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Would you buy a 'Vette?

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I'm no fan of the C5 coupe bodystyle - for the same price you can get a C6 which looks better and performs almost as well.

Nice about Vettes is they are comfortable, roomy, and plenty of cargo space with the big hatch.

Sign me up for a C6 Velocity Yellow with magentic ride -
 
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phucheneh said:
I'd buy a C2 if I could get a really good deal on it (...and I had money).

I'll be devil's advocate here and remind you than a C5 or C6 with 20k is probably going to feel like a 'normal' car with 100k. As far as body and interior are concerned, at least.

I'm sure the engine and driveline would be solid, though, assuming someone hasn't been neutral dropping or clutch side-stepping its whole life. Not sure about the chassis/suspension...when do guys normally have to start doing under-car work on those? I haven't ridden in many (come to think...any?) C5's, but the VERY solid nature of the C6 would make me say that I doubt suspension parts are going to wear very quickly. Your ass takes the abuse, rather than suspension bushings and such. 😛

For <30k for a late C5 or early C6, it's a good toy. And probably fairly cheap to maintain, other than tires.

If you go cruisin' for ladies, avoid road head unless you want it bitten off. :awe:
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I think you are out in left field a bit

most corvettes are going to be garage queens that havent seen much more than some tire spin and overall will be pretty well kept


I know a few guys that autocross c5 Z06's, and the OEM stuff didnt fall apart after a full season. they put on konis anyways, but after 5+ years of autoX the konis are still going strong, stock springs ETC



now a camaro/mustang on the other hand

different general demographic of ownership, more likely to be driven hard and put away wet



Fmr12B said:
I'm no fan of the C5 coupe bodystyle - for the same price you can get a C6 which looks better and performs almost as well.

Nice about Vettes is they are comfortable, roomy, and plenty of cargo space with the big hatch.

Sign me up for a C6 Velocity Yellow with magentic ride -
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generally any C6 you pay C5 money for will have much higher miles
 
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phucheneh said:
I'd buy a C2 if I could get a really good deal on it (...and I had money).

I'll be devil's advocate here and remind you than a C5 or C6 with 20k is probably going to feel like a 'normal' car with 100k. As far as body and interior are concerned, at least.

I'm sure the engine and driveline would be solid, though, assuming someone hasn't been neutral dropping or clutch side-stepping its whole life. Not sure about the chassis/suspension...when do guys normally have to start doing under-car work on those? I haven't ridden in many (come to think...any?) C5's, but the VERY solid nature of the C6 would make me say that I doubt suspension parts are going to wear very quickly. Your ass takes the abuse, rather than suspension bushings and such. 😛

For <30k for a late C5 or early C6, it's a good toy. And probably fairly cheap to maintain, other than tires.

If you go cruisin' for ladies, avoid road head unless you want it bitten off. :awe:
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Groan... could you possibly be any more boorish if you tried? :colbert:🙄
 
phucheneh said:
It's not 'wear out,' as in seat covers coming apart or something. It's the rattly mess the car quickly turns into. I'm sure to some, I'm 'just hatin,' so to speak. But I'm just willing to acknowledge the bad along with the good.
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So what would cause a Vette to become a rattly mess 5x faster than any other car?
 
C4 - Rattly squeaky mess from the factory
C5 - Rattly squeaky mess from age
C6 - I'm not familiar with any complaints on these

C6 Z06 is an outstanding plaything
The owners I've known over the years have beaten the crap out of theirs. I've even known one guy to sell his C6 Z06 (so that he could buy a GTR) and then change his mind to buy a CTS-v and THEN go out and buy another C6 Z06 because he missed his old one.


With that being said...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-...oot-cause-for-excessive-guide-wear-found.html

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z06-discussion/3207148-c5-or-c6-z06.html
 
Ugh, for one second, quit being fanboys and trying to pick apart any negative comment made about your precious Corvettes. I praised every damn thing except 'ride quality' (which usually has the stated upside of a durable suspension) and the build quality of the non-critical components. As in, stuff that's not the chassis and drivetrain.

If you've ridden in a Corvette with a few miles on it, and didn't notice the whole 'it sounds like things are gonna start falling off' phenomena every time you hit a bump, you're in denial. I'll bow out now, so you can all continue circle-jerking.
 
phucheneh said:
Ugh, for one second, quit being fanboys and trying to pick apart any negative comment made about your precious Corvettes. I praised every damn thing except 'ride quality' (which usually has the stated upside of a durable suspension) and the build quality of the non-critical components. As in, stuff that's not the chassis and drivetrain.

If you've ridden in a Corvette with a few miles on it, and didn't notice the whole 'it sounds like things are gonna start falling off' phenomena every time you hit a bump, you're in denial. I'll bow out now, so you can all continue circle-jerking.
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Have you spent much time in C6's?

Any GM car from the 90's early 2000s turn noisy with time.
 
phucheneh said:
Ugh, for one second, quit being fanboys and trying to pick apart any negative comment made about your precious Corvettes. I praised every damn thing except 'ride quality' (which usually has the stated upside of a durable suspension) and the build quality of the non-critical components. As in, stuff that's not the chassis and drivetrain.

If you've ridden in a Corvette with a few miles on it, and didn't notice the whole 'it sounds like things are gonna start falling off' phenomena every time you hit a bump, you're in denial. I'll bow out now, so you can all continue circle-jerking.
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Wow. Calm down turbo. If you took my questions as an attack on you, than I apologize. The Vette definitely has downsides (sexiness of the interior being the main complaint) but I've never heard of them being more prone to becoming rattle-traps at least for the C6 generation. The C4 has had the reputation but I haven't heard it for the C5 and C6.
 
I think it's everyone trying to dump their current one in favor of preparing for the C7. Once they start to hit the showroom floor, you'll see more aggressive pricing.
 
I probably will a little later in life.

Right now with 4 kids and the wife and I both working it doesn't make sense even from a "weekend toy" perspective.

My 65 (I think...) year old mother is a 'vette head though. She's had a C4, C5, and currently has a C6. All of them garage queens.
 
Gillbot said:
I think it's everyone trying to dump their current one in favor of preparing for the C7. Once they start to hit the showroom floor, you'll see more aggressive pricing.
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Back in 2004, you could have bought brand new C5 Z06 for $38k. I think some sold as low as $36k. Dealers were desperate to move C5 after the introduction of 2005 C6. It's why I would never pay $25K for C5 Z06. Only $13k depreciation? You have to really love C5 to take it over C6. $25k is easy C6 money. I turned down 40k miles C5 Z06 for $18k 4 years back.
 
Yeah, I would definitely wait for the C7 to come out, then watch prices fall. I myself prefer the C5 over the C6 looks-wise, and the FRC C5s are damn sexy. That is what my dad bought last year, and he has really enjoyed it. I haven't heard any complaints from him about the interior or rattling or anything, but the car has low miles (<20k) and he is really more concerned with chirping second gear than the interior. :biggrin:
 
I would also echo what a few have said about prices dropping soon. If you look at C5s those prices are gonna TANK as C6 prices start to drop. I just inspected a Base C6 for a guy with 120k miles dealer maintained. Price was so damn cheap I wanted to trade my g35 for it.

I do think the C6 interior and suspension upgrades alone make it worth it over ANY C5 unless its a callaway or a Lingenfelter monster.

I would buy a base C6 with the upgraded suspension over the big boys since I would just boost mine anyway. But thats just me 😛

20k base C6 20kish with higher miles.
10K in Mods takes you into 900 hp range. That includes a rebuild and TTs.
30k car that handles great and out digs a GTR black and doesnt drop your fillings when you go over an expansion joint.
 
Is the base C6 better performer than a C5 Z06 (wouldn't care about the quality of interior)? I imagine any either would be a autox/track toy for me. Haven't researched Corvettes extensively, but they seem to be in the same price range of what I'd be looking at in a couple years.
 
Imported said:
Is the base C6 better performer than a C5 Z06 (wouldn't care about the quality of interior)? I imagine any either would be a autox/track toy for me. Haven't researched Corvettes extensively, but they seem to be in the same price range of what I'd be looking at in a couple years.
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C5 Z06 is only a hair faster to 60. 3.9 seconds Vs 4.2 because of the gearing.


M12 six speed on a Z06 is geared to 171 top speed while the six in the base C6 is geared to 190. Funny thing is if you autocross the C6 Z51 handling package is harder to run and hops like a MF.


Really no need to buy a Z06 C5 over a base C6 and the prices have started to show it.

oh and the removeable top is win on the c6 as well
 
ponyo said:
Back in 2004, you could have bought brand new C5 Z06 for $38k. I think some sold as low as $36k. Dealers were desperate to move C5 after the introduction of 2005 C6. It's why I would never pay $25K for C5 Z06. Only $13k depreciation? You have to really love C5 to take it over C6. $25k is easy C6 money. I turned down 40k miles C5 Z06 for $18k 4 years back.
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I agree, but everyone has their price point.
jlee said:
I'd go for a first gen CTS-V instead, but only because I like having four doors.
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Me too. I was thinking vette myself but I think i'd really be happier with a CTSv.
 
Gillbot said:
I agree, but everyone has their price point.


Me too. I was thinking vette myself but I think i'd really be happier with a CTSv.
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For an everyday car I would agree with you guys. From an autoX perspective I would still get the base C6. For a hooligan car I would probably pick the CTSV as well . I would probably have one by now but my wife LOVES the infinity so were keeping that for a bit longer.
 
I think that if I ever owned one Id drive it like I stole it all the time, and wouldnt care about the miles I rack up on it. Id buy one to drive it not let it sit in my garage, but thats me 🙂
 
manimal said:
C5 Z06 is only a hair faster to 60. 3.9 seconds Vs 4.2 because of the gearing.


M12 six speed on a Z06 is geared to 171 top speed while the six in the base C6 is geared to 190. Funny thing is if you autocross the C6 Z51 handling package is harder to run and hops like a MF.


Really no need to buy a Z06 C5 over a base C6 and the prices have started to show it.

oh and the removeable top is win on the c6 as well
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Interesting.. I may have to ask a few Corvette autoxers I know about gearing, tires, SCCA classes, etc.
 
manimal said:
For an everyday car I would agree with you guys. From an autoX perspective I would still get the base C6. For a hooligan car I would probably pick the CTSV as well . I would probably have one by now but my wife LOVES the infinity so were keeping that for a bit longer.
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I have a camaro now, and with 2 young kids it's completely impractical. A vette would be even more impractical so the CTSv is the next logical option.
 
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