I think that's optimistic. If the feds hadn't changed the game with the new CAFE standards, your timeline might be about right. But now GM has to throw out the work they've already done on a C7 and start over in order to meet the new fuel efficiency standards. That means we're back at the start of a 6 year development cycle. But GM doesn't have the money to fund that right now, so the timeline gets pushed even further forward. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Corvette put on hiatus for a few years until GM can get into a position to fund a much more fuel efficient (smaller, lower powered) replacement, perhaps in 2020.

All this bodes well for the used market. People wanting a big heavy powerful grand touring Corvette are going to have to scrounge for used C6s because GM is never going to make their like again.

 

Following up on my previous post. You guys seem to have an unrealistic idea of production timelines. It takes a long time to bring a new model to market. Planning has to start at least 6 years in advance, design work has to be done, federal compliance testing has to be done, supplier contracts have to start being negotiated 3 years in advance, etc.

GM's plans for the 2010 are set in cement, all that's left is setting the assembly line tooling changes into place. The 2011s are almost that far along, with the major supplier contracts already let. Things start to be a little more pliable out around 2012, with some minor changes to that car still possible. But an entirely new model is at least 6 years away. The 2016 model year at the earliest. With all the other changes GM is going through, I think that's an unrealistic target date for the C7. And since the current C6 won't come close to meeting 2016 fuel efficiency standards, I think GM will have no choice but to close production for a few years until they can come out with a replacement which can meet the requirements.

 

2008 jsb 15000 3lt z51 15000 under msrp 7 miles on clock

 

[QUOTE]QUOTE]

No-it is not unbelievable. We just got our 09 last week for 12k under sticker

 

GM's making the same amount of money on them and actually about 4% more per year. They are just not selling as many. Put the MSRP closer to invoice and they would probably sell more.

 

Honestly, I expect the 05 coupes to get down to about 24-25k for medium mileage cars this next year (good examples will still stay around 28k), if the unemployment rates continue to be what they are. If we have a rebound before this time next year, I doubt it'll reach that low. These cars are depreciating at a rate that is way too high and eventually they should bump back up to around what they were worth before the markets took a hit... if you're waiting for the prices to hit rock bottom, you'll be lucky if you don't miss your chance.

 

Personally I don't think used car prices will ever go back up, they just may not go down as quickly once the economy recovers. I'd expect to see $20K 2005's within the next year or so. Wait another 5 years and you'll see $15K 2005's.

 

[QUOTE=vettechictwins;1570178102]It is unbelievable! 12K under sticker is NOT the same as 12K under invoice. The poster said he rec'd 10K under invoice (think he meant MSRP)... .

 

[QUOTE=vettechictwins;1570178102]The poster that he was responding to didn't say sticker, he said invoice and yes that is completely unbelievable.

 

Thanks for the welcome, I can already tell this forum is light years beyond the stang forums I troll. Not nearly as much personal bashing and more car appreciation. I agree w/ your thoughts here.

That is def. not what I want to hear, but that's why I ask! I personally have found at least one c6 2005 in KC for $26k, granted it was an auto, but it only had 25kmiles. I really don't care about the option groups for these cars.... i'm not buying one for a HUD, I'm buying it for performance and style. I think being just as happy w/ a "low option" car, will allow me to get into a lower priced car.

c5's just don't look good to me though, so that will never happen. I go back to my foxbody before that!

Thanks! I've got a few years left here in Japan like I stated, so I'm in no real rush. This car will be my weekend car, I could never daily drive something like this with my heavy right foot! I see c5Z06's for $20k or just above that are damn nice, but I'm just not into them.

You have the thoughts of what I "want", and I tend to agree with you here. I don't see used car prices going up, but I can see them holding for a little while if the economy recovers. I seem to think that early c6's will be low 20's consistently in about 2-3 years.

Everyone seems to think the cars will not depreciate, but I think that is wishful thinking on the owning side of the cars. I bet people never thought there 06 zoh's would be going for $40's now... and I bet c5 owners never saw their cars being well below $20, w/ c5 zoh's just creeping above $20k right now.


Thanks for all the answers ya'll. I hope to be into a c6 within a year or 2 of arrival back to the states. For now I"ll just keep my eyes peeled and learn as much about the cars as I can. Nothing but time for me right now!

 

OH, and lucky for me... black seems to be the most produced color!

 

Cool! What color for vette #2 and which dealer did you buy from this time around?


[QUOTE=vettechictwins;1570178102]

 

[QUOTE=polock4life;1570172206] I'm curious with of everyones thoughts when they think the C6's will drop to the $20k mark or $22K. I see many cars now with good mileage between 26-28.

I see the LS2 coming much faster because the availability to pick up the extra HP so easily with the LS3.

________________________________________ ____________________
You must be seeing 2005's and 2006's for that kind of price.

It will be 2 more years before a 2006 (LS2) gets to arounf $22k

It will be 3 more years before a 2007 (LS2) gets to around
$22k.

It will be 4 more years before a 2008 (LS3) gets to around $22k.

An LS2 is not going to depreciate any faster than an LS3.

Most people looking to buy a 5 year old 2007 Corvette in 2012 will just be happy to be able to finally afford one, or it will be someone's weekend fun car, but either way it won't matter to them a bit whether it has 400 or 424 HP, or a better looking piece of plastic on the center console, or a slightly different feel to the steering. All that stuff is mitigated over time.

 

 

NEVER! What everyone seems to be overlooking is inflation. Maybe because we haven't had any significant inflation since Carter, people don't realize or have forgotten what all the spending we are doing is going to be like. When prices start increasing 15% every year, no prices will fall. When that starts, that $25K beater C6 you find this year will cost $28K next year. In 6 years a new C6 couple will cost over $100K and a '10 will be $50K. And that is with no CAFE changes. With CAFE arbitrarily changed from 2020 to 2016 and management decisions made in Washington now, there will be no C7 and the C6 is on the chopping block. The elimination of engines getting less than 39 mpg will make the current car even more valuable. When are people going to realize we voted for change. Like it or not, things are going to change. Maybe next time we'll take an interest in what the change is but for now we are stuck with what we asked for. To figure out when a C6 will sell below $20K you need to look at the changes we had in prices of Corvettes from 1970 to 1980 and realize the spending (inflation) we are doing now is far higher than it was then.

 

Some dealers are only offering $20 to $23K on average condition C-6 coupes now.

 

HP could get very expensive with all the cafe standards looming. There are leectric and hybrid high hp options but they arent cheap. It is a very real possibility that the c6/z06 is the last bastion of relatively cheap HP. I will be shocked if 06s ever reach 20k with less than 40k miles in the next 3-4 years. Cars have inherent value based on their performance vs other vehicles. IMO you should raise your budget by about 6k and wait for a nice 06.

 

At least 2013 or 2014, maybe more.

 

u people know that dealers get guaranteed money on cars from GM so invoice is irrelevant

 

a generation runs about ten years anyway 2015 at least!