Mentor knowledge needed
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Laguna Niguel California
Mentor knowledge needed
I got introduced to performance driving with my Miata, great car but I wanna move up...now I'm about a couple of weeks away from buying an 06 Vette, and I've suddenly found out that I don't know how much I "Don't know" about the newer cars 06 on up. I first wanted an 05 because of the body style change, lower price, then was told they have "issues", so now looking for an 06 (any color by red, pref black or dk blue) and thought I'd join Forum to start picking the brains of the more knowledgeble Vette owners. Like, stuff to be aware of, things to "Look out for" and any other useful knowledge that would keep me from having to learn from EXPERIENCE! I'll spend time reading the appropriate threads here, but it's always nice to have a mentor to go to. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 786
From: Las Vegas NV
05's do not have "issues" that make them not worth looking in to. Things can and do go wrong with any year C6. Any problems an 05 may have had would certainly be fixed by now. If you find one that is clean and well kept and is a good price go for it. Mine has been 99% trouble free for nearly 3 years I've had it. Only thing I've had to get fixed was harmonic balancer replacement.
Melting Slicks<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/3k-4k.gif" border="0">
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,055
Likes: 276
From: Enterprise AL
I believe there was a transmission/differential upgrade from 05 to 06 models. The newer set being a little more robust. Also, for automatics, a major upgrade from 05 4 speed auto to 06 and newer 6 speed auto with paddle shifters.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12,967
Likes: 816
From: Huntsville AL
Newer is better. I think the most improvements were made in 06 and 08, but they made improvements in other years, too. Maybe someone else can come in.
Buy the newest one you can afford if you want the best.
Let me add that I would not hesitate to buy a 05 if the price was right. They are not bad cars by any stretch. But newer is better.
Buy the newest one you can afford if you want the best.
Let me add that I would not hesitate to buy a 05 if the price was right. They are not bad cars by any stretch. But newer is better.
Last edited by Tonylmiller; Jul 29, 2013 at 02:40 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 317
Likes: 5
Harmonic balancer seemed to have been a big issue for earlier years. Of course you can go through this forum and find a lot of problematic issues but in the end it seems these cars are built very reliably.
I personally look at the carfax history. You must understand that carfax doesn't give you everything done to the car but what I look for is how often a vehicle was sold. For example, lets say you were looking at a vehicle and it was purchased as a trade in from a dealer on X month and X day, then ~1 month later (and many test drive miles later too) it was sold at an auction, then another month or two later with another X amount of test drive miles it was resold again at auction, and then now sits at 3rd dealer for current sale. If I seen that on the carfax it would throw up a red flag for me as it tells me that the car probably has issues. So instead of the previous car dealers fixing the problem(s) they instead put it up for sale at auction to pass the headache onto the next buyer. In a situation like that I would get the car looked over with a fine tooth comb before making an offer.
I personally look at the carfax history. You must understand that carfax doesn't give you everything done to the car but what I look for is how often a vehicle was sold. For example, lets say you were looking at a vehicle and it was purchased as a trade in from a dealer on X month and X day, then ~1 month later (and many test drive miles later too) it was sold at an auction, then another month or two later with another X amount of test drive miles it was resold again at auction, and then now sits at 3rd dealer for current sale. If I seen that on the carfax it would throw up a red flag for me as it tells me that the car probably has issues. So instead of the previous car dealers fixing the problem(s) they instead put it up for sale at auction to pass the headache onto the next buyer. In a situation like that I would get the car looked over with a fine tooth comb before making an offer.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
05 manual tranny cars used to require you to put the tranny in Reverse before turning the engine off. AFAIK, they still do.
Both 05s and 06s had problems with the targa tops coming apart and flying off.
However, I had one of each and never had any problems with the targa tops.
Both 05s and 06s had problems with the targa tops coming apart and flying off.
However, I had one of each and never had any problems with the targa tops.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 954
Likes: 22
From: White Oak, GA
The '05's also have the same steering wheel as the C5's.
Any year is good.
Get the manual 6 speed for any serious track driving.
A Z51 car is probably a better starting point for a track car. It has different gearing, brakes, and additional coolers. A Z06 would be even better but could be too big of a change from the Miata and too much to risk on track.
Check out the autocross and roadracing forum on this site.
Go to the closest track and talk to the Corvette guys.
Any year is good.
Get the manual 6 speed for any serious track driving.
A Z51 car is probably a better starting point for a track car. It has different gearing, brakes, and additional coolers. A Z06 would be even better but could be too big of a change from the Miata and too much to risk on track.
Check out the autocross and roadracing forum on this site.
Go to the closest track and talk to the Corvette guys.
Last edited by C5inWV; Jul 29, 2013 at 07:37 PM. Reason: grammar
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Melting Slicks<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/3k-4k.gif" border="0">
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,055
Likes: 276
From: Enterprise AL
05 manual tranny cars used to require you to put the tranny in Reverse before turning the engine off. AFAIK, they still do.
Both 05s and 06s had problems with the targa tops coming apart and flying off.
However, I had one of each and never had any problems with the targa tops.
Both 05s and 06s had problems with the targa tops coming apart and flying off.
However, I had one of each and never had any problems with the targa tops.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 237
From: Murphy NC
I too started looking at '05 and 06...
But found many 2007's for the same money or less.
I am not a fan of first year cars.
Remember 2005 owners have to defend their cars... It justifies their purchase.
We all appreciate the owners of the 2005 model year.
All the problems would not have been corrected by 2006 without these trusted 2005 Beta testers.
But found many 2007's for the same money or less.
I am not a fan of first year cars.
Remember 2005 owners have to defend their cars... It justifies their purchase.
We all appreciate the owners of the 2005 model year.
All the problems would not have been corrected by 2006 without these trusted 2005 Beta testers.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 352
Likes: 6
From: Centreville Maryland
Which begs the question of low mileage vs mid to high mileage.
Personally, I think low mileage is not worth paying for. All it gets you is bragging rights IMHO. Any car you buy should be serviced by you, fluids mostly, plugs and a good code review. Since both need to be done, get a cheaper 50-60K mi car and put the savings in new tires or a dinner for the SO.
Personally, I think low mileage is not worth paying for. All it gets you is bragging rights IMHO. Any car you buy should be serviced by you, fluids mostly, plugs and a good code review. Since both need to be done, get a cheaper 50-60K mi car and put the savings in new tires or a dinner for the SO.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 2
From: Ramona CA
I too started looking at '05 and 06...
But found many 2007's for the same money or less.
I am not a fan of first year cars.
Remember 2005 owners have to defend their cars... It justifies their purchase.
We all appreciate the owners of the 2005 model year.
All the problems would not have been corrected by 2006 without these trusted 2005 Beta testers.
But found many 2007's for the same money or less.
I am not a fan of first year cars.
Remember 2005 owners have to defend their cars... It justifies their purchase.
We all appreciate the owners of the 2005 model year.
All the problems would not have been corrected by 2006 without these trusted 2005 Beta testers.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,910
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
If you're getting a manual trans, you should consider an 08. They changed the transmission in that year to a much easier unit to shift. Having owned an 05 and now an 09, I would insist on the new transmission. But price is always a factor.