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Michael, 2008's are very good cars(pre recession) you should be able to find a nice one, get the z51 package. Go 6 speed over auto- they are stronger. Good luck
Thanks. 6, 7 or 8 Z51 and manual is a great combo. I'm not tracking the car so I think I'm good Z pkg or not but I think we all shoot for "best car I can afford". There is a 06 auto vert near me at a great price that is a show car really. However it seems to me that the Z06 for example is the gal you want to date in high school and the pristine auto is the girl I should marry. I think my "destiny" lies somewhere in the middle...
There are a lot of cars around but not great ones. Almost all autos, no Z51s. This is where patience comes in which unfortunately, has never been my strong suit but I'm learning. Also I'm trying to stay local. Expensive to ship etc etc. You guys know the game better than I. I am anxious to get back in the game. However I also need to expect to let het sit on a tender/charger as we are coming into winter in Colorado. My experience is the Vettes love cold air, but DRY roads and above 32 degrees.
I test drove a '06 z51 auto and the trotle response was great, it was faster than i expected. I think an '08 vette goes for a lot less than an '06z. Agree with summer tires vetts are summer cars.
Never had a chance to drive a Z06. There are a couple here. One for 29 at 59K miles and one at 32 with 44K. The standard 08s are at 25 to 28 depending on the car. As far as Z51 option, never seen one (yet). Mag ride or vanilla only. My 02 did great in winter on dry roads. However with sun out, and 35-40+. Never had an issue. I forget the tires though at the moment.
I wouldn't let miles get in the way of a good deal if they are the right kind (highway) of miles and well maintained.
My "formula" was $1k/model year and $0.10 per mile as a quick comparator.
5 years ago I was in a similar search and ended up with an 05 black Z51 M6 coupe w/43K at $30K. It's been a great car. 130K on it now.
If you're not doing power adders and drag launches, the rear/trans is plenty solid. Mine doesn't have the antenna some gripe about, maybe that was an onstar thing?
Thanks. I did just find an 05 manual vert with the 3 pkg group (I assume as it's got an HUD) however 66K miles. Price is outstanding of course but more miles than I would like. I may look as it's 20min away. I don't think I would grab the 05 auto. However no, I do not expect to supercharge it or drag it. Weekend fun car. Another grand and I'm in a 06 vert but with auto which is not a bad option, just not my first choice. I have not driven it as it's a good two hours south.
this will tell you the differences in each year model. It may or may not be 100% accurate but there is very good info here.
After watching this, I bought my 2008 manual trans, 3LT with 47k miles for $23k, from a seller in this website. Had to fly to DC to get it and drove it home. It got 31mpg on the way back with my foot very light on the throttle. Completely stock short of the mild-to-wild remote and a lightning cable for the radio. A very pleasurable experience and a fun 600 mile ride home!
Last edited by Boostedsvt; 11-23-2018 at 06:57 AM.
this will tell you the differences in each year model. It may or may not be 100% accurate but there is very good info here.
After watching this, I bought my 2008 manual trans, 3LT with 47k miles for $23k, from a seller in this website. Had to fly to DC to get it and drove it home. It got 31mpg on the way back with my foot very light on the throttle. Completely stock short of the mild-to-wild remote and a lightning cable for the radio. A very pleasurable experience and a fun 600 mile ride home!
I agree watch the C6 buying guide on youtube, he goes thru all the improvements made each year
Yep- thanks. I have watched a ton of you Tubes including that one. Have ruled out 05 auto. 05 Manual is possible. 06-07 auto is possible and probably not a bad choice. Manual would be just fine as well. 08 has a ton of upgrades and while I'm not sure how much they would directly impact the driving experience, the right 08 would be sweet. Found an 09 today that was terrible. The guy glued LEDs to the headlights, rear and sides. It was a "what were you thinking" moment. 06Z is alluring but there sure are concerns and gruesome stories about that monster.
You got a great deal it seems and I love that color....
Thanks. I did just find an 05 manual vert with the 3 pkg group (I assume as it's got an HUD) however 66K miles. Price is outstanding of course but more miles than I would like. I may look as it's 20min away. I don't think I would grab the 05 auto. However no, I do not expect to supercharge it or drag it. Weekend fun car. Another grand and I'm in a 06 vert but with auto which is not a bad option, just not my first choice. I have not driven it as it's a good two hours south.
Juz sayin, 66K for a well maintained easy driven LS2 is a non-issue (for me anyways). These are not fragile cars. Some of the "puff pieces" know age more than miles and seem the more fragile.
Actually, the best most responsive car I have driven so far was today. An 08, 2 owner w/ 72K miles. Really drove nice. Very quiet, no rattles and good power. Some wear inside of course. Saw an 05 with 8000 miles (not sure how that happens) and a Indy Anniversary Pace car in the nice orange color. <10K on that car too and someone already put a SC on it..... Oh well.
At the risk of pissing off hundreds of people I must say skip the 2005 model year. GM made hundreds of improvements to the 2006.
The LS3 is a fantastic engine...that's what I'd shoot for. Although the 2006 ZO6 was the fastest of the C6 ZO6's
I'm not putting "down" anyone's Vette, I love all Vettes (cept the '84 lol)
Last edited by choppychop; 11-23-2018 at 10:08 PM.
At the risk of pissing off hundreds of people I must say skip the 2005 model year. GM made hundreds of improvements to the 2006.
The LS3 is a fantastic engine...that's what I'd shoot for. Although the 2006 ZO6 was the fastest of the C6 ZO6's
I'm not putting "down" anyone's Vette, I love all Vettes (cept the '84 lol)
I am totally new to the Vette experience but I chose an 07 3LT in LeMans blue. 36500 miles at 26,000. Too bad cold wet weather set in before I could really get to enjoy it. Waiting for spring.
I drove a similar car except 08 . Something was up with it though. Yours sounds like a good choice.I'm going to have a weather issue as well here in CO.
I think shopping in today's markets, The 5,6,7 are lumped together price wise or at least close enough grabbing a 6 or 7 is an easy choice. There is a bump at 8 and 9 etc (obviously) and the C6Z is next however that car worries me a bit as it is its own universe with concerns and considerations. I am amazed a guy in Denver has one at a 25K price. However I'm going on the "if it is too good to be true" mantra and not even looking at it. He had five people lined up within 30 min. of posting the ad .....
Also, it seems the private market is a much better way to go than a dealer. Many dealers I have talked to have no history on the car, don't know Vettes and charge well above what you would expect. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I have not found any yet.....
I drove a similar car except 08 . Something was up with it though. Yours sounds like a good choice.I'm going to have a weather issue as well here in CO.
I think shopping in today's markets, The 5,6,7 are lumped together price wise or at least close enough grabbing a 6 or 7 is an easy choice. There is a bump at 8 and 9 etc (obviously) and the C6Z is next however that car worries me a bit as it is its own universe with concerns and considerations. I am amazed a guy in Denver has one at a 25K price. However I'm going on the "if it is too good to be true" mantra and not even looking at it. He had five people lined up within 30 min. of posting the ad .....
Also, it seems the private market is a much better way to go than a dealer. Many dealers I have talked to have no history on the car, don't know Vettes and charge well above what you would expect. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I have not found any yet.....
I had a 2000 C5 vert, about a year ago I purchased a 05 C6 which I love, but if I had to do over I probably would get at least a 08. definitely think the C6 is a better car, just my opinion
I owned a 2001 C5 and now have a 2005 C6. Installed ZO6 bars and shocks on both.both of them had a vararam intake. Installed headers on only the C5. Both were tuned. But the C6 was tuned by Chuck. The C6 is an animal. I have also had no issues with the C6. Was always working on the C5. Bottom line is that the C6 is much faster and all the performance I need being that I'm 72 years young.
You need to pin down how you are going to drive your car. You state weekend car, (I would go with that show car vert, and don’t worry about the auto). If you are going to track some, then go with the 08 ls3 z51, or an older 04 or 05 z06. If you get an auto and add exhaust and tune, you will be amazed at how much better it drives and with improved throttle response.
ps. I like my paddles with auto and got tired of shifting gears in Dallas traffic!
Good point. No track. I just want the car to work and be a hoot on the weekends and nice days. Maybe a trip through the mountains in the summer etc. That vert is nice. Probably the best part is the seller. However it kinda reminds me (color and auto) of an old farts vette (lol). And I guess that's ok as I'm kinda an old fart anyway but I want something that reminds me of my muscle car days. Maybe I'm to nostalgic here but I'm shooting for something that sits well in my budget but also in my heart. I have had a couple I'll never forget.......... Maybe I'm trying to go back there.. Not sure but I was pretty happy with the (performance) Z06 (C5) at the time.
Here are the two I remember most:
You need to pin down how you are going to drive your car. You state weekend car, (I would go with that show car vert, and don’t worry about the auto). If you are going to track some, then go with the 08 ls3 z51, or an older 04 or 05 z06. If you get an auto and add exhaust and tune, you will be amazed at how much better it drives and with improved throttle response.
ps. I like my paddles with auto and got tired of shifting gears in Dallas traffic!
So IF I could find the right car and it has an auto and IF I could find the right shop, a couple grand or so would improve the car significantly?
I didn't have much choice with the Auto or Manual. I found my Indy version 2008 with Z51 and it was the auto. I use the paddles all the time, even in colder weather. I am also in NOCO and drive it every day that I am not on my Motorcycle. I would prefer a 2008 or more for the LS3 and the upgrades that came in over the previous models.
11-22-2018, 12:30 AM
