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I'm 72... so do you think it's time that I finally got my Vette? I've loved Corvettes since I was a pre-teen.
Here's one I drew in 1962.
I originally studied industrial design in college and created a beautiful rendering of a '63 Split Window Stingray for my roommate. Over the years I've owned many cars, usually sport versions of normal family cars, e.g., Bonneville SSEs, Grand Prix SE, Olds Aurora, etc. But no sports car for various reasons (family, work, kids, you know the drill). Well, my wife and I are retired in '09. We moved from Eastern PA to Kentucky to be near daughter's family including 2 grandsons. We own a very nice 2013 Buick LaCrosse which is our highway car to drive back and forth to PA to visit our son and his family, and the rest of the folks we left Back East. My car is a 2008 Acura TL-S Type. It's a sporty, fast, reliable car with a good suspension, but it's not a Vette.
My wife has been dead-set against me and Vette ownership our entire married (49 years) life, partly due to an experience of riding in an early 70s C-3 that was harsh, rough and uncomfortable. Most of her resistance is emotional, not rational.
In 2007, I was on a business trip which took me to Las Vegas and Reno. I had to spend the weekend in Vegas. When I got to the Hertz Rental counter, there was a new C-6 3LT convertible sitting there with a sign in the window "See the Manager About Me!" I asked the manager what it would cost to rent it for the weekend ($200). I called my wife and discussed it with her. She had always said I should just rent one and get it out of my system. She agreed... I worked out a deal where I turned my Ford Taurus in on Friday and picked up the Vette until Sunday evening and paid the difference between the vanilla rental and the Vette.
When I turned it in I called my wife and she asked if I got it out of my system, and my answer was "Hell no!" It was the worse thing I ever did.
Up to that point I imagined the newer Vettes would be rough, noisy and temperamental. Boy was I wrong! It was the most fun I had in a car in years. It was perfect! Starting out in 2nd (it was an automatic) made it behave in traffic just like every other car I've owned. That was until you put it in the Sport Mode. I put over 200 miles on that car. Took it into the desert, down to Hoover Dam, all over the city. I could have been a Chevy ad.
Then to pour salt in the wound, when I got back to the office, one of the customer service guys had just bought a new black coupe. Bummer!
So fast forward to now. I'm 72, but in good shape. One could argue that I'm healthier than the guy I was 10 years ago. I've lost weight and exercise regularly, so I probably would have no more trouble getting in and out than I did in 2007. Our Buick is paid off in December. My Acura is 10 years old, and while mechanically fine, I don't need a four-door sedan. I used to use my car a lot to pick up the grandsons at school, but the oldest is now 16 and learning to drive so my carpooling days are coming to an end. In fact, we don't even need two cars, since my wife and I rarely need the car at the same time.
Then there's this. My son in law says to may daughter that "Your dad ought to get his Corvette. He's worked hard all his life and he should get it while he's still physically able to enjoy it and can afford it." My daughter agreed with him and then told my wife, who told me that they said this. She thought it was odd that they did this, but if she really didn't want me to think about it, she shouldn't have said anything to me. For the past two days I've done nothing BUT think about this.
So I started looking at C-6s. I figure that I can get a 2010/11/ possibly a 2012 3LT coupe or convertible with reasonably low mileage for considerably less than the Buick's payments were. So it's a win-win. I get the Vette and we save a couple of hundred per month... or that's the plan.
Now all I have to do is let my daughter work on my wife and convince her that this is not a bad idea. She doesn't like riding in the Acuara anyway, so if she doesn't want to ride in the Vette, nothing's changed. Meanwhile, I'm going to learn as much as I can about the last series of Vettes. While I think the C-7s are stunning, there's absolutely no way I can afford the car or the insurance. But a previous generation is a totally different story. Besides, I think the C-6 is a stunning car also as long as it has the upgraded transmission and steering. A 1961 Vette parked outside out house in Philly
Do it, buy it now. It's like dying a virgin, what's the point. I've got a c5 vert with a roll bar and I had to lower the seat. With my knees giving me problems I'm using a short cane kept next to the drivers door to help me get out. I'll be using two canes with a handicap parking sticker before I give up my corvette.
I agree with the others! Go for it.
I'm 69 and still getting in and out (although not as quickly as I used to but a head-on last year contributed to that). I’m very lucky in that my wife loves our Vette and will even prod me to take it when I planned on driving something else.
Your wife will definitely find a C5 or C6 more comfortable than the C3 she remembers.
Best wishes with your quest. It’s never too young to start.
Thanks all for the encouragement. I'm pouring over videos and articles about the C-6s learning as much as I can. The purchase (if and when it happens) will be at the start of 2018. It's when the other car's paid off. My friends are encouraging me too. I'm going to the Chevy dealer tomorrow and see what getting in and out of one is like, if they'll let me try it.
I'm sort of settling on a 2010 or 11, 3LT, deep red, yellow or orange. I could do blue also. But not black. Had black cars before and besides the heat, they're so hard to keep clean.
Given my choice I am in love with the orange and the CEO likes it too. That's a plus. I want the HUD since our Buick has it and the Vette I drove in Vegas had it and I like using it. Nav system is optional since an iPhone 7 is a hell of a nav system all by itself. I believe Nav comes with the 3LT, but I may be mistaken.
Some part of me wants a convertible (my first car was a 1959 Olds 98 convertible...you could put a Vette in the trunk), but you lose so much luggage space. I had to put my suitcase in the passenger seat when I was returning the Vette to the Vegas airport.
Thanks all for the encouragement. I'm pouring over videos and articles about the C-6s learning as much as I can. The purchase (if and when it happens) will be at the start of 2018. It's when the other car's paid off. My friends are encouraging me too. I'm going to the Chevy dealer tomorrow and see what getting in and out of one is like, if they'll let me try it.
I'm sort of settling on a 2010 or 11, 3LT, deep red, yellow or orange. I could do blue also. But not black. Had black cars before and besides the heat, they're so hard to keep clean.
Given my choice I am in love with the orange and the CEO likes it too. That's a plus. I want the HUD since our Buick has it and the Vette I drove in Vegas had it and I like using it. Nav system is optional since an iPhone 7 is a hell of a nav system all by itself. I believe Nav comes with the 3LT, but I may be mistaken.
Some part of me wants a convertible (my first car was a 1959 Olds 98 convertible...you could put a Vette in the trunk), but you lose so much luggage space. I had to put my suitcase in the passenger seat when I was returning the Vette to the Vegas airport.
All real sports cars are convertibles. Check out your drawing. It's a rag top. I can't speak to a c6 trunk but my wife and I travel easily with a c5 vert. When we take a road trip to a track day I leave the top up so I have room for tools, jack, spare tire, chairs, cooler, bag of rags tape and cleaner, helmets and two clothes duffel bags. On a road trip we like the top up, less noise, air conditioning works better.
You're right! I snuck over the Chevy dealer after a haircut today to check to see if I could get into and out of one... a C-6 to be exact. I did so very well! Better than 10 years ago. So that question is answered. It happened to be a convertible and the salesman showed me how that little panel in the trunk drops down and doubles the luggage space so that about settles it. Now I want a convertible. The one on their lot was an '05 and manual so it was no good for me, but the test was a success. The one I rented in Vegas was a convertible too.
Hey I just saw your post, Builder. Go for getting your Vette. Like Sabre34 said...You'll never be 71 again! Take your time and get what you want. I had to wait until almost 80, and that was a couple of years ago now. Dont discount a Targa top. But whatever......you'll learn to get in and out with the young ones. I wouldn't trade driving, and owning my Vette for any other vehicle I've owned, including my Final 500 #334 Olds Aurora. Welcome to the Form, maybe we need to start an "Old Man's" section.
I love your story. Get the Corvette! You won't regret it. My wife is not a car girl. Normally she jsut ask what color. The other evening, we took the top off the car and drove around some back roads. I had the coffee house station on XM satellite radio. We were just crusin' and she looked at me and said this is nice. Great moment and hope to have many more. Good luck in your hunt for your perfect Corvette and welcome aboard!
Given my choice I am in love with the orange and the CEO likes it too. That's a plus. I want the HUD since our Buick has it and the Vette I drove in Vegas had it and I like using it. Nav system is optional since an iPhone 7 is a hell of a nav system all by itself. I believe Nav comes with the 3LT, but I may be mistaken.
Starting in 2012, HUD and NAV were included in the 2LT equipment group. Before that, HUD was included in 3Lt and 4LT only; NAV was a $1750 option available with 3LT and 4LT only.
I bought my first(and only) Corvette seven years ago at age 62. Love the car. I highly recommend getting one.
72 and Maybe it's Time
but a head-on last year contributed to that). I’m very lucky in that my wife loves our Vette and will even prod me to take it when I planned on driving something else.
