Looking for my First Vette!
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Looking for my First Vette!
Hello to all,
First let me say this dream is about to come an obsession. I have been wanting a vette ever since I was 10 years old. Now that I am about to retire from the military, my dream is going to become a reality. However, with all the research that I have done, I am really not sure what to do.
New or Used is my dilemma. Please everyone weigh in on the pros and cons of a new versus a used and for a first where should I look? Thanks for everyone's help and advice!
First let me say this dream is about to come an obsession. I have been wanting a vette ever since I was 10 years old. Now that I am about to retire from the military, my dream is going to become a reality. However, with all the research that I have done, I am really not sure what to do.
New or Used is my dilemma. Please everyone weigh in on the pros and cons of a new versus a used and for a first where should I look? Thanks for everyone's help and advice!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,196
Likes: 58
From: Denton, Texas
Well obviously newer Corvettes will give more modern everything, where as an older Vette will leave you with what was popular for the era of the car. I have had C1s-C3s,been around plenty C4's, had a C5. I have driven C6's and sat in C7s. I like classic cars, I mean I really love classic cars. Modern cars just don't do much for me. New Vettes are an exception. They are something that will give you more comforts, and features and bells and whistles that most older Vettes won't have. It all just comes down to what are you looking for. What are you planning to do with your Vette? How often will drive it? How far are you looking to drive it (once or frequently), convertible or coupe? Manual transmission or automatic? Are you looking for a rocket or just a classy cruiser? Do you want modded or original? Color combinations? Budget?….The list goes on. With classics, they are not new. They have seen some usage (some more than others) and WILL require time, money, and attention to maintain them in pristine condition. Whether it is a restoration or just a few repairs or upgrades…ALL classic Corvettes need work. It is not cheap to own a Vette, so welcome to the club. Corvette parts are costly, and compared to my 1970 Mustang parts, the Mustang parts were much cheaper than Vette parts. But then again, Vettes tend to be worth more than Mustangs. With classic vettes, many did not have power steering, power brakes, power windows, or locks,etc. Also many didn't have AC, or power disc brakes. So do YOU need/want any of that? Are YOU fine with having a Vette (more older than newer) with out some or most of those things? Where do you live? What is the climate and road conditions like? …List goes on….
You can drive a classic Vette everyday, or cross country, and it was designed for that…and when it was it was ahead of it's time, but in 2014….classics in original condition are no longer superior (meaning as safe) to sadly even just a modern Toyota Camry. New Vettes have airbags, Onstar,anti-locking brakes, etc. I have driven classics daily and cross country, and it is a lot of fun. They are well built cars, yet if you plan to really drive a Vette, a modern Vette is more practical. If a weekend cruiser is what you want, then a classic is plenty logical. Vettes hold their values pretty well, but classics gain value every day. So it is an investment either way, but with a modern Vette the values will decrease everyday.
If you want a car that is cool, fast, and exciting, but want/need more modern features, then I would suggest a more modern Vette. If you are wanting a cool, fast, stylish, car that will get a lot of attention….a classic is probably a good place to start.
I know that just about any Vette gets attention, but classic Vettes just stand out in a crowd in a good way. While driving a modern Vette is fun, there is nothing like driving a really cool classic. Since I love classics so much, I would have to say that older Vettes are more fun to drive. The sounds are just amazing. The smells of the fuel, and the carb just add extra characteristics that newer Vettes won't have. In that, I am not meaning anything related to a "race car". Newer Vettes get good MPG's and have great power. They also have more HP than most classic Vettes. Newer Vettes can be built to have more than 1000 HP if you so choose to make it a "race car." You trade off a lot. Most classics are carbureted, some have fuel injection, but not very many. Modern cars are fuel injected. How mechanically inclined are you? If a part needs to be replaced, are you able to fix it yourself? With a classic, if you can do most of your own wrenching…you can do most of it yourself. With a modern car, it takes a technician that has computers and other tools most gear heads don't have in their shops. So expect not only costs for parts, but also shop fees, and other charges. Either way you look at it, it is going to cost you money. New cars might not need repairs at first, but they are inevitable. Older Vettes always need some degree of TLC to keep them nice. I don't really think you will save any money necessarily by going in either direction, but it hopefully isn't about the money. Owning a Vette will be (for the most part) really fun. I mean REALLY fun! Let's not forget that FUN cost money though, and I am glad you were wise enough to select a Corvette as means of you having fun. Once you get a Vette, you will not regret it, just regretting not getting one sooner. They are the kind of cars that make you take the long way home, or just drive around a few minutes extra just because they are "too much" fun. You will seriously fall in love, and I mean in a completely understandable way in the car world.
Best of luck, and I do hope some or all of it helps a little.
Brandon
You can drive a classic Vette everyday, or cross country, and it was designed for that…and when it was it was ahead of it's time, but in 2014….classics in original condition are no longer superior (meaning as safe) to sadly even just a modern Toyota Camry. New Vettes have airbags, Onstar,anti-locking brakes, etc. I have driven classics daily and cross country, and it is a lot of fun. They are well built cars, yet if you plan to really drive a Vette, a modern Vette is more practical. If a weekend cruiser is what you want, then a classic is plenty logical. Vettes hold their values pretty well, but classics gain value every day. So it is an investment either way, but with a modern Vette the values will decrease everyday.
If you want a car that is cool, fast, and exciting, but want/need more modern features, then I would suggest a more modern Vette. If you are wanting a cool, fast, stylish, car that will get a lot of attention….a classic is probably a good place to start.
I know that just about any Vette gets attention, but classic Vettes just stand out in a crowd in a good way. While driving a modern Vette is fun, there is nothing like driving a really cool classic. Since I love classics so much, I would have to say that older Vettes are more fun to drive. The sounds are just amazing. The smells of the fuel, and the carb just add extra characteristics that newer Vettes won't have. In that, I am not meaning anything related to a "race car". Newer Vettes get good MPG's and have great power. They also have more HP than most classic Vettes. Newer Vettes can be built to have more than 1000 HP if you so choose to make it a "race car." You trade off a lot. Most classics are carbureted, some have fuel injection, but not very many. Modern cars are fuel injected. How mechanically inclined are you? If a part needs to be replaced, are you able to fix it yourself? With a classic, if you can do most of your own wrenching…you can do most of it yourself. With a modern car, it takes a technician that has computers and other tools most gear heads don't have in their shops. So expect not only costs for parts, but also shop fees, and other charges. Either way you look at it, it is going to cost you money. New cars might not need repairs at first, but they are inevitable. Older Vettes always need some degree of TLC to keep them nice. I don't really think you will save any money necessarily by going in either direction, but it hopefully isn't about the money. Owning a Vette will be (for the most part) really fun. I mean REALLY fun! Let's not forget that FUN cost money though, and I am glad you were wise enough to select a Corvette as means of you having fun. Once you get a Vette, you will not regret it, just regretting not getting one sooner. They are the kind of cars that make you take the long way home, or just drive around a few minutes extra just because they are "too much" fun. You will seriously fall in love, and I mean in a completely understandable way in the car world.
Best of luck, and I do hope some or all of it helps a little.
Brandon
Last edited by Brandons72vette; May 5, 2014 at 04:54 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,007
Likes: 827
Hello to all,
First let me say this dream is about to come an obsession. I have been wanting a vette ever since I was 10 years old. Now that I am about to retire from the military, my dream is going to become a reality. However, with all the research that I have done, I am really not sure what to do.
New or Used is my dilemma. Please everyone weigh in on the pros and cons of a new versus a used and for a first where should I look? Thanks for everyone's help and advice!
First let me say this dream is about to come an obsession. I have been wanting a vette ever since I was 10 years old. Now that I am about to retire from the military, my dream is going to become a reality. However, with all the research that I have done, I am really not sure what to do.
New or Used is my dilemma. Please everyone weigh in on the pros and cons of a new versus a used and for a first where should I look? Thanks for everyone's help and advice!
I’m excited to hear that you are thinking about a Vette. Let me know if you have any questions, and I would be happy to point you in the right direction. Also, we can assist you in setting up a test drive at one of our dealerships in your area! I hope to hear back from you soon. Have a wonderful day!
P.S. www.GMCertified.com is a great tool as well.
Jennie R.
Chevrolet Customer Care
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 923
Likes: 81
From: MN
Welcome to the forum. First things first....thank you for your service. 
Now regarding the vette...
Personally I'm a classic vette guy. But honestly, you can't go wrong with any of them. Brandon stated it pretty accurately. Bottom line - no matter what you get, it'll be a great time!
Now regarding the vette...
Personally I'm a classic vette guy. But honestly, you can't go wrong with any of them. Brandon stated it pretty accurately. Bottom line - no matter what you get, it'll be a great time!
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