Corvette fulfills childhood fantasy

When I was a little girl, my parents and I would play this game where we would each say what fancy things we would buy for ourselves if we ever won the lottery.

The first thing I always said I wanted was the complete line of Dress ’n Dazzle dress-up clothes. (Every self-respecting little girl in the ’80s just had to have these outrageously girly dress-up clothes, which included such fabulous items as plastic high heels, feather boas and the oh-so-alluring "Three-In-One Glamour Gown.")

The other thing I always wanted was a Corvette.

While the other girls wished for white ponies, I dreamed of one day owning this super-fast, super-powerful sports car.

Gee, what a shocker.

To me, the Corvette was the ultimate sports car, with that low, sleek profile, those serpentine curves and that great big growling engine.

Even now that I’m all grown up, and have had the amazing privilege of driving all sorts of exotic sports cars, I have to admit that I still get a little weak in the knees every time I get behind the wheel of a ’Vette.

I recently got to test the 2008 Corvette, and let me tell you, this little baby is just as sweet as ever.

The 2008s still have that unmistakable Corvette look – those elegant curves, that seductively stealthy profile – but they have one big change that is sure to make pulses race: more power.

The standard engine for coupes and convertibles has been upgraded to an all-new 436-horsepower 6.2-liter aluminum-block V-8. (For 2007, the standard engine on coupes and convertibles was a 400-hp 6.0-liter V-8.)

A new optional dual-mode performance exhaust system ($1,195) adds an additional 6 horses for even more power. More power equals more fun, so get ready for some serious excitement.

Other changes for 2008 include better steering, improved manual transmission shift effort, and quicker shift times for paddle-shift automatics.

The 2008 Corvette is offered in three models: coupe, convertible, and Z06. The coupe is available in four different trims: 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, and 4LT. Convertibles are available in three trims: 2LT, 3LT, and 4LT. The Z06 has three trims: 1LZ, 2LZ, and 3LZ.

All coupes come standard with the 6.2-liter V-8 engine and a six-speed manual transmission. (An optional six-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shifters is available for $1,250.)

The 1LT is the base model coupe, and has a starting price of $46,100 plus $850 freight. Though it is the entry-level model, the 1LT comes loaded inside and out with tons of standard features.

External features include high-intensity-discharge headlamps, daytime running lamps, dual halogen fog lamps, tire pressure monitoring system, polished three-inch steel exhaust system, front air dam, and a removable body-colored roof panel.

Safety features include four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, driver and passenger dual-stage front air bags with passenger sensing system, keyless entry with pushbutton start, and a theft-deterrent system with engine immobilizer and alarm.

Inside the car, you get dual-zone automatic climate control with air filter, cruise control, AM/FM radio with CD/MP3 player, radio data system and seven speakers, power windows/door locks/heated auto-dimming side mirrors, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, leather seats, a power six-way adjustable driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a driver information center with trip computer.

The 2LT trim level has a starting price of $47,595 plus freight and adds a cargo net, a luggage shade, sport bucket seats with perforated leather and lumbar support and a six-way adjustable passenger seat.

The 3LT ($50,605) replaces the regular stereo with a Bose premium sound system with six-disc in-dash CD changer and seven speakers, and adds dual heated seats, a power telescoping steering wheel, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, a universal home remote, memory settings for driver’s seat position, side mirrors and steering wheel, and a heads-up display feature that projects data, such as vehicle speed and engine rpm, onto the lower part of the windshield directly in front of the driver.

The 4LT ($54,105) adds a custom leather-wrapped interior package with a special center console trim plate.

Convertible models start at $54,575 for the 2LT trim level. The 2LT has the same features on the convertible as it does on the coupe and does not come standard with a power convertible top. The 3LT starts at $59,675 and has the same features as the Coupe 3LT, adding only a standard power convertible top. The 4LT is the same on the convertible as it is on the coupe.

The top-of-the-line Z06 is a whole different animal. The standard engine on the Z06 is a whopping 505-horsepower 7.0-liter V-8. This little devil is paired with a six-speed manual transmission—an automatic transmission is not available on the Z06, and rightly so.

The 1LZ is the base model Z06, with a starting price of $71,275 (whoa.) Standard features include all of the ones found on the base models of the other two, plus the heads-up display, front bucket seats with perforated leather, Z06 embroidery and contrast stitching, Z06 competition silver-painted aluminum wheels, and the Z06 Performance Package, which includes better power steering and tighter springs for performance driving.

The 2LZ starts at $74,320 and adds the upgraded Bose stereo system, an enhanced acoustics package, the luggage shade and cargo net, memory settings for driver’s seat position, side mirrors, and power telescopic steering wheel, steering-wheel- mounted audio controls, dual heated seats, and a universal home remote.

The 3LZ ($77,820) adds the custom leather-wrapped interior package and special center console plate.

For 2009, Corvette has a new super-high-performance model, the ZR1. This bad boy is powered by a 638-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 paired with a dual-clutch six-speed manual transmission. Prices begin just over $100,000.

I haven’t driven this monster yet, as production began just this week in Bowling Green. But I’m sure that I want to own one some day (just as soon as I get that Dress 'N Dazzle wardrobe…).

The automotive columns of Jennifer R. Williams appear regularly in the Star- Telegram. E-mail: auto scribejennifer@yahoo.com.