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I love my C3, just can't get enough of that body style. Will never go out of date in my mind. Question. If you had a choice of$20K for a C3, let's say chrome bumpers, or a 2008 C6, both clean, everything works, apples and apples condition, adjusting for age of course.
If your choice includes keeping your C3 and buying another vette, I'd buy the C6. I love the C6 styling almost as much as the C3. Especially the wide body Grand Sport.
Is this going to be a daily driver? If so I think the C6 would be better.
Are you planning to do any type competitive driving: I.E. Autocross? (if so I would buy the C6)
You love the C3 body style. Are you mechanically inclined? (Old cars do break, and it is much cheaper if you can do the work yourself) If this is your dream car, go for it. (assuming the other questions are answered satisfactorily)
Right now the C6 is just a used car, but it is a fun car to drive. The C3 bumper cars are classics, but in no way rare. Do not buy a C3 with the idea that the price will EVER increase. So far, history has disproved that one over and over again. So I guess it depends on what you want to do with the car. They are vastly different cars. The C6 is practically maintenance free if the mileage is not excessive and it was not hot rodded. The C3 will probably require some TLC. But nothing is more beautiful than a nice C3.
BTW, I owned a C6 for 8 years. It was never in the shop except for a recall on the steering wheel. Whatever it was, it did not cost anything to fix and was a precautionary measure.
Last edited by crawfish333; Aug 10, 2018 at 04:39 PM.
No contest......C3 is the Corvette to own. The rest are imitations. And I don't care how much they are worth or investment value or any other monetary issue. I don't care how much "power" or "handling" or any other aspects that make other generations supposedly better. Just look at a C3,.....that is what matters. Its a no-brainer.
Last edited by Shovels and Vettes; Aug 10, 2018 at 05:05 PM.
$20K would get you a lot of C3. You could have a squared-away track-ready 10-footer that is as fast and fun to drive as you need it to be, if you stick to vinyl bumpers. If you are thrifty, you might even get an LS swap with a 5 or 6 speed for that.
C6s don't appeal to me or I'd have one. I'd pocket the cash and wait for a C7 Grand Sport to become affordable.
I was recently thinking along the same lines, but with a newer C7. Not a daily driver but recreational use.
2 problems.
1) everywhere I go I need to get there asap to do.... or carry, or..... C7 wins.
2) depreciation on a new or like new C7. value will drop... fast!!
Kept my current wheels and bought a C3. Love the styling (and price) of the C3 Vettes!! As others have said, you can get a rubber bumper very reasonably, comfortable and somewhat modernized. AND.... you can work on them yourself. A C6 is not was easy to work on when it does need service as a C3. I was looking for an LS swapped C3 as I do believe with the FI, this would be a very user friendly Vette that could be driven with minimal problems.
Good luck with your decision. Either choice is a winner!!
If it's a limited use only on nice days the C3 but if it's going to get lots of use including in the rain and in the cold and real hot then the C6 by far. It can be driven as a daily driver but will keep depreciating every day. The C3 value will stay pretty much stabile or at the worst will depreciate at a lesser rate. On the other hand any new car that is a daily driver deprecates every day.
No contest......C3 is the Corvette to own. The rest are imitations. And I don't care how much they are worth or investment value or any other monetary issue. I don't care how much "power" or "handling" or any other aspects that make other generations supposedly better. Just look at a C3,.....that is what matters. Its a no-brainer.
Yes, that pretty much sums up my feelings as well.
Recently went thru that dilemma.'08 vs '72 C3 won in my case.
Pros: '08 Maintenance and restoration free. Rides as good as my CTS. Fast....Comfortable...Amazing suspension, AC works Great. Cruise C. etc
Cons: Styling, too smooth, too reliable - what to work on? difficult to work on, don't need a daily driver
Pros: '72 Retro, Chrome bumpers, styling, big block rumble, classic, high school dream car, memories
Cons: Complete restoration, repaint, engine rebuild, ton 'o work, parts, no AC, etc etc. I'll probably work on it more than I drive it. Probably still slower,less comfortable and less reliable than an '08 but I bought it anyway.
I just love it and I haven't even driven it yet.
Last edited by leigh1322; Aug 12, 2018 at 06:19 PM.
I guess it depends if you work on your car or pay someone to work on them for you that you TRUST.
A chrome bumper 1968-1972 is a basic car and easy to work on in comparison to a C6....which can make many people run from them when it comes to repairs and diagnostics of the electrical system.
I have many customers who have both. A classic chrome bumper C2 and C3 Corvette and then a C5 or newer. They like them all due to each can be used for various reasons and each have their good and bad sides. They may use the C5 or newer for a trip to the mountains for the day so they have the fuel economy, power and all the creature comforts you can ask for. And when they go to car shows around town they will take out the chrome bumper car and show it off. So it all depends.
Buy what you want and how it makes YOU feel. I am sure you already know what you want to do...deep down inside. Becasue there are some people who would NOT buy a C3 and only buy a 1963-1967 there they feel that those are the ONLY Corvettes ever made. And you can see many people feel differently on that on how they replied to you question. None of our opinions really matter when it comes to you making yourself happy. even though I know you asked. That is kinda like us fixing your plate of food at a buffet. I am sure you can figure out what you want to eat and none of us deciding that for you.
One more suggestion: Post the same question on the C6 forum. The answers you get over there might be quite different. This crowd and the crowd over there are probably a both a bit biased.
BTW, I have not perused the C6 forum since I bought my C7 so I do not know the mood there.
Question to the OP – Did you ever drive a C6???? I think the C3 is one of the best LOOKING cars on the planet. Classic Shark, but realistically – a Nissan Altima with a V6 can run circles around most of them. A C6 with 400hp net and even decades old technology is a super-car by comparison.
What would you do?
Chrome bumper C3 all day compared to a C6? Not close.
