Which C6 to buy
09-24-2018, 12:32 AM
#1
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Which C6 to buy
Hello everyone! About two weeks ago my car was totaled due to a rear end collision. I was rear ended while sitting at a stop light. Long story short, my car was totaled and I have decided to get a corvette as an upgrade to my car. In the process of narrowing down the vettes I narrowed it down to a c6 z06, between $20k- 35k. I found a few with low miles as well which I really like. Is there any input you guys can give me like the pros/cons of it compared to a c5 z06? Are there any issues with the car? I heard there are some issues with the heads or something. Anyhow any input is greatly appreciated. Im new to the platform, and come from an autocross background.
Last edited by Vityaz; 09-24-2018 at 12:33 AM.
09-24-2018, 12:52 AM
#2
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Moved to C6 ZR1 & Z06 Discussion.
09-24-2018, 06:31 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
The C5 Z06 is a nice starter Vette with 405 hp and its very comfortable but does have a few inherent problems. Gas gauge to empty, steering column lock just to name 2. Its a little more roomy and has a better ride than the early C6 Z06
The C6 Z06 is very unforgiving and needs your constant attention while driving. It feels like unlimited horse power going through the gears. The suspension is very stiff because it is a right off the showroom floor racecar. It has been noted that the C6 Z06 has problems with the heads. The technology is is race proven comong from C6R Or Corvette racing. The Choice is yours.
Clif
The C6 Z06 is very unforgiving and needs your constant attention while driving. It feels like unlimited horse power going through the gears. The suspension is very stiff because it is a right off the showroom floor racecar. It has been noted that the C6 Z06 has problems with the heads. The technology is is race proven comong from C6R Or Corvette racing. The Choice is yours.
Clif
09-25-2018, 01:03 AM
#7
I’ll start of by excluding all C7’s....1)not in the price range you listed. 2) complete revamp off almost everything when compared to C5’s and C6’s and you mention those generation vettes in your opening.
I’ve wanted a vette ever since a buddy of mine “grew up” faster than most of us when it comes to “fast” cars. We mostly had imports because in the early 2000’s that’s about all we could afford. He came out of hidding one summer and showed up with a ‘99 FRC, he put a cam, headers, exhaust and intake on the car. I’d never heard a newer vette(at the time) sound like that! I was here hooked(thanks Kyle!) fast forward around 14-17 years and I found myself looking for a vette. Was wanting a C5z, liked the body style and man where they cheap. Low miles C5z in 2015-2016 could be found for sub 25k. I’m active duty military and it seemed like every time I though about pulling the trigger these got crazy at work with training, training trips, advanced schools and deployment, 2 almost back to back. Another very close friend of mine bought a C6z in 2015-2016, I was able to see it, ride in it and drive it, I really liked it. On my 3rd deployment I started looking at C6’s and I asked my friend with the C6z if it would be better to get a C6 GS over a C5z. He told me a pretty smart dude gave him this advice, specifically about corvettes. “Buy the the newest gen vette you can afford” this is excluding guys looking for classic older vettes, basically between the C5 and C6. When I came back from deployment #3 I was up to re-enlist, the part of the military I’m in offers a substantial SRB(special retention bonus) especially for zone B and C, I was in zone B. My command sent me on a “PSD” (personal security detachment) to Iraq escorting a Chaplin. All of centcom is tax free, so I kept all the money!!! So I’m looking at vettes again and all the sudden I can totally afford a low miles C6z. I bought a low miles C6z. 🇺🇸
I’ve wanted a vette ever since a buddy of mine “grew up” faster than most of us when it comes to “fast” cars. We mostly had imports because in the early 2000’s that’s about all we could afford. He came out of hidding one summer and showed up with a ‘99 FRC, he put a cam, headers, exhaust and intake on the car. I’d never heard a newer vette(at the time) sound like that! I was here hooked(thanks Kyle!) fast forward around 14-17 years and I found myself looking for a vette. Was wanting a C5z, liked the body style and man where they cheap. Low miles C5z in 2015-2016 could be found for sub 25k. I’m active duty military and it seemed like every time I though about pulling the trigger these got crazy at work with training, training trips, advanced schools and deployment, 2 almost back to back. Another very close friend of mine bought a C6z in 2015-2016, I was able to see it, ride in it and drive it, I really liked it. On my 3rd deployment I started looking at C6’s and I asked my friend with the C6z if it would be better to get a C6 GS over a C5z. He told me a pretty smart dude gave him this advice, specifically about corvettes. “Buy the the newest gen vette you can afford” this is excluding guys looking for classic older vettes, basically between the C5 and C6. When I came back from deployment #3 I was up to re-enlist, the part of the military I’m in offers a substantial SRB(special retention bonus) especially for zone B and C, I was in zone B. My command sent me on a “PSD” (personal security detachment) to Iraq escorting a Chaplin. All of centcom is tax free, so I kept all the money!!! So I’m looking at vettes again and all the sudden I can totally afford a low miles C6z. I bought a low miles C6z. 🇺🇸
09-25-2018, 06:13 AM
#8
Burning Brakes
You can't go wrong with either C5Z might be a little cheaper to make go fast or the C6Z is a more modern approach, heads are cheap to fix.
Danny Popp
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Rich Willhoff
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Last edited by Whis9; 09-25-2018 at 06:20 AM.
09-25-2018, 11:32 AM
#9
Burning Brakes
C6 Z all the way given your price range. Great value right now for the level of performance. The LS7 is a gem of an engine. GM is not going to make anymore large displacement N/A motors - this was the last. A C6 ZR1 and a C7 Z06 will cost you a lot more money.
10-02-2018, 11:09 PM
#10
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Thanks for the reply guys. I'm definitely set on the c6 z06. I got an offer from from a private seller who has a c6 z06 with 61k miles and who did the heads. He is asking 31k. Is that a good price or should I keep looking?
10-03-2018, 02:51 PM
#11
Burning Brakes
If it were me, I would go for one with lower miles. You should be able to find one in your price range. Price also depends on the condition, if it is stock or modded, etc. Mileage is a big factor in price as well. 61K is kind of high. I would go for no more than 30K miles - the lower the better. If the heads haven't been done, you can get that done yourself. It's not terribly expensive. Preference would be for a one owner, stock car with low miles that you can get for $35K or less. The higher the miles, generally the more wear and tear. It pays to he a bit patient and look for the right deal and do a nationwide search.
10-04-2018, 05:48 PM
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If it were me, I would go for one with lower miles. You should be able to find one in your price range. Price also depends on the condition, if it is stock or modded, etc. Mileage is a big factor in price as well. 61K is kind of high. I would go for no more than 30K miles - the lower the better. If the heads haven't been done, you can get that done yourself. It's not terribly expensive. Preference would be for a one owner, stock car with low miles that you can get for $35K or less. The higher the miles, generally the more wear and tear. It pays to he a bit patient and look for the right deal and do a nationwide search.
10-04-2018, 05:53 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
That is not an issue in most cases. Just have the car shipped to you. I bought my car out of state and never looked at it in person, but it was a one owner with 2,000 miles on it. He sent me some really good pics and was a great guy to deal with. On a car with higher mileage and more owners, condition becomes more of a concern, so a physical inspection may be prudent.
10-04-2018, 06:01 PM
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That is not an issue in most cases. Just have the car shipped to you. I bought my car out of state and never looked at it in person, but it was a one owner with 2,000 miles on it. He sent me some really good pics and was a great guy to deal with. On a car with higher mileage and more owners, condition becomes more of a concern, so a physical inspection may be prudent.
10-04-2018, 06:44 PM
#15
Burning Brakes
It would be worth the cost of a flight then to inspect the car and take it for a test drive. Nationwide search is the way to go - at least for me because of the low miles I wanted. Bought it summer of 2016 and it now has 2,700 miles. It's a 2006. Hope you find the right one.
10-05-2018, 09:06 AM
#16
I agree with scanning the entire country. I also agree with being patient. We are coming into the time of year where Corvette prices soften a little bit as the weather turns colder. When I was in the hunt, I pre-determined exactly what I wanted car-wise, and what I was willing to pay, and I would not waiver. I also factored in that if I was going to need to spend $1500-$2000 to ship the car, then the purchase price on the car would need to be that much better, as I would not budge from the overall number I was willing to spend.
Heads being addressed was really a moot point. I almost would have rather found a really nice car that was untouched, so I could have the heads done myself, which is what wound up happening. Long story short, In the middle of February the exact car I wanted fell in my lap. The right color, the right miles, everything. And it was in AZ. I am in CT. I bought it for a great price and shipped it, and all-in I was still under market value. Patience and willingness to open up geographically is key.
Good luck. The hunt is half the fun!
Heads being addressed was really a moot point. I almost would have rather found a really nice car that was untouched, so I could have the heads done myself, which is what wound up happening. Long story short, In the middle of February the exact car I wanted fell in my lap. The right color, the right miles, everything. And it was in AZ. I am in CT. I bought it for a great price and shipped it, and all-in I was still under market value. Patience and willingness to open up geographically is key.
Good luck. The hunt is half the fun!
10-05-2018, 10:21 AM
#17
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I was about to say. There is no way I would buy a car without first inspecting every inch of it. I envy you on getting such a low milage car. Unfortunately vettes in that mileage range are not in my budget. I would probably have to negotiate the price with the dealer online first, and then when the price is good I would come out and inspect it cash in hand. On the bright side, these cars might be far from me, but at least Tony's shop is less than an hour away from me, so at least theres that......
I sold my C5 Corvette to a guy that lived about 1400 miles away. I included a 1 way ticket for him to come down and buy the car as part of our negotiations and he could drive it back. The car had 168,XXX miles on it when I sold it. He messaged me recently stating the car now has 203,XXX miles and he still loves it.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ampa-fl-2.html
Last edited by MickVette; 10-05-2018 at 10:22 AM.