I'm new, so if this has been asked before please forgive me. I'm trying to decide if I should buy my 1st corvette new and eat the drive off the lot drop in depreciation(?) or wait a year and buy it used. Thank y'all in advance for y'all's patience and feedback. God bless. I'm going with the C7 GS. and yes how it's broken in and taken care of is a factor and I realize I'll probably have to wait a year if I go used

 

Do you care how the car is broken in?

 

I think it would make a difference if your looking for a base, Z51, Grand Sport, or Z06? I just went through this between a used Z51 and a new GS and ended up with the new GS.

 

Thank you for your service.

I never buy new, let someone else eat that initial depreciation.
Vettes (more than other cars) can be found with exactly the options you want, at a discounted price, one year (or more) after they're new.

then again, I'm a cheap ol' f*rt.

 

It's funny - some on this forum will focus on the mechanical aspects of a used car and others will focus on the cosmetic condition. I must admit - I've rarely found a used car, no matter how low the miles, that will meet my expectations for condition.

 

Currently, as I type this, there are some killer deals out there on brand new cars in dealer inventory. Some are marked down nearly as low as what some are asking for used cars. In that situation, I would skip the used and buy new. When those deals and incentives go away, then I would strongly look at a gently used one.

 

Used... 08, LS3, 3LT, Targa Top, 42k mile, good rubber, clean, clean Car Fax all for $25k.. $15 after trade.

If you are serious about a Corvette with all the latest bells & whistles look at an 09 or up. Trim level - 3lt. Performance level - Z06 or Z51. If you don't know what to look for get a Corvette type to look it over, get a Car Fax (better than nothing), pay $$ to have it inspected by good Corvette shop.

 

I always but new so I can order it exactly as I want. I do not have to search for it and wonder why did the previous owner dump it so soon.
As for the depreciation factor I really do not care.

 

First, are you looking for a C6 or 7? With patience a C6 can be found for a great price. I just sold mine and took a big loss on it for the 3.5 years we owned it.

C7? Shop new and be flexible. Look at all the forum vendors inventory and see what you like. I just put a deposit down on a new C7 and received 19% off MSRP. There are deals to be had but most of them will be done by the time spring time rolls around.

Used C7? Good luck! Most sellers are being stubborn and dont realize their "used" price is often higher than what a forum vendor, like Macmulkin, is selling a new one for.

 

You will certainly not get a consensus in this thread.

That being said, I prefer new, and with the heavy discounts being offered on new models, it makes better sense. You also get the full warranty, no hidden surprises (that will not be covered...), the options that you want, etc.

Of course there are exceptions, and if you can find a used model at a great price and "known" history, then it might work better for you. While there are some lemons out there, the C7 is "generally" a solid car. GL.

 

OP, I purchased used so I can look at it from that standpoint. Consider: What's on your "Must Have" list. You've already stated it Must Be a GS. I'm betting there's more. Have you thought about what color you want? Interior? Exterior? Wheels? What about options like 1LT, 2LT, 3LT? What about transmission?
My point is, when you buy new and order, you can custom design your Corvette. When you buy new off of the lot from one of the forum dealers, you can get pretty close if not a spot on match.
If you wait, you're talking about buying a specific model that's only one year old. I can tell you, shopping for a specific model, one year old Corvette limits your ability to buy what you want. Also, there is absolutely no guarantee the dealer that has your favorite used C7 GS will be selling it at the price the low price dealer is selling another GS that doesn't meet your requirements.
From all the research I did (tracking almost 300 C7s over a three month period), I know I was very lucky to find a car that met all my "must haves" and all my "really want" lists selling for the best price for a Z51 at that time. I realized just how lucky and put a hold on the car the minute the dealer gave me the out the door price.
My point is, you can't guarantee you'll get the used discount you want unless that discount and GS are the only items on your "must have" list and everything else is negotiable. For most of us, price comes after we get our "must have" lists met.

 

I've always bought used, until the C7. I only bought new with the C7 because I couldn't find one used with the exact combination of options I was looking for.

$15k in depreciation savings will fund a huge maintenance reserve.

 

When I bought my new '17 Z51 2 weeks ago,a guy was there trading in his '15 C7.He tracked the car often and it had some issues not covered by warranty....so he traded it in.

I would say he was not the only person who has done this.

I always buy new and keep for at least 10 yrs.

\db2

 

Same here! This is my first new car for the same reasons.

 

I tend to keep my cars(not just Corvettes) a long time, and I want to drive a car that fits my want's(color, options, etc) 99%+.

I have found used cars that meets my needs, but when looking for late model used Corvettes, there are normally not that many to choose from so finding that "special" one is rare for me.

A new Corvette, special ordered exactly equipped like I want it to be, will fit my want's 100%. Difficult to find a used one that will be exactly like I want.

Generally, when buying new, you know what the condition of the car will be. When buying used, the only way you will know the true condition of the car is a personal inspection. If you're picky about colors and options, that means traveling to locations other than your local Chevrolet dealer to check out multiple used Corvettes. That expense can add up quickly.

That said, I think that the car you buy(new, in stock on a dealers lot, or new special ordered, or used), depends on how picky you are about color, options, etc.

 

I ordered a new Z06 in 2004, drove it 10 years and ordered a new 2014 Stingray. However, I mainly had to order because the dealer never orders manual transmission cars for stock anymore. If I end up trading for a GS, will probably have to order that too.

 

with my brother from another mother. Looking for a used GS may be difficult as they are the ones most base C7 owners move up too. So a perfect pre-owned may be as rare as hens teeth. Good luck, and thank you for your service sir.

 

if you can afford new go for it - but I would rather a used 3LT vs a new 1LT

my last two I purchased with 5500 miles (C6 kept it for 9 years) and my new C7 6500 miles one year old - still has warranty, drives great love it

 

There are many variables to this decision based on your desires and willingness to spend time on the car as well as your budget. If you are mechanically inclined and don't mind the nickel and dime repairs that a used car will demand, then used is probably not an issue. Currently the difference in price between the forum dealer discounts on new cars and the price of a year old vette is not a far spread. Now if you are comparing a 2017 to a 2014, then you could realize a big savings. Of course you mentioned you want a GS, so that isn't an option.
Buying new gives you the ability to pick and choose the options and color combo that YOU want and not have to settle for what's out there. The new car warranty starting from the day you took ownership is also a consideration. If you are going to wait a while, Sept - December is the time to buy last year's model as you will get a new car with special discounts / dealer tags that will give you a considerable discount off the price of the car that makes up for the car being a one model year old car. Good Luck on your decision and your quest for your car.

 

With the deals out there right now, I feel sorry for the guy who is selling a 1 yr old car and has to compete with them- so as a potential buyer, I would go new in this environment.