To mod or leave it alone?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,222
Likes: 798
From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
Uninformed?
Yes one of us is clearly uniformed. Personally I have owned eight Corvettes and had my share of self installed performance and appearance mods. Taking full retirement in my forties I'd guess I have more disposable income than most. When you grow up you won't be insulted by opinions that are different than your. Bonding time? I guess if you have no friends and only option is solo garage time yeah, soup up the old car with 128,000 miles on it. It will keep you out of the bars at least. Good news, now you are better informed! 
You're so uninformed on modifying cars that it's borderline insulting. most people with the means to buy and modify a corvette have at least a bit of extra disposable income. Buying a corvette IS a waste of money entirely based on how you talk. you could buy a 10 year old civic for cheaper, so why did you buy an expensive corvette? If he has extra income he will probably have a blast installing it, get some good bonding time with a friend in the garage, and make an awesome car as the outcome. The car has a bunch of miles already so if the engine lets go, he's already gotten good use out of it and he has another car to drive while it's down. I say go for it!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 254
Likes: 1
From: White Bear Lake Minnesota
Thanks for the replies guys, I definitely have a lot to think about which is why I started this thread in the first place. I didnt want to jump into something blind and I know you guys have more experiance than I do with these cars. I may look into purchasing a used c5 with some parts already on her and selling mine.
Ultimately I do want to get a C7 Z06 its just a tad out of my price range at the moment, Im saving right now and hope to have one in the next 5 years...
Ultimately I do want to get a C7 Z06 its just a tad out of my price range at the moment, Im saving right now and hope to have one in the next 5 years...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,500
Likes: 312
From: Scottsdale AZ
I always reach a point with the dozen Corvettes and other muscle I've owned where I've done just about as much as I want to do and I'm ready to move on. There's always something you can find to spend money on-- most of it dubious in terms of return on investment that will only be fully appreciated by you.
And then I put my not so narrow posterior behind the wheel of some other Corvette that's better/faster/different from the one I have and I get the itch all over again.
My guess is that you might be in a similar position - - love your Vette, but slide behind the wheel of a C6 (or C5Z) and see if it might not make you smile. Just looked at your profile - - might be different down here where we can enjoy them all year round! A buddy of mine lives up at vermillion - - -I think the ice just broke up . . .
Great fun either way - - -good luck !
And then I put my not so narrow posterior behind the wheel of some other Corvette that's better/faster/different from the one I have and I get the itch all over again.
My guess is that you might be in a similar position - - love your Vette, but slide behind the wheel of a C6 (or C5Z) and see if it might not make you smile. Just looked at your profile - - might be different down here where we can enjoy them all year round! A buddy of mine lives up at vermillion - - -I think the ice just broke up . . .
Great fun either way - - -good luck !
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 254
Likes: 1
From: White Bear Lake Minnesota
I always reach a point with the dozen Corvettes and other muscle I've owned where I've done just about as much as I want to do and I'm ready to move on. There's always something you can find to spend money on-- most of it dubious in terms of return on investment that will only be fully appreciated by you.
And then I put my not so narrow posterior behind the wheel of some other Corvette that's better/faster/different from the one I have and I get the itch all over again.
My guess is that you might be in a similar position - - love your Vette, but slide behind the wheel of a C6 (or C5Z) and see if it might not make you smile. Just looked at your profile - - might be different down here where we can enjoy them all year round! A buddy of mine lives up at vermillion - - -I think the ice just broke up . . .
Great fun either way - - -good luck !
And then I put my not so narrow posterior behind the wheel of some other Corvette that's better/faster/different from the one I have and I get the itch all over again.
My guess is that you might be in a similar position - - love your Vette, but slide behind the wheel of a C6 (or C5Z) and see if it might not make you smile. Just looked at your profile - - might be different down here where we can enjoy them all year round! A buddy of mine lives up at vermillion - - -I think the ice just broke up . . .
Great fun either way - - -good luck !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
Thanks for the replies guys, I definitely have a lot to think about which is why I started this thread in the first place. I didnt want to jump into something blind and I know you guys have more experiance than I do with these cars. I may look into purchasing a used c5 with some parts already on her and selling mine.
Ultimately I do want to get a C7 Z06 its just a tad out of my price range at the moment, Im saving right now and hope to have one in the next 5 years...
Ultimately I do want to get a C7 Z06 its just a tad out of my price range at the moment, Im saving right now and hope to have one in the next 5 years...
Then just keep your current ride... and keep saving till you can make the leap you want to...
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12,414
Likes: 1,750
From: DFW TX
In my experience buying a car and moddin it, your better off selling your car, buyin a boosted car already done. You will save thousands in the end.
There was a boosted C5 on the for sale forum a bit ago for 19k, and I've seen boosted Zs in great shape as low as 24k.
Just my 2cents
There was a boosted C5 on the for sale forum a bit ago for 19k, and I've seen boosted Zs in great shape as low as 24k.
Just my 2cents
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Then DO NOT modify your car. Let your friend win the bench racing session. He'd probably win any real race anyway. '09 CTS-Vs can be very fast.
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
Yes one of us is clearly uniformed. Personally I have owned eight Corvettes and had my share of self installed performance and appearance mods. Taking full retirement in my forties I'd guess I have more disposable income than most. When you grow up you won't be insulted by opinions that are different than your. Bonding time? I guess if you have no friends and only option is solo garage time yeah, soup up the old car with 128,000 miles on it. It will keep you out of the bars at least. Good news, now you are better informed!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
I also have a 99, but with quite a bit less mileage. I added over 100hp to the rear wheels with common modifications.
I went the Intake, exhaust, heads and came route. Did all the work myself. Extremely satisfied with the night and day difference it made. I spent almost as much as just getting a blower – BUT- and it’s a big BUT, I did it in stages, as opposed to having to come up with between $5000 to $6000 up front. And don’t forget that it may be between another $500 to $800 for a “Forced induction tune”
Just remember that modified car engines are wear items!! They will not last forever! Starting with 128k miles on the engine may not be the best time to make more power, cause your gonna use!
As far as value is concerned, if you ever want to sell it – a 99 Corvette with engine modifications will be much harder to sell than a bone stack car and will have very limited group of potential buyers. Most dealers won’t want it as a trade in.
I went the Intake, exhaust, heads and came route. Did all the work myself. Extremely satisfied with the night and day difference it made. I spent almost as much as just getting a blower – BUT- and it’s a big BUT, I did it in stages, as opposed to having to come up with between $5000 to $6000 up front. And don’t forget that it may be between another $500 to $800 for a “Forced induction tune”
Just remember that modified car engines are wear items!! They will not last forever! Starting with 128k miles on the engine may not be the best time to make more power, cause your gonna use!
As far as value is concerned, if you ever want to sell it – a 99 Corvette with engine modifications will be much harder to sell than a bone stack car and will have very limited group of potential buyers. Most dealers won’t want it as a trade in.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 200
Likes: 30
From: Layton Utah
well, I have a highly modified NA Z06 car (heads, cam, intake, exhaust..) and well if you want the best value, just get a supercharger kit. You'll have more power then me and definitely a lot cheaper, plus, you can take it all and re-sell it alot easier then i can to take even less of a loss. It also makes your car's value go up if you don't. I'd say go for it!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 118
Likes: 8
The point is, you add that kind of power to a car with that many miles on it, you WILL break something. You ready for that? Chances are it will be something important like a trans or transaxle. I still think saving your cash for the next toy with the power you want built in already is the way to rock.