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2002 Chevrolet Corvette Full Review
Date Published: 2/20/08
Also in the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Review:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Chevrolet Corvette Full Review
7.
8.
2002 Chevrolet Corvette Review
More power for the Z06 model highlights the 2002 Corvette. Three body styles return: convertible with manual fabric top and glass rear window, hatchback coupe with removable roof panel, and fixed-roof Z06 hardtop. All have a 5.7-liter V8. Convertibles and hatchbacks stay at 350 hp; the Z06 has 405, up 20 hp from '01. The Z06 comes only with the 6-speed manual transmission, the others also offer a 4-speed automatic. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes and an antiskid/traction system are standard. Z06 now comes with the head-up instrument display that's optional on other 'Vettes, plus revisions to its unique chassis tuning. Other models offer two suspension options, but are no longer available with magnesium wheels. A CD player replaces a cassette as standard equipment.
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.
Audi's TT is solid, stylish, and loaded with features making it fit for the Recommended list. Like no other in its class, TT offers the all-weather advantage of available quattro AWD at a great price. Of course, if you don't mind spending a few more bucks, we recommend you take a look at the Mercedes-Benz SLK. The Mercedes offers an interesting mix of performance and luxury. It also has a retractable hardtop, making it more of an all-weather car.
Audi's TT is solid, stylish, and loaded with features making it fit for the Recommended list. Like no other in its class, TT offers the all-weather advantage of available quattro AWD at a great price. Of course, if you don't mind spending a few more bucks, we recommend you take a look at the Mercedes-Benz SLK. The Mercedes offers an interesting mix of performance and luxury. It also has a retractable hardtop, making it more of an all-weather car.
News
Corvette's scheduled 2004-model redesign will end the current C5 series after just seven years. The predecessor C4 lasted 13. Industry snoops say the upcoming C6 will get a so-called "Gen IV" (fourth-generation) update of the classic 5.7-liter LS1 V8 with up to 425, perhaps more. No firm word yet on styling, but expect it to be recognizably Corvette and doubtless slinkier.
Meantime, the C5 continues to sell well by Corvette standards. Indeed, calendar 2000 marked the first year-to-year sales increase for Chevy's sports car in several seasons; the gain was about 4 percent from '99 to 31,200 units. Demand eased a token 2 percent in the first half of 2001, but was up nearly 3 percent (750 units) through the third quarter.
The C6 will be previewed for 2003 by Cadillac's two-seat XLR convertible, which uses the next 'Vette's basic platform. The first offshoot in 'Vette history, XLR will be far more luxury tourer than all-out sports car, with Cadillac Northstar V8 power, styling in the manner of Cadillac's much-ballyhooed Evoq concept, and numerous gizmos of the sort expected in the high-luxury class. Both the XLR and C6 will be built at the Bowling Green, Kentucky, Corvette plant.
Meantime, the C5 continues to sell well by Corvette standards. Indeed, calendar 2000 marked the first year-to-year sales increase for Chevy's sports car in several seasons; the gain was about 4 percent from '99 to 31,200 units. Demand eased a token 2 percent in the first half of 2001, but was up nearly 3 percent (750 units) through the third quarter.
The C6 will be previewed for 2003 by Cadillac's two-seat XLR convertible, which uses the next 'Vette's basic platform. The first offshoot in 'Vette history, XLR will be far more luxury tourer than all-out sports car, with Cadillac Northstar V8 power, styling in the manner of Cadillac's much-ballyhooed Evoq concept, and numerous gizmos of the sort expected in the high-luxury class. Both the XLR and C6 will be built at the Bowling Green, Kentucky, Corvette plant.
2002 Chevrolet Corvette Road Test
| Pros | Cons |
| Acceleration | Fuel economy |
| Steering/handling | Ride |
| Instruments/controls | Rear visibility |
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration
Blistering: Test convertibles and hatchbacks did 0-60 mph in around 5 sec. Haven't yet timed the '02 Z06, but Chevy claims 3.9 sec 0-60.
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7.8 |
Blistering: Test convertibles and hatchbacks did 0-60 mph in around 5 sec. Haven't yet timed the '02 Z06, but Chevy claims 3.9 sec 0-60.
Fuel Economy
In our tests, hatchbacks averaged 20-21 mpg with either transmission and lots of highway miles, but just 12.9 in city driving. Automatic-transmission convertible averaged 16.4 mpg, manual version 18.4. An '01 Z06 averaged 19 mpg; its EPA ratings are unchanged for '02. Both engines require premium fuel.
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4.6 |
In our tests, hatchbacks averaged 20-21 mpg with either transmission and lots of highway miles, but just 12.9 in city driving. Automatic-transmission convertible averaged 16.4 mpg, manual version 18.4. An '01 Z06 averaged 19 mpg; its EPA ratings are unchanged for '02. Both engines require premium fuel.
Ride Quality
Very firm on smooth roads; can be jiggly on rough ones. Base FE1 suspension is relatively absorbent, but allows a trace of float over high-speed moguls. Firmer Z51 setup is more stable and only rarely is uncomfortably harsh. Both ride better than the compromised, ineffective driver-adjustable Selective Real Time Damping option. Ultra-stiff Z06 suspension is painfully hard.
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Very firm on smooth roads; can be jiggly on rough ones. Base FE1 suspension is relatively absorbent, but allows a trace of float over high-speed moguls. Firmer Z51 setup is more stable and only rarely is uncomfortably harsh. Both ride better than the compromised, ineffective driver-adjustable Selective Real Time Damping option. Ultra-stiff Z06 suspension is painfully hard.
Steering/Handling/Braking
Among the world's best. Sharp steering, virtually flat cornering, and ample smooth-surface grip, abetted by standard antiskid/traction system. Brakes are powerful, stops short and stable.
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8.3 |
Among the world's best. Sharp steering, virtually flat cornering, and ample smooth-surface grip, abetted by standard antiskid/traction system. Brakes are powerful, stops short and stable.
Quietness
Copious road noise and engine roar. Z51 setup seems to generate more tire rumble. Everything's much louder in Z06.
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3.6 |
Copious road noise and engine roar. Z51 setup seems to generate more tire rumble. Everything's much louder in Z06.
Controls
Clear gauges. Complex but easy-to-master control layout. Some find head-up display useful, others distracting; it can be turned off. Quality of cabin materials and detail finish good, though not on par with like-priced luxury cars.
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5.3 |
Clear gauges. Complex but easy-to-master control layout. Some find head-up display useful, others distracting; it can be turned off. Quality of cabin materials and detail finish good, though not on par with like-priced luxury cars.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)
Adequate head and leg room, plus a wider cockpit than in most sports cars. Low door sills make entry/exit about as easy as in many taller coupes. Thick roof pillars hurt visibility to all corners, especially top-up in convertibles.
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5.1 |
Adequate head and leg room, plus a wider cockpit than in most sports cars. Low door sills make entry/exit about as easy as in many taller coupes. Thick roof pillars hurt visibility to all corners, especially top-up in convertibles.
Room/Comfort (rear)
(No rear seating.)
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .6 |
(No rear seating.)
Cargo Room
Great for a sports car, meager otherwise. All models have sufficient space for two golf bags, but liftover is achingly high and there's no partition between cargo hold and cabin. Cockpit storage miniscule.
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2.1 |
Great for a sports car, meager otherwise. All models have sufficient space for two golf bags, but liftover is achingly high and there's no partition between cargo hold and cabin. Cockpit storage miniscule.
Value within Class
Not inexpensive, but if you like your sports cars big, bold, and brawny, there's no better high-performance value. The loud, hard-riding Z06, though, is best left to the racetrack.
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 4.2 |
Not inexpensive, but if you like your sports cars big, bold, and brawny, there's no better high-performance value. The loud, hard-riding Z06, though, is best left to the racetrack.
Total Score
| Base hatch, man. | Base hatch w/Z51, auto. | Base conv, auto. | Z06 | Class Average |
| 57 | 55 | 52 | 48 | 45.6 |
Scores for all Premium Sporty/performance Cars
| Low Score | 34 | |
| Average Score | 45 | |
| High Score | 61 |
2002 Chevrolet Corvette Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 05/16/2002
| Trim Name | Retail Price | Dealer Invoice | Destination Charge |
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|
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| Base 2-door hatchback | $41,680 | $36,470 | $670 |
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| Base 2-door convertible | $48,205 | $42,179 | $670 |
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| Z06 2-door coupe | $50,430 | $44,126 | $670 |
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's
manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker.
Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are
what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options.
The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price
and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently
throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's
window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
There are no rebates or incentives at this time.
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national
manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings
may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
Base
Powertrain
5.7-liter V8 350-horsepower engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, limited-slip differential, traction control.
Safety
Dual front airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, antiskid system, tire-pressure monitor, daytime running lights.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning, power steering, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, leather upholstery, bucket seats, 6-way power driver seat, center console, cupholders, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, Bose AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, power antenna (convertible), tachometer, intermittent wipers, rear defogger, map lights, illuminated visor mirrors, remote decklid/hatchback release, floormats.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Theft-deterrent system, body-colored removable roof panel (hatchback), manually folding convertible top (convertible), extended-mobility tires, (245/45ZR17 front, 275/40ZR18 rear), alloy wheels.
Z06 adds to Base:
Powertrain
5.7-liter V8 405-horsepower engine, 6-speed manual transmission.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Dual-zone automatic climate controls, head-up instrument display.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Deletes: tire-pressure monitor, removable roof panel, extended-mobility tires.
Z06 suspension, 265/40ZR17 front tires, 295/35ZR18 rear tires.
Optional Equipment
Major Packages |
Retail Price |
Invoice Price |
|
1SB Preferred Equipment Group 1
|
||
|
hatchback
|
$1,750
|
$1,505
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|
convertible
|
$1,850
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$1,591
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|
Dual-zone automatic climate control, sport bucket seats, 6-way power passenger seat, Memory System (driver seat, mirrors, climate control, radio), cargo cover and net (hatchback), automatic headlights (convertible), automatic day/night rearview and driver-side mirrors (convertible), fog lights.
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1SC Preferred Equipment Group 2
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hatchback
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$2,750
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$2,365
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convertible
|
$2,650
|
$2,279
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|
Preferred Equipment Group 1 plus power tilt/telescoping steering wheel w/memory, head-up instrument display, automatic headlights (hatchback), automatic day/night rearview and driver-side mirrors, (hatchback).
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Memory Pkg.
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Z06
|
$175
|
$151
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|
Memory System (driver seat, mirrors, climate control, radio). Requires automatic day/night rearview and driver-side mirrors.
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Selective Real Time Damping Suspension
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Base
|
$1,695
|
$1,458
|
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Adjustable ride control.
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Z51 Performance Handling Pkg.
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|
Base
|
$395
|
$340
|
|
Stiffer springs and stabilizer bars. Automatic transmission requires performance axle ratio. NA w/Selective Real Time Damping Suspension.
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Powertrain |
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6-speed manual transmission
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Base
|
$915
|
$787
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|
Includes performance axle ratio.
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Performance axle ratio
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Base
|
$395
|
$340
|
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Comfort and Convenience Features |
||
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AM/FM/cassette
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Base
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$0
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$0
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Requires 12-disc CD changer.
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12-disc CD changer
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Base
|
$600
|
$516
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Automatic day/night rearview and driver-side mirrors
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Z06
|
$120
|
$103
|
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Appearance and Miscellaneous |
||
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Corvette Museum Delivery
|
||
|
Base, Z06
|
$490
|
$421
|
|
Includes tour of Corvette factory and museum, delivery of car in museum w/broadcast on Internet, plaque, door badges, one-year Corvette Museum membership, in addition to normal delivery charge.
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Transparent roof panel
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hatchback
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$750
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$645
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Dual roof panels
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hatchback
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$1,200
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$1,032
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Standard removable roof panel and transparent roof panel.
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Bodyside moldings
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Base, Z06
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$150
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$129
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License plate frame
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Base, Z06
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$15
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$13
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Special paint
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Base, Z06
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$600
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$516
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Polished alloy wheels
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Base
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$1,295
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$1,114
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2002 Chevrolet Corvette Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | Chevrolet Corvette 2-door coupe | Chevrolet Corvette 2-door hatchback | Chevrolet Corvette 2-door convertible |
| Wheelbase, in. | 104.5 | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| Overall Length, in. | 179.7 | 179.7 | 179.7 |
| Overall Width, in. | 73.6 | 73.6 | 73.6 |
| Overall Height, in. | 47.7 | 47.7 | 47.8 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3118 | 3246 | 3248 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 13.3 | 24.8 | 13.9 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 18.5 | 18.5 | 18.5 |
| Seating Capacity | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 37.8 | 37.9 | 37.9 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.7 | 42.7 | 42.7 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | -- | -- | -- |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | -- | -- | -- |
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
| ohv V8 | ohv V8 | |
| Size, liters/cu. in. | 5.7 /346 | 5.7 /346 |
| Horsepower @ rpm. | 350 @ 5600 | 405 @ 6000 |
| Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. | 375 @ 4400 | 400 @ 4800 |
| Availability | Standard | Standard |
|
EPA City / highway mpg
|
||
| 6-speed manual | 19/28 | 19/28 |
| 4-speed automatic | 18/25 | --/-- |
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft;
dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders;
V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions
per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--"
= measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
 Antilock Brakes Traction Control Antiskid System |
Front Side Airbags Curtain Side Airbags Rear Side Airbags |
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | Chevrolet Corvette 2-door coupe | Chevrolet Corvette 2-door hatchback | Chevrolet Corvette 2-door convertible |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's
worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to
rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury:
5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact
crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%;
1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover
when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%;
2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
| Class | Years/Miles | Comments |
| Powertrain | None/-- | -- |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 3/36,000 | -- |
| Corrosion | 6/100,000 | -- |
| Free roadside assistance | 3/36,000 | -- |
| Free scheduled maintenance | None/-- | -- |
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive.
There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two
other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for
2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any
on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts
and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in:
USA
Drivewheels:
rear-wheel drive
Also in the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Review:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Chevrolet Corvette Full Review
7.
8.
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