Which one?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 2
Which one?
Hey guys
In a small dilemma here..i'm looking to buy my first corvette in the coming weeks and narrowed it down to 2 i'm interested in.
They are both somewhat high miles but they fit the budget and maintenance records are there
Car 1: 2008 corvette single owner 120000 miles with all paperwork. Everything checks out however the only thing that worries me is the car has the original clutch still. The car was a daily driver driven to work every day
options:
3lt
two tone interior
Car 2: 2006 corvette 71000 miles second owner with a lot of maintenance records available as well. This car has a clutch replaced by the dealer new tires
options:
3lt
z51
The price difference between these is about $1500-2000 with the 2006 being a little more.
Which one would you guys get?
If the 2008 what would be a fair price on it?
Thanks a lot!
edit: the car will be primarily a daily driver
In a small dilemma here..i'm looking to buy my first corvette in the coming weeks and narrowed it down to 2 i'm interested in.
They are both somewhat high miles but they fit the budget and maintenance records are there
Car 1: 2008 corvette single owner 120000 miles with all paperwork. Everything checks out however the only thing that worries me is the car has the original clutch still. The car was a daily driver driven to work every day
options:
3lt
two tone interior
Car 2: 2006 corvette 71000 miles second owner with a lot of maintenance records available as well. This car has a clutch replaced by the dealer new tires
options:
3lt
z51
The price difference between these is about $1500-2000 with the 2006 being a little more.
Which one would you guys get?
If the 2008 what would be a fair price on it?
Thanks a lot!
edit: the car will be primarily a daily driver
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
Likes: 164
From: queensbury ny
2008= more power 430 (436 w/npp) v.400hp in the 06,newer tranny and motor,enhanced steering,npp exhaust.i'd get the 08 if the miles don't bother you.it's more car for the money.bEAT THE GUY UP FOR 1500-2 GRAND ON PRICE TO COVER any clutch related issues you may encounter.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
Hey guys
In a small dilemma here..i'm looking to buy my first corvette in the coming weeks and narrowed it down to 2 i'm interested in.
They are both somewhat high miles but they fit the budget and maintenance records are there
Car 1: 2008 corvette single owner 120000 miles with all paperwork. Everything checks out however the only thing that worries me is the car has the original clutch still. The car was a daily driver driven to work every day
options:
3lt
two tone interior
Car 2: 2006 corvette 71000 miles second owner with a lot of maintenance records available as well. This car has a clutch replaced by the dealer new tires
options:
3lt
z51
The price difference between these is about $1500-2000 with the 2006 being a little more.
Which one would you guys get?
If the 2008 what would be a fair price on it?
Thanks a lot!
edit: the car will be primarily a daily driver
In a small dilemma here..i'm looking to buy my first corvette in the coming weeks and narrowed it down to 2 i'm interested in.
They are both somewhat high miles but they fit the budget and maintenance records are there
Car 1: 2008 corvette single owner 120000 miles with all paperwork. Everything checks out however the only thing that worries me is the car has the original clutch still. The car was a daily driver driven to work every day
options:
3lt
two tone interior
Car 2: 2006 corvette 71000 miles second owner with a lot of maintenance records available as well. This car has a clutch replaced by the dealer new tires
options:
3lt
z51
The price difference between these is about $1500-2000 with the 2006 being a little more.
Which one would you guys get?
If the 2008 what would be a fair price on it?
Thanks a lot!
edit: the car will be primarily a daily driver
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
The 06.. It will keep it's value as you put miles on it, and would be easier to resell than what will become an extremely high mileage Vette. In reality you will never notice the 30hp difference in these cars. Even with R888s I can't floor my car on the street in first. I would not look at that as the deciding factor.
Over time things like suspension bushings, clutch and anything mechanical begin to wear out. after 100K+ miles you are getting much closer to the end of life of many components and should expect to pay more for failures.
Ask yourself if a slightly newer car with a negligible power difference is worth the additional potential maintenance vs. the older lower mileage example. In the end you will love either, so it's a great decision to have to make!
Over time things like suspension bushings, clutch and anything mechanical begin to wear out. after 100K+ miles you are getting much closer to the end of life of many components and should expect to pay more for failures.
Ask yourself if a slightly newer car with a negligible power difference is worth the additional potential maintenance vs. the older lower mileage example. In the end you will love either, so it's a great decision to have to make!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,595
Likes: 959
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
If the '08 has had regular maintenance and any issue fixed over the years, 120K is not bad. The LSx engines if well maintained are good for 250K+. I will agree the HP difference is not that great.
Although the LS2 is rated at 400, it is in fact somewhere between 406 and 410 in reality. There is a long post on this issue here on the forum. Some say GM released it at 400 so as not to upset the C5 Z05 owners with 405 hp.
I do agree with the post that stated go with the '06 based on the difference in mileage, plus it was equipped with the Z51 option, which I have on my '07 and love it.
Although the LS2 is rated at 400, it is in fact somewhere between 406 and 410 in reality. There is a long post on this issue here on the forum. Some say GM released it at 400 so as not to upset the C5 Z05 owners with 405 hp.
I do agree with the post that stated go with the '06 based on the difference in mileage, plus it was equipped with the Z51 option, which I have on my '07 and love it.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
I'd go for the 06 because of the mileage.
The 015 model year cars are out, so the 08 is 7 years old, while the 06 is 9 years old.
The 08 was driven approximately 17,000 miles a year, while the 06 was only driven approximately 8,000 miles a year.
The 015 model year cars are out, so the 08 is 7 years old, while the 06 is 9 years old.
The 08 was driven approximately 17,000 miles a year, while the 06 was only driven approximately 8,000 miles a year.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 498
Likes: 3
From: Blythewood SC
I would lean toward the car with lower miles. However, one question does come to mind about it, why was the clutch replacement needed? The car doesn't have a huge amount of miles. Was there something unusual that one of the past owners did to lead to clutch failure, or was it just a bad one?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 653
Likes: 17
From: Fort Worth Texas
Neither. They are both high millage cars. There are a lot of Vettes with low millage out there since most are not used as daily drivers. A good low millage may cost a little more but in the long run they will be a lot less trouble.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
Likes: 164
From: queensbury ny
It's not just power that was changed.It was a better shifting,newer transmission,better steering feel due to updates there as well. They're both high mileage vettes so resale should not even enter into the equation since they will both be pretty much shot in that department in very short order. For 1500 bucks,the sell of the 08 can lower the price that much and then they are the same price....so mileage aside, the 08 is more car.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 2
Thanks for the advice guys.
If I can get the 2008 guy to come down i'll be all over the car if not i'm leaning towards the ls2 . I didn't consider some other maintenance items such as suspension and bushings with that many miles.
I'm comfortable doing all my own work but I prefer to drive the car more for a while before I gotta start replacing bushings and other small things.
Only major difference for me is the ls3, i've driven both a t56 transmission car and a t6060 and don't see much of a difference either
Thanks!
If I can get the 2008 guy to come down i'll be all over the car if not i'm leaning towards the ls2 . I didn't consider some other maintenance items such as suspension and bushings with that many miles.
I'm comfortable doing all my own work but I prefer to drive the car more for a while before I gotta start replacing bushings and other small things.
Only major difference for me is the ls3, i've driven both a t56 transmission car and a t6060 and don't see much of a difference either
Thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 253
From: Oconomowoc Wisconsin
Definitely go with the 06. 50,000 less miles is a lot of miles that you can put on the car. You will probably never feel the difference between 400 hp and 430 hp. Also the 06 has the Z51 handling and suspension package, which will most likely give you a better handling car than the 08 with the standard suspension. Both cars have the 3LT package. I assume you like the interior/exterior colors of both cars.
It's 5 o'clock Somewhere
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,996
Likes: 21
From: HOUSTON TEXAS
St Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Both have too many miles. There are so many low mileage cars on the market. This is one time I would suggest you keep looking unless the price is ultra low and thats all you have to spend.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 171
From: Vancouver Island
120k on the original clutch tells me the owner knew how to drive better than, or abused the car less than, someone who toasted the clutch before 70k. I'd be leaning to the '08 even with miles, provided the service records look good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 45
From: One of the Edema Ruh
Definitely go with the 06. 50,000 less miles is a lot of miles that you can put on the car. You will probably never feel the difference between 400 hp and 430 hp. Also the 06 has the Z51 handling and suspension package, which will most likely give you a better handling car than the 08 with the standard suspension. Both cars have the 3LT package. I assume you like the interior/exterior colors of both cars.
For your purpose it sounds like the lower mileage vehicle would better suit your needs. 50K is a ton of miles difference for a DD. If this was a different car I'd bet the majority would say get the lower mileage vehicle.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 253
From: Oconomowoc Wisconsin
The OP said he had a budget and these two cars fit in his budget. I disagree that the 06 has too many miles. 8,000 miles per year is low miles. I would rather buy a car that was driven regularly and was well maintained at a reasonable cost than a garage queen with low miles at a much higher cost.