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Trying to decide how to maximize my toy allowance. I have a beautiful low mileage, 08 Z51, vert.
I enjoy it but I am at the point where I’m considering LT headers, CAI and maybe a cam in the future. I do my own work but we all know how expensive these parts are.
Wondering if I should sell and roll it into a C7. Manual transmission is a must. Everything else is negotiable eg. Z51, convertible etc.
Interested what others think.
Trying to decide how to maximize my toy allowance. I have a beautiful low mileage, 08 Z51, vert.
I enjoy it but I am at the point where I’m considering LT headers, CAI and maybe a cam in the future. I do my own work but we all know how expensive these parts are.
Wondering if I should sell and roll it into a C7. Manual transmission is a must. Everything else is negotiable eg. Z51, convertible etc.
Interested what others think.
Only you can answer that and you are going to get a biased answer in the C6 forum.
What's the C7 give you that you don't have in the C6? If you're going Base to Stingray, it's basically the same car. I'd consider a C7 GS over a C6 Base. About equal with a C6 GS, but I'd want the Z07 pkg on the C7.
Or just start modding yours if you're happy with it.
If you get a C7, get a manual. They are more fun to drive. And Chevy made it easy by showing on the dash whatever gear you are in. I find it helps when I am backing up because 6th gear is very close to reverse and it is too easy to slip it into 6th when you want reverse.
Personally, I like both C6 and C7 body styles, even though the basic C6 body style began with the C5 back in ‘97.
I owned a 2013 torch red base model with a manual transmission but i traded it for a C7 Stingray. I miss that C6 and I have been looking for another one. I found one in another state that checks all of the boxes and I would have to fly there to buy it and drive it 300 miles to get home. It has new summer tires on it and they should not be driven when temps get down to 40 degrees or colder. It was 21 degrees at my house this morning.
You could go to Carmax and test drive a C7. The interior is tighter in a C7. But they will handle more cargo and people weight. I have read the limit is 423 pounds for a C6 and 500 for a C7. But the door label on my Stingray says 525 pounds.
I looked at a 2012 base model online at a dealership near me moments ago. I have paid $890 dealer processing fees but I was shocked to read this in fine print on the website: “All vehicles sold are subject to a $1,795 dealer processing fee.”
I looked at a 2012 base model online at a dealership near me moments ago. I have paid $890 dealer processing fees but I was shocked to read this in fine print on the website: “All vehicles sold are subject to a $1,795 dealer processing fee.”
Yep - I've never paid more than $150 doc fee on any vehicle. I simply don't purchase from dealers that add bogus fees. Lots of cars available.
In my experience, once you go down that modding hole it is never ending. You'll be modding forever! You can't make an apple turn into an orange no matter how much money/mods you throw at it! Just my 2 cents worth.
Even Carmax charges $700 for the document processing in Virginia, which has no cap on such fees. Florida dealerships charge up to $1,000.
California capped the fee at $85.
Other states have regulatory caps of $129 and $250.
As much as I can't stand TX, there are some benefits here.
OP - regarding modding your current car vs buying a different car, is your current car paid for? If you can do most of the work yourself, modding isn't too expensive - relatively speaking. Heck I just dropped $3k on mods for my M2 this week, nevermind
I would get rid of the '08 and get a Grand Sport. If you like convertibles so much, get a GS convertible. Or go all out and get a 2013 - 427 Convertible.
I agree.
For us, a convertible is Priority #1, when deciding on what Corvette was ideal, I initially wanted a 2013 427, but I had for issues with that choice.
#1 - Price (far beyond our budget)
#2 - Limited Color Selection (didn't like the available colors)
#3 - Engine Longevity Issues Requiring Even More Investment (like the Z07 has)
#4 - Don't care for the OEM wheels (I am an OEM guy, aftermarket wheels not a consideration)
The 2013 GS was a close second which also addressed all 4 of my issues, so we bought one. To be honest, I don't miss the extra HP, nor the 427 hood badge, and I like the minor body differences of the GS convertible over that of the 427.
I had multiple issues with a C7 of any model, serious ones that removed the car from consideration.
For us, a convertible is Priority #1, when deciding on what Corvette was ideal, I initially wanted a 2013 427, but I had for issues with that choice.
#1 - Price (far beyond our budget)
#2 - Limited Color Selection (didn't like the available colors)
#3 - Engine Longevity Issues Requiring Even More Investment (like the Z07 has)
#4 - Don't care for the OEM wheels (I am an OEM guy, aftermarket wheels not a consideration)
The 2013 GS was a close second which also addressed all 4 of my issues, so we bought one. To be honest, I don't miss the extra HP, nor the 427 hood badge, and I like the minor body differences of the GS convertible over that of the 427.
I had multiple issues with a C7 of any model, serious ones that removed the car from consideration.
I love the C6 GS 6spd vert but they are priced very high. $45 for something nice seems excessive. It is my ideal choice though.
I love the C6 GS 6spd vert but they are priced very high. $45 for something nice seems excessive. It is my ideal choice though.
Yes, I paid $45,000 for a fully featured 2013 GS convertible with 3LT, NPP, MagRide, and 12,500 miles, but when shopping 2 years ago, I found many 2010-2011 GSs in the low $30s with less than 40,000 miles, some I seriously considered. It takes a lot of patience in looking, fast travel plans, and cash-in-hand to grab such deals.
Yep - I've never paid more than $150 doc fee on any vehicle. I simply don't purchase from dealers that add bogus fees. Lots of cars available.
$150 is like, $20 years ago cheap in FL sadly. My BMW was $799, the Porsche dealers are $1000+. At the end of the day, dealers can hide it in a feed, or tack.it onto the purchase price. Sort of a moot point, all in price is what matters.
The real irony is we also have a chain of dealers that make a big deal of zero doc fees and dealer fees. And they amazingly end up at the same price as the dealers with cheap prices and doc fees. So it is what it is.
All the same I prefer knowing all the fees up front so I don't have to fight them even more.
if i were you I would first consider the following:
1. cost of the upgrades for c6
2. cost of the c7 upgrade
3. personally since you already have a z51 package going into another gs makes no sense (just to me)
4. overall I'd check to upgrade into a c7z at this point if I was looking to upgrade my car.
5. that's just my .02
if i were you I would first consider the following:
1. cost of the upgrades for c6
2. cost of the c7 upgrade
3. personally since you already have a z51 package going into another gs makes no sense (just to me)
4. overall I'd check to upgrade into a c7z at this point if I was looking to upgrade my car.
5. that's just my .02
All great questions.
C6 upgrades, IMO, are not worth it. Quality headers, X pipe and tune very expensive for what you get.
Agree about Z51 to GS.
C7Z out of my budget but a stingray vert or coup is not.
I have a beautiful car. Just thought I should get ahead of my sickness and let someone else enjoy it before I pull it apart. lol
I'll go back to why you want or even considered LT headers, CAI and maybe a cam?
Do you race the car, so you're really looking for performance at the track?
Or is it just you want to have that choppy/throaty sounding car so when you pull into the Cars & Coffee it sounds better?
I say that because I've thought some of the same things. I haven't ever raced my car, so I really don't need any mor HP. I do like the sound of C6 that have headers and Cam, but not enough to justify the expense. But that's me.
I disagree, I think the widebody looks x100 times better than a narrow body. I would get a widebody C6 or C7 over a narrow body in either generation.
Again, most of that is just appearance, so to some people it's worth it, to others it is not.
All great questions.
C6 upgrades, IMO, are not worth it. Quality headers, X pipe and tune very expensive for what you get.
Agree about Z51 to GS.
C7Z out of my budget but a stingray vert or coup is not.
I have a beautiful car. Just thought I should get ahead of my sickness and let someone else enjoy it before I pull it apart. lol
going from c6GS to a c7GS is wasteful effort. A solid c7GS can run in the mid to high 40s
if you shave for another 6mo come up with another 10k and you can potentially be in c7z range
by the time you do intake header exhaust and whatever else on the c7GS and you’re still behind in fun, power and prestige to c7z
if he had narrow body sure then knock yourself out with the c7GS but he already has a wide body, little to no ROI on the upgrade.
The c7 narrow vs c7 wide body is even less noticeable I. The c7 than the c6s are, those sure big difference but I mean who am I to tell anyone what to like, or how to save 🤷🏻♂️ just voicing an opinion that’s all
Last edited by Jupiter81; Dec 2, 2025 at 09:33 AM.
C6/c7 $
