Potential C6 buyer - knowledge wanted
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8
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Potential C6 buyer - knowledge wanted
First off, I've never really been a 'vette enthusiast, but recent test drives of both an '05 coupe and '08 convertable put the Corvette towards the top of my list for a new car purchase.
Currantly, I'm the not-so-proud owner of a 2007 Ford Mustang GT California Special. I got into the car by accident, and it just isn't the car I want to be driving. While it is a decent looking car, and with a few bolt on mods could be making gobs of power, it will never perform like a true sportscar. It just feels cheaply constructed and the circumstances under which I made this aquisition have left me a little jaded.
What are the popular options that I should be looking at? I know I don't want a convertable, and this will be my daily driver so Z06 is a little much at this stage.
1) The two cars I test drove both had the Z51 package....worth the extra coin, or can I get similar or better performace cheaper through aftermarket goodies?
2) Transmission: the '05 had a manual and the '08 had the padle shift auto. Traditionally, I've been a three pedle kind of driver, but the padles have me thinking hard about the auto tranny. Does one offer any advantages over the other? The salesman told me he sees a lot of toasted clutches, but he hasn't seen any serious issues with the auto. Fuel economy seems to be a wash these days.
3) 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, 4LT....I'm not really so interested in creature comforts as I am performace, but do any of these packages offer anything that you find you wouldn't want to be without?
4) Dual mode exhaust: $1200 for 6HP seems a little steep. Is it any better than any of the aftermarket exhausts?
5) Anyone ever taken any performance driving classes or would you recomend it? The C6 is more car than I had ever driven before and I think a performance driving school would help me appreciate the car even more and get the most out of it.
My purchase time frame is now to May of 2009. Other cars that I'm looking at are:
Porsche 911 (Ideally a new one, but a 2009 4S is really outside of what I want to spend)
2009 Porsche Cayman (I've read reviews that it will out-handle a 4S)
2009 Cadillac CTS-V (not a sportscar, but just as quick)
2009 Lexus IS-F (slightly less quick than the caddy, and I'm a fan of Toyota)
2009 Lotus Elise S, Exige S, or Exige S240 (more curious about these cars than anything, and the Toyota thing again)
2009 BMW M3 (don't really like the looks of these, but figure I'd better drive one)
Currantly, I'm the not-so-proud owner of a 2007 Ford Mustang GT California Special. I got into the car by accident, and it just isn't the car I want to be driving. While it is a decent looking car, and with a few bolt on mods could be making gobs of power, it will never perform like a true sportscar. It just feels cheaply constructed and the circumstances under which I made this aquisition have left me a little jaded.
What are the popular options that I should be looking at? I know I don't want a convertable, and this will be my daily driver so Z06 is a little much at this stage.
1) The two cars I test drove both had the Z51 package....worth the extra coin, or can I get similar or better performace cheaper through aftermarket goodies?
2) Transmission: the '05 had a manual and the '08 had the padle shift auto. Traditionally, I've been a three pedle kind of driver, but the padles have me thinking hard about the auto tranny. Does one offer any advantages over the other? The salesman told me he sees a lot of toasted clutches, but he hasn't seen any serious issues with the auto. Fuel economy seems to be a wash these days.
3) 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, 4LT....I'm not really so interested in creature comforts as I am performace, but do any of these packages offer anything that you find you wouldn't want to be without?
4) Dual mode exhaust: $1200 for 6HP seems a little steep. Is it any better than any of the aftermarket exhausts?
5) Anyone ever taken any performance driving classes or would you recomend it? The C6 is more car than I had ever driven before and I think a performance driving school would help me appreciate the car even more and get the most out of it.
My purchase time frame is now to May of 2009. Other cars that I'm looking at are:
Porsche 911 (Ideally a new one, but a 2009 4S is really outside of what I want to spend)
2009 Porsche Cayman (I've read reviews that it will out-handle a 4S)
2009 Cadillac CTS-V (not a sportscar, but just as quick)
2009 Lexus IS-F (slightly less quick than the caddy, and I'm a fan of Toyota)
2009 Lotus Elise S, Exige S, or Exige S240 (more curious about these cars than anything, and the Toyota thing again)
2009 BMW M3 (don't really like the looks of these, but figure I'd better drive one)
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Franklin, Tennessee NCM Life Member #1631
Cruise-In VI, VII & XII Veteran
St Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
Welcome aboard.
I would suggest that you post your questions in the C6 General Section as that is where many more people will see and respond.
I would suggest that you post your questions in the C6 General Section as that is where many more people will see and respond.
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Race Director
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From: Ideals are peaceful...History is violent...St.Charles, MO.
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12 thru'22
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