I'm a paper pusher for one of the biggest furniture companies in the US. I don't make a whole lot. I'm single and I don't spend much. I saved up for about 3yrs and paid my 2008 base in full. I'm aiming for a C7Z in a few years.

 

Retired. 52. (Retired at 46)

 

63 Retired professional firefighter (Captain/EMT). Retired 6 years ago after 26+ years in the fire service. Working 24 hrs on 48 hrs off gave me plenty of time to work 2 more full time jobs for over 10 years. Have owned 10 Corvettes over the years, currently have an 06 Z06. No vacations, no frills, no fun except the Corvette, plus lived in a small mobile home for 18 yrs.

 

 

Bought first vette in 2013, 2001 vert, I was 70 yrs. young. Retired now, but worked till I was 74 as a sales agent on the road for a fastener co. Then traded up to a 2012 GS in 2015. My 43 yr old son has the vert now. Cars were paid for when bought

I read somewhere that the average age of a corvette buyer is 59. Very

 

Bought my first vette new in 1974 at 20years old took out a loan. On my fourth corvette now at 64. Retired heavy equipment operator big cranes.

 

 

I would rather not say what I do for a living, but I will say that I'm 44 years old. I do o.k. as the sole provider for a family of 5 as my wife doesn't work. I got the Corvette as a gift to myself 2 years ago after a few failed attempts to get my hands on a few different 1970 Mach 1's. I figured I might as well spend some of my own money while I have some since everyone else (family) seems to do a good job of spending it for me.

 

Cybersecurity Analyst. Wife is an RN.

I had money even when I wasn't making much at age 24. You need to live below your means so you aren't living paycheck to paycheck. That means not spending more than 30% of your monthly pay. I know many people, especially young guys who buy an expensive car like a Corvette. They look good in it, but are always broke and can't do anything but drive it back and forth to work while hoping it doesn't breakdown because they don't have money to get it fixed. I dreamed of owning a Corvette or a Benz, but used that desire to do better in life and get a better paying job.

One word of advice. If you have to add up all your bills for the month to see if you have enough money left over to buy something, then you can't afford it. If your checking account is close to zero at the end of the month, you are broke. If you are thinking of buying a Corvette, but aren't maxing out your 401k contributions, you need to downsize.

 

Good advice ...

 

I just didn't do any home repairs

 

I worked for an Austrian guy in the mid '70s, who had come to this country in the mid-late '60s. He grew up with hardships that Americans cannot even relate to. His philosophy was: With one (weekly) paycheck, you should be able to pay your mortgage and buy a week's groceries. I don't think many Americans are doing that, especially today.

 

The C6 is only expensive if you cannot afford it. If that sounds stupid, or too simple, you do not understand the basics of "affordability". Whether it is a car, or a meal out at a nice restaurant, that thing is "affordable" ONLY if the purchase will not put any strain or risk on your budget. If any such purchase actually strains the budget, then you must decide just how important the purchase is, and weigh that against the degree of risk it places upon your budget. Most people fail to consider the last sentence, choosing instead to manipulate the expression, "I can afford it", when they really mean, "I want it, no matter what,"

I worked in a machine shop, was in the military, was an executive in retail clothing, owned a successful headhunting firm that crashed with the economy in 2008, struggled for five years, then retired, nearly broke. I found ways to make money on the side, received a VA pension, and SS. Though I am at the low end of the spectrum of Vette owners, the purchase of either of my cars did not put a strain on my budget. I am truly blessed to live as I do.

 

This has to be the funniest response on here lol... but really do you own 5 Mickie D's franchises or are you joking??

[QUOTE=TorchRedLS6;1597621820]Machinist- 32- 2009 ZR1. Bought it for my 31st bday.
QUOTE]

Beautiful!!! That type of power will put shivers down your spine every single time.

Thank you! The C6Z is so raw its ridiculous, congrats on the purchase!! My dad actually owns a 98 base c5 convertible with 27k miles on it, but the c5 really just doesn't do it for me. I really loved the C6 since it came in production and have dreamed of one ever since, when I was 11 years old lol.

Paid for is the best part! My dad owned a construction business. Some of the best times of my life working in that business. Awesome car also!

Congratulations! Pay extra payments so they don't screw you on half the cars value in interest once its said and done and paid off!

Interesting career field. I'm not quite there in the cash department yet but I am working towards it!! HATE car payments lol but they unfortunately sometimes must be.

Best way to work, for yourself. Amen to that!

I love that blue.. good pick and retired life seems AMAZING!!

I would love to own my own business one day. Looking into possibly starting a food truck with Armenian foods (I am of Armenian descent) on boardwalks near me. Not sure if you guys are familiar with NJ but I am from Asbury Park NJ and would probably look at running something around that area.

Awesome career. Even better birthday gift congrats on the purchase and enjoy every moment of it!!

I like the way you think. I am like you. My girfriend and I got our condo for 110,000 and its a roomy 2 bedroom with all updated amenities and we don't have to do any maintenance (the ups of condo life). Meanwhile, friends we work with all are buying 300,000+ houses. Nothing wrong with that at all, however I could see us possibly living in this condo for the rest of our lives, with our family car, our work car, our sport car, our track car, our corvette, our corvette, and our corvette outside in the parking lot .. by the way I actually was just offered a chemical operator position in a biochemical lab, I turned it down though. How do you feel the career outlook is on this type of field if it all relates to what you do?

LOL what a beauty!!!!

Wow still full time how are you handling all the OT lol, that is great to see the corvette timeline in your life.

No shame here brother whatever pays the bills! I actually am a title searcher right now, not my dream job but it's a steady pay check and is providing for my girlfriend (soon to be wife) and I. Just purchased our first condo in October. Took me about a year to save 12,000 for a down payment and all the fees that go with buying a place. Thankfully, I was still with my parents at the time, so I was able to save at a much quicker pace than now, and took advantage as best I could. Great taste in the C6! The C6 still looks better than any corvette to me.

Cash is king. I'm making payments now on my 2015 Mazda. It's against what I've always done, but i didn't have the 15k at the time and wanted a new car. I am making extra 100 weekly payments though and instead of the 6 year loan the dealership so conveniently wants me to pay it off in, I am anticipating paying it off in less than 2. I bought the car in February and the total loan was 14,117.. I am now at 11,200 on a 5.49% interest rate, and that balance is set to go down by 2200, as I just cancelled the extended warranty that the dealer pushed me to get! The C7Z06 seems to have the perfect amount of power where you wont feel the need for anymore.

I commend you. I can only hope to be able to retire at such a prime age!!

Thank you for your service!! I was in the process of taking a firefighter test for the NJ civil service but in turn realized it wasn't going to be for me, and never went to take the test. I have Type 1 Diabetes and the risks would be too great if sugar was either too low or high during drastic fire scenarios. Work hard, play harder!! Awesome 10 corvettes

That's an awesome age. I actually purchased my own 72 Opel GT at the age of 18 for $1100 bucks. Needed major overhaul but I did what I had to do changed the carburetor, calipers, rotors, pads, spark plugs and wires, valve covers, fuel pump, almost every hose you can think of, and so on and so forth. It was my poor mans corvette lol. I then got into my 87 corvette at 21. My next step is my TRUE dream car, the C6.

It seems as though you are all the provider your family needs and that is what matters. You deserve a car you can get in everyday and feel connected to in ways many people wouldn't ever understand (our corvettes ). Family is also synonymous with hole in your pocket LOL!

I agree with you 100%. At 24, I like to think I am of a similar mindset as you were at 24. Also, awesome career. I actually graduated New Jersey City University in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in National Security Studies.

Lol, Hey ya gotta spend it somewhere might as well use it towards your daily driver!

 

Wise advice sir, and agreed 100%. Can't have champagne taste and beer pockets as my dad always tells me lol

 

Wow, strong piece of dialogue there. I mentioned before that I am Armenian, I am also Austrian as well lol. Father is Armenian, mother is Austrian.

 

I sit at home and eat bon-bons.

and prune grapes.

 

 

 

Also thank you for your dedicated service! I would like to pay my mortgage off in about 7-10 years instead of 30. Sounds like you have an amazing wife, and family. God bless!!