OK, here is my problem,
I currently own a 97 coupe, bought it almost a year ago... I love it more than life itself... I love driving it, I Look at it every day and think "man that is the greatest car in the world." etc. etc...

I know all you guys know what im talking about.. i obsessed with my car.

So anywho... I was looking around and saw a brand new (50 miles on od) 04 blue z06 for sale... I really really really really want this car

My problem oviously is money.. I love my current car so much that I would never think about getting any other car, except of course, a newer version of the one I have..

My rational is this: My car is 7+ years old, , and its got 38k miles on it, only 7k of which I put on it, in another 5 years, it will be 12 years old... while an 04 would be under dealer warranty etc...

I know I can never ever ever ever monitarily justify buying an 04 Z, but I think having the last of its kind Z, brand new, all my miles, with an extra 7 years of life behind it... is really hard to pass up

Can i afford it.. yes, but would drastically reduce (almost to nothing) my "entertainment" money... and yes I allready have a vette... but just the thought of seeing a blue 04 z06 in my driveway makes me... well.. wet.

Any thoughts, pro's, con's anything... please let me know.. and if anyone out there is interested in a pristine 97 coupe with 38k miles on it, let me know

 

I don't plan on giving financial advice since I'm no expert and really don't know you. But as far as the car's are concerned I'd suggest this. Arrange a test drive of the 04 Z and see if you still have that passion for the 97. I think things will be more focused for you at that point.

I had that same passion for my first C5 (a 99 MN6 coupe) but one test drive of a Z and the passion shifted to the Z.

Good luck.

Tom

 

Get the Z, you only live once.

I have finally learned this lesson after what happened last weekend.

I was grilling out on my patio cooking out(natural gas grill), and walked back inside for a few minutes. My wife started yelling, came running and saw the gas line to the grill was on fire. Quickly shut off the gas and put ou the fire. It was to close I guess and the heat got to the plastic covering on the line. Another minute and probably the house would have blown up. So you never know.

Get the "Z"

Rattler

 

I thought my 99 hardtop was the end-all vette to have. It was my first vette ever and I thought it couldn't get any better than this..
I decided to sell the 99 and be without a vette.
After a few months I missed having a real car, so I test drove a Z06. I was amazed at how different it was. It performed better in every way and felt like a totally different car.
Of course I bought the Z and never looked back...
I expect you will do the same..
mike

 

After being in Iraq, I decided WTF... and I bought a 04 ZO6 last week. You only live once, you die once for that matter. So for me it was an easy choice. However I am single, with no responsibilies other than myself. Figure out what is managible in your life. It it is meant to be, it will happen. Either way, you have a nice car.

 

Buy the Z you only live once, enjoy it

 

You guys all have the same thing to say, which is the way I think as well, I will pretty much only have this one opportunity to get a z06... i am single and make a decent living..

As for driving one... allready have, and thats where I got the bug... the one I am looking at now is a 03 with 8k miles on it... its a more reasonable price, $37k, and really really looks nice... chrome rims, memory seats, the works... The $560 payment I am looking at, after my down and everything, is not much more than my $400 I have now for my 97... and like you guys said, only live once.... My friends ask me "why the hell are you even considering this when you allready have plenty of power in the one you've got?" but its not about power, its about having an almost new Z06, the last affordable z06 produced... (and its not fugly like the "c6's" ) Its hard to explain to non vette owners the feeling of driving one of these things on a daily basis... On saturday before easter I took my brother out in a drive for his first time... I passed by 3 other vettes on the street, and he was floored that they all waved at me... I initiated one, and 2 initiated the wave at me... all three were middle aged white women... he was amazed...

Anyway, I have decided to go with the 03 Z if it is still available... its a purdy one... trying to put a picture of it up, but my host site aint working... will try to fix

LEts try this:


Compared to current:

 

I would get the newest Z06 you can afford comfortably and still have some "fun" money left around. I personally wouldn't dump all my finances into a car since I have other hobbies. Seeing that you want the latest and greatest, even look into the 02's Z06 if they are a little less expensive since they got the bump to 405HP and nearly the same as the 03/04's. Good luck dude. Research around for a bit and you'll find some great deals out there....be a little patient and you'll find it. BTW, I thought my 98 coupe was great until I got an 01 Z06. You'll be thinking the same too soon enough once you own a Z06.

 

Don't drive the Z if you aren't sure you can afford it. One drive and you'll be hooked, once that happens all financial concerns will be forgotten.

Until the first payment (and insurance payment) comes due.

 

Buy the Z and get the coupe up for sale! You only live once as many have already said. Clean the coupe up and start parking it out for sale and get your $$$ out of it and life will be good!!

 

Welcome home and thanks for serving.

 

If it was me I would try trading the '97 only if you could get a reasonable price for it and get the '04 Z06. Now you only do live once and might as well enjoy it to the fullest. Plus in the long run the Z06 will have a better value way down the road then your current '97 vette. I would just figure my situation and make the best economical decision.

Daniel

 

In this forum, I doubt if you'll hear anyone advise against the Z06. I made the mistake of driving one a few weeks ago and bought it on the spot. (03 black/black 1200 miles). It's not a financial decision, have some fun!!!

 

Holy **** man! That blue Z is absolutely beautiful! The silver coupe is nice too but the blue one, DAMN! I've got an 04 Z, black with mod red interior and chromies that I think is pretty nice but that blue is just stunning! That's the first one I've seen that didn't have the commemorative stripes on it. Maybe I need to get out more. Makes me want to swap colors. Go for the Z. You will be glad you did. Good luck.

 

I traded my 99 Coupe for a 2004 Z. I don't and never will regret what I did. If you have the money, Do It! You'll never look back!

 

Yeah, thats the electron blue, not the commorative ed lemans blue with the stripes.. Its beautiful, BUT!!!!!!!
Alas, a major turn of events and a reminder why I never use e-bay!!!

Story:
See the car on e-bay, has a buy it now price of 36,995, bid is at 33000, so i go down to bank, secure a loan for the 36995, it takes the loan officer 3 hours to call me back to confirm... SO i call the guy on e-bay direct (its a dealer) and I ask to speak with the salesman... I get the "hes with another customer looking at the z06 right now", so of course I start worrying... about 5 minutes later he calls back and I ask him to explain the way I can buy out of state(he's in AZ, im in CA) Then as I'm asking him how to secure the car, he says well you have to push the "buy it now button", And just as he said that, he goes... "OHHH, oops, well someone just now pushed the Button, sorry your out of luck!"

I FLIPPED MY LID!!! I told him, "dude, you took like 5 minutes to call me back, I was on the phone trying to buy the car with you, I will give you my credit card and give you the Deposit right now.. " He told me to hold on, and he will call me back..

5 minutes later he does and says "Sorry bud, the guy just now transfered the deposit and apart from him getting struck by lightning, the cars sold, The button takes precedence" and we ended it there!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I actually went through the steps and got the loan and everything.. I told the dude I was going to fly in and buy it and thats the **** I got!?!?! SOrry venting... so now I have to find an identical car, because I fell in love with that electron blue with the chrome rims...

 

Yeah. That's a great combination. I'm currently in the market for the same combo myself.

 

I just bought an 03 Z. The last corvette I had was a 1970 LT1 it was an awsome car, but the Z06 does everything better. Buy it. I have a six year old boy and all he says is Daddy I love this car. As was mentioned earlier you never know what tomorrow will bring. The way I see it I did not work 32 years not to enjoy a few things. Is it practicle NO but it has a WOW factor of about 90. Did you write the check yet? Enjoy

 

Just got an 04 Z16 which is a big upgrade from my 96 CE LT4 have not even driven it yet but got a great deal on a brand new ZO6/Z16 for $42200. Can't wait for the weather to clear in MI. I got the 04 after 3 months of agonizing between an 04 ZO6 and an 05. There wasn't enough "special" about the 05. When I got the great price it was all over... ZO6 for me.

 

Don't trip,dude. Get this....it's cheaper and in California near Sacramento. Do it soon though!

http://www.craigslist.org/sfc/car/66021551.html