clubracer6

Gearhead Jim

Quote from new car salesman to customer, who is saying KBB puts a higher trade-in value on his car than salesman will allow:

"If KBB really thinks it's worth that much, then they should buy it from you."

We bought a Z51 instead of a GS because the Z51 fits our needs better. But I expect that come trade-in time, our Z51 will be worth 2k-5k les than a similar GS.
Unless people suddenly decide that the differences of the GS produce more pain than pleasure.
Last year we bought the Z51, a friend bought an identical GS. This year, he said to me "Since we're not running on a track, you really did buy the better car."
Everyone gets to make their own decisions.

chronage

The newer GS is a no-brainer if the price difference is only a few grand, especially if you had planned on modding the Z51 -- the GS comes with most things you'd want to add from the factory.

Skid Row Joe

The Z51 is the value play, day in and out. Many feel it's a lot more attractive and pleasing to the eye as well.

.If you want a lot of useless stuff that's going to cost you up the ying-yang $$ going forward - then the GS is for you.

The HACK

Sometimes KBB values are skewed on cars with relatively low volume on the used car market. The GS having only been on the market for 2 model years (3 if you want to count people selling their 2019 GS already) the volume will be much less than the data available for Z51 trims, which has been around since 2014?

Case in point, if I were to punch in all the info for my BMW Z4 M Coupe, KBB spits back a value of about $24K. And for a 12 year old car you might think the value is high, but since there's only 1,800 of them sold in the U.S. and 4,000 made world wide, it's unlikely to have a ton of transactional data to go by. Just by judging on private party sales and a variety of anecdotal data from visiting the fore-sales forums on BMW sites, my particular coupe with it's relative low miles at 50K miles SHOULD fetch north of $32K, if I would ever part with it.

KBB values are far more accurate on cars that's got a higher transactional rate on used car market, and have had a longer time being on sale on the used car market. Check C6 GS vs. Base prices on KBB and you'll see much more accurate representation of the difference each car should fetch.

kennyjames21

This is just wrong, but what else is new... lol.

Just going by new prices, if you put the mag ride in the z51, then the difference between a z51 and a GS is about $3k. For that 3K, with the GS, you get the wide body, bigger wheels, improved suspension components, improved cooling, bigger brakes, better spoiler, front splitter and side skirts. Clearly, the GS is the better value, which is why since they came out, they have outsold z51s. And buyers are aware of this as evidenced by the fact that they sold 2,569 GS's in 2018 vs 3,068 stingrays (and only 24% of those were z51's...).

The only reason you choose a z51 over a GS is because you don't like the wide body look, but even then, you might as well just get a stingray then.

If the price is close on a used GS and z51 and the cars are in similar condition, you'd be nuts to choose the z51.

clubracer6

Good info all, greatly appreciated.
I think the Stingray with the right wheels and the GS front grill looks great, but certainly I do like the looks of the GS better.

The two things that appeal to me about a Z51 is I suspect it's easier to break the rear loose coming off corners and in some respects is more playful.... Plus your tire bills should be a little less and typically you save a little bit of money on the purchase. But when I see that I can get a 1lt GS for Z51 money or a 2LT GS for $4k, yes, I worry it might be nuts to not get the GS. The one Z51 I'm looking at is certified, so does have an extended warranty and some included maintenance.

How are the suspension components different on a GS VS a Z51. I thought they were the same. Also the GS always has mag ride and the Z51 it's a stand alone option? I have it on my SS sedan and am very impressed by it.

Skid Row Joe

You're one of the fools that buys for resale THEN?!

Many of us would pay more NOT to get all THAT cr@p of the GS.. LOL!

Thank God, there's still Z51 purists that realize the Z51, isn't the crutch that some of the GS fan boys that paid $11,000.00 to drive the GS to prop them
​​​​​​​up.

Sconn

I'm glad I went with the GS just based on looks alone. The mag ride is just a great bonus.

​​​​​​No regrets going with the GS in the least!

clubracer6

My next car will be my 60th at 48 years old, so I am a fool that does consider resale, because I have car ADD!

falcon5619

The Base (non-Z51) is the value play. Once you add the Z51 package to a Stingray you would be foolish not to step up to the Grand Sport for only $3200 more msrp. If you don't like the look of the wide-body then so be it.

falcon5619

The GS is not $11k more than a Stingray with Z51, it is $3200 more msrp. If the two cars are sitting side by side the better buy is the GS, it has nothing to do with being a fan boy. Bigger 6 piston brakes and rotors, FE6 suspension with mag ride, side skirts, front spoiler and different rear spolier, wide body, bigger wheels and tires. I owned a Stingray and one of the biggest complaints I had was how traction limited it is. The GS with its 335 rear tires can actually put the power down much better than the 285 tires on the Stingray. The GS also feel more more planted than a Stingray. Again, for $3200 you would be foolish to buy the Z51 Stingray unless you just don't like the look of it.

clubracer6

For some of us with immature tendencies, this is a selling point! And for someone who has raced cars for 20 something years, I appreciate the challenge of having to actually drive a little more and find the limits of the car more easily. Today's sports cars and sport sedan are so unbelievably competent and have so much grip, that most really are not driving these cars. They are along for the ride.

HooosierDaddy

I'm sure maintenance cost is vastly different when it comes to upkeep, especially if the GS has the carbon ceramic brakes. We all love Corvettes... but when it comes to Z51 vs GS you might as well be talking Republican vs Democrat.

mtaxman

I will modestly disagree with you.

The GS is a ZO6 without the engine so the added "stuff" isn't "useless" and very different than the Z51 underpinnings.
Starting with brakes, I'd rather be in a GS at a track day.
Assume both have Mag Ride.
The Z51 oil changes will cost the same...the Z51 tires will be less than a GS.
When you are in either one you can't see the narrow body vs. the wide body.
When I see either at Cars & Coffee I don't have a favorite. They both look good.

That's just my opinion.

clubracer6

Ok, let's not get carried away!! I think politicians can learn something from the Corvette community. I don't know of any marque car that has such a great mix of different backgrounds and interests. It's a great melting pot and I think we all respect each other and our differences.

I'm going to work both deals and see which one makes more sense for me. It's a win either way I go.

mtaxman

atta boy...see what you can do and then be happy with the outcome.

RaceMic

The upgraded brakes on my GS just saved me from a horrible accident which very likely would have totaled the car (and maybe me). I doubt that stock brakes would have yielded the same results. The GS is worth every penny.

KCV

KenHorse

Absolutely disagree.

Bought my 2014 Laguna Blue Z51/2LT/M7/MRS/NPP/transparent roof/red calipers/Nav for $62,600 NEW in 2013.

Just paid $64,740 for a 2019 ELBM M7 GS with 2LT/transparent roof/red calipers/NAV-PDR.

Hardly costing "up the ying yang" compared to a 5 year old C7

You sure bitch about the wrong things.....