Like the Energizer Bunny, this thread just keeps on going... :SNSign:
Actually I never intended to compare Fords vs. Chevys or Saleens vs. Z06s. I merely stated my dislike for Chevys in general & Vettes in particular. I just don't believe the Vette is everything it's hyped to be, performance numbers excluded.
The problem I have with the Vette & GM in general is the apparent lack of originality & willingness to elevate their product beyond the status quo. For decades GM has teased the public with all sorts of show & concept Vettes hinting at multi-valve OHC motors, mid-engine designs & all sorts of other technology & styling that would truly set it apart amongst the domestic competition & really place it on the same level as its European counterparts.
But every time GM merely produces yet another "update" or "evolution" of the same basic Vette in both drivetrain,
suspension, platform configuration & styling.
IMHO, GM is torn between producing the true world class sports car they probably could & would produce if so inclined, yet on the other hand they fear alienating the Corvette faithful if the design is too radical a departure from its immediate predecessor.
GM seems to be more concerned with not losing existing customers than in gaining new ones; not losing even more market share than in expanding market share. Such timidity at the corporate level is, IMHO (again), the reason why GM is in the dire financial & market straits it has found itself in for the past several years.
I don't personally have the stats available, but I would venture a guess as to say that the Corvette sales figures have remained relatively constant from each successive new model redesign hinting that the customer base has remained equally constant. Some people may claim to cross shop the Vette with a Porsche 911 (& its derivatives) or a Viper or other similar sports cars, but I've always been of the opinion that those who are seriously considering a Vette, Porsche, Viper, etc. are focused primarily on that particular car & are unlikely to be swayed towards making another choice.
To bring this argument full circle, I also don't believe someone looking primarily at a Saleen Mustang is going to seriously consider a Camaro, Firebird, Supra or any other semi-comparable vehicle & certainly not the aforementioned Vette, Porsche, Viper, etc. despite Saleen itself making such direct comparisons in their marketing material.
Does this mean I consider a Saleen to be superior to any of these other vehicles? Certainly not. Merely that the market demographics may superficially appear to be similar, but personal preferences & biases all play a factor in the individual customer's ultimate selection; brand & name plate loyalty clearly not the least of these.
Just my dos centavos.
Those wheels are sweet. I'd go with chrome on my car but other wise perfect. Like the offset too. So about 8k huh? Well, maybe I will put that into a beater for a daily driver next year, then get those wheels in 2007. 
