C7, an old man’s Sports Car?
12-06-2018, 05:34 PM
#202
Instructor
[QUOTE=nmerhaut;1598455271]
Again - this isn't a very good 'proof point' that all owners are old - I'll posit that only old (retired) owners have the time available to do a Corvette Cruise.
I would love to do a Corvette Cruise in my C7, but I have to work for a living and my young daughters and wife take up my weekends.
Go to a local cars and coffee, you'll see younger vette owners , sneaking away from the family for a precious hour or two... [I kid a bit, I can generally trick one of the girls into coming with me to cars and coffee].
Go to a Corvette Cruise In and all you see is lawn chairs and old people sitting around in circles and the majority of owners just sit and guard their cars because this is one of the few times on a perfect summer day the car leaves the garage. When the next generation of owners inherit a Corvette the majority of them will sell it and buy something else because like you said it is an Old Mans Sports Car and to them its like driving a BUICK.
I'm sure you're kidding but if not, what you describe doesn't match what cruise-ins I attend, nor does it match most of the car functions I attend unless it's a very hot day. Most owners are up and eager to talk about their cars.
I'm sure you're kidding but if not, what you describe doesn't match what cruise-ins I attend, nor does it match most of the car functions I attend unless it's a very hot day. Most owners are up and eager to talk about their cars.
I would love to do a Corvette Cruise in my C7, but I have to work for a living and my young daughters and wife take up my weekends.
Go to a local cars and coffee, you'll see younger vette owners , sneaking away from the family for a precious hour or two... [I kid a bit, I can generally trick one of the girls into coming with me to cars and coffee].
12-06-2018, 06:40 PM
#203
12-06-2018, 08:02 PM
#204
Instructor
12-06-2018, 08:56 PM
#205
Burning Brakes
I picked up my C6z used when I was 27. Picked up a new c7z this year at 33. Not the only younger corvette owner I have seen at cars and coffee events but all the local corvette clubs i have seen are all guys in their 60s who want to go out and get an early breakfast and the senior discount. I parked in the Corvette corral during the long beach grand prix and was by far the youngest owner there.
Last edited by RegnaR; 12-06-2018 at 08:56 PM.
12-06-2018, 10:14 PM
#206
Instructor
C7, an old Man's Sports Car
In 1967, the median income was $7,200 and the base Corvette was $4,240 approx. 7 months of income. In 2018, the median income is $62,175 and the base Corvette is $55,495 approx. 11 months of income. This is one of the reasons younger people could buy these in the late 60's or early 70's and not now. If it is tougher to afford, it falls off the radar quicker and alternatives are sought after. Nowadays, a 7 year loan on a car is considered normal, in order to get people to pay this additional ratio of income-to-car price.
Of course, this doesn't explain the younger adults driving around in $100K + GTR's nowadays, but there will always be those outliers.
Note, you probably can find different median incomes, but you hopefully can get the point of this.
Of course, this doesn't explain the younger adults driving around in $100K + GTR's nowadays, but there will always be those outliers.
Note, you probably can find different median incomes, but you hopefully can get the point of this.
12-09-2018, 04:45 AM
#210
Drifting
I feel like this thread is restarted anually...
Bought 4 between the ages of 19 and 28 - a C4, C5, C6, and C6 GS. Only sold because I had too many other toys and honestly I felt bad about it sitting around. I'm about to turn 32 and have my eye on a C7Z. (Man this forum has been around a while!) I was diagnosed with brain cancer earlier this year, and I can say that I have no regrets allocating money to enjoy these cars up to now. And looking forward, I intend to enjoy my time now the same way I did then, because you never know when that time will run out.
On the subject of other owners, I'll say that the various meets I went to were 95% salt and pepper, but most of those guys (and the occasional lady) drove their cars like a bat outta hell. Regardless of age, the community is great and I'm glad to be a part of it.
On the subject of other owners, I'll say that the various meets I went to were 95% salt and pepper, but most of those guys (and the occasional lady) drove their cars like a bat outta hell. Regardless of age, the community is great and I'm glad to be a part of it.
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dee zed (12-09-2018)
12-09-2018, 11:09 AM
#211
Advanced
It is SOOOOOO TRUUUEEE!!!!
It is SOOOOO TRUE!!!
I bought my first Vette in 1984; a rough, but complete, Silver 1974 L82, 4 spd convertible. I wanted a Vette so bad that I traded my very nice Jet Black 1967 327, 4 spd Camaro convertible for the 'needs-work' Silver Corvette with the dark fender seams showing through the worn-out paint. I spent the next year and a half rebuilding snd modifying it to a fairly high level and was so damn happy every day I owned it, that I never regretted my choice (at the time - have you seen recent prices for nice 67 Camaro convertible hot rods?). Anyhow, I was 17 and owned a Corvette and I never knew, met, saw, or heard-of any other 17 year old kid with a Corvette. I assumed and still do that there were and are 17 year olds driving Corvettes to school, but just never ran into one. I will even conclude that my Corvette ownership at that time was clearly out of the ordinary to even the casual observer, as a lot of folks looked and were surprised when I showed-up in that first Corvette.
Well, since then, I've been fortunate enough to own three more Corvettes, including a 1973, a 1996, and my current daily-driver (GOD I LOVE THIS CAR), a Cyber-Gray 2009 ZR1, that I picked up almost a year ago with 4800 miles on the odometer. And I'm not 17 any longer. In fact I can now use 'centuries' as a Unit of Measure to describe my age (I am a bit over a half century old). AND... I see my contemporaries driving Corvettes all the time. I couldn't swing a stick without hitting a Corvette driver and they're all over 40. OK, so truthfully, maybe 85% of the Corvette Drivers I see are over 40. And I do now see 17 year olds driving Vettes, but it is still pretty rare; maybe 1 out of 300 sightings might be driven buy kid driving one.
So I don't have the access to real data to truly analyze the statistics like this website has, but I'm pretty observant of my surroundings and have been many places and seen many, many Corvettes and I would also suggest that my experience is not particularly unique or remarkable (I do not work in the automotive industry, etc...) - and it is clear to me that there is a bias toward retirement in the mean age of Corvette Drivers. Just sayin'
Edit: I just read above, a comment about the younger generation selling their inherited Vettes because the felt like they 'were driving a Buick'. Ok,,, Have they ever driven a Buick? There is a reason that Corvette is not spelled B-U-I-C-K.... Anyhow, I have real experience here with the younger generation.. About 2 years ago, I gave my '73 454 Vette to my oldest son and he has never grinned so much as he has over the past year and a half or whatever its been. It did lose a hydraulic roller lifter a couple months ago (I installed those in 1991 and then beat the snot out of the car for some 25 years before handing it to my kid). I am proud to say that the kid's smile hasn't left; instead we're both enjoying going through the big, heavy, old 454 together, like we used to when he was in High School... Except his skills are much better and he doesn't require any more than high-level direction. Did I say I'm proud? Thanks for affording me a venue to indulge myself.
I bought my first Vette in 1984; a rough, but complete, Silver 1974 L82, 4 spd convertible. I wanted a Vette so bad that I traded my very nice Jet Black 1967 327, 4 spd Camaro convertible for the 'needs-work' Silver Corvette with the dark fender seams showing through the worn-out paint. I spent the next year and a half rebuilding snd modifying it to a fairly high level and was so damn happy every day I owned it, that I never regretted my choice (at the time - have you seen recent prices for nice 67 Camaro convertible hot rods?). Anyhow, I was 17 and owned a Corvette and I never knew, met, saw, or heard-of any other 17 year old kid with a Corvette. I assumed and still do that there were and are 17 year olds driving Corvettes to school, but just never ran into one. I will even conclude that my Corvette ownership at that time was clearly out of the ordinary to even the casual observer, as a lot of folks looked and were surprised when I showed-up in that first Corvette.
Well, since then, I've been fortunate enough to own three more Corvettes, including a 1973, a 1996, and my current daily-driver (GOD I LOVE THIS CAR), a Cyber-Gray 2009 ZR1, that I picked up almost a year ago with 4800 miles on the odometer. And I'm not 17 any longer. In fact I can now use 'centuries' as a Unit of Measure to describe my age (I am a bit over a half century old). AND... I see my contemporaries driving Corvettes all the time. I couldn't swing a stick without hitting a Corvette driver and they're all over 40. OK, so truthfully, maybe 85% of the Corvette Drivers I see are over 40. And I do now see 17 year olds driving Vettes, but it is still pretty rare; maybe 1 out of 300 sightings might be driven buy kid driving one.
So I don't have the access to real data to truly analyze the statistics like this website has, but I'm pretty observant of my surroundings and have been many places and seen many, many Corvettes and I would also suggest that my experience is not particularly unique or remarkable (I do not work in the automotive industry, etc...) - and it is clear to me that there is a bias toward retirement in the mean age of Corvette Drivers. Just sayin'
Edit: I just read above, a comment about the younger generation selling their inherited Vettes because the felt like they 'were driving a Buick'. Ok,,, Have they ever driven a Buick? There is a reason that Corvette is not spelled B-U-I-C-K.... Anyhow, I have real experience here with the younger generation.. About 2 years ago, I gave my '73 454 Vette to my oldest son and he has never grinned so much as he has over the past year and a half or whatever its been. It did lose a hydraulic roller lifter a couple months ago (I installed those in 1991 and then beat the snot out of the car for some 25 years before handing it to my kid). I am proud to say that the kid's smile hasn't left; instead we're both enjoying going through the big, heavy, old 454 together, like we used to when he was in High School... Except his skills are much better and he doesn't require any more than high-level direction. Did I say I'm proud? Thanks for affording me a venue to indulge myself.
Last edited by Itbites; 12-09-2018 at 02:11 PM. Reason: Added a relevant comment about my son and his experience
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JerriVette (12-25-2018)
12-09-2018, 11:19 AM
#212
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jun 2018
Location: Washington State
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Bought 4 between the ages of 19 and 28 - a C4, C5, C6, and C6 GS. Only sold because I had too many other toys and honestly I felt bad about it sitting around. I'm about to turn 32 and have my eye on a C7Z. (Man this forum has been around a while!) I was diagnosed with brain cancer earlier this year, and I can say that I have no regrets allocating money to enjoy these cars up to now. And looking forward, I intend to enjoy my time now the same way I did then, because you never know when that time will run out.
On the subject of other owners, I'll say that the various meets I went to were 95% salt and pepper, but most of those guys (and the occasional lady) drove their cars like a bat outta hell. Regardless of age, the community is great and I'm glad to be a part of it.
On the subject of other owners, I'll say that the various meets I went to were 95% salt and pepper, but most of those guys (and the occasional lady) drove their cars like a bat outta hell. Regardless of age, the community is great and I'm glad to be a part of it.
12-19-2018, 03:33 PM
#213
Intermediate
Just ordered my first Corvette Grand Sport 2LT at age 42. Estimated build week of 1/28 and I can't wait. I do not consider the C7 and old man's car. I've always loved Corvettes but the C7 really grabbed my attention with the styling, etc.
12-19-2018, 07:08 PM
#216
Intermediate
Torch Red, Black Interior, Manual Transmission, red seat belt, carbon logo center wheel caps, carbon flash trim, red calipers, gloss black wheels, carbon flash side mirrors, hood stinger carbon flash, carbon fiber interior trim, grand sport sill plate, logo floor mats and under hood blanket.
I think that covers it.
I think that covers it.
12-19-2018, 07:19 PM
#217
Race Director
Thread Starter
Congrats and welcome to the CF and to the Corvette community
12-19-2018, 07:21 PM
#218
Safety Car
The other (physical) factor is the ease of use; when younger I liked two seater ragtops (owned Miata, S2000, etc.) but as I aged and ended up with bad knees, bad back and bad neck I was looking for a car which met the sports car definition yet was still easy enough for egress, driving comfort, etc.
12-19-2018, 08:32 PM
#219
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jun 2018
Location: Washington State
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Torch Red, Black Interior, Manual Transmission, red seat belt, carbon logo center wheel caps, carbon flash trim, red calipers, gloss black wheels, carbon flash side mirrors, hood stinger carbon flash, carbon fiber interior trim, grand sport sill plate, logo floor mats and under hood blanket.
I think that covers it.
I think that covers it.
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JerriVette (12-25-2018)
12-19-2018, 08:38 PM
#220
Intermediate