I posted here couple weeks ago about being 55 and 1st vette. I have found a 2010 vette pretty well loaded missing a couple of options I wanted f55 and this is base and no navigation and only the transparent top OH and its Black not my color wanted crystal red tintcoat.

How bad am I gonna hate myself settling for this its gonna be a daily driver since I waited so long to get my 1st vette. How hard and how much up keep with black as opposed to crystal red. Then the fact of no f55 smaller rotors and not drilled and ride. How much difference is there between base suspension and f55. Then only having the transparent op and not painted also.

Thanks Chuck

forgot to mention this is used less than 1k miles and 13k off msrp

 

I've not ever had a black car, but many forum members post here about how much work it takes to keep a black car looking good. I'd shop around some more for a red car. You can find one if you're patient.

 

If you are not paying cash, you should be looking at 2009's. They have 72 months no interest and lots still out there to choose from. You might have to travel to get one, but you are buying a Vette. Road Trip!!!

If not, wait and get the suspension you want. It's too much money to compromise.

 

Quite honestly, it sounds like the car you found is way off from what you really want. My advice is to skip it. Especially with your first Corvette, don't settle for anything less than what you really want, even if it means doing a factory order. Trust me, you'll enjoy the car much more knowing that you didn't compromise.

As for CRM vs. black, if CRM is what you want you won't be happy with black. While black looks great fresh out of the box, it shows every speck of dust and is MUCH more tedious to maintain. Every little spider web scratch and swirl will show. It can be kept looking great but not without a lot of work.


If I was in your shoes, here's what I'd do:

1. Check this site to see if there's a car sitting in dealer stock somewhere that meets your needs. http://www.jeffhardy.com/lookupvette.php
2. If your car isn't in stock or if you can't get the right deal, do a factory order through a forum dealer and either do museum delivery, pick the car up from the forum dealer, or have it drop-shipped to your local dealer.

Good luck!

 

 

I forgot to metion this is used less than 1k miles 13k off msrp

 

I stand behind my earlier post. Especially on your first Corvette, a it's not a great deal if it's not the car you really want. Get the best deal that you can on the car that you've dreamed of and don't settle. You'll forget how much you paid LONG before you stop enjoying the car. Trust me on this one.

 

I strongly agree with Mike, (mpuzach) but there is an alternative. If this car is relatively cheap and your first Vette, maybe it's going to be a 1-3 year car??????? Just to get your feet wet on the brand and model????? That way, while you will take a depreciation hit, it won't be as dramatic when you eventually buy the real Corvette you really wanted.

Now, that's all speculation on my part, but if that's what you're intending then it may not be such a bad plan.

On the other hand, if this is maybe your first and long-term Vette (5-10 years), I'd say keep looking for one that meets much more closely what you really want in/on the car. I mean, there's nothing worse than walking up to your car and the first thing you think is: "I really didn't want this color."

 

I would check with some of the forum dealers if I were you. You
might be surprised what kind of a deal you could get from them on a new one.

 

Great advice!

 

All great points about waiting, and I would too. I bought a 2001 SS Camaro and when I did, I was just too tired of looking and bought one with an Auto.
I REALLY hated that decision, and eventually sold the car ALWAYS wishing that I waited to find a 6 speed manual.
Then...I bought a 2002 SS Camaro with the 6 speed, and I was REALLY happy that I waited that time.
Fast forward to the Corvette, I waited until I got a killer deal on my then new 2008 Z06, I really wanted a Z06, but the $$$ was too much, patience paid off and I got it for many thousands less than sticker.
Wait my friend, and you'll be glad you did.

 

And there are plenty out there...just keep looking, which is part of the fun!

Do not get yourself into something you settled for...even if it a few more bucks.

Best of luck!

 

You will really enjoy any Corvette you get BUT if I were you I would be patient and wait until I found a car that was exactly (or at least VERY close) to what I wanted. This is a big investment and you don't want any regrets later.

If I were you, I'd give Tommy Jr. at MacMulkin in NH a call and tell him what you are looking for. They have lots of used and new cars and you might be shocked at what kind of deal he will make you.

I am a first time Corvette owner at 60 and order my new 2010 coupe through Tommy Jr. and could not be happier. (*except if they had offered the F55 in a Grand Sport in 2010 instead of waiting until 2011)

 

forum dealer is 9.5k higher to fill in the differences f55 color both tops and navigation

 

I wouldn't worry about getting both tops. The glass top is the way to go. You'll love it. It gives the car a more open feel, is lighter and easier to take off and put on, and no worries about delamination.

As for summer time, you can get a really nice liner that you just stick on and it looks great as well.

If you want the F55 it will cost you more but in my opinion it's worth it.

Also you can always add an aftermarket NAV later.

 

It's just my opinion, but you're spending way too much money to not get what you want. Don't settle. Every time you wax that black car you will learn to hate and despise your lack of patience.

There are some things about a car that you can overlook because they can be easily changed out a a later date. For example, the wheels can be swapped out. The top can also be changed out at a nominal cost. So if you found that you really didn't like the clear top, you could probably find a solid top for about $500 to replace it (and you could sell the clear top for more than that). If the car is a 3LT you can have an OEM Nav system installed at a later date or you can get an aftermarket Kenwood or Pioneer Nav system installed even if the car isn't 3LT.

The F55 suspension, on the other hand, can not be retrofitted to the car. It either comes from the factory with F55 or it doesn't.

Here's what I would do. First, go to the Jeff Hardy Corvette locator site and see if you can find your dream car. http://jeffhardy.com/lookupvette.php And, go to one of the Forum dealers and price a new one that is what you want.

For example, McMulkin has two 2010 crystal red coupes with 3LT, NAV, dual mode exhaust, etc...one is automatic and the other stick shift. They are offering these cars at a little over $7,700 off the sticker. And, while that is about $5,000 more comparatively to the black car you found, you've got to remember that the OEM Nav and the F55 suspension and crystal red paint add about $5,000 to the sticker price. Plus, the new car from the Forum vendor is a new car which means that the warranty hasn't started to run and so there's some chance that you wind up with about an additional year of factory warranty compared to the used car.

I've tried that approach of buying used and settling for less than I really wanted to save some money. And it just never has panned out for me. I finally learned that spending the extra $5,000 is only $83/month if I keep the car for 5 years. And, if it's a car that I really like there's a good chance that I'll have it that long. In fact, there was one C4 that I loved and I wound up driving it for 9.5 years. Skipped owning a C5 at all and finally gave up the C4 when I had to have a C6.

Good luck on your search.

 

Get on the phone and call some forum dealers:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-d...inventory-118/

Plenty of great deals on new Corvettes, like these:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...chevrolet.html

For example:
2010 Crystal Red Metallic Coupe with 3LT Ebony Interior
3LT Preferred Equipment Group
C2L Dual Roof Package
F55 Magnetic Selective Rider Control
U3U Touch Screen Navigation System
NPP Dual Mode Performance Exhaust
MN6 6-Speed Manual Shift Transmission
Q9V 5 Spoke Forged Chrome Aluminum Wheels

MSRP $63,125
MacMulkin Discount $8,477
GM Rebate Discount $1,000
OUT THE DOOR PRICE $53,688 - OVER 15% OFF MSRP!

 

Here's my take. Simply, buy the car you really want. You will regret it if you don't. Good Luck

 

Chuck,
If you have to ask if we think you should get black, then I think you should keep looking! You are already second guessing and have not even wrote the check yet. You and I discussed about how hard black is to clean and how it shows every little peck due to being so low to ground! Do not settle, this car has even less of what you wanted than mine did. You will find the car you want if you are paitent....you could always order one but it is so late now it would be a 2011. Give jason at Ross downing where I ordered mine a call. Or stay tuned because you are about to have another one of the great corvette salesmen right there in Ohio if louisianna is too far for you.

 

I want to thank everyone on the forum who replied to my post. Seems the general feeling form everyone is I will never be happy with it. I also want to send a special thanks out to Steve who I had two long talks with last night and today to keep looking.

Thanks Chuck