CAVEAT EMPTOR, Spies — The Chevrolet Corvette's 29 MPGs Comes At A Price! Two, Actually

Making waves this week was news about the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. Since it's big unveil at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show, the automotive world has been eagerly gobbling up information on the 'vette as it becomes available.

The latest installment of news is that the Stingray received an official rating of 29 mpg on the highway. While Corvettes have been known to get decent mpg from its high horsepower motors, there's a catch. Two, actually. And while everyone's talking about the figure, none are really addressing how you actually have to get there.

Take a look at these two points below...

...First off, you’ll need to be satisfied with the 2014 Corvette’s new seven-speed manual gearbox. The EPA numbers for Stingrays equipped with the optional six-speed automatic have not been released, but I’m guessing the slushbox models aren’t more fuel efficient.

As well, GM says the 29-mpg highway estimate is actually an average between the Corvette’s default “Tour” mode (which delivers 28 mpg highway) and driver-selectable “Eco” mode (which scores 30 mpg highway). Also know, Eco mode employs Active Fuel Management, which disables four of the V8’s cylinders during “light” engine loads...

AND, there's a kicker. If you've driven a C6 Corvette or new Camaro and you weren't wringing its neck out, you also have to remember that these cars have a Computer Aided Gear Selection (CAGS). Essentially if you're going easy on the vehicle, it will sense this and automatically close off the gate for gears two and three and take you from first to fourth. It's honestly one of the auto industry's worst features.

So, what do you think of that 29 mpg figure now?

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merc07 - 7/11/2013 9:08:36 AM

+3 Boost

I think you agents heads are so far up BMW's and Porsche's ass that anything that just about any other car company (especially GM and their corvette) you guys try to focus on any little negative aspect of the car and blow it up to be bigger than something its not.

stampfer - 7/11/2013 9:27:44 AM

+4 Boost

Had CAGS on my 2007 CTS-V. Within a few weeks, I had purchased kit on the internet to bypass it and it's easy. The parts could be had for a few bucks if you went shopping and didn't mind a little soldering, or the kit came with instructions and the device pre-manufactured. Basically you lift the car (a lift would be easy, but I did it with jack stands), you crawl underneath, you pull a wire harness connector apart and snap in a bridge connector that blocks the a signal on one of the leads. Happens to be the one that sends the signal to shift gate blocker that prevents the 1->2 rather than 1->4 shift.

valhallakey - 7/11/2013 5:12:32 PM

+1 Boost

I don't typically shift between 1st and any other gear on the highway... 2nd or 4th included except in traffic jams. I doubt that was the way they measured 29mpg highway though. Curious why you would be doing this 00R? Maybe people drive very different where you live? It is a bit of a goofy feature though that whole skip shift thing.

ducati1199 - 3/10/2014 2:25:01 PM

+1 Boost

I don't understand how you people are complaining... My stock C6 got 30.5 MPG to a trip to Maryland from New Jersey. And that car was rated for 26 highway.

You're obviously not going to achieve 29 if you're "wringing" its neck out....

And as far as CAGS goes.... Its called buy the $10.00 part online, and disconnect the CAGS solenoid on the tranny. PROBLEM SOLVED! Once car is jacked up it takes 10 seconds to do....

You're bitching about CAGS? REALLY? CAGS SAVES BUYERS FROM A $2,000 GUZZLER TAX! I'll take 10 seconds of work over a $2,000 guzzler tax ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!