Interesting story...

While I was at a gas station today a couple in a new Mercedes pulled in behind me and the the guy (guessing in his 50's) got out and approched me. He said he had just bought his wife the new Mercedes so she agreed to let him finally buy a new Vette for himself (which he said he had wanted for years). He mentioned that they had just left the Chevy dealership and had looked at the new Vettes and the Z06. He said they were on their way home and saw my car parked at the at the gas pump and whipped around to take a closer look. Then he said "This must be the 2008, Wow, can you special order these already - this is more like it"! (He obviously has not been looking at Vettes on the street for the past few years).

After a long discussion and tour of my car he decided that the C5 was the way to go for him. I told him he should be able to get something pretty good in the $25k range and for about $30k could probably get something really outstanding. He said "Would you take $30k for this one?" I told him no way - that I was keeping this car until I die regardless of what else I may buy in the future. I told him the C6's are awesome, but if they came out with both today and they were the same price I would still pick the C5 (assuming power was equal).

I try to keep my car in pristine condition, but nice to know that a stranger was willing to pay $30k for a car that I have driven every day for the past 7 years (as of this month). It is just a base 2001 black coupe with very minor mods like LED tail lights, Muth mirrors, chrome thin-spokes, Crystal Eyes, etc.

 

Good story

I'd say the C5 design is timeless

 

OK, you are a nice guy as well. You could have told him that he probably could have bought at least two C-5's for the price of the Mercedes he just paid for his wifey! He probably paid "full MSRP" for that German Cab too, and I'd bet a Sam Adams on it!

 

I am sure of it. They appeared to have just come into a lot of oil money or something recently - for some people out here it is "boom" times again in that industry. I have seen this before - many people go crazy with "new" money - especially if they never had any in the past.

 

Great story.....If someone offered me that kind of money for an 01 couple minor mods...I would of said Ill follow you to the bank......I love my car....but if someone was to offer me more than what I had in it.....it's gone and off to a 04 Z with more mods

 

I still get the comments of "is that a new one?" Mine probably doesn't look nearly as immaculate, but I think I would have taken the 30k. The car is only worth as much as someone will pay for it, and that guy was one of a kind! You can always get another one

 

Agreed. I just got a well taken care of 98, and people in my remote neck of the woods think it is new. I chuckle inside when I think I paid less for this vehicle than the cost of a new minivan.

 

Exactly...

Nice story! He offered 30k? Maybe he would have accepted 35k as well?

 

 

An 03 or 04 would have looked good in your garage too.

 

 

 

story, but if someone offered me $30K for mine, I'm afraid it would change owners.

 

Funny, I get the same thing with my 1997! I just put some painted thinspokes on there which updates the car to 2000+ (visually) and tinted the windows and the rest of the exterior is bone stock.

Everyone that sees it at work or when I pull into a gas station says: "it must be nice.....(to be able to afford that)" and I always make sure to mention "Yeah, I looked at the price to buy a used toyota, and realized that I could get the Vette for the same price with 200 extra horsepower and the same fuel economy...it was a no brainer"

 

I'd sell him mine for 30K. Think of all the things you could do to your next one if you got the extra cash.

 

I have had people ask me if my 96 is new

same with my 04......funny thing is people who are not obessed like us see a Vette in pristine condition, looking like it just rolled off the showroom floor, and they think its a new car. speaks well of the stying

 

Through the eyes of the average guy on the street, a pristine C5 has as much, if not more, appeal than a C6. Ah, those timeless, sexy curves...

 

Very interesting story ! !

 

I'm originally from Calgary. Back in the '90s people had bumper stickers that said, "Please let there be another oil boom. I promise not to **** it all away this time." Now there's another oil boom and people are pissing it all away again.

On the topic of the story, I'm with a few other folks here, I think I'd have taken the $30k and looked to upgrade to an '03 or '04.

 

I am sure you are still reeling and grinning ear-2-ear from the fact that a stranger was willing to offer $30k for your well-kept like-new car!! Compliments on how well you have taken care of her!! I know that feeling.