pdac

OK,
Looking for some opinions. I'm scheduled to go look at a 2011 base tomorrow in cyber gray. It has 17k miles and is going for 32k.

Just a few minutes ago, a local dealer who has been looking out for me let me know of a 2012 GS in Supersonic Blue that just came in that has 25k miles going for about 35,500.

Both cars look great and have the same options (1lt, dual mode exhaust and that's pretty much it.)

Since the 2011 is at carmax I can get a warranty whereas the 2012 is "as is" and has more miles (not sure the difference between 17k and 25k miles is significant.)

I was all set with my decision until just now. Part of me thinks just save the 3-4k since I rarely even drive (maybe about 20 miles a week tops). The other part of me says to go ahead and spend the extra and get the GS since I do like the wide body look.

Any thoughts?

J3TVETTE

If I were in this position I would buy the GS. Maybe negotiate them down to 33k.

Frankie15

If you like supersonic blue then I would definitely spend the extra for the GS. It's not that much more and you would get quite a few upgrades over the base model.

35k is Z06 territory though (albeit a few years older). I would much rather get a Z06 for that price, but that's just me.

10thumper

I would argue that the GS is the best C6 for the $. Z06 is nice, but the head issue just isn't worth it. Easy to get an LS3 to 500hp.

jaredtxrx

If I had the money for a GS, I would get a GS.
I love my narrow body but the wide body looks even better.

pdac

Yeah. Around here low mileage GSs go for high 30s if not low 40s. If anyone knows differently I'm all ears and don't mind travelling. Z06s tend to go for about the same as GSs around here high 30s low 40s.

Rontime

It's my understanding that Carmax doesn't haggle. If the GS asking price is 35.5K, I think you could get it for the same price as the base model. Now it comes down to body style and exterior color, maybe even wheels. I also think the GS will have a higher resale value.

jaybee924

I say GS all the way. Dat wide body though!!!

pdac

At $35,500 they have already come down as far as they will. I wish I knew where everyone was finding all these Grand Sports in the low $30s!

Ahrmike

GS if you ever EVER lusted for the Z/widebody. You'll eventually want to upgrade to the wb and the 3K difference will not be enough. Base if you have tight parking stalls.

Frankie15

carl3989

I think you should always buy the newest that you can afford. You like the GS so I wouldn't think twice about the extra miles. That GS is still what I would consider a low mileage vette. I have a small garage and that's why I like my base C6, but the GS looks better.

pdac

Thanks all. I'm leaning towards the GS. I'll take a look at it tomorrow. With those miles, I am concerned that any major maintenance (tires, brakes, etc) will not have been done yet but will be just about due. This will also be the first used car I buy so I'm somewhat terrified about not having a warranty. I've always traded my other cars in prior to the Warranty running out.
Don't have to worry about it fitting in my garage. I don't have one! It will be in the driveway which is plenty wide.

Ron'sGS

I'll say go with the GS, but then again I'm a little bias

Cuckoo

Grand Sport! try to get the price down a bit of course.

I'll be honest. When i bought my 2011 GS last year I didn't even know the differences between a base and a GS. I just knew that it looked different than a base model and awesome.

I get comps all the time with people saying "now THAT looks good"! Most say it looks better than a c7.

Its the wide body, slightly lower ride height and the gills that really make a GS stand out. Not to mention the fat tires and the wide mean look coming at you from the front.

Cuckoo

I'm a warranty "nut" too. Especially when spending that much on a used car. Actually that's the most I've ever spent on a car and its a 2011. More than my wifes new 2017 Rav4 even.

I went ahead and purchased a broad mechanical warranty at the time of purchase for piece of mind. Most might think its stupid, but I have piece of mind for a while.

Patsgarage

I am going to go completely opposite of everyone else here. It your first post you said you would only be driving ~20 miles /week, and made no mention of track usage. The GS is a great car (full disclosure, I own a 13 GS), but unless you are going to track the car it is overkill for a driver. The added costs of tires/brakes alone will make your head spin. Don't get me wrong, I love mine and would not trade it for anything, but if you are just looking for a cruiser a base is the way to go.

jbc1995fb

2012 GS is a no brainer. Besides the '12s got the upgraded seats.

$3500 difference / 60 months = $58 a month.

Cuckoo

Tires yeah, brakes under $100 for ceramic street pads.

Plus when he is driving around in the base he will see a GS and go crap, that looks better than mine! I should have went with the GS.

Some people are base and some are GS.

Can't go wrong either way.

Cuckoo

At Carmax you might get the brief warranty, but you pay for it with the inflated price too.