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You know the cliché: it's a hard job but somebody's got to do it. In this case it was real-world testing of Chevrolet's newest Corvette convertible. This wouldn't be a brief exposure, but an extended tour, taking the car on a 1,000-plus-mile trek from Lexington to Detroit with a few stops in between.

The anticipation surrounding the delivery of the '98 Corvette convertible was an interesting paradox. Though I usually reserve judgment for the cars I drive until the testing is concluded, a certain level of indifference kept entering into my mind. I have been around cars, especially Corvettes, a large part of my life and a certain bias against the big Chevy kept resurfacing. The low level of refinement and poorly-designed and squeaky interiors of the past made me long for the best that Europe could offer, not Motor City USA.

Oh, how times have changed. The day the car was delivered, I noticed immediately that Chevy had brought the new 'Vette into the '90s. Styling cues, with evidence of positive inspiration from past generations of Corvettes, are a hit. I can't remember this many stares, gawks, and backward glances in any car -- ever.

Most of my time the first few days was spent in and around Lexington. City driving was easy and confident, though some caution was required at first when attempting to navigate tight comers due to the wide-and-low nature of the car.

To really see what the car was made of required an extended road trip. My first stop was in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to visit the National Corvette Museum and the GM plant that assembles the car. After a tour of these hallowed grounds, I was back on the road heading north on I-65.

Traveling up through Louisville to my next destination, Indianapolis, Indiana, was appropriate considering the locals' affinity for fast cars and the fact that the convertible 'Vette was chosen as the pace car of the '98 Indianapolis 500, Again, another stop, this time at the world-famous track and its museum on racing.

The next port of call was Chicago, Illinois, the starting point for the old Route 66, a cross-county highway made famous in the TV series of the same name. Guess what kind of car the stars of that '60s show drove to get their kicks -- you guessed it, a ragtop Corvette.

After a cruise down Michigan Avenue and the lakefront, I headed east to my ultimate destination, Detroit. Michigan, due to its higher speed limits, allowed me the opportunity to test more of what the car had to offer. Plenty of cruising power and a ton of torque came in handy in the race track-like atmosphere of Detroit.

What can you say about a car like the new Corvette? The new 'Vette was decidedly un-'Vette-like. It was actually comfortable to drive, afforded enough room for passengers and luggage alike, was thrifty with the gas, and made nary a squeak. Above all, I felt safe and confident and never felt like I needed to be a professional driver to enjoy the car's performance. And what's most amazing is that this was from the convertible.

Now all I need to figure out is how I can do a year-long test of the Corvette. --CT

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