The 2005 Z51s were still going for 38K+ after 2 years. I think I remember seeing them in the 40's. When the LS3s came out the LS2s dropped to the low-to-mid 30's. But that didn't change at all for a long time. I think the first time I saw a LS2 C6 with low miles drop to the 20's was around 2011.

 

I'm going to agree with this. Those old cars just aren't built like they are today. Even the 4 is no match for a C5 or later. I owned them all.

 

More like 45k after 3 years and 25k miles. 38.5 might be a trade-in price.

 

These '14 C7s may get hit even harder: 1) GM is likely planning to jack up production 2x over previous years - they believe they have a winner after limping through some tough economic years. But more production means that you'll see them EVERYWHERE in a year (AVIS & HERTZ included). And 2) If a Z06 version comes out in 2015, ding, another hit...

2014s may lose 35% value from MSRP in first 36 months...

 

Yes, but a lot of people like the style of the old cars. They are also far more rare and will get a lot more attention. If you are going to drive it a lot, then the new ones are a lot better. If you are going to track it, no contest. If you are going to cruise around in it on weekends and go to car shows, the C2 and C3 are going to get a lot more attention than the C5, C6, or C7 (except maybe the first couple of months after the C7 hits the streets). The C2 and C3 are likely to go up in value. The C5, C6, and C7 are just going to lose value for the foreseeable future.

I love the look of the early C2's, but it isn't in the same league performance wise or comfort wise as the new cars. I would love to own one though.

 

That owner knows that going in, doesn't care, and the loss is nothing to him.

 

Agreed, it's all relative. What good is being mega-wealthy if you don't drive a car that tells the world you have serious $$$? Someone who makes $20M/year treats money very differently than someone who is grateful for a job paying $200K/year. In financial terms, the person making $2M has far greater "disposable income." And depreciation is one disposable part of owning a new car.

 

Yeah, and what about those knuckleheads who are currently privately trading 1962 Ferrari GTOs for $ 35 million and rising for a car which languished in broker's lots as just another tired, over the hill sports car that sold for less than $10 k in the early 70s .

 

Sounds good!

Which C2 or C3 should I buy now to trade for millions later and how much later?

 

I think a few L-88 cars have brought close to a million if not more.

 

Nice. Will the hundreds of thousands of surviving C2s and C3s be worth millions also? When? I missed the party on Microsoft years ago and don't want to miss the boat here.

 

Of course they don't compare to the modern vettes with regard to the criteria you listed above, but as someone else already pointed out, you don't buy a classic vette for any of the reasons above. You don't buy ANY classic cars for those reasons. That does not mean they are "jackass carts." You are comparing apples and oranges.

 

 

this^^

 

Just like for the people who bought the 2005 A4 trans in the C6 resale values will be horrible for those who buy the A6 in the C7

 

I agree completely. I'm a fan of classic cars as well. The point is that unless they are modernized rebuilds, they are relatively pieces of crap as far as what we expect from cars these days.

 

I'm fortunate enough to own a '63 Coupe and a '13 427, two Corvettes built 50 years apart. Deciding which to drive is a good problem to have. The 427 is easily the better car in many ways, but the Sting Ray has a charm modern Corvettes simply can't touch. People are drawn to both cars, but '63 has more pull and creates an almost child-like enthusiasm you don't experience from those around you when driving a C6.

The '63 was completely restored, body-off, everything rebuilt, it's not an old car any longer. I enjoy both Corvettes, they are simply a blast to drive, the C2 vs C6 experience is completely different, and I wouldn't give up either one. But if I could only own one Corvette, I'd sell the 427, skip the C7, and I'd keep the '63, no question.

To each, his own.

Cheers,
JB

 

I think there is a law of diminishing returns. The 6 speed from a 4 speed is a 50 % increase....whereas the 8 speed from a six speed is a 20 % increase...

Fuel efficiency improvement will a few percent....and the performance minimal.

I think all corvettes should be manuals anyway...(kidding)....the 2005 resale is not much lower than the 2006 model.....

I expect the fun of owning the new c7 as it release will be great fun.

Suggesting resale s will suffer because of a six speed versus an 8 speed is strange considering our c6 manuals are six speeds as well....

 

Correct

 

Good point. Though I don't think you'll see alot of Corvettes in the seven figure range any time real soon.

But the Corvette is indeed a mass produced, designed to be car capapble of handling the average daily commute, and accumulating hundreds of thousands of miles. It is more special than the average Impala, Malibu or v6 Camaro, but it is still a Chevrolet.

Yet, the Corvette is an American Icon. It's easily recognizable, cherished by millions, not only for it's cutting edge design and technology for the time, but for it's persona as the working man's supercar. Thus the Corvette will always maintain a higher emotional value, regardless of it's dollar value.

That said, the rise to collectible status comes with time. The C3 has really only started to realize this rise in the last 10 years or so. Attrition, availability of parts, and yes, with every new generation the history of the old is enhanced. Even, low mile, unmolested C4's are seeing a rise in the market place. When rarity and emotion collide, the dollar value will inevitably increase with this brand.

The newer gens, C4*, C5, C6, are still driver cars. Parts are readily available, and there's no reason not to commute with them. So they are still commonplace and gathering miles, thus the market prices are are still dropping. Albeit not as fast as the average Malibu.

*note that the C4 is just beginning to enter that area where the C3 was 10 years ago. As of right now, they are still daily driver cars for the most part, but they are getting more and more difficult to find NOS parts for. As this trend continues, fewer and fewer will see driver duty and attrition increases exponentally as the higher mile cars give their lives as donors to the survivor cars, all in the name of "Bloomington Gold". So they are at a point where the good NCRS quality cars are increasing in value, and the old driven hard cars are worth more parted than whole.