Advice please....non-owner
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,206
Likes: 1,139
From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
Been here for a few years (technically, not realistically). I'm FINALLY in a financial position to buy at best an '05 C6 or older. Several problems that I'd like info/advise with.
1) My driveway. My wife's '10 Camry scrapes....5.5" GC.
My seller of 07 had an extreme dip at street end. She took it like a champ on angle. It's just technique. Should be no biggie as others have stated.
2) I've wanted a Vette since I was able to read about them, yet now that I AM able to buy one (I'm coming from the Subaru house), she thinks I'll buy one, like it for a while, then miss the Subaru. While I can't categorically say she's WRONG I don't think it's true. However, I've never driven one and my daily commute is about 20 miles total.
Daily cummute of 20 total is perfect. Don't want no shorty trips on any cars daily. If she's right, sell the vette.
I'm at a loss. My price range is about $25k, more depending on what I do with my Subaru.
25 will get you almost any C5.
I must admit, I was willing to "settle" with an '04 Cobra but determined that it was utterly impossible for my driveway (about 2" GC with suspension)...and wife said she would leave me before allowing a Ford in the driveway.
Nothing wrong with a GT500 for instance. Had one (well, way back when..67 GT500). A little out of your price range (and mine).
Not sure if a C5Z or a C6 base would be the better choice. I think at most I would do intake/exhaust, but WAY down the line. I will need to relearn how to drive since I've been driving a 200awhp Subaru since '05. Thankfully I'm not a kid and know my limits.
C5Z unless you got funds for C6Z. No decision to make beyond that.
Warning! Your mileage may vary WOT.
Yeah I just wrote a novel. Help?
1) My driveway. My wife's '10 Camry scrapes....5.5" GC.
My seller of 07 had an extreme dip at street end. She took it like a champ on angle. It's just technique. Should be no biggie as others have stated.
2) I've wanted a Vette since I was able to read about them, yet now that I AM able to buy one (I'm coming from the Subaru house), she thinks I'll buy one, like it for a while, then miss the Subaru. While I can't categorically say she's WRONG I don't think it's true. However, I've never driven one and my daily commute is about 20 miles total.
Daily cummute of 20 total is perfect. Don't want no shorty trips on any cars daily. If she's right, sell the vette.
I'm at a loss. My price range is about $25k, more depending on what I do with my Subaru.
25 will get you almost any C5.
I must admit, I was willing to "settle" with an '04 Cobra but determined that it was utterly impossible for my driveway (about 2" GC with suspension)...and wife said she would leave me before allowing a Ford in the driveway.
Nothing wrong with a GT500 for instance. Had one (well, way back when..67 GT500). A little out of your price range (and mine).
Not sure if a C5Z or a C6 base would be the better choice. I think at most I would do intake/exhaust, but WAY down the line. I will need to relearn how to drive since I've been driving a 200awhp Subaru since '05. Thankfully I'm not a kid and know my limits.
C5Z unless you got funds for C6Z. No decision to make beyond that.
Warning! Your mileage may vary WOT.
Yeah I just wrote a novel. Help?
btw: read up on the other guys thread...New Member...In the market
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Dunkirk Maryland
St. Jude Donor '11
I am down in calvert county and wouldn't mind testing your driveway for ya hoss. However my car is not stock so a test drive wouldn't really compare in this case. shoot me a pm if you would like.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,206
Likes: 1,139
From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
I've had 3 Vettes now, I would never make it a daily driver-especially if snow was ever in the equation. The popup headlamps in the snow/ice can also be a PIA. Keep the Subaru for DD and get the vette for fun.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,341
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
I'm on my 2nd Vette now and seriously thinking about trading my current '04 Vert in for a '07 / '08 in a few months. I too have to take my driveway at an extreme angle but my car has been lowered an inch in the front and an inch and a half in the back and I can still get in and out of the garage without to much trouble. Just have to be careful.
As for daily driving a Vette, my '04 is my daily driver. I commute 30 miles each way to work, probably 95% highway and average 26-27MPG out of my car with an automatic transmission. It averages 23-24 combined but admittetly, most of my driving is highway. I do very little driving around town. My Vette actually gets better mileage then my moms Nissan Sentra SE-R mcuh to my dads chagrin
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Lusby Maryland
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Lusby Maryland
Where on the Camry does it scrape - if the front air dam, then that's totally different than if it is somewhere further back on the car or if it is on the painted front fascia. The Vette is going to sit even lower than the Camry, so I would imagine you are going to have clearance issues with either a C5 or a C6. It was a good suggestion to see if you can find a C5 owner that would be willing to bring the car over and at least look at how it would do on your driveway.
As far as using the C5 as a daily driver - it will work perfectly fine and you'll be surprised at the gas mileage you will get - especially with the manual tranny.
As far as using the C5 as a daily driver - it will work perfectly fine and you'll be surprised at the gas mileage you will get - especially with the manual tranny.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 40
From: Orangevale California
St. Jude Donor '10
My front air dam scrapes every time I leave or enter my driveway. Thankfully, the front air dam is spring loaded and I can't see that any real damage has been done to it.
As long as you don't scrape the area just in front of the back tire, I'd say go for it.
As long as you don't scrape the area just in front of the back tire, I'd say go for it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 8
From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Other than that issue once you drive one for a while nothing else compares
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 4
From: Warrenville Il
Most important is if you will see winter weather for a DD. all wheel drive subaru to 300rwhp rear drive vette is something to consider, especially in Maryland. Try and post a pic of the driveway and some different angles and maybe we could suggest if it looks feasible
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
If you enter your driveway at an angle you should be fine. My driveway is extremely steep and I don't have any issues but then my driveway is three lanes wide. My friends who have C6s have more trouble scraping the front getting up my driveway.