Corvette and being practical
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 268
From: Vancouver, Washington
Well I would have to agree, the Corvette is not as practical as some other cars. But I'm OK with that. It's time to live a little and enjoy a sports car. I understand your frustration. Maybe the timing isn't right for a Corvette in your life right now. My children are out of the house so I don't have the need for a back seat. Hell, most of the time I don't even need a passenger seat. I'm also lucky in that I can drive the car to work much of the time so I get much more use out of the car than it appears you do.
I think you stated that the car is expensive to have sitting around but so are many of our toys. RVs, boats, airplanes, vacation homes, etc. come at a high price. It's up to you to decide if that price is worth it. Unless you're doing a lot of expensive mods, a late-model Corvette can pretty cheap entertainment.
Best of luck with your decision...
I think you stated that the car is expensive to have sitting around but so are many of our toys. RVs, boats, airplanes, vacation homes, etc. come at a high price. It's up to you to decide if that price is worth it. Unless you're doing a lot of expensive mods, a late-model Corvette can pretty cheap entertainment.
Best of luck with your decision...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 196
Likes: 8
From: flat out like a lizzard drinking Wisconsin
a 3 seater would work for me and yes if there was a backseat the kid would get one hell of a ride around. its hers when she gets her liscense anyway and my excuse to upgrade.
the park ave ultra fills the need when more than 2 must go. amazingly quiet car cant hear it running no road noise and the supercharged 3.8 is nice. most buicks just don't corner tho have to remember to slow for corners I normally don't lift for.
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the park ave ultra fills the need when more than 2 must go. amazingly quiet car cant hear it running no road noise and the supercharged 3.8 is nice. most buicks just don't corner tho have to remember to slow for corners I normally don't lift for.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I understand where your coming from. I had to give up sports cars when my sons were little. Just part of having a family. Got back into Vettes when they were older.
They both love Corvettes, and the youngest drives a 85 4+3, the oldest drives a GTI but wants a Corvette.
As far as a 4 door Corvette I say hell no!!
Just be thankfull you can have such an awesome second car and enjoy it when you can.
If that is not enough for you, give it to me and I will drive the crap out of it.
They both love Corvettes, and the youngest drives a 85 4+3, the oldest drives a GTI but wants a Corvette.
As far as a 4 door Corvette I say hell no!!
Just be thankfull you can have such an awesome second car and enjoy it when you can.
If that is not enough for you, give it to me and I will drive the crap out of it.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 352
Likes: 6
From: Centreville Maryland
Just yesterday I said screw it. I'm gonna drive my car when I want. It was drizzling last night when I took my wife to dinner and the ws wipers worked just fine. Snow will be the exception. I had my vette on the rack no so long ago and the underside looks like it did the day it came off the assembly line so a little crud won't hurt it a bit. DRIVE THE DAMN THINGS, THEY ARE CARS, NOT WORKS OF ART!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 861
Likes: 33
From: San Antonio Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,311
Likes: 251
From: Baltimore Maryland
As a guy whose youngest daughter just went off to college I'm gonna agree with you that any two seater is pretty impractical when you have a young family.
As I raised my kids I went through a whole bunch of really nice, fun cars that I could always take my whole family in. Bought most of them lightly used, kept most just a year or two. Tried all the major domestic and foreign brands too. Trust me, theres ALOT of fun vehicles out there to drive besides a Corvette.
Looking back, I'd say my kids loved every convertible we had. I really enjoyed my Audi S4, my BMW M3 and my Pontiac GTO (which was a bit like a 4 seat Corvette).
Ironically, my kids favorite car was probably our Jeep Wrangler. A great vehicle, another American icon, 4 seats, 4wd, manual transmission, and just as fun in a 2 foot blizzard or top down at the beach. Everyone should own one once.
Good luck.
ps - I fell in love with Trans Am's after watching Smokey and The Bandit in high school.
As I raised my kids I went through a whole bunch of really nice, fun cars that I could always take my whole family in. Bought most of them lightly used, kept most just a year or two. Tried all the major domestic and foreign brands too. Trust me, theres ALOT of fun vehicles out there to drive besides a Corvette.
Looking back, I'd say my kids loved every convertible we had. I really enjoyed my Audi S4, my BMW M3 and my Pontiac GTO (which was a bit like a 4 seat Corvette).
Ironically, my kids favorite car was probably our Jeep Wrangler. A great vehicle, another American icon, 4 seats, 4wd, manual transmission, and just as fun in a 2 foot blizzard or top down at the beach. Everyone should own one once.
Good luck.
ps - I fell in love with Trans Am's after watching Smokey and The Bandit in high school.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: North East Texas Texas
Well I had a 94 coupe, and I had 2 kids at the house getting ready to drive etc. The wife and I both really enjoyed the "time alone" in the Vette, but I too realized how at this point in my life, how this car just was not practical (sorry I’m about to start crying), but now the kids have moved out and own their own, (24 & 27) we now own a 2013 Grand Sport, and you know it is still not practical….but we think it is great!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas
I would guess that most Corvette owners have been in the same circumstances that you now find yourself.
A Corvette is impractical as the only car for a father who needs to take his family anywhere. That is probably why there are so many used Corvettes, owned as 2nd cars, by fathers.
An interesting historical note: before the seatbelt laws in the 80s, it was common to see children sitting in the luggage area behind the seats in a now-vintage Corvette!
-Clark
A Corvette is impractical as the only car for a father who needs to take his family anywhere. That is probably why there are so many used Corvettes, owned as 2nd cars, by fathers.
An interesting historical note: before the seatbelt laws in the 80s, it was common to see children sitting in the luggage area behind the seats in a now-vintage Corvette!
-Clark
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,641
Likes: 464
From: Houston TX
I would guess that most Corvette owners have been in the same circumstances that you now find yourself.
A Corvette is impractical as the only car for a father who needs to take his family anywhere. That is probably why there are so many used Corvettes, owned as 2nd cars, by fathers.
An interesting historical note: before the seatbelt laws in the 80s, it was common to see children sitting in the luggage area behind the seats in a now-vintage Corvette!
-Clark
A Corvette is impractical as the only car for a father who needs to take his family anywhere. That is probably why there are so many used Corvettes, owned as 2nd cars, by fathers.
An interesting historical note: before the seatbelt laws in the 80s, it was common to see children sitting in the luggage area behind the seats in a now-vintage Corvette!
-Clark
...and my first ride in a Corvette was in a 1966 or 1967 coupe in the back behind the seats...I was around 11 or 12 at the time.
spending Corvette-type of money on any two-seat sports car certainly isn't a practical decision...it's all emotion !
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 15
From: Mechanicsburg PA
Central PA Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
As I look in my garage and gaze over the beautiful lines of the c6 Z06 I come to realize ----I really don't get to enjoy it. Being 32 and having a family there is really no room for a Corvette. Instead of a 505 hp awesomobile I should have a SUV. Why does GM not produce a 4 seater Corvette honestly?? I know there are other options ie ZL1,CTSv,GTR and even a GT500. The thing is I want a Corvette.....not a Camaro or a old mans caddy. They make this car so expensive and so impractical its really useless for a family man. I take it to vette cruises,drag strips (when i have free time) and dinner dates but thats about it. In order to really enjoy the car you need to be retired and the kids out of the house. If GM wants the vette to appeal to a younger crowd then it needs to be more practical......a entry level 2+2 would be nice to have in my opinion.
heres my Z
heres my Z
http://www.caradvice.com.au/214859/h...mmodore-ssv-1/
Last edited by Bandit's C4; Nov 23, 2013 at 12:37 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 275
Likes: 1
From: Phx Az
As I look in my garage and gaze over the beautiful lines of the c6 Z06 I come to realize ----I really don't get to enjoy it. Being 32 and having a family there is really no room for a Corvette. Instead of a 505 hp awesomobile I should have a SUV. Why does GM not produce a 4 seater Corvette honestly?? I know there are other options ie ZL1,CTSv,GTR and even a GT500. The thing is I want a Corvette.....not a Camaro or a old mans caddy. They make this car so expensive and so impractical its really useless for a family man. I take it to vette cruises,drag strips (when i have free time) and dinner dates but thats about it. In order to really enjoy the car you need to be retired and the kids out of the house. If GM wants the vette to appeal to a younger crowd then it needs to be more practical......a entry level 2+2 would be nice to have in my opinion.
heres my Z
heres my Z
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/4196094111.html
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: wsmr nm
I was simply stating that this car is very unpractical for the average person. I think GM could engineer a 2+2 vette much like the 90's z32 300zx. It could be a entry level car and could actually be a rational purchase. Lets not kid ourselves the Corvette is a mortgage payment....specifically a Z06/Zr1. I see why most guys who own a vette is over 50 yrs of age. Unfortunately in my humble opinion most of the time they don't get used properly. Example a Corvette cruise last year.....we were going 40 mph in a 75 mph zone. Coming from the fbody crowd where it was 90 in a 75mph zone it is a very different crowd. My whole goal was to not be that guy that had to wait until he was 50 to attain his dream car. Now that I have it I am paying $1000.00 a month and really thinking about stepping into a zr1 or c7z(if it grows on me). Just wished it was something the whole family could enjoy. To oldtee "4 door sedan that would spank a vette" ......now spank to me is at least .500 sec faster. Name me a 4 door sedan (not modified) that runs low 11's/high 10's!?! There is a couple of sedans running low 12s that's in the same boat as ls3/ls2 vettes but none running faster than a ls7/ls9.