Ouch!!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13,178
Likes: 99
From: West Chester OH
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In IX Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08 thru '13
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
remember there are a mass of corvette owners who really shouldnt afford it, or to point where they really cant afford it and somehow squeeze by. I have several friends whom own pretty recent vettes and never really have enough extra to even fill it up....but somehow, manage to make a monthly payment.....yet they are completely happy living like this so they can own a vette. There were alot more people like that then you are aware of.
Then the economy crashed, banks tightened up and reexamined thier lending practices and those types of buyers got passed over while others like this reexamined thier borrowing and current NEEDS themselves and Im almost SURE this accounts for a great deal of corvette buyers.
Then theres the fact witht eh Corvette being made better each year, it lasts longer...and with fewer and fewer "changes" theres not a real need to go to a newer year.
Then theres the used market from people getting rid of them form want or need. The used car market has higher quaility cars and with a great loss of value from new to used....a nice USED vette is alot more attractive to many.
Then the economy crashed, banks tightened up and reexamined thier lending practices and those types of buyers got passed over while others like this reexamined thier borrowing and current NEEDS themselves and Im almost SURE this accounts for a great deal of corvette buyers.
Then theres the fact witht eh Corvette being made better each year, it lasts longer...and with fewer and fewer "changes" theres not a real need to go to a newer year.
Then theres the used market from people getting rid of them form want or need. The used car market has higher quaility cars and with a great loss of value from new to used....a nice USED vette is alot more attractive to many.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 5
From: Schererville Indiana
Ummm, well, in my opinion, they are kind of ruining it. I thought about buying a 2010, but decided it would be best to wait until 2012 or 2013. Now, I look at the 2011 line-up, and I question whether I will buy one at all. The loss of the base car is the reason. I don't feel like paying an additional $11,000 for a few badges that say "Grand Sport" on them. I'm sure GM folks would freak to hear potential buyer's saying that, and probably have a billion reasons in their minds of why it isn't true, but that is what their advertising is telling me. They need to get off the grand sport thing, and get back to making great cars at a price that the average weekend yahoo like me can afford, like they did in 2008/2009.
Just one man's opinion.
PK
Just one man's opinion.
PK
As far as I'm concerned, they could drop the Camaro and come out with a true base model with, gasp, cloth seats and crank up windows.
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 136
From: Out of Site...Out of Mind. Corvette: anything else is just transportation.
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
I basically agree, but right or wrong that's clearly not what the marketing people want. The profit is in the expensive add ons and they don't want to make a base stripper model since they are now so often compared to high end European sports cars. The FRC C5, refereed to internally as the 'Billy Bob model', was first envisioned as just such an entry level car. That idea was killed then and won't likely return.
As far as I'm concerned, they could drop the Camaro and come out with a true base model with, gasp, cloth seats and crank up windows.
As far as I'm concerned, they could drop the Camaro and come out with a true base model with, gasp, cloth seats and crank up windows.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,189
Likes: 206
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C3 of Year
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 458
Likes: 55
From: Southeast Ohio
Corvettes were NEVER produced for, nor did they ever try & target the
" AVERAGE WEEKEND YAHOO "
But, If it weren't for the "AVERAGE WEEKEND YAHOO" scrimping and saving to buy his Dream Car, Chevrolet probably would have stopped making Corvettes years ago!!
The "POSER" with deep pockets IS NOT what has kept Corvette alive all these years.
" AVERAGE WEEKEND YAHOO "
But, If it weren't for the "AVERAGE WEEKEND YAHOO" scrimping and saving to buy his Dream Car, Chevrolet probably would have stopped making Corvettes years ago!!
The "POSER" with deep pockets IS NOT what has kept Corvette alive all these years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,713
Likes: 1,895
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
remember there are a mass of corvette owners who really shouldnt afford it, or to point where they really cant afford it and somehow squeeze by. I have several friends whom own pretty recent vettes and never really have enough extra to even fill it up....but somehow, manage to make a monthly payment.....yet they are completely happy living like this so they can own a vette. There were alot more people like that then you are aware of.Then the economy crashed, banks tightened up and reexamined thier lending practices and those types of buyers got passed over while others like this reexamined thier borrowing and current NEEDS themselves and Im almost SURE this accounts for a great deal of corvette buyers.
Then theres the fact witht eh Corvette being made better each year, it lasts longer...and with fewer and fewer "changes" theres not a real need to go to a newer year.
Then theres the used market from people getting rid of them form want or need. The used car market has higher quaility cars and with a great loss of value from new to used....a nice USED vette is alot more attractive to many.
Then theres the fact witht eh Corvette being made better each year, it lasts longer...and with fewer and fewer "changes" theres not a real need to go to a newer year.
Then theres the used market from people getting rid of them form want or need. The used car market has higher quaility cars and with a great loss of value from new to used....a nice USED vette is alot more attractive to many.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
When we visited the plant this year they were turning out new corvettes at a pretty quick rate....it was sad seeing a portion of the plant closed down due to the end of production of the Cadillac XLR.
It would be a real shame to see it all end.
It would be a real shame to see it all end.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Nope not at all................ 2 different buyers............. !!
A Vette buyer is a Vette buyer, is a Vette buyer.
In most cases, we have found Camaro buyers to be Corvette wanna be's & settle for the next best thing........ !!
Significant depth difference in the pocketbooks ......
!!!!
Lets see what happens in Feb, when the Camaro Convertible makes it's debut just in time for spring !!!
A Vette buyer is a Vette buyer, is a Vette buyer.
In most cases, we have found Camaro buyers to be Corvette wanna be's & settle for the next best thing........ !!
Significant depth difference in the pocketbooks ......
!!!!Lets see what happens in Feb, when the Camaro Convertible makes it's debut just in time for spring !!!
I disagree. I think cheap powerful cars are displacing vette sales. The Mustang now is just as fast if not faster. It can be made faster for less overall money. Young single guys making decent money can afford vettes as well as pony cars. That's where the majority of sales are.
Why buy a 60k vette when a $30k Mustang will walk you?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
I think cheap powerful cars are displacing vette sales. The Mustang now is just as fast if not faster. It can be made faster for less overall money. Young single guys making decent money can afford vettes as well as pony cars. That's where the majority of sales are.
Why buy a 60k vette when a $30k Mustang will walk you?
Why buy a 60k vette when a $30k Mustang will walk you?
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,713
Likes: 1,895
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I Agree .....but,
The economy effects all people & locations differently.
The area we serve is a very, very affluent area, as are most of our clients.
Affluent people will almost always have money..........maybe not as much in a bad economy, but they still have money.
It effects the poor & middle class much, much worse...........
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,713
Likes: 1,895
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I thought you swore up and down you weren't a car salesman. I disagree. I think cheap powerful cars are displacing vette sales. The Mustang now is just as fast if not faster. It can be made faster for less overall money. Young single guys making decent money can afford vettes as well as pony cars. That's where the majority of sales are.
Why buy a 60k vette when a $30k Mustang will walk you?
Why buy a 60k vette when a $30k Mustang will walk you?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
My wife and I visited the assembly plant and it is one of the highlights of my life. I would love a Grandsport, and perhaps down the road I'll be able to pick up a used one since the new ones are currently out of my reach. Hopefully things will turn around and the longest lasting sports car will continue to be 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,713
Likes: 1,895
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My wife and I visited the assembly plant and it is one of the highlights of my life. I would love a Grandsport, and perhaps down the road I'll be able to pick up a used one since the new ones are currently out of my reach. Hopefully things will turn around and the longest lasting sports car will continue to be
p o s i t i v e - Thinking.......... I LIKE IT !!
