When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
IMO, the best bang for the buck is a 1LT Stingray (add an automatic if you choose to). It is for all intents a loaded car w/ great performance. .0-60 in under 4 seconds, great AC, good stereo, comfortable to drive and ride in. Excellent value. If you are on a budget, this car is the car you want.
I agree, the base 1LT is a great car and is still a ton of fun for people on a budget (like me!) You're right about the 0-60, I recorded a 3.9 second time on my third try the other day and my car is completely stock and on OEM tires. For those that want to take them to the track a lot, the GS is a great package, but if you're just looking for a fun car for the street, the base model is a great value.
If you want to stay on your budget focus on Z51, which is a hell of a car!
Search internet and negotiate aggressively. Also you may find someone that is selling their Vette and your offer may be better than a dealer valuation.
If paying cash:
- What is your time horizon to own and drive the car?
- Aggressive down payment?
- Use special rates attached to car purchase ~ 1.9% for 36 Months
- Wait for winter value/offer market conditions
- CF cars for sale
If you can find a money market that beats or will beat interest rates over the term you own and drive the car.... keep your cash and let it work for you and auto debit from the money market acct to pay for the car monthly. If you sell or trade in the future you can write a check to get right on transaction and be more in control. All cars are depreciating items, so having just enough money in them to allow you to drive what you want and sleep well at night is my recommendation.
GS is worth it for the fun, track and the value it offers.... Just be prepared for higher cost of tires/ownership and if “stretching” your budget is going to stress you out when it needs things that will cost more than base or Z51.
Good luck in your search and hope find the Vette that is right for your situation😉
So, I had a Z51. Bought a 2014, used with 27K miles, laguna blue metallic, loved it. I took it to the track once and had a blast, car was amazing. But whenever I looked at it, I always wanted the wide body. Every car'n'driver, every car magazine, the grand sport is the C7 to buy. Z06 without the motor and HP and let's be honest, you cannot use 650hp daily. You are in traffic, stop lights every 2 feet, moron drivers, and at the track and GS does just as well through the curves. Yes on straightaways the 650 helps but for the most part, the GS is a track monster.
That being said, I sold the Z51 after 4 months of owning it. I hated making $400 a month car payments on something I wasn't in love with. I found a 2017 GS, brand new, in November 2017, located in Montana. They have trouble selling Corvettes in the winter. Sticker was $84K I think, got it for $68K and it's a Collector Edition. The motor might be the same as the Z51 but it feels faster, the grip is better (wider wheels, Z06 suspension), and it just looks awesome. If you are thinking of going Z51 and making it a wide body, just wait until a used GS pops up because you are going to spend a few thousand on paint, parts, install. I found a used 2LT GS last year (2017) for $55K. So if you wait a few months, you will find a good deal. I would highly recommend waiting until you get a GS.
The GS is worth it if you planned on buying a loaded Stingray. Once you start to add options (Z51 and MRC) the GS now becomes a much better proposition. I chose the GS because I love the wide body (and grill) and because I would have went with a fully loaded Stingray, the GS was only about 3k more then my ideal Stingray and I thought an extra 3k for basically the "GS" package was worth it.
If your ideal Stingray is 10k less then a GS then I would suggest staying with a Stingray, its more then enough car for the road, especially on a budget. However if you get a Stingray and you think you may have buyers remorse by not getting the GS (because that's the one you really want) then wait a few more months, save a bit more money and buy the GS. It will hurt your wallet more in the long run to buy the car you don't want.
You need to go test drive them and make a decision on what feels best to you and your wallet.
I had a 2016 z51 and drove a friends base 2016 1lt and I would have done without if that’s all I could afford. I don’t want to hurt feelings.... but, he bought his more for cruising under 50 and I like the power. I’m not a track person, but I liked the way mine drove and sounded compared to his. I’ve got a 2019 GS on order now.
At my age I’m buying for long term...but at your age you will have many more yrs to get the car of your dreams. And one thing you will see in the corvette world, there will always be someone with one bigger and better than yours.
The GS is 3.5 inches wider. Do the math to see how many thousands of dollars per inch that really is. For some people, that 3.5" is worth it. For others, not so much.
The GS is 3.5 inches wider. Do the math to see how many thousands of dollars per inch that really is. For some people, that 3.5" is worth it. For others, not so much.
The above may be the most ridiculous post I've read on is this forum, and that's saying a lot.
Having said that, the wide-body "look" is most likely the reason most purchase the GS, even though it's only one of the 18 features included in the GS package.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; 07-16-2018 at 03:14 PM.
The above may be the most ridiculous post I've read on is this forum, and that's saying a lot.
Having said that, the wide-body "look" is most likely the reason most purchase the GS, even though it's only one of the 18 features included in the GS package.
And I'm saying the wide body "look" is not worth the money. Otherwise it's a Z51. Really. If you're impressed by 3.5" I suggest you may have other issues.
The above may be the most ridiculous post I've read on is this forum, and that's saying a lot.
Having said that, the wide-body "look" is most likely the reason most purchase the GS, even though it's only one of the 18 features included in the GS package.
If you are just gonna daily drive it on the city streets then I would save the money and get a 1LT Stingray. The GS is fantastic but most of the goodies are beneficial for the track.
Like you I started out on a budget, strictly because I wanted to pay cash. Went into a dealership just to 'look' and even told the salesman was only looking, not going to buy today. He was good with that, and they had a Grand Sport and Stingray sitting side by side while I had been opposed to the grand sport mainly because of the tires, it won hands down. My difference was way less than 10K..
I bought a base convertible with 3LT, so for me it was not worth spending money for features I did not need. I love my car, but it depends on what you intend to do with it. We do road touring in ours and never use it on the track, so the base convertible was perfect for us. Everyone has their own preference, you just need to analyze your needs and go for it!
And I'm saying the wide body "look" is not worth the money. Otherwise it's a Z51. Really. If you're impressed by 3.5" I suggest you may have other issues.
If you like the look or not is opinion, but saying the GS outside of looks is a z51 is simply factually incorrect. The GS comes standard with mag ride, has wider tires, bigger brakes, improved suspension, better spoiler, z06 grill, front splitter and side skirts.
07-16-2018, 10:04 AM
is most likely the reason most purchase the GS, even though it's only one of the 18 features included in the GS package.
