I test drove a 2008 Vette
08-30-2014, 03:48 PM
#1
6th Gear
Thread Starter
Member Since: Aug 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I test drove a 2008 Vette
So I finished up work for the day, saw that we still had the 03 Z06 M/T in stock, as well as an 08 base model - at least I think it was, no HUD
I drove the red one, the 2008...being an employee driving a company vehicle, company insurance, etc. I didn't really push it...I did notice, however, that it will get to that 70MPH speed limit in a hurry. This one was an automatic. Shifted great, I haven't driven one with a stick, I probably should, just to compare.
I have to say, I really liked it, definite complete polar opposite to my F150, but very, very cool, and very fun, and I know I would enjoy that car.
I do like the C5 interior better...to me it seems like everything about the interior of the C5 is of higher quality, but it could be that all my vette memories are in a C5.
I liked the layout of the C6, the window switches felt very strange to me. Again, I'd get used to that. Squeaks and rattles, but being a former Mustang owner, I'm used to that (and the vette wasn't as bad)
The interior did have a certain cheap feel to it...again, no worse than any Mustang I've ever owned/driven/ridden in.
I'm just not sure one way or another. I would owe pretty close to the same as I owe on my F150 if I where to swap, mid 20K range...and my payment would probably be somewhere in the range of 450-500, just like now. So that end of it would be the same.
Insurance, I'm not sure...31, clean record, no tickets, no accidents, nothing...but, single, no real discounts available either. Currently I pay 130/month through AAA for the truck...vette might be little higher, but probably not too bad.
I wouldn't be filling up with 26 gallons every time, and I would probably do better than 14-16MPG that I currently get out of my truck.
I really do love my truck, but it just seems like too much vehicle for me, no wife, no kids, not towing, not hauling, none of that...so why do I drive a supercrew F150?
AHHH I'm just not sure what to do....truck is low interest and getting paid down quickly...vette probably wouldn't be much higher, but still, making a change is a bit to think about...plus, being a diehard Ford guy, driving a vette would raise some eyebrows....however, they sure are fun...I keep going back to the whole "life is short, just do it" argument...I might have to make this happen, maybe not THIS vette, but one for sure.
I drove the red one, the 2008...being an employee driving a company vehicle, company insurance, etc. I didn't really push it...I did notice, however, that it will get to that 70MPH speed limit in a hurry. This one was an automatic. Shifted great, I haven't driven one with a stick, I probably should, just to compare.
I have to say, I really liked it, definite complete polar opposite to my F150, but very, very cool, and very fun, and I know I would enjoy that car.
I do like the C5 interior better...to me it seems like everything about the interior of the C5 is of higher quality, but it could be that all my vette memories are in a C5.
I liked the layout of the C6, the window switches felt very strange to me. Again, I'd get used to that. Squeaks and rattles, but being a former Mustang owner, I'm used to that (and the vette wasn't as bad)
The interior did have a certain cheap feel to it...again, no worse than any Mustang I've ever owned/driven/ridden in.
I'm just not sure one way or another. I would owe pretty close to the same as I owe on my F150 if I where to swap, mid 20K range...and my payment would probably be somewhere in the range of 450-500, just like now. So that end of it would be the same.
Insurance, I'm not sure...31, clean record, no tickets, no accidents, nothing...but, single, no real discounts available either. Currently I pay 130/month through AAA for the truck...vette might be little higher, but probably not too bad.
I wouldn't be filling up with 26 gallons every time, and I would probably do better than 14-16MPG that I currently get out of my truck.
I really do love my truck, but it just seems like too much vehicle for me, no wife, no kids, not towing, not hauling, none of that...so why do I drive a supercrew F150?
AHHH I'm just not sure what to do....truck is low interest and getting paid down quickly...vette probably wouldn't be much higher, but still, making a change is a bit to think about...plus, being a diehard Ford guy, driving a vette would raise some eyebrows....however, they sure are fun...I keep going back to the whole "life is short, just do it" argument...I might have to make this happen, maybe not THIS vette, but one for sure.
08-30-2014, 05:14 PM
#4
Team Owner
I'D GO TO AN EYE DOCTOR immediately if you think the c5 interior is better the the c6's...
As for the 08, check the harmonic balancer for wobble,take the top off and put it in the back and go find some bumps in the road to see if it rattles back there. If the noises you mentioned are with it on,the latches may need replacing. Do slow turns in the parking lot when cold and listen for creaking type sounds outback of the car.If you hear anything,the rear diff fluid needs changing.
As for the 08, check the harmonic balancer for wobble,take the top off and put it in the back and go find some bumps in the road to see if it rattles back there. If the noises you mentioned are with it on,the latches may need replacing. Do slow turns in the parking lot when cold and listen for creaking type sounds outback of the car.If you hear anything,the rear diff fluid needs changing.
08-30-2014, 07:03 PM
#7
6th Gear
Thread Starter
Member Since: Aug 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think I'm gonna do it, just not the one I drove today...I will find the one I want (I don't want a red or black one, not white either, anything else is fine) something with HUD, and all the goodies...it will be worth the wait. As for affordability, sure...I can swing it...hell, the truck was more than the used vette...I need to take care of a few things, get some ducks in a row first, which will give me time to find the right car anyway, and I'm already driving something I like, so, there's no rush factor...
I appreciate all the fine folks who contributed positivity to this thread, keep that going
I appreciate all the fine folks who contributed positivity to this thread, keep that going
08-30-2014, 07:06 PM
#8
Racer
How important (needed) is it to you that you "haul" things in the truck? You can't throw an ATV in the back of the Vette. If it's all about the fun...then it's a no brainer.
08-30-2014, 07:14 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Interesting. I traded in my F-150 on my 2008, and have never looked back. Not regrets. It really depends on what it is you want. A Corvette or a pickup truck. I really like my 2008.
08-30-2014, 08:20 PM
#10
6th Gear
Thread Starter
Member Since: Aug 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There's seemingly no need to haul anything, before I had the truck, it seemed like I always needed to move something, wanted to go after some piece of furnature or some such thing that I couldn't haul in my thunderbird, or in my mustang. Now, I guess my life is more stable, or different, those needs are gone, I didn't realize. I have used the truck as a truck a total of one maybe two times in a year.
The only thing I'd be missing out on with a truck, is, that I wouldn't be able to get a jet ski or a boat, which was one of the reasons I jumped on getting a truck...well, a year later, I am still finding myself on the fence about a boat, don't think I want one as badly as I thought (I guess I already got THAT out of my system)
But I still want a vette
I went to the drag strip last weekend....took the F150, had fun with it, but running a big heavy truck in the 1/4 just feels strange to me...vette would be fun at the track
The only thing I'd be missing out on with a truck, is, that I wouldn't be able to get a jet ski or a boat, which was one of the reasons I jumped on getting a truck...well, a year later, I am still finding myself on the fence about a boat, don't think I want one as badly as I thought (I guess I already got THAT out of my system)
But I still want a vette
I went to the drag strip last weekend....took the F150, had fun with it, but running a big heavy truck in the 1/4 just feels strange to me...vette would be fun at the track
08-30-2014, 10:16 PM
#11
Instructor
I'm was on the same boat...single, no kids, but I do have a mortgage though. I had a '13 king ranch that I traded in for a low mileage C6 and never looked back. A test drive was what did it for me and I was hooked! I did end up buying a one owner '02 f150 fx4 pretty cheap as my daily driver though lol
as my daily driver though lol
08-30-2014, 10:30 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
I'm was on the same boat...single, no kids, but I do have a mortgage though. I had a '13 king ranch that I traded in for a low mileage C6 and never looked back. A test drive was what did it for me and I was hooked! I did end up buying a one owner '02 f150 fx4 pretty cheap as my daily driver though lol
as my daily driver though lol F150 dd/2013 g.s for "Fun"(my f150 is 12 years old though) still going strong
08-31-2014, 12:02 AM
#13
You don't want a vet with these criterium.
I average around 16 city, since I tend to be getting on it more than not (plus 24mpg when in 6th gear on the highway about to fall to sleep driving long distances bored out of my mind).
Also, there are two tanks in the vets, being one on the passenger side and one on the driver side. When you fill up the vet (more than half full), the drivers side tank first fills up, then over flows to the passengers tank to fill it up. The fuel is first used out of the passenger tank, then out of the drivers tank (the one you filled up first),
Why do I bring this up, its the passengers tank fuel gauge level sending unit in the passengers tank that when left with the tank empty, the rheostat pad contract bars of the unit loves to oxidize to cause the unit to fail, and at a cost of over $1K to replace it.
So for this reason, you don't leave the vet with the tanks empty. Yes you may run them down on a long road trip to empty them while you are driving it, but since the car ends up sitting for most of us that don't use them as DD's, we leave the car sitting with full tanks of fuel instead.
To be truthful, unless you have front pocket change (money to burn for new toys) to not only pay for the car, but the needed upkeep as well, then it may not be time for you to have a Vet. Truthfully, what I tell everyone looking to get a vet, if you have to finance a vet to own one, then it's not really for you.
Simply a vet is just another toy to own, and borrowing money for a toy that you will drive only when weather or time permitting is just living beyond your means. Same goes if you don't have the pocket money to blow away on up kept as well.
08-31-2014, 12:58 AM
#14
You don't want a vet with these criterium.
I average around 16 city, since I tend to be getting on it more than not (plus 24mpg when in 6th gear on the highway about to fall to sleep driving long distances bored out of my mind).
Also, there are two tanks in the vets, being one on the passenger side and one on the driver side. When you fill up the vet (more than half full), the drivers side tank first fills up, then over flows to the passengers tank to fill it up. The fuel is first used out of the passenger tank, then out of the drivers tank (the one you filled up first),
Why do I bring this up, its the passengers tank fuel gauge level sending unit in the passengers tank that when left with the tank empty, the rheostat pad contract bars of the unit loves to oxidize to cause the unit to fail, and at a cost of over $1K to replace it.
So for this reason, you don't leave the vet with the tanks empty. Yes you may run them down on a long road trip to empty them while you are driving it, but since the car ends up sitting for most of us that don't use them as DD's, we leave the car sitting with full tanks of fuel instead.
To be truthful, unless you have front pocket change (money to burn for new toys) to not only pay for the car, but the needed upkeep as well, then it may not be time for you to have a Vet. Truthfully, what I tell everyone looking to get a vet, if you have to finance a vet to own one, then it's not really for you.
Simply a vet is just another toy to own, and borrowing money for a toy that you will drive only when weather or time permitting is just living beyond your means. Same goes if you don't have the pocket money to blow away on up kept as well.
I average around 16 city, since I tend to be getting on it more than not (plus 24mpg when in 6th gear on the highway about to fall to sleep driving long distances bored out of my mind).
Also, there are two tanks in the vets, being one on the passenger side and one on the driver side. When you fill up the vet (more than half full), the drivers side tank first fills up, then over flows to the passengers tank to fill it up. The fuel is first used out of the passenger tank, then out of the drivers tank (the one you filled up first),
Why do I bring this up, its the passengers tank fuel gauge level sending unit in the passengers tank that when left with the tank empty, the rheostat pad contract bars of the unit loves to oxidize to cause the unit to fail, and at a cost of over $1K to replace it.
So for this reason, you don't leave the vet with the tanks empty. Yes you may run them down on a long road trip to empty them while you are driving it, but since the car ends up sitting for most of us that don't use them as DD's, we leave the car sitting with full tanks of fuel instead.
To be truthful, unless you have front pocket change (money to burn for new toys) to not only pay for the car, but the needed upkeep as well, then it may not be time for you to have a Vet. Truthfully, what I tell everyone looking to get a vet, if you have to finance a vet to own one, then it's not really for you.
Simply a vet is just another toy to own, and borrowing money for a toy that you will drive only when weather or time permitting is just living beyond your means. Same goes if you don't have the pocket money to blow away on up kept as well.
WoW.....! So everyone who doesn't have cash to pay for their Vette needs to not worry about owning one..? In your opinion nobody should ever finance a Vette? This is the most ridiculous comment I've read since being on this forum. Nobody wants to hear about your indirect financial bragging..... Good for you that you didn't need to make payments for yours! You're better than everyone here.... (That's what he wants to hear..). That was the worst advice to the OP that was completely unnecessary.
To the OP; a truck and a Vette are two vehicles that shouldn't even be compared.. I think a truck has it's purpose, but doesn't have the fun factor of the Vette. I'm in the you only live once category..... I say do it! I doubt you'll regret it after that test drive that left you with the feeling that brought you to post here,,,, know what I mean. Go find one and have fun with it!
08-31-2014, 01:36 AM
#16
Safety Car
I like the look of the C5 interior better. It seems sportier. As far as how it feels and fit/finish? C6 is miles ahead, but a bit....antiseptic.
08-31-2014, 02:49 PM
#17
6th Gear
Thread Starter
Member Since: Aug 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WoW.....! So everyone who doesn't have cash to pay for their Vette needs to not worry about owning one..? In your opinion nobody should ever finance a Vette? This is the most ridiculous comment I've read since being on this forum. Nobody wants to hear about your indirect financial bragging..... Good for you that you didn't need to make payments for yours! You're better than everyone here.... (That's what he wants to hear..). That was the worst advice to the OP that was completely unnecessary.
To the OP; a truck and a Vette are two vehicles that shouldn't even be compared.. I think a truck has it's purpose, but doesn't have the fun factor of the Vette. I'm in the you only live once category..... I say do it! I doubt you'll regret it after that test drive that left you with the feeling that brought you to post here,,,, know what I mean. Go find one and have fun with it!
To the OP; a truck and a Vette are two vehicles that shouldn't even be compared.. I think a truck has it's purpose, but doesn't have the fun factor of the Vette. I'm in the you only live once category..... I say do it! I doubt you'll regret it after that test drive that left you with the feeling that brought you to post here,,,, know what I mean. Go find one and have fun with it!
I had a dream about the car I test drove last night...in the dream, I bought it...toward the end of the dream, for some reason, the car turned into a 70s Lincoln Continental Mark V, yellow and green, and the car had a full drum set mounted to the trunk...for some reason...when I woke up, the first thing I thought of was how cool the vette was, then laughed about the whole Lincoln end of the dream...weird as that was...
I will have a Corvette, maybe a C5, maybe a C6, who knows the specifics, but I will have one, hopefully before this year is over...but if it's next year, or event the year after that, so be it. Point is, dreams turn into goals, and goals turn into reality...it's not all about money for me, it's about living my life the way I want to live it.
08-31-2014, 07:57 PM
#18
Melting Slicks
Thanks man...I didn't respond to that "front pocket change" comment, because I'm not into arguing with comments like that...I will have to finance the vette, as I am with the truck, I'm not independently wealthy, and I do have to get up and go to work every day to make anything happen for myself...I work hard, I put in long hours, and if I want something, generally, I go get it. It might take me longer than the average person to get what I want, but it's usually worth it.
I had a dream about the car I test drove last night...in the dream, I bought it...toward the end of the dream, for some reason, the car turned into a 70s Lincoln Continental Mark V, yellow and green, and the car had a full drum set mounted to the trunk...for some reason...when I woke up, the first thing I thought of was how cool the vette was, then laughed about the whole Lincoln end of the dream...weird as that was...
I will have a Corvette, maybe a C5, maybe a C6, who knows the specifics, but I will have one, hopefully before this year is over...but if it's next year, or event the year after that, so be it. Point is, dreams turn into goals, and goals turn into reality...it's not all about money for me, it's about living my life the way I want to live it.
I had a dream about the car I test drove last night...in the dream, I bought it...toward the end of the dream, for some reason, the car turned into a 70s Lincoln Continental Mark V, yellow and green, and the car had a full drum set mounted to the trunk...for some reason...when I woke up, the first thing I thought of was how cool the vette was, then laughed about the whole Lincoln end of the dream...weird as that was...
I will have a Corvette, maybe a C5, maybe a C6, who knows the specifics, but I will have one, hopefully before this year is over...but if it's next year, or event the year after that, so be it. Point is, dreams turn into goals, and goals turn into reality...it's not all about money for me, it's about living my life the way I want to live it.
08-31-2014, 09:23 PM
#19
Drifting
You don't want a vet with these criterium.
I average around 16 city, since I tend to be getting on it more than not (plus 24mpg when in 6th gear on the highway about to fall to sleep driving long distances bored out of my mind).
Also, there are two tanks in the vets, being one on the passenger side and one on the driver side. When you fill up the vet (more than half full), the drivers side tank first fills up, then over flows to the passengers tank to fill it up. The fuel is first used out of the passenger tank, then out of the drivers tank (the one you filled up first),
Why do I bring this up, its the passengers tank fuel gauge level sending unit in the passengers tank that when left with the tank empty, the rheostat pad contract bars of the unit loves to oxidize to cause the unit to fail, and at a cost of over $1K to replace it.
So for this reason, you don't leave the vet with the tanks empty. Yes you may run them down on a long road trip to empty them while you are driving it, but since the car ends up sitting for most of us that don't use them as DD's, we leave the car sitting with full tanks of fuel instead.
To be truthful, unless you have front pocket change (money to burn for new toys) to not only pay for the car, but the needed upkeep as well, then it may not be time for you to have a Vet. Truthfully, what I tell everyone looking to get a vet, if you have to finance a vet to own one, then it's not really for you.
Simply a vet is just another toy to own, and borrowing money for a toy that you will drive only when weather or time permitting is just living beyond your means. Same goes if you don't have the pocket money to blow away on up kept as well.
I average around 16 city, since I tend to be getting on it more than not (plus 24mpg when in 6th gear on the highway about to fall to sleep driving long distances bored out of my mind).
Also, there are two tanks in the vets, being one on the passenger side and one on the driver side. When you fill up the vet (more than half full), the drivers side tank first fills up, then over flows to the passengers tank to fill it up. The fuel is first used out of the passenger tank, then out of the drivers tank (the one you filled up first),
Why do I bring this up, its the passengers tank fuel gauge level sending unit in the passengers tank that when left with the tank empty, the rheostat pad contract bars of the unit loves to oxidize to cause the unit to fail, and at a cost of over $1K to replace it.
So for this reason, you don't leave the vet with the tanks empty. Yes you may run them down on a long road trip to empty them while you are driving it, but since the car ends up sitting for most of us that don't use them as DD's, we leave the car sitting with full tanks of fuel instead.
To be truthful, unless you have front pocket change (money to burn for new toys) to not only pay for the car, but the needed upkeep as well, then it may not be time for you to have a Vet. Truthfully, what I tell everyone looking to get a vet, if you have to finance a vet to own one, then it's not really for you.
Simply a vet is just another toy to own, and borrowing money for a toy that you will drive only when weather or time permitting is just living beyond your means. Same goes if you don't have the pocket money to blow away on up kept as well.
08-31-2014, 09:29 PM
#20
Drifting
WoW.....! So everyone who doesn't have cash to pay for their Vette needs to not worry about owning one..? In your opinion nobody should ever finance a Vette? This is the most ridiculous comment I've read since being on this forum. Nobody wants to hear about your indirect financial bragging..... Good for you that you didn't need to make payments for yours! You're better than everyone here.... (That's what he wants to hear..). That was the worst advice to the OP that was completely unnecessary.
To the OP; a truck and a Vette are two vehicles that shouldn't even be compared.. I think a truck has it's purpose, but doesn't have the fun factor of the Vette. I'm in the you only live once category..... I say do it! I doubt you'll regret it after that test drive that left you with the feeling that brought you to post here,,,, know what I mean. Go find one and have fun with it!
To the OP; a truck and a Vette are two vehicles that shouldn't even be compared.. I think a truck has it's purpose, but doesn't have the fun factor of the Vette. I'm in the you only live once category..... I say do it! I doubt you'll regret it after that test drive that left you with the feeling that brought you to post here,,,, know what I mean. Go find one and have fun with it!
