Young Vette OWNERS
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 318
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From: Morrisdale Pa
Young Vette OWNERS
Ok I have a question, How is it that there are so many Vette owners that are 19 and under. When I was 19, I was driving a 1971 Plymouth Cricket. I mean it took me until I was 40 before I could afford one :D Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see the younger generation restoring and driving one of the best cars ever made, I'm just curious how they afford.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 1
From: Harrison Township, Mi
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (slide)
I was on the younger side (28) when I got mine, but not quite as young as some of the guys on the forum. It's actually pretty easy. New rice burner $15,000...Used c3 <$10,000. That's leaves the insurance factor, but i'm sure most of the younger folks do what I did at 18 and title and insure the car in their parents' names.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,958
Likes: 0
From: Middletown Connecticut
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (randy72)
thats what i did, mine is in my fathers name to save me some $$$ so i can drive it. But i worked full time (after school) to get this car..took me a while but it was nice.. my parents bought me a 'starter' vehicle to bomb around in for everyday use and i still have the thing to this day.. even after a blown motor, clutch, rear axle and some other things.. damn 4 banger trucks... :mad
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 355
Likes: 1
From: Pennsville NJ
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (slide)
Mine had already been in our family when I got it at 17 (almost 4 years ago). As soon as we had bought it when I was about 10 it had problems and we rolled it into the garage. Never fixed it or even took it out for another 6 years when I told my dad I wanted to fix it and drive it. He was pretty much going to give it away, so he told me that if I could fix it that I could have it. So after many hours and a bunch of $1000s from what I'd been saving from my job, I got it running in great shape again. I also kept the car in my parents name so insurance was cheaper.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (slide)
I'm 18 now, though I'll be 19 pretty soon, and have had the 'vette since I was sixteen. It's been in the family since it was bought, and pretty much kept around so that I could have a car when I turned 16. (They didn't know what they were in for, I guess. I fell completely in love with the poor car). It's been through a lot of hell, and my grandparents have bailed it out a couple times, but I do plan on making it up to them later. All the mod money has been my cash though (700R4, intake, ignition kit, current mods to the exhaust, lighting, stereo...)
-Steve
-Steve
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (slide)
Well I do have a job you know :). I have a monthly car payment of $125, which is very affordable and the car is in my dad's name which saves on insurance. I pay for the insurance, registration, up-keep, gas and the car payments. I'm just careful that I have at least $125 a month saved to make the car payment and spend accordingly. I don't think life gets much better than having a Corvette at the age of 19. :)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (bence13_33)
My first Vette had been in my family for about 10 years when I got it at the age of 15. It was in really rough shape and I worked bagging groceries, and mowing lawns to buy parts for it. A stupid guy in a ricer knocked the front end off of it when I was 17, and due to some really bizarre circumstances (thats a far too long story to post here) I had to sell my poor wrecked baby to buy an '87 Grand Am. Before I started college, I got a job in the engineering dept. of a local company (I'm a Civil Engineering Student). I made some connections and got on with the same company as a co-op student. It allows me to alternate going to school with earning a good salary. Bottom line: I saved me money for three years, built my credit, and made some informed career choices in order to buy my second Vette. I've sacrificed alot for my car, but wouldn't trade it for anything.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 2
From: Katy TX
CI 3-4-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'09-'12
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (e3pres)
Well,
Like a couple of other people on the forum my Vette has been in the family since I was about 7, about 18 years; thats when my grandfather bought it. It was actually silver from the factory, and I have pictures of it that color and will post if/when I scan them in. I was really lucky in that the car was already in my family. Since it is not my primary vehicle it gets to rest most of the time. It would be in better shape if it was my only car, but having to keep up two cars makes it more difficult. Now that I will be graduated and have a great job lined up, my baby will be a show stopper again very soon. :yesnod:
Like a couple of other people on the forum my Vette has been in the family since I was about 7, about 18 years; thats when my grandfather bought it. It was actually silver from the factory, and I have pictures of it that color and will post if/when I scan them in. I was really lucky in that the car was already in my family. Since it is not my primary vehicle it gets to rest most of the time. It would be in better shape if it was my only car, but having to keep up two cars makes it more difficult. Now that I will be graduated and have a great job lined up, my baby will be a show stopper again very soon. :yesnod:
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,376
Likes: 4
From: Hershey, PA, USA
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (slide)
Graduation present from my father. I think he wanted to give it tome alot more to **** off my mom after their divorce to, so I made out anyway.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (VetteBoy1979)
I am 22 years old but have owned my Vette since I was 19. This thread topic came up in a different form once before and the overwhelming truth is that when many of the older guys on this forum were our age a Corvette at a reasonable price just wasn't possible. Luckily, we are able to take advantage of a depreciated C3 at a cost that is very reasonable. Think about it, I see C3's selling for $5000. Assuming someone makes $7.50/hour at some mundane, teenage job (6.00/hour after taxes). If they keep their priorities straight and don't waste their money, that $5000 can be made in ~850 hours. Working full time (40 hours) , 15 weeks per summer, this money can easily be made. Now, imagine how much easier it is for someone who is in school (engineering helps) and gets an Internship. I started at $13.00/hour when I was 18; I bought my Vette the following summer. Younger generations are also being paid very well with the computer industry and this puts money in their pockets early.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,795
Likes: 1
From: Regina Saskatchewan, Canada.
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (slide)
Ok I have a question, How is it that there are so many Vette owners that are 19 and under. When I was 19, I was driving a 1971 Plymouth Cricket. I mean it took me until I was 40 before I could afford one :D Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see the younger generation restoring and driving one of the best cars ever made, I'm just curious how they afford.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 13
From: Holly MI
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (slide)
When you think about it, I was able to get a big block 69 for less than a new Neon. The insurance is ridicously(sp) low because I have it insured as an antique. The other thing I haven't seen mentioned, is that it doesn't sound like a lot of the younger guys are married or have kids. Seriously, lots of younger people get married or have kids, and that erases the possibility of a Vette.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Rochester NY
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (Stingy74)
I'm 19 and goin to a $26,000 per year college. I got my vette through much hard work. I originally had a 1990 Jeep Wrangler which my parents bought for me, it was hideous (canary yellow, with the Islander package so it had brigh orange sun decals on the yellow). I removed the decals, detailed it with black stoneguard in certain spots, gave it 7" of lift, 33" mudders, and boy did she look mean. But after I got all that done to it, I realized that the fun part was building it up to what it was, not just owning it. By the way, I paid for all the add ons myself by saving every red cent I earned working odd jobs, birthday money, etc. don't get me wrong, I loved that Jeep, but I realized it was time for a change. So, after months and months of reading the auto trader, I found a 78 vette for sale, but it also said "trades welcome", so I the guy ended up loving my Jeep and we traded straight up. So, I guess my point is, a youngster could easily save up for a vette if they budget their money right. That means giving up things here and there like going to the movies every weekend with my friends, I went sometimes, but I gave up alot of good times with my friends in order to either work, or avoid spending money; just so I could save it for my Jeep, which in the end got me the vette.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 2
From: Katy TX
CI 3-4-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'09-'12
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (bb69)
Honestly,
At University of Houston, where I graduated from, there are many kids with lots of money. Many of the guys, Asians for the most part at UH, with the loaded Ricers either have alot of money (family) or have "connections" to get the mods for their cars. Many parts they have are easily "removed" from another car in the parking lot. ( I am not making a blanket or racial comment, just from what a friend of mine is personally a part of). So honestly, I dont know how many of them are actually paying for their own cars or parts. These type of people really make me :mad
At University of Houston, where I graduated from, there are many kids with lots of money. Many of the guys, Asians for the most part at UH, with the loaded Ricers either have alot of money (family) or have "connections" to get the mods for their cars. Many parts they have are easily "removed" from another car in the parking lot. ( I am not making a blanket or racial comment, just from what a friend of mine is personally a part of). So honestly, I dont know how many of them are actually paying for their own cars or parts. These type of people really make me :mad
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 49,198
Likes: 0
From: All in!
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'10
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (slide)
Well...at 27 I just kinda decided I wanted one. I'd always loved them, but for some reason never thought seriously about buying one.
then at 28 I bought one. :D
then at 28 I bought one. :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (bb69)
i got mine when i was 19. i had an excellent job, and planned to buy a corvette at the end of my 1 yr contract. well, buy luck i found the vette i wanted (68-72, BB, 4 spd) after only a month. so i got a loan, bought the car. had ~$500/month payements on a 4 year plan, but i paid the loan off in a year. i also have collector plates, so insurance is very inexpensive, which is good, as i a student again.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (Turbo-Jet)
I bought mine a month after i graduated from high school. Used some money that i got for tuition from relatives :lol: + money from my full time summer job. :lol:
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Re: Young Vette OWNERS (inqbus383)
I got my first at 17 a convetible 68 stingray...red with a black top...I got the money from Farming 5 acres of butter beans and peas...I planted weeded and picked them...My dad provided land, tractror, seed and fertilizer..I made 15k that summer PROFIT..this was in 85 and bought the car for 9k in perfect condition from a marine :cheers:
[Modified by Alwyn678, 1:59 PM 12/4/2001]
[Modified by Alwyn678, 1:59 PM 12/4/2001]
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 34,253
Likes: 0
From: Medford, OR
Re: Young Vette OWNERS
Considering you can get a good C3 for around 12K and that isn't really all that much for a car these days, it's basically about deciding whether you'd rather have a new Ford Focus type econobox or a classic piece of history to drive around. I actually only paid 4K and change for mine but have done alot of work and spent enough that I'm at the 12K mark.