2000 Chevrolet Corvette: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

America's longest-lived sports car mostly marks time for the fourth year of its current design. Corvette retains its traditional 2-seat fiberglass body construction in hatchback, convertible, and fixed-roof hardtop styles. All have a 345-horsepower V8, newly retuned for low-emissions-vehicle standards, plus traction control, "run-flat" tires that eliminate the need for a spare, a tire-pressure monitor and, also new, an "active" remote keyless-entry system instead of a "passive" type. The hardtop is sold only with 6-speed manual transmission and a sport-tuned Z51 suspension, now with thicker stabilizer bars, that's optional on the convertible and hatchback. Those models come with automatic transmission and offer either a base suspension or an optional one with three-mode driver-adjustable shock absorbers. Available for all Corvettes is Active Handling chassis control, which applies individual brakes as needed to keep the car on line in hard cornering maneuvers. Last year's optional head-up display, which projects instrument readouts onto the windshield, is newly available for the hardtop. The convertible retains a manual folding top with electrically defrosted glass rear window.

COMPETITION

This class features an interesting mix of hard-core performance models and more luxurious touring convertibles. Our Best Buys give you a little of both worlds. The Chevrolet Corvette is fast, comfortable, and reasonably affordable. Unlike previous models it doesn't beat you up with a hard ride, and it will cruise quietly at highway speeds. Our other Best Buy, the Mazda Miata, is a bare-bones roadster with few frills and average acceleration, but for weekend fun on a twisty back road it's hard to beat.
If you don't mind spending a few more bucks, we recommend you take a look at the BMW Z3 and Mercedes-Benz SLK. Both are two-seat convertibles. The BMW is more sporty and the Mercedes is more luxurious.
If you are interested in bang-for-the-buck our Budget Buys include the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. At any given price or equipment level the Camaro is a faster car, but the Mustang might be a little more user-friendly as a daily driver.