Hi Everyone,

i am in the process of picking up my first vette this week, so please be patient if i ramble or act crazy
At end of last week i decided on a 2019 C7 Z06 from a dealer down south Option #1
Today I was contacted by a dealer with a similar car option #2

here are some facts on both cars

I will let pictures do talking for colors etc but these are details i am concerend with


Option #1
$63k
41k MIles
1LZ Package
Transparent roof
Red Seats
4 owners, 1 of them a bank after it was repo
in prepping car for me the dealer installed new brake pads and rotors fromt and rear
shows 6k below cars.com market price


Option #2
$73K
21K miles
2LZ package
Black Seats
Red Roof
not sure about any dealer prep items not worked with them yet
shows 2k under cars.com market price


Since i have never had a corvette before i am looking for some input from experienced owners

1; is the 41k vs 21k a major financial consideration, in other car purchases i have made it seemed certain mileage points were better even if higher
due to needing items replaced, as in car wiht 21k might need brakes in 5k miles where as 41k car just had them, I am not sure about tires but that
would be another item i would comapare

2; i have always been a sunroof guy, so to me the transparent roof is important, i have a request to the dealer with the 73K car if this car has both roofs
or just the solid one, if i had to buy a trnasparent roof those are pricey i think

3; it seems the only issue of major difference to me in the 1LZ and 2LZ is the seat memory and heat/vent, i know there is a curb camera, subwoofer, data recorder stuff
but since i am the only driver and will only drive in summer in Ohio not sure the seat upgrades are a big deal, the other stuff seems like nice to have but not worth 10k

4; My current daily driver is a 23 Silverado High Country i picked up new 6 months ago, last month at 9800 miles the 6.2 engine blew and chevy replaced it, i cant say for sure aboout
the cause but it "sucked a cylinder" they said, i think it may have had something to do wit hte AFM stuff but cant be positive. this brings me to my concerns about engine with 41k vs 21k,
Neither one is in waranty so not sure if the miles on engine is a big factor and if it is what components my be at risk

5; As of now i am sure i will be happy with performance of the Z06, i am a 65 year old retired IT guy and more interested in looks and sound but not to the point i would be ok with a GrandSport.
I am worried about the AFM in general and doing a delete kit seems extrem and expensive, this brings me to the option of using a Range device to disable AFM, and my concerns are using a
range device in general and if the engine age and miles havea bearing on the use of one.

In closing, it is not so much the 10k but I dont want to waste 10k and have a very similar car if you get my drift.
I wil lprolly keep this car quite some time and not put many miles on it so i dont expect it to be a real high mileage unit when and if i do get rid of it

also, if there are any things i should find out before writing the check to either of these folks let me know

Thanks in advance for any insights you may have based on your experiences or Vette knowledge in general

 

Personally, the lower mileage makes option 2 more to my liking but you have to follow YOUR gut.... You're footing the bill. I've had 6 vettes. Recently bought my 6th and last. I refuse to have an auto Vette so the C7 is my last. The first 5 of mine were coupes, this one is a vert and dang, I'm GLAD it is!!! Everyone's different but the vert makes it an entirely new experience!!! Virtually NO wind buffetting!!! It amazes me.... but, I digress.....
You're the one gonna be driving it, go with the one that just kinda "reaches out and grabs" ya!

Congratulations for making the jump, you won't be sorry but will definitely be hooked.

 

The 2LZ option also brings a couple of other goodies, although not sure how that applies to Z06 versus GS.

 

From a durability/reliability standpoint, the mileage difference doesn't mean much as both cars can exceed 350K miles if maintained properly. If you decide to sell the car in a few years the 2LT car will bring a higher price since in the used market fewer miles add dollars. However, In the used market the 2LT option doesn't add much to the price as the original price difference between the various trim levels reduces quite a bit in the used market. For that difference, you do get a better ride/driving experience as you will get a better stereo, heated ventilated seats/lumbar and side bolster inflation, cargo net, luggage shade, seat memory package, heated outside mirrors, driver's side dimming mirror, the pull-down hatch, a front camera (should have been made standard Vs part of a higher level trim option). When the cars were new the 2LT/2LZ option was called the sweet spot and I suspect there were more 2LT/2LZ cars ordered than any other trim level.

You may be fine without all of those things but again if you sell they are what more people are looking for and there are more of them on the market than 1LZs so fewer Customers will be interested. It isn't that the price is that much different but the market is larger.

Bill

 

Cliff's:

Option #2

 

IMO, you're better off with Option 2.

 

I'd be very wary about buying a car that had been repo'd; likely the owner didn't really take care of it, abused it, etc. JMHO.

 

Both cars have a potential "history." Unfortunately, the OP only gave us two choices. If he also asked; "what do you think of these two choices?" I'd say; "keep looking."😉

 

Used cars are risky, performance/sports at least doubly so. It sounds like the only history of either of these you know isn't good (4-owners and repo'd). Have you checked the GM service history of both with the dealers? Carfax? Many potential issues that may or may not have been mentioned, e.g., do both still have OEM wheels. They are known crappola and often an issue, not being cheap to replace correctly with quality fully-forged aftermarket; do an advanced search here for them. Also, just look around a while on the C7 Forums, at the least read the thread titles. I agree with SRJ above, I'd keep looking for now. But, your bucks. All the best, in any event.

 

I would go with option 2
10k more but mileage is lower, probably less owners on the car and was not a repo. 2LZ is also much better than 1LZ imo.

you can also see if anyone willing to trade roof for you, but the transparent roof isn’t that great imo.
the view is blue hue and I personally not a huge fan of it

 

I bought a suction cup headliner for mine because it was factory ordered by original owner and then sold to me with a clear top.
Clear tops bring too much heat from the sun into the cabin. I like the looks of it on the outside. The headliner was a good fix.
But yes, I am like you. Not a big fan of clear tops.

OP: I'd say keep looking. For the $72k price point, you can find much better. But if I had to pick and money was no issue, I'd go for #2.

 

The sky is always blue when driving our Corvette!
We've had 4 modern 'vettes, all with the transparent top, and love it.
People who live in the desert might prefer the painted top.

 

in regard to transparent top,

as i said i have been riging in cars and trucks with sunroofs my whole life, every time i get in a car without one like a rental i feel closterphobic
so dealing with heat from roof is not an issue but thanks for the tip on the shade as it may come in handy whe nit is really really hot, but does not happen
very often in Akron ohio

 

I would say get as many options as you can go 2LZ 3LZ would be even better, but those are the ones you have to work with

 

Option 2 and when you drive it simply remove the top and clip it into its storage spot in the back. Solved!

 

No to repo cars, so #2. But #2 seems kinda high in price to me. Another 10K on that & you can get a base new C8.

 

I bought a 2016 white 3LZ Z07 in 2019 w/30 k miles and no transparent top. Found one within 360 miles for 1 k. Tops are out there.
I would go with option 2 or keep looking.
I wouldn't go less than 2LZ....

 

With you on the manual trans. My Vette has to have one so no C8 for me. Ever.

 

Agree 👍
Repo's many times are mistreated. If you want the look of the wide body but the extra power is not a big deal then save 10K or so and get a nice Grand Sport. 2LZ/LT is worth going for and was a must to me. Research all the extras to see if they are for you too. Above all take your time and get the right one the first time.

 

Why are you buying/looking for a coupe then ??

They manufactured C7s in actual convertibles.