BM363

Hey guys I just signed up on here yesterday and have a few questions I hope you experienced vette owners could help me out with. I'll be buying my first vette soon and am wondering a few things, I'll be getting between a 05 and 09 and am wondering if the z51 package is worth passing up a few good deals to hold off on trying to find one with the z51 package? Is it that much better for performance wise? And will it hold its value with the car longer? And also I'm really wanting to get a ls3 motor but is the ls2 just as good? i know they come with 30 extra horse but I'm not sure of any other advantages they have than that over the ls2. Any feed back would be great and I'll be looking in the classifieds for 05-09 automatics but send me a link if you know of any cars like that. Thanks guys!

Mikelly

I just bought my second vette... Was gone from them from 2006 until Friday. I am now sitting in a 2012 Grandsport Coupe w/6speed. My best advice to you is to find the LOWEST mileage car you can find. Dont buy a deal just to save money. My C5 was a "deal" in 2003. It had 98K miles on it and was well used... But I bought it on a deal... I ended up replacing and working on so many thing. 30 months later it sold and i had replaced the drivetrain and alot more... And I was turned off to GM and CHEVY DUE TO MY PERCEPTION in build quality. I would never do that again. Find the lowest mileage and best example you can...

Vette_DD

Here's a link to model year changes, if that will help you any.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1580332846

If there's not much difference in the mileage, buy the newest one you can afford. Lots of improvements between the 07s (LS2 engine) and the 08s (LS3 engine).

GSDriver

I did a lot of reading and searching all the issues before buying my first vette. I learned a lot by reading the forums. I also checked out youtube videos and went to a few vette related events. In the end it will be what you can afford and what will be less of hassle to maintain.

The first thing I learned was to answer a few questions as to what will I be doing with my vette the most. (Daily driver, tracking it, taking it to shows) then what kind of options I really wanted/liked (Coupe/Convertible, Manual/Auto). Once I figured that out, the GS seemed to be the best of all worlds for me. Then I just focused on finding the right one.

Good Luck.

ruxvette

Once you answer the second question, then look for the car that fits the first post.

TerryL

05s were the last year for the four spoke steering wheels right? What year did GM get rid of the 'Pontiac' front ends?

BM363

Thanks Vette DD that linked helped a lot, I'm definitely leaning towards the ls3

BM363

A guy has one for sale 20min from my house 08 white coupe 1lt with red interior and 18k miles bone stock other than exhaust, he's asking 31.5k I've checked it out and drove it super clean and drives perfect. What do you think about his price? He's high low or just right?

Bruze

I agree, and will add this:

I absolutely insisted on buying a car that was bone-stock, 100%, as near as I could tell. And, 5,000 miles later, I'm quite sure that is what I got.

The odds of it having the crap beat out of it are far less if nobody has ever monkeyed with it. Not a guarantee, but close.

A good service record is also a plus.

Boilerman

I purchased my used 2011 GS with the A6 2 years ago.

I read the forum and all the issues with different years, engines, trans, etc.
Zeroed in on which options I wanted including exterior & Interior colors and 3LT had no issues with finding exactly what I wanted (I did not want any thing with the LS2 motor as the LS3 had several improvements).
I Found it at a Cadillac dealer in Oklahoma.
We exchanged e-mails on an off over the course of 2 days, the sales guy sent me more photos as requested, like what I saw, the dealer took care of setting up the financing and the transporting of the vehicle to my home in Nebraska I never saw the vehicle until I came home off of the job 1-1/2 months after it was delivered.

dryadsdad

Hey, OP, I went the other way. I decided to buy from a source I could trust so I'd not be stuck with a lemon and a bad case of buyer's regret within a month of ownership. I did a Carmax deal. They first did a national search finding exactly what I wanted at a price I was willing to pay. I paid $99 to ship it in to my local Carmax with no obligation to buy. I inspected, was given a test drive for as long as I wished and wherever and however I wished.

I said I'd buy it and then they changed all the fluids, detailed it until it screamed and delivered to me with a warranty for something like 30 days or a week (or something). I had a week to exchange or return it or something like that and 30 days if something broke.

The car ran perfectly. I put 2k miles on that month too so I know it's as good as claimed.

One thing I insisted on was no mods of any kind.

dbirdhouse1

A. Lowest miles
B. Fewest mods
C. Generally avoid first year ('05), so much went wrong (I know, I bought
one and "enjoyed" all of the flaws the '05 had)
D. If you like "pushing it" the Z51 is a BARGAIN (brakes, oil cooler and
more)

What's nice is Vette owners tend to be older and kinder to their cars to the point of (near) obsession (guilty) in their care and maintenance.

Enjoy sir...........

Welker1

Check Kelly Blue Book for your area, but that seems a bit high for a 1lt. According to KBB, in my area a an '08 1lt with 18K on it in excellent condition should be around $28K ... that's the high end. Good luck in your search/decision.

BM363

That's the price in my area welker1 I'm gona shoot him a offer and see if he takes it, I'm deffinetly not gona over pay, I'll find the right one for me and my price range in time, hoping to find one from a forum member. Thanks for the feedback guys!!

Zero_6

I have an 08 3LT A6 Z51 and love it. I don't track it but I do drive on twisty roads in NC. Mine had 4,952K miles when I drove it off the lot for $34K. I have no regrets. Buy what you want even if it means you have to wait.

Brian71

I joined this forum and was given good advice. One thing I was told if buying a C6 get an 06 or newer.
I wound up with an 07 Z06 with 65,000 miles.
The car had stone chips and a torn seat but was a one owner car that was dealer serviced.
The car has been flawless. I've put around 7000 miles on it in 5 months.
I've also tracked the car a couple of times.

BM363

That's what I'm looking for, sound like a nice ride

Mikelly

Thats what I did... Waited... I wanted a 2012 or newer GS coupe M6 in Cyber Grey. $40K is what I paid for mine with 8700 miles on it. Came with an Xpipe, brand new unmounted rear tires, and a few tasteful mods...

Find the right one for you!

beamg5

I can't help but wonder if all the fellas "out here," that are spending thousands on irreversible modifications, are listening to the criteria that nearly all buyers desire/require in a pre-owned Corvette, that is - mod, or virtually mod-free !!

It might serve to be very instructive for those who expecting a big return on their bizarre paint jobs, aftermarket or "dipped" wheels, or worse yet - internal engine/driveline modifications !!

Gary

rado63

Read what equipment a Z51 car has and decide if that's important to you. Other wise, my .02 is get a car with a manual transmission, and dual mode exhaust. Pull the fuse on the exhaust and have a great time everyday just listening to that exhaust as you go through the gears. Preferably wit the top off if you have a coupe, or down if you have a convertible.