So far, we've been very impressed with the way our C6 drives. Acceleration is of course excellent, the clutch is compliant enough for stop-and-go traffic, and the brakes have a light-but-strong feeling to them. The steering is absolutely razor-sharp, and gets heavy at highway speeds to avoid being too touchy. While we haven't gotten the car out on a road course as of yet, some spirited backroad driving has given us a feel for how well this car handles. We know all too well how F-bodies and other larger, heavier GMs tend to plow the corners a bit; but with the Corvette, there isn't the slightest bit of understeer under most conditions. In some circumstances-and despite the car's lengthened 105.7-inch wheelbase-it feels like the rear end might start to kick around, and at times like these it's good to know the standard Active Handling system will step in to help prevent any mishaps. This feature, which Chevy describes as "an electronic symphony of Traction Control and antilock brakes," can also be set to Competitive Driving Mode with the push of a button-this allows more aggressive maneuvering but will still intrude when you've reached the limit of control. Knowing that Active Handling is there when you need it really helps put the driver at ease even in inclement weather conditions-important here in North Jersey.
Although minor, the C6 does have its bugs. The most apparent we've noticed thus far is the exhaust note, which we'll talk about shortly; but other shortcomings include the rubbery manual shifter, brakes that squeal when first applied, and rather substantial gear noise at highway speed-presumably due to the transmission and rear axle gears being cut for strength rather than quiet. Thanks to the Vette's high fenderlines, visibility out the sides of the car is limited, creating rather large blind spots that must be double-checked. And let's not even talk about the apt-to-fall-off front license plate mount-GM had better come up with a system other than double-sided tape for the next generation car. (We ended up having to purchase an aftermarket mount from SLP to display our New Jersey-mandated front placard.)
But we're just being sticklers-overall, the 2006 Corvette is a superbly engineered car that is a blast to own and drive. As GM's flagship platform, it does not disappoint when it comes to exhibiting the very latest design and manufacturing technology the company has to offer. We can only hope the top-notch fit and finish evident in this Vette trickle down to future vehicles. Follow the photo captions for more information on how our Corvette is equipped, as well as how we've gotten it to perform in showroom-stock form. But this is only the beginning; we look forward to sharing our experiences with this bad ride in the months to come!
One of our two total options was the RPO QG7 polished aluminum wheels, which added $1,295 to the sticker price. We're lucky we got them, as at the time of our order, GM was switching suppliers-they're a huge improvement over the standard painted aluminum rims. A Competition Gray wheel option is also available, but it wouldn't have matched our dark red paint very well. Visible are our non-cross-drilled brake rotors, which would have been upgraded with the Z51 option (they'd have been larger in diameter as well). | 
Corsa's new 3-inch RSC exhaust system replaces everything aft of the cat pipes on the C6, and even includes band-style clamps and lube to make installation even easier. Made fully from high-grade stainless steel, all tubing in this system is a full 3 inches in diameter and mandrel bent for the ultimate in unrestricted flow. Note that as our kit was part of an initial production run, you may be able to see a couple of extra creases in the muffler casings and such-they'll be invisible on systems sold to the general public. | 
The factory C6 exhaust is a relatively well-engineered piece, being a true-dual 2.5-inch design with a functional H-type balance pipe. But it excessively chokes the sound of the LS2 engine-and is also pretty darn ugly (note the black spray paint partially covering the mufflers). |