The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C8 is a thing of beauty. The eighth iteration introduced in 2019 was nothing short of revolutionary for the nameplate. It was the first time in the model's history it came with an engine behind the cockpit. The words "true sports car" and "supercar" were uttered here and there.
This Stingray has been driven for 32,000 miles or 51,499 kilometers in the past three years. It had two windshields and four sets of tires replaced. The Corvette has been put through the wringer more than a couple of times down the quarter-mile, so no mercy was given. You'd think the tire replacements were due to all the burnout warming before races, but you'd be wrong. The owners simply had bad luck and popped them three times.
After all was said and done, Edmunds Cars spent $1,200 on replacement wheels, $5,000 on tires, and $2,000 on windshields. The total so far is $8,253. The good news is that these costs were provoked by the single most faulty feature of any car... the driver. As for the car's fault, it was serviced for 25 days at the dealer in three years.
The oil had to be changed after 4,800 miles or 7,725 km. A new transmission filter was needed at 7,500 miles (12,070 km). These two cost roughly $750, totaling a regular maintenance cost of around $1,300.
The initial price for the Stingray was $80,660, and it was just sold for $61,000, meaning a depreciation of almost $20k. If you add up the rest of the expenses from the last three years, you get a cost-to-own of $29,000 and change. Is it too much, is it fair? Well, it all depends on the size of the owner's bank account.
Photo: Edmunds Cars
While no one would ever accuse the modern-day Stingray of not being flashy, the best part about this model is that its beauty is not just paint-deep. The inner beauty is quite the charmer as well, with tons of personality.
First, let's talk specs. This C8 Corvette Stingray packs a superb-sounding 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 powerplant that can deliver up to 495 hp (502 ps) with 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque. Chevrolet planted the engine behind the driver, resulting in a better cabin design, better ergonomics, and overall occupant comfort. The interior also holds up pretty well, especially since Chevy didn't use so much glue and squeaky plastic this time.
We can't discuss the Stingray without chatting about another sibling, the 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06. Edmunds raced them both in a 1/4-mile showdown, and the Z06 was naturally faster. The latter comes with a 5.5-liter V8 engine that can produce 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
However, it was double the price of the Stingray, at $160,000, and the gap between them wasn't that shocking: the Z06 hit 60 mph in 3.1 seconds, while the Stingray did it in 3.3 seconds. For the 1/4-mile, the 2023 Chevy Z06 won in 10.7 seconds at 130.5 mph (210 kph), while the Stingray finished in 11.4 seconds at 120.3 mph or 193.6 kph.
Photo: Edmunds Cars
To each their own, but double the money for a 0.7-second advantage down the quarter mile doesn't mean a whole lot if either of these would be your daily driver. In other drag races, this Stingray beat heavyweights like the 453-hp M2 (2023). It tied with the 668-hp Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing (2022), which is no easy feat.
This mid-engine RWD sports car is fast and agile, the steering is great, the engine is as responsive as it comes, and paired with that 8-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission system with short gearing, it performs miracles against cars out of its price league.
So it has looks and charm and drives itself basically, but it has one feature that stands inches above all... literally. The indispensable nose lift option that makes life all the much sweeter for those brave enough to take this thing grocery shopping.
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is a fun car with looks to boot, no doubt. Until the C9 comes out around 2029, we have the E-Ray and the upcoming ZR1 to keep us entertained.
Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive). Full profile
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