I am 62 and finally can afford my Vette I've always lusted after.
I need advice from the many knowledgeable Corvette owners.
I'm going to buy a 2011 Coupe with manual trans & LT3 package.
1. What's a reasonable % discount off the MSRP I should look for?
2. What and why are must have additional options ?
Thanks, I appreciate any advice.

 

Click on the link below for Forum Dealers. You should be able to find just what you are looking for, or at least get a good idea what kind of deals are out there.

Welcome to the Forum and good luck with your purchase.

TRR


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-d...inventory-118/

 

Options are all opinions of course, here's mine.

You are starting in the right place with the 3LT, I wouldn't go lower than that. 4LT adds more leather and I think it looks great. Very high cost though. Other notable options to add to the 3LT...
Navigation if you want it
NPP - dual mode exhaust, pretty cool option
Z51 or F55 - both are handling packages, don't dare ask which is best, you will start a firestorm!
Two tone seats with cross flags on headrest - this is a very nice looking interior option. Love this look. This is a must have for me.
Wheel upgrade to your preference
Dual roof package - if you want the glass top. If not, I would go with the body colored top, I think it looks better on a non black car. The clear top is a nice add on though.
I am sure I am missing some nice options. If I think of more I will edit this post later.

 

The best advice I can give you is this: CALL Tommy Jr at MacMulkin Chevrolet of NH. They are a forum vendor and if you don't at least get a quote from him, you have probably paid too much.

Also, order exactly what you want and get the Museum Delivery. It is an experience you will never forget. Well worth the time and effort.

I checked with several of the large forum vendors and Tommy Jr gave me the best no BS price from the get go as MANY of the forum will attest to.

Get a Grand Sport with the F55 option.

 

and also check out Kerbeck.

 

it'd help if you filled in atleast some basic info on where you live, driving condits., etc.

 

The F55 magnetic adjustable suspension adjusts itself to road conditions almost 1000 times a second, can be set for "Tour" or "Sport", and is standard on the top-of-the-line ZR1 and virtually every other supercar built today as it is the state-of-the-art-suspension system. The NPP performance dual exhaust adds 6 HP and adjusts the sounds emitted to reflect engine output. Two-tone seats with crossed flags on the headrest make the interior more luxurious, especially the ebony and cashmere choice which provides cashmere carpeting that visually enlarges and lightens-up the interior. The transparent top continues the dark glass look of the windshield, side and hatch windows, and also lightens-up the interior. Optional paint colors set your car apart, but no super-sport car in the world has chromed wheels as an option other than the Corvette, so go there only if you gotta have bling. The Grand Sport model is essentially a styling option but it can negotiate smooth curves at greater speeds and provides superior stopping abilities compared to the base Vette; the trade offs are poorer tire and gas mileage, lower top speed and a slightly rougher, more skittish ride on rougher pavements; but the majority of current buyers prefer the looks of its super-wide wheels and body which evoke the appearance of the more expensive, more powerful Z06 and ZR1 models and thus opt to pay the substantial upcharge for this model.

 

Congratulations on getting to this point. Take your time to figure out what you want; then find it or order it. I don't have any experience from the forum vendor dealerships, but all of the reviews are very positive. Good luck and have fun.

 

Drooling over the options lists was a lot of fun for me. Then I looked at posts from others to see what were what others liked. By the time I went to local dealers I knew what I wanted and how much it should cost. I finally went with Tommy Jr and the rest was waiting. You've waited long enough for your Vette, take your time and get what you want. I got mine a couple of years ago and it is exactly what I wanted. You're going to love your Vette! I love the NPP dual mode exhaust with Mild to Wild switch.

 

My advice, as someone in a somewhat similar situation, is to buy used, and let someone else take that huge hit of the first two years' depreciation.

Most used Vettes are in FANTASTICALLY good condition, maintained by fanatic owners.

In September, I bought an '08 4LT convertible with F55, NPP and NAV, a car that stickered for right about $73K. It had a cold air intake, and a backup camera installed as well.

It had somewhat higher than usual mileage for a Vette, at 44K, but It was in truly excellent condition.

I paid $35.5K for it. Given that price, I didn't much mind spending another $6K in mods - in fact, I'm having a blast!

Think about it; the folks here can help you find the right car.

 

Since your profile doesn't indicate where in the country you are nobody can point you to a specific forum dealer. I used Wes Milby at Reliable Chevrolet in Springfield, MO to buy my 2010 GS. It was an excellent price, no haggling and the easiest purchase I've ever done. Even if you're a few hundred miles from a forum dealer it will be well worth your while to buy from one -- I did every bit of my deal via email and mailed a deposit check. Didn't have to go to the dealership until my car was there ready to pick up. I doubt many "regular" Chevy dealers will be able or willing to meet a forum dealer's price. I had to drive about 350 miles to pick up my car -- I probably saved at least $2,500 over what I was sort of expecting to pay on the GM "Supplier Price".

As for the options, once you've got the 3LT (what I got) the only thing I would say you MUST get would be the NPP Dual Mode Exhaust. I almost didn't get it but it's very cool and well worth the money. I bought a Sunset Orange "Exhaust Commander" so I can control the exhaust from one of the visor buttons -- Wes even installed that for me while I was doing the paper work on my car. (It couldn't have taken him more than 10 minutes including programming the visor button.)

Good luck!

 

Standard exhaust is too quiet. Get the NPP dual-mode exhaust. And you'd probably also appreciate the F55 suspension.

2 years ago I got ~13% off $55k MSRP when I ordered my 09 from a forum dealer. You should be able to do as well today.

 

At 62 you're running out of time to take advantage of the Museum Delivery option (R8C). It doesn't really matter where you buy your new C6. When the time comes, you fly to Louisville and drive a one-way rental to Bowling Green. You get a 2-hour plant tour and a great one-on-one introduction to your new car by an expert (who is probably a retired Corvette builder). You get to break in your new baby on the drive home. Life is good.

 

Call Tommy At MacMulkin. I talked to all of them, and he gave me the best deal and was the easiest for me to work with. Schedule the Museum delivery, and enjoy a very memorable experience.

If I had a do over on my 2010 GS vert, I wouldn't have ordered the nav. system. IMO, the thing is junk. Sometimes, on back roads, it doesn't even appear to know where I am, much less how to get to where I want to go to. If you want a nav, buy an aftermaket one. I agree with a privious post in that I would go for the 2 tone interior. Definitely spring for the logo embroidery, I have the heritage option so mine has the GS embroidery, but either way the embroidery looks better than not having embroidery. If you like the rumble of the exhaust over 3,000 rpm, spring for the npp. Sounds great.

Enjoy the process.

 

Huh?

You're wise to go with at least 3LT (note that it's 3LT, not LT3) but you should at least look at a 4LT car before ruling it out. 4LT adds leather dashboard, upper door panels, 2-tone seats (although similar 2-tone seats are available at extra cost with 2LT and 3LT) and a few other upgraded interior parts. 4LT also offers Dark Titanium as one of the 2-tone interior colors, a color not offered with 3LT.

Have you decided on base coupe vs. Grand Sport? Among many other things, the Grand Sport includes a suspension that's very close to the Z51 that was offered 2005 - 2009. Note that Z51 is no longer offered as a separate option.

As for options, I highly recommend navigation, dual-mode exhaust, and depending on your exterior color choice either chrome or competition gray wheels.

 

Are you saying the Museum doesn't want any old farts hanging around the building? I guess us old farts are to intimidating to you young kids, under 62.

 

What precautions on driving the new baby home are advisable? I have to drive about 400mi east to Penna. Thanks for your post.

 

I drove mine home ~500 miles. IMO the most important "break-in" recommendation is to avoid driving at a constant speed.

And just take it easy... get accustomed to driving your new C6!

FYI, here's what the 2010 owners manual says on pg 3-21:

New Vehicle Break-In
Follow these recommended guidelines during the first 1,500 miles/2414 km of driving this vehicle. Parts have a break-in period and performance will be better in the long run.

For the first 200 miles/322 km:
• To break in new tires, drive at moderate speeds and avoid hard cornering for the first 200 miles/322 km.
• New brake linings also need a break- in period. Avoid making hard stops during the first 200 miles/322 km.

For the first 500 miles/805 km:
• Avoid full throttle starts and abrupt stops.
• Do not exceed 4,000 engine rpm.
• Avoid driving at any one constant speed, fast or slow, including the use of cruise control.
• Avoid downshifting to brake or slow the vehicle when the engine speed will exceed 4000 RPM.
• Do not let the engine labor. Never lug the engine in high gear at low speeds. With a manual transmission, shift to the next lower gear. This rule applies at all times, not just during the break-in period.

For the first 1,500 miles/2414 km:
• Do not participate in track events, sport driving schools, or similar activities during the first 1,500 miles/2414 km.
• Check engine oil with every refueling and add if necessary. Oil and fuel consumption may be higher than normal during the first 1,500 miles/2414 km.

========================

Interestingly, the 2009 owners manual recommends that you keep your speed at 55 mph or less. The 2010 manual does not. I haven't seen the 2011 manual yet, but I bet it's the same as the 2010.