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Difference between LS2 and LS3

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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 01:20 PM
  #21  
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I've had an 06 and 08. For the difference I would go with the newer car. More warranty etc, and some improvements overall.
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 02:04 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Fuego
he's right. It's not a significant difference having a a better tranny ( 600 lb ft vs. 450 lb ft capability). 35 RWHP difference, new rear end ,new steering rack, better interior, etc. Some people hate a newer better version Vette. LS3>LS2
Anybody hear this before; "new rear end"? I believe that was changed in 2006.
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 02:31 PM
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Also remember that the warranty on the 06 is about done. Also in a few years the 08 will still be worth more. Other then that I am not too sure there really is a big difference. I just made this decision a few weeks ago and went with the 08. It had very little to do with performance. With gas being what it is the were eager to sell a new C6, so the price difference was only about 5k for me. Also I really wanted a 6 speed and prefered the Atomic Orange, neither of which I could find used. So I decided to go with the 08 and get the car I actually wanted and not settle for one that I would still like alot, but wasn't exactly what I wanted. Color was a big deal for me as I already have a C5 thats pewter so I didn't want a silver color at all. Either way, I'm sure you will be happy.
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 02:40 PM
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More power, improved steering, 100k warranty. The 08 has my vote!
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 02:41 PM
  #25  
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I had a similar predicament two months ago, except it was a new 07 versus new 08s. Because I was able to negotiate more off the 07 and get 0% APR for 60 months on the 07, I was in the end able to save about 14K off a similarly equipped 08. I went with the new 07.

Is the 08 worth 14K more than the new 07? No way. Is it worth 8K more than a used 06. I think so.

Good Luck
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 02:42 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by SilverBullitt
The car wouldn't have had the 100K warranty when new. But, the GM Certified Used Car program adds onto the warranty, and also makes it elegible for new car financing thru GM. You can check it out on GM's site.
GM Certified financing doesnt apply to Vette's.

08's are a bad investment right now even with the end of model year discount. You never mentioned if it was coupe or convertible.

Read some of these threads I've seen lately on what car's are going for at auction. Keep clear of 08 and save yourself a ton of $$$ you can use on other things while still enjoying Corvette.
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 02:49 PM
  #27  
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I have an 07 and an 08, to my surprise the 08 is noticeably more powerful and seems to steer and handle better than the 07. This is good news because I thought they might be exactly the same. Go for the LS3 IMO!
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 03:14 PM
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My opinion:

The C6 is my first Corvette, and there was some personal significance to getting a brand new one (bought in 2006). If I were starting today to buy my first Corvette, I'd pay the extra money for the new '08.

Now, having already bought my first brand new Corvette, I will always go used if I ever buy again. It is just such a better deal. A lot of Corvette owners take very good care of thier cars & sell them a few years later at whatever the used market value will bring (which is siginificantly lower than new car prices).
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by djfullshred
My opinion:

The C6 is my first Corvette, and there was some personal significance to getting a brand new one (bought in 2006). If I were starting today to buy my first Corvette, I'd pay the extra money for the new '08.

Now, having already bought my first brand new Corvette, I will always go used if I ever buy again. It is just such a better deal. A lot of Corvette owners take very good care of thier cars & sell them a few years later at whatever the used market value will bring (which is siginificantly lower than new car prices).
Very good point. I heard just the other day that the average Corvette owner will turn it around in 2 years. I know that the guy that bought my '04 got one sweet deal.
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 03:28 PM
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can anyone truly answer the question asked in the title of this thread or provde a link? ex: LS3 uses z06 air intake, z06 injectors, etc.
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 03:28 PM
  #31  
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New if you can afford .Nothing wrong with 06 either
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 03:41 PM
  #32  
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I had two LS2s, and now a LS3. There is no doubt that the LS3 is noticably faster. Don't forget that due to the way the 08s are rated, the difference is more like 45 hp if they were rated under the old system. My car dyno'd at 37rwhp more than what MTI told me the typical LS2 dyno'd at.

If money is an object, there is nothing wrong with the LS2. Still a damn fine and damn fun car. But you asked!
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 04:58 PM
  #33  
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Here is my opinion with experience with BOTH.

My friend has a new 08 NPP Z51 6spd and I have a 05 Z51 6spd. When his was stock the 36hp difference is NOT as much as some of these guys claim. Infact, we ran the cars and it was a pretty good race (both are excellent drivers). The interior is NOT different or better as some claim. Its the exact same thing with a center console change (and the 08 is even missing things ei console lock, rear hatch handle, console "mood" light etc). When driving the car the biggest noticeable difference is the steering feel. The 08 you cannot feel the road one bit. Some may like this some may not however the 08 steering did feel more luxury oriented and refined. I did not notice the car handle any differently. As far as shifting they feel pretty much the same no noticeable difference there either. I am by no means dissing the 08's because obviously who wouldn't rather have the newest model (with more power), but sometimes it seems as if these guys on here think the 08 is like a C7. Its the same car with 36 more HP (with NPP;-)
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 05:04 PM
  #34  
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The power part comes from a revised, 6.2-liter engine for the base Vettes. It cranks out 430 hp, a gain of 30 more horses than last year. There's also a new optional exhaust that raises horsepower by another 6. Other hardware changes include revised transmissions for quicker and easier shift quality and an improved steering rack for better feel. And in hopes of fending off criticism once and for all about the car's plasticky interior, Chevy has introduced a new (and pricey) interior package this year that places high-quality, two-tone leather upholstery on the dash, seats and doors.
Here is whay edmunds says... Seems accurate based on my experiance...
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 05:07 PM
  #35  
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I think the steering would be the biggest issue. And since neither has the HUD, I would go with the 08. And I am an 05 guy. New cars are, well...newer.
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 05:13 PM
  #36  
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Here's my .02 - Buy the newest vette you can afford. I've been a vette owner since 1972 and this moto has served me well over the decades.

Tom
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 05:40 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by GarrettDN
I think the steering would be the biggest issue. And since neither has the HUD, I would go with the 08. And I am an 05 guy. New cars are, well...newer.
The '06 is a 3LT so it would have the HUD.
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 05:43 PM
  #38  
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I don't think it really matters much. Buy the one you like better. Both will depreciate faster than you think.
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by JJC5
Anybody hear this before; "new rear end"? I believe that was changed in 2006.
Chuck cow told me about a change in the half shafts in my '08 when he tuned it. Also, the shop that installed my VR said , when the car was on a lift, the sides of the rear end case were different from the LS2 cars. He had about 3-4 z06's in there for turbos , several c6's, c5's, so I guess he knows what he is looking at.
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 05:57 PM
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I did not notice the difference in the normal driving conditions.
However there might be difference in racing conditions because
08 has faster shifting and more responsive steering which I could not feel the difference on the normal road , then again I am not a racer.
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