I'm about to make my first Vette purchase, don't know if you can help with this, but I will ask anyway. I've got my selection down to two cars. One is an 06 Lemans blue with titanium grey interior and grey top. It has grey rims and 15K miles. Private owner asking 34K. The other is an 07 Lemans blue with cashmere interior and top. It has chrome rims and 25K miles. Asking price from a dealer is 38500 and he's already come down to 37,500.

My preference is cashmere but with more miles onit and another 3500 bucks makes my decision difficult. I could live with the grey and the 06 seems like a good deal. Is there really that much difference in the 07? Should I spend the extra money for the cashmere and get the 07 even though it has more miles on it?

Both have the 3LT and Z51 packages.

 

IMO there is not that much difference between an '06 and '07.

Both cars are comparable and I think it will come down to which seller you trust the most and which car you feel you know the most about it's history and abuse.

Private sellers are almost always cheaper and if you aren't trading in or trying to get financing, they usually are the best choice. The other thing with a private seller, is you can get a feel for how they've treated the car.

Does either car have an extended warranty, or any mods. Also, you need to find out if they have had the various TSB's performed and of course, make sure everything works.

Regarding modifications, particularly performance/engine mods, you need to be very well informed as to their particular impact on the car and how you intend to use it.

Cosmetic mods are less troublesome because you can see them, obviously, and decide if you like them or not.

A short-term warranty from a dealer is pretty much just a sales tool and I wouldn't let that influence my decision.

Both cars sound good, but I'm not an expert on current competitive pricing.

Good Luck.

 

Thanks for the advice. I know the guy selling the 06,know he has treated the car well, no mods, no abuse, performed all the scheduled matinance,etc. Neither has a warranty except the dealer tells me the 07 has a 100K drive train warranty, he said those started with the 07 models. I have never used a drive train warranty, I guess there could always be a first time but I think those things are just sales tools, like you said. I do notknow the history of the car at the dealership, except the carfax is clean and there was only one owner.

 

Keep in mind that the powertrain warranty is usually 5 years 100k miles so chances are that you have 1 year at best left on it since it is from the original purchase date. My bet is you have less than 6 months. Sounds like a sales ploy. Don't buy the '07 for the warranty because chances are there's not much left. The '06 sounds like the better deal since you know how it was treated. That is if you are good with the colors. Good luck to you and be sure to post pics when you make your decision and take her home.

 

I think the grey top on blue would be unique. Go for that one.

 

Go with the lower mileage, lower priced 06 with the known history. Seems like a no brainer. Good luck

 

The '07, LMB, chrome rims...good combination. Of course, I have an '07 as well in MR with the 3LT Z51 and I love it, therefore I'm partial to the '07's. That 5Yr/100K warranty is something to seriously think about. I've only used it once for a half-shaft seal that started to leak and it was no issue for the dealer. 25k miles is nothing if the previously owner took care of the car. Mine just turned over 101k miles and still feels and drives like a new car.

 

Having shopped and bought used vettes, mileage is everything.

 

As an owner of an 07, the only significant difference I know of is the 5yr/100K powertrain warranty. Even that is probably not worth a whole lot because these cars are pretty bullet-proof. $3,500 should buy a new engine.

There are some minor trim differences (sill plates, hatch pull down, hood light) that should make no impact unless you are really in love with that particular feature. All are easily modified.

The problem I have is both cars seem overpriced. That is where I would do some more homework.

 

Really? I thought 34K for the 06 with 15K miles seemed reasonable. I do think the 07 is overpriced.

 

Here's an ad from July 2010 - came thru our club news letter and didn't sell for months. Can't be sure if it ever sold.

2007 Corvette Coupe—

- Z51 Performance Package and 2LT Equipment Group -- cashmere interior.
- 6-speed manual transmission.
- Michelin's top of the line PS2 runflat tires on factory forged wheels.
- B&B Route 66 exhaust system with GM factory Z06 exhaust manifolds.
- Halltech air intake system.
- Additional interior sound deadening for comfortable hiway driving.
- One owner car in excellent condition. Meticulously maintained.
- Original exhaust & intake parts included.
- 38,000 miles -- Transferrable GM extended warranty.

- Price: $32,500

 

Does 34K sound resonable for an 06 Lemans Blue convertable with 14K miles? 3LT, navigation, Z51, looks beautiful, clean record. Lemans blue, grey top and interior with grey rims.

 

For reference I paid $29K for an '06, 16,280 miles, Monterey Red Vert, auto, 3LT, F55 with polished aluminum wheels and power top last month. I did look for 4 months and this was a Minnesota car that I had delivered via enclosed trailer which added to the bottom line.

 

You can spend 5 months looking or just buy the car you want. Not worth it to me to save $2k. I think it's a fair price and you know the history.

 

Seems a tad steep to me.

Love the LMB, and the difference between warantees has been discussed. I also think that the '07 is a little steep as well.

Both sound like nice cars, however. If you are intenidng on keeping them a long time any price difference is negligible. Also, if you have no problem paying for them (all first order priorities paid up), then the price difference may not matter that much.

 

I can share my information with you so you can compare. 16 months ago I bought my 07 Z51, 3lt vert that had 12k miles from a dealer. Car still had 11 months factory warranty. They were asking 39.5k. I offered 36.7k and got it.

If you go for the 07, I'd work them down some more.

 

I paid 30k for my 06 3LT vert with 19k on the speedo. Fresh Firestone RFT. Had a fresh oil change and I got another one in the deal. I did buy a GMPP Major Guard 24/24 policy with a $100 deduct. Paid $1300 for it. I bought from a dealer. Private owner can be a pain at times. I also found prices better at the dealers. They really wanted to move a car.

 

Lots of great points but I'll throw in a couple more. The dealer seems a bit high but not silly high. I have real issues with price discussions on the fourm. In 08 and 09 the market crashed and boys dumped their toys fast and cheap. You saw used pricing that you just won't see now. It also comes down to how long you want to look and look etc. For a couple of grand I'd get what I WANTED... when I found it.

That is the key here. You siad you could "live" with the grey???? Are you sure. Buy what you WANT. There are many things we settle on and that is the way it has to be..all the money you had could buy. Other times we settled to save a few bucks and later kick oursleves. BOTH cars seem to be affordable to you....yeah a few grand difference in price. Big deal..a few grand will soon be forgotten....Which car appeals to you.

Cash or financing? Out here in Cali MOST banks give great rates (3.9 for 60 currently) if bought from a dealer. But if you buy from an individual they treat it as a personal loan and your in the 9%+ range. If your financing talk to your bank about any potential rate differences between a dealer buy and a private party buy. Your bank may treat each the same. If the private buyer rate is indeed higher you gotta add that higher interest over the loan into the deal.

Lastly-whatever you buy DO NOT mention price paid here on the forum. Some a$$ clown will always tell you that you got ripped off blah blah blah and over paid. As noted above....some buyers bought long distance...fly in to see it, have it shipped..all those costs gotta be included in your 'bottom line'. And I think it was very cool for the poster above to note that he had that 'extra' expense...a real stand up poster.

The 06 seems like the 'deal'...but only if the interior color is ok. Otherwise you'll have bought yourself a big case of upset and second guessing everytime you sit in the car and look at the wrong color around you wishing you had.......

 

To me, comparing the sales of coupes vs. verts is like apples and oranges. You will always find the same year coupe with the same mileage for a lot less than a similar vert.

 

Oh, and everything Z06 Lust sez seems right on the money. I am shopping for a used Vert and that's a good point about the interest of a bank loan for a private seller versus the dealership's interest rate. Even though the dealer is probably making some extra on the financing, you do have to look at the rates - 3.5% vs 7.5 % (from a bank) and figure that over the cost of a loan.