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1LT or 3LT

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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 02:13 PM
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Default 1LT or 3LT

First world problem here. Have the cash and ready to buy my first corvette. Trying to decide between a used 2014 1lt z51 with 5k miles or a used 2015 3lt stingray with 12k miles. Both are manuals and similar color combo and the price difference is minimal. I won't track the car. My daily driver is a 2010 Tacoma so even the 1lt will seem luxurious.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 02:20 PM
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if you like creature comfort, better softer nicer leather, alcantara on the upper trim pieces, HUD, vented seats, and front cameras go for the 15 3LT..

if you don't care for that? get the 1LT

PS. the way better stereo in the 3LT as well.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 03:13 PM
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The average person would not notice any significant difference in seating or dash material quality between 1-3LT. The real difference and reason for most of the extra cost is in extra equipment, not interior material, and virtually all that extra equipment comes with 2LT. The 3LT just gets you something that is supposed to be closer to real leather, but again it's not a noticeable difference unless you examine each side-by-side.

Many have argued that the seat material in 1/2LT is more durable. It all boils down to whether the extra equipment such as HUD, upgraded sound system, etc. is worth it to you. If it is, 2LT is the better value. If not, 1LT saves you a lot of money, and you still have a much nicer interior than the C6. 3LT is a big jump in cost for interior materials that are not materially better in my view.

Last edited by Foosh; Jul 21, 2018 at 03:19 PM.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 03:14 PM
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Mine is a DD and touring car, and the 2LT M7 was "must have", as it has the features I wanted. If a 2LT weren't available, I'd go for the 3LT to keep the 2LT options, even though I neither need nor want the 3LT upgrades.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 03:33 PM
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Default 3LT all day.

In general, the only people that will tell you to buy a 1LT, are 1LT owners.

I own a 2017 3LT, Stingray. I use every 3LT option it came with, nearly every time I drive it. If that tells you how much I love it's options!

The 2015 3LT Stingray is perfect for what you described in your needs. It's miles are a lot higher than I would buy used, but that's just me.


Last edited by Skid Row Joe; Jul 21, 2018 at 03:38 PM.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 03:45 PM
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One of the reasons for trading from my '09 2LT for the new C7 (Z06 with 2LZ plus add-ons) was the equipment package. For reference sake, the 2LT package in 2009 was really equivalent to the 1LT today.

The jump from 1LT (or "LZ" for the Z06 cars) to the 2LT is significant especially for HUD, heated/ventilated seats and such. The move to the "3" from "2" is, in most cases, added leather for the dash bits and the inclusion of NAV/PDR as part of the package.

Bottom line is if the cars are similar, go with the 3LT and you'll thank yourself later. With such low miles for a 2015, it is likely in pristine condition and will make for a wonderful daily driver.

/r

Allen
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by 16/C7Z
if you like creature comfort, better softer nicer leather, alcantara on the upper trim pieces, HUD, vented seats, and front cameras go for the 15 3LT.


In a strict comparison between a 1LT and a 3LT, HUD, vented seats, and front cameras are what's worth the price of admission, IMO. They are niceties for sure, but the vented seats make a nice subtle difference in warmer climates, and the front cameras are a lot more useful than you might think if you've never had them, especially with the low front ends and splitters on these cars!
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 04:03 PM
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Since you won't track it I say get the 3lt and enjoy the extra options. You won't miss the Z51 option on the street.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 04:13 PM
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The 3LT is a year newer... and the additional mileage isn’t bad for a ‘15. As such, and since you have no plans to track it, then the 3LT. As mentioned, you’ll get Napa leather, Nav/PDR, heated/vented seats w/lumbar adj., HUD, Bose Premium w/sub, enhanced theft deterrent, memory pkg., etc...
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 04:14 PM
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3LT treat yourself!
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by DWS44


In a strict comparison between a 1LT and a 3LT, HUD, vented seats, and front cameras are what's worth the price of admission, IMO. They are niceties for sure, but the vented seats make a nice subtle difference in warmer climates, and the front cameras are a lot more useful than you might think if you've never had them, especially with the low front ends and splitters on these cars!
I don’t believe that front cameras were available until MY16...
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by sTz
I don’t believe that front cameras were available until MY16...
oops...didn't realize that!
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 04:29 PM
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I haven’t looked so if price is an issue I apologize. However, I’d go for a 15 2LT/3LT Z51. Even if you’re not going to track it the Z51 holds its value much better than the regular Stingrays and the 2/3LTs hold value much better than the 1LTs. I’m also big not not buying a cars first year of production, they’re still working out kinks at that time.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe
I own a 2017 3LT, Stingray. I use every 3LT option it came with, nearly every time I drive it. If that tells you how much I love it's options!
You can't seem to comprehend that the only piece of optional "equipment" you have over a 2LT is factory nav/PDR. Since most folks aren't silly enough to use the factory nav as it's so inferior to any smart phone app, that boils it down to the PDR, and you don't seem like the track/PDR type . . . LOL.

Last edited by Foosh; Jul 21, 2018 at 05:05 PM.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 05:07 PM
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For me it's all about the Z51. I could care less about the 1LT or 3LT. I want the performance goodies that come with the Z51. But you'll get a different answer from everyone you ask because we're all different.

Last edited by Zjoe6; Jul 21, 2018 at 05:08 PM.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 05:10 PM
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IMO, out of your choices, go with the 1LT as it has the Z51 package. Better yet, just keep looking and grab a 2LT instead.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 05:16 PM
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Assuming both cars are in pristine condition, I'd get the 3LT, and this is coming from a guy with a base model.

The key here is whether they are both in pristine condition and you have inspected them both in person.

And, I don't even care much for the upgrades. The stock stereo is pretty mediocre in either trim and the bass is muddy enough in the LT1 without the extra sub. I don't need a memory package because no one else drives it. Don't care about the mirror upgrades, nor the front camera as I always back in to my parking spaces. Heated seats would be nice, but from what I hear the ventilated seats (for cooling) don't do much. I would like to try the lumbar support and the maybe the HUD (the digital display is so fun to look at that I don't think I would really miss the HUD), but when I bought my car those 2 or 3 items did not justify a price jump of 5k-6k.

Bottom line is that between those two cars, the year newer LT3 should be worth significantly more, even with the extra mileage.

Just make sure you inspect and test drive both. My final decision came down to 2 very similar cars, one was a 2017 with 9k miles, and one a 2016 with 8k miles. I wanted the 2017 (Watkins Glen Grey) but after test driving it, I could tell it had been ragged out. The Shark Grey 2016 was in absolutely perfect condition, aside from windshield tint peel which I later had replaced under warranty. It had obviously been a garage queen and I was able to use the ridiculously low advertised price on the 17 to get a discount on the 16. I also bought in December which is the best time to buy, in my opinion.

Last edited by 2016C7.paul; Jul 21, 2018 at 05:18 PM.
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 05:18 PM
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[QUOTE=16/C7Z;1597640535]if you like creature comfort, better softer nicer leather, alcantara on the upper trim pieces, HUD, vented seats, and front cameras go for the 15 3LT..

15's do not have front cameras!
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 05:27 PM
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Listen up! If you aren't going to track the car you don't need the Z51 option. Go for the 3LT car and enjoy the options. If you believe you would really enjoy those 3LT options you can't go wrong. I think the 3LT options will benefit you more than Z51 options if you are not going to track the car. On the other hand, if you are going to track the car the Z51 option is super!
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Old Jul 21, 2018 | 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by joemessman
Listen up! If you aren't going to track the car you don't need the Z51 option. Go for the 3LT car and enjoy the options. If you believe you would really enjoy those 3LT options you can't go wrong. I think the 3LT options will benefit you more than Z51 options if you are not going to track the car. On the other hand, if you are going to track the car the Z51 option is super!
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