almost to the point that you have to actually be trying to break it to cause a major issue. Sure, it might be a little hungry on oil and the vent ducting might click when you switch settings as the C7 is 10 years old from its introduction now, but otherwise as long as it is maintained regularly and gets some TLC, a Corvette is just about as solid as a wood burning stove.
In fact, in reliability ratings, the Corvette C6 and C7 both came second, only being beaten out by the Porsche 911. All sports cars will have their quibbles and issues, but as long as you keep on top of it, this little American sports car icon with a thundering great V8 up front and power going out the back will do everything you need it to do, day in and day out.
