A couple weekends past I had the opportunity to spend three scintillating days behind the wheel of Club Sportiva’s recently acquired 2007 Corvette – a standard issue, six-speed manual, silver exterior, red leather inside, black top. It had been some time since I’d last driven a Vette; certainly I anticipated gobs of low-end torque, poor build quality and without doubt the ability to sign my name on asphalt with the rear tires. As oft is the case, my expectations weren’t entirely met – surprise, the interior/exterior finish was much better than I forecast. Maybe not up to the understated refinements of German built sports cars but I found no horrific panel gaps or cheesy looking knobs and there was a decided lack of cheap, poorly molded plastic inside and out. The other two presumptions were as I assumed, except the delivery was in a more refined manner than I recall from my last GM muscle right foot plants in that late 70’s 454 big-block many years ago. Overall, this is one good-looking car.

As always, the escape with an unfamiliar Club car from San Francisco north on 6th Street was a bit tense – with top down for maximum visibility, navigating between jaywalking drunks and destitute junkies, my senses were on primal full alert. The stress was nearly enough to induce a nervous tic, but the adrenaline began pumping once I hit the open road north of the Golden Gate. It was pretty evident by now that it really didn’t make much difference what gear I was to move from point A to Point B in a hurry – talk about grunt, this vehicle has it, in spades. I arrived home in Mill Valley anticipating more explorations of cautiously applied power and adhesion.

A quick spin before dinner down to Muir Woods and back via Muir Beach revealed a lot about her character – it’s a handful on tight, twisty corners, especially downhill, requiring lots of foot-work, and plenty of attention. This is a wide car, prone to some bump steer, and has a tendency to lift the inside wheel on tight transitions, giving you a lot of thumping ABS pedal feedback. With so much torque available, it’s with some caution that you apply power when shoulders and guardrails are lacking – it wouldn’t be hard to loop it. Still I made great time down to the Woods and back along Highway One; the exhaust note is just right, a classic American V8 burble. I found the seating position to be comfortable with the steering wheel adjustable for both tilt and in/out positioning.

The next day found me headed up and over Mt. Tamalpais on Panoramic Highway, taking the extra long and curvy route to visit a friend in Santa Rosa. Where this baby really began to shine is on the smooth, curving sweepers that abound on the Pacific Coast Highway north of Stinson Beach – after twenty minutes I felt I wanted to put in some track time at Sears Point, where one might really explore the potential of this vehicle. A light and nimble Lotus Elsie it’s not, but there’s no doubt that this is a serious, refined sports car with the performance to keep up with most exotics – the Z06 must be a monster.

When I handed Andrew back the keys on Monday morning at the Clubhouse, I felt kind of proud that America can build a sports car that can hold its own against best Europe has to offer on on the road. Factor in the price to power/fun ratio; and you really can’t beat a Corvette – it’s a high performance bargain. Unfortunately, it possesses not a shred of practicality and therefore making it difficult (for me) to justify ownership, no matter what kind of bargain it is. As I have no desire to insure, maintain and store a weekend vehicle my best alternative is my Club Sportiva membership.