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I like the simplicity of the C5. I do like the electric rack and pinion on the C7. That has to provide better steering than the C5 one. One less pulley on the engine too.
When the C7 is as old as the C5 is now, I wonder how well all of that tech will hold up and how much it will cost to maintain. Look at how many people have abandoned the magnetic shocks on C5's. We'll see.
I like the simplicity of the C5. I do like the electric rack and pinion on the C7. That has to provide better steering than the C5 one. One less pulley on the engine too.
When the C7 is as old as the C5 is now, I wonder how well all of that tech will hold up and how much it will cost to maintain. Look at how many people have abandoned the magnetic shocks on C5's. We'll see.
That is a good point. Look at the way GM abandoned support on the electronics for the C5. The C7 is at least as dependent on computer based systems as the C5. Planned obsolescence sucks.
I could afford a C7 but why. It has been fun bringing my C5 back from the dead.
I agree that the price seems high to a lot of us. I purchased 4 new Corvettes starting in 1973 and the last was a 1986.
My family status after 1987 ruled what i could afford and a new Corvette was not one of them. I sold all my Corvettes and invested in a home and family.
With everyone out of school and set up in their own lives I purchased my C4 in 2011 and my C5 in May of 2014. Both needed some work and I enjoyed every hour spent bring them back up to par.
If I felt I could afford a new C7 I would jump on it in a heartbeat. I think they are a great looking sports car with the performance to match.
For now my C5 and my C4 will satisfy my Corvette needs.
It's like any other car model change, As soon as we get used to the body style another style comes out and we hate it, but that usually changes down the road. like the Camaro, The 60's were awesome, then they changed it to the bigger body style and a lot of people hated it because it was different that the one they were used to, then the ugly 80's Camaros..ugh!!! but after awhile..I liked them, but only if they were done just right. then the 90's...Still hav'nt got used to 'em still uglier than sin to me. The same goes with almost every car make there is, when something is changed from what we are used to, its usually for the worst, then it seems to always change with time. Corvettes are no different, wait till you see the price of a new 2018 ZR-1, Maybe in the $200,000 range. good luck with those. Still beats the price of a base model Lambo aventador...lol
New corvettes were always expensive. You can get a rental property for the price of a new Vette. If you have done well in life and are set financially then maybe a new Z06 would be nice. It is a lot of cash for an average income earner though.
C5's still look better than most of the cars on the road so I'm happy enough.
The C7 is priced right. It's expensive, yes, but not out of line expensive and can hold its on against competitors costing must more. If you put 1997 dollars in an inflation calculator, the C7 isn't really much more expensive than that car was when new. Considering how much trucks and luxury cars cost these days, it seems like an outright bargain next to them
From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
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My 98 2LT Vert stickered for 42,500 back in very early 98. Almost certainly sold for a lot less. If I had this budget below, I'd say a 2016 2LT Vert is not out of the question.
New corvettes were always expensive. You can get a rental property for the price of a new Vette. If you have done well in life and are set financially then maybe a new Z06 would be nice. It is a lot of cash for an average income earner though.
C5's still look better than most of the cars on the road so I'm happy enough.
Now what is really wild they had a Z28 for 78k. WOW! more than a vette.
And this is one reason NOBODY is buying the Z28. I saw an article about the '15 Z28 being sold for 30% off sticker when the '16 came out.
Like I tell my friends who don't have a Corvette: "Those who can, should." Life is too short to drive sh!tty cars.
And for reference, my '01 base coupe has a $48k sticker (I love used vettes, I have the invoice and window sticker along with the manuals including the Vette note pad). I paid $14k 2 years ago and have loved every one of the 60k miles I've earned.
That is a good point. Look at the way GM abandoned support on the electronics for the C5. The C7 is at least as dependent on computer based systems as the C5. Planned obsolescence sucks.
I could afford a C7 but why. It has been fun bringing my C5 back from the dead.
The C7 is MUCH more electronics dependent than the C5. Try getting that trick electronic diff fixed in 10-12 years time. And there will be threads as to how to get rid of the magnetic shocks and replace them with "simple" one. And who know how well that digital instrument display will last. We do know that if GM is operating in its standard buying mode, they got it from the cheapest supplier.
Simple rule of modern cars: more electronics = more occurrences of failures that the owner cannot fix. And when they get old, no-one can fix.
Sure, just like the EBCM, column lock, F45/F55, wacko PCM/BCM behavior of the C5. The C7 will likely have similar challenges as it ages and as new gens appear rendering it obsolete and unsupported.
I still have my '02 C5 and work on that and there are ways to repair/replace parts GM no longer makes or supports. I plan to never sell my C5 as it was my first Corvette and I have a lot invested in it. Plus, it only has 7700 miles on it so it's like new still.
My '14 C7 will face a similar fate when GM no longer supports or makes parts for it but I may not keep it and end up replacing it with a new Z or something similar since it's my dd for now and I don't plan on driving it forever. Warranty on the drivetrain is 5/100k and it only has 32k miles on it.
This is all a process - we cycle through vehicles as we go through life - so I just work hard, buy what I want and enjoy the ride.
The corvettes on display are usually ordered and the customer has yet to pick them up. Somebody is paying the sticker price (minus whatever they could bargain). Most of them on display are loaded with options, that can add $20k-30K to the base price.
Sure, just like the EBCM, column lock, F45/F55, wacko PCM/BCM behavior of the C5. The C7 will likely have similar challenges as it ages and as new gens appear rendering it obsolete and unsupported.
I still have my '02 C5 and work on that and there are ways to repair/replace parts GM no longer makes or supports. I plan to never sell my C5 as it was my first Corvette and I have a lot invested in it. Plus, it only has 7700 miles on it so it's like new still.
My '14 C7 will face a similar fate when GM no longer supports or makes parts for it but I may not keep it and end up replacing it with a new Z or something similar since it's my dd for now and I don't plan on driving it forever. Warranty on the drivetrain is 5/100k and it only has 32k miles on it.
This is all a process - we cycle through vehicles as we go through life - so I just work hard, buy what I want and enjoy the ride.
Interesting point. I never really thought about "maintainability" in terms of what happens when one of the now many computers fails? How reparable are they? Replaceable?
That is one thing I love about my C5 and why I would love an analog C3, less to break that can't be rebuilt or remade on some level.
When the C7 is as old as the C5 is now, I wonder how well all of that tech will hold up and how much it will cost to maintain. Look at how many people have abandoned the magnetic shocks on C5's. We'll see
They will be like most late model cars, throwaways not worth fixing.
Dont worry about future value get rid of it before the warranty is up or lease and move on.
Todays cars are NOT meant to last 20 yrs to hang around.
If ones looking for a rare collector something dont bother with most newer than 72.
At a point all cars will be electric
Germany I hear passed some deal where by 2020 all gas vehicles will beoutlawed so enjoy the last of the HP wars and quit worrying about the "next guy"...he may just want yours for the shell to stick an electric motor in. Times are a changing.
^There are reasons that are highly political and highly debatable as to why petroleum is used as fuel. Entire super power economies are backed by oil. Alternative fuels have been around since the beginning. Just because it makes since doesn't mean it is going to happen. Look what happened to Thomas Ogle. He had a land yacht that got over 100mpg. He sold his patent to big oil, got ripped off, then an attempt was made on his life. He mysteriously died a few weeks later.
You can get 30+ MPG and 450 hp from a C5 with fairly clean emissions. That is pretty impressive considering a gallon of fuel weighs~ 6Lb's. There is a lot more to producing, delivering, and storing electricity than what people see. It is probably not as clean and efficient as people think. Batteries are nasty and take a long time to charge. Power plants require a lot of resources. There is a grid that has to be maintained.
The C7 is MUCH more electronics dependent than the C5. Try getting that trick electronic diff fixed in 10-12 years time. And there will be threads as to how to get rid of the magnetic shocks and replace them with "simple" one. And who know how well that digital instrument display will last. We do know that if GM is operating in its standard buying mode, they got it from the cheapest supplier.
Simple rule of modern cars: more electronics = more occurrences of failures that the owner cannot fix. And when they get old, no-one can fix.
That is why if I had $120K to spend on a new 06 Vette, I would buy a C2 and restro-mode it to today's mechanical standards.
Best wishes!
