last901

Poodle Girl and I have been having some discussions lately about his current lack of a Corvette and his plans for buying another. Or maybe not.

Additionally, there have been some recent articles in the buff magazines as to whether or not the new mid-engined Corvette or, for that matter, the current C7 lineup is going to change the demographic profile that GM needs to address.

So, I'm curious, but don't want to start a marketing survey. What I would like to know is why you currently have a Corvette? Feel free to mention other cars you've had, if appropriate how many Corvettes? How old you are (within a generation or two). Say what you plase and don't bother to feel like you'r filling out a survey.

Feel free to express your thoughts. Do you have a daily driver or a track car or a garage queen?

Just curious...there might be a bottle of single malt in it for either Poodle Girl or me, depending on the responses.

Finally, if you are a younger devotee and like to hang out on the forum, that's perfect. Would like to hear from you as well.

t

I think I need to get a job?

GoodVibeVince

26 years old

Have owned
-Restored 1991 Dodge W250 (1st gen cummins)
-2003 GOLF GTI
-2005 Yamaha R1
-2013 SS Camaro
-2014 1LE SS Camaro
-Lifted Compound turbo'd 2014 Ram 2500 Diesel

All vehicles I have been daily driven and enjoyed till something else has become more interesting the Corvette is no different lol. The Corvette looked like a fun car to tour around the PNW during the nicer months it beat out Subaru's STI, Dodges Hellcat, or Fords GT350.

last901

Wow! This is interesting. Thanks for your reply

Kmcoldcars

I currently have 3 Corvettes because I like how they drive and look.
I have had a few performance cars in the past. I will list most of them for you, Phil.
Past performance cars in the order I had them.
1958 Jaguar XK 150 drophead coupe.
1960 Jaguar XK150 fixed head coupe.
1957 Corvette.
1972 Pantera.
1971 Buick Gran Sport Stage 1 convertible.
1971 Javelin AMX 401.
1968 AMX 390.
1974 Pantera.
2000 BMW M roadster.
1991 Corvette coupe.
1992 Corvette coupe.
Current performance cars.
1991 Corvette coupe, supercharged.
2000 Corvette convertible.
2002 Corvette Z06.
I also had a 1976 Yamaha 650 twin, a 1974 Honda 400-4 and a 1980 Yamaha 650 4 cylinder.
I had a lot of enjoyment from all of the above.

last901

And you're old too.

DidntSettle

46 Studebaker
52 Mercury two door
54 Ford
56 Mercury
61 Impala
56 Pontiac
66 VW
53 Ford
57 Ford 500
61 Tbird Vert
68 Tbird Landau
78 Datsun
84 Honda
87 Hinda
93 Ford Ranger
00 Dodge Ram
98 Ford Exploder
93 Cadillac Deville
06 Chev Silverado
03 Cadillac STS
06 Ford F250
98 Corvette coupe
08 Ford Exploder
00 Corvette coupe
08 Corvette coupe*
11 GMC Sierra*
*Current
01 Harley Davidson Wideglide

There were other cars too but not worth mentioning. At 72 It was hard to remember all these in order.

last901

At last we gt admission of owning a Harley motorcycle. Not that there's anything wrong with that but I seem to have read somewhere that Harley riders seem to fit a similar profile that is shared by Corvette owners.

Keep this thread going, please.

ExRedRacer

I'll keep it short and just mention the more interesting cars I've had:

1974 Camaro Type LT
1975 TR7
1976 Pontiac Trans Am...including the big screaming chicken on the hood....
1977 VW Scirroco
1983 Camaro Z28
1991 Pontiac Firebird Formula
2002 Corvette coupe
2006 Corvette 3LT coupe
2016 Corvette 3LT Z51 coupe

Loved the F-body cars...called 'em 'the poor-man's Corvette'. Plus I needed to transport my kids in the back seat, such as it was. Oh, and I turn 66 next month.

PsYkHoTiK

First time Chevy owner. Turn 34 next month. No kids, not married (for demographics, I suppose but LOL feels like I'm writing a dating profile).

Previous cars that I've had (in the US anyways):
2000 Dodge Stratus (finished up college driving this thing)
2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe (first "fun" car)
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser (probably the most "practical" thing I've driven)
2011 Audi S4 (started "modifying" and tracking cars)
2013 Audi RS5 (suspension heavily modified for the race track)

The RS5 was a great "GT" car, but I was tired of trying to overcome physics all the time. Wanted something faster and lighter. Decided to drop my (personal) "AWD" requirement. And now am a happy owner of a C7Z (with Z07). (though now mulling cooling mods to help manage heat on track days)

I do see a truck / SUV purchase at some point (conflicting interests - race track and mountains lol)

VIK TOY

I bought my first Vette in the '60s a 62 fawnbiege. I had a 53 Studebaker and 59 mga(worst car I have ever had) Had the Vette until my first (late) husband and I moved onto a houseboat in Long Beach,Calif. He talked me into selling it (a nice car like this doesn't belong Parked in a dirt lot he said) Vetteless for many years. VWs. When I remarried, my new and current husband bought a new mustang (2006) he surprised me at work by buying me a '95 Vette. He made one BIG mistake, he drove it. 6 mo later he sold the mustang and bought a '02 Vette Z06/ . He has been a Vette lover since. Now has a 2014 and gave me his '02Z. They are both our daily drivers. There is nothing better!! We have no kids so don't need a backseat. We have an older beatup truck for hauling rocks and debris.
Corvettes handle so great and the speed and looks can't be beat!!!

c4cruiser

I had been interested in Corvettes since the mid-60's. I remember the big block mid-years and thought it would be so cool to one one. Tried hard to stay in college, but my Dad said I should have gone to "Corvette U."
When our family lived in Germany (Dad was in the Army) in the early 60's, my first car was a 1953 Mercedes 170V. I learned basic mechanical repairs from the Motor Pool Sargent in my dad's outfit. Just before we came back home (1965) my folks bought me another Mercedes, a 1952 170 sedan and that got shipped home. No pics that I can attach but Google those years and you can see what they were like.

After that, I bought a '57 Chev just before I went to Vietnam. When I came back, my folks decided that I needed a newer car so they gave me their '66 Pontiac LeMans and I sold the '57. Drove that for a couple years and decided I needed a brand new car. So went up to Ralph Williams Chrysler Plymouth (remember that dealer??) and I bought a '69 Road Runner. It was a red 2-door post, bench seat, 383 and 4-speed.

After a few years I traded that for a 'C3 70 coupe with a 454 and 4-speed, and no power steering The rest of the Corvettes I have owned were a '73 L82 coupe, a 78 L82 coupe, a '92 'vert, an '02 coupe that I bought from a CF member (still have it!), an '87 coupe for autocross and track days, and now a '93 coupe for autocross.

Among the other cars I have owned were a 68 Mustang, 62 Datsun pickup, 77 Trans Am, 78 Datsun 280Z, 55 Chev 2-door hardtop, 77 Pontiac Grand Prix, 54 Ford Victoria, 59 Chev PU with a Pontiac 400. And a few more that didn't stay around very long.
My DD rigs have pretty much been pickups, mostly so I can tow my autocross cars to events. Last August, I picked up a 2017 Silverado as my new DD.

AaronZ51

My current Corvette ('16 Z06 w/Z07 package) is definitely a garage queen. Every night when I get done driving her rain or shine, she sleeps in a nice warm garage!

Matter of fact, I put another 550 miles on her on Saturday (so she now has 12,600 miles since I picked her up in San Diego last December) - my wife had us looking at custom built teardrop trailers for camping in Eugene, OR. So we drove down in the morning, spent 3 hours there and then drove back (275 miles each way). It was only rainy from here to just south of Portland.

Demographics - in the latter part of the 40s now. Got in over my head (and payment with insurance) when I was 25 and bought a brand new 1995 Corvette coupe. Since then, I've owned a 2003 and still own a 2008 with 89,000 miles. All were purchased new and daily driven unless there was snow on the ground. I also have an '05 Chevy Tahoe for when I need to haul stuff, go camping, etc. It was purchased new and only has 65,000 miles since most of my time is spent driving the cars that are more fun to drive and look at.

00Midnight

Wow many vehicles in the past:

53 ford F100 - 390 with c6
62 mg Midget
62 A-Healey 3000 MK II (college car)
65 Mustang notchback 289 4m
67 Camaro RS/SS 350 4M with 425 HP on dyno (high school car)
71 Fiat 124 Spider
70 Camaro 350 4M
51 MG TDC
72 vw Bug 1776 cc (all show car...will not do that again)

Current: 2000 vert C5 A4 tuned, 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee HO (wife's ride)
Future: will build a 33 ford hot rod...plan is to do it all Ford

Awesterbeck

I'm 28
I've owned
1990 Dodge Spirit Turbo (4cylinder and my first car)
2002 Chevy Cavalier Coupe (thinking it was a baby Corvette)
1996 Mustang Cobra (I wrecked it...)
1992 Chevy Blazer (the digital gauges stopped working and it ran out of gas and never worked again)
2002 Dodge Intrepid RT (390k miles, family friend owned it and maintained it like crazy and I still have it with 410k)
2000 Corvette Convertible

I've wanted a C5 Corvette since I was 7-8 years old. It's the perfect amount of sleek and aggressive looking. I got my Corvette late June. I'm just a wuss driving it in the rain and wind this week.

last901

Wow! some wonderful stories here and let's keep it going, if just for fun.

I've come to realize, maybe, that my intent was misdirected. Even, as they say, preaching to the choir if you will. Being that this is a Corvette Forum and hat all of you have a Corvette kinda' speaks for itself.

What has already struck me as very interesting is the variety of cars some of you have owned over the years before finally getting a Corvette. Certainly no one can ever accuse some of you for not checking out the market before your Corvette. I mean, going from a Ford F100 to an Mg Midget has to have a story to explain it. I'v also noted an decided lack of brand loyalty by those who get rid of a Camaro and then something British before back to another Camaro - or Ford or..

I guess I was reacting to some opinion articles regarding the demographics of Corvette owners (while on my second glass of single malt.(thank you Poodle Girl)

I've come to the conclusion that what I was hoping to discover is more worthy of a Masters' thesis in Marketing than an informal survey among us believers.

It may come as no surprise to many of us that, to be blunt and concise, most Corvettes are driven by "ol' Crocks" and "Greybeards". At least that's if what I've read is valid. To me, personally, that's fine. I fit the profile and enjoy others who do at meets like the XXX show and other events. We have much in common to share.

There don't seem to be many people younger han us - let's say Gen Xers or, certainly "millenials" hanging out with us. Why not? Is it because Corvettes are too expensive or that they would prefer to have an import. Maybe they don't like cars at all.

That said, why does GM continue to offer things like the ZR-1 and the upcoming mid-engined C8? Given the ZO6, it makes me wonder if GM is trying to make headlines or simply once again, competing with themselves on the path to another plea for a bailout?

To be sure, I do not have the data and statistics at hand. But, something just seems not quite right here in terms of commercial success.

AaronZ51

I am of Gen X and I saw posts by two of Gen Y (millennial).

My dad was a big Chevy guy and I guess it rubbed off on me - I'm open to other brands, just haven't bought any except helping my wife buy a Mini Cooper S.

Don't know if I can remember but I'll try:
First car, 1965 Chevy Suburban with a straight 6 (292 c.i.)
1978 El Camino
1977 Nova with a built LT1
1968 Chevy Pickup
1991 IROC Z
1981 Chevy Pickup (my winter car when I bought my first Corvette)
1990 Chevy 20' panel van (Snap-On Tools truck)
1995 Corvette coupe
1995 Camaro (owned for a month when I saw the next car sitting at a dealer's lot and traded it in)
1997 Camaro 30th anniversary edition
2003 Corvette coupe
2001 Chevy S-10 (wife primarily drove it)
2002 Camaro convertible 35th anniversary edition (always wanted a convertible but the Corvette didn't have room for my wheelchair)
2005 Chevy Tahoe
2008 Corvette coupe
2016 Z06

A couple of motorcycles thrown in for good measure...

kenthomas4

Okay, so I'll indulge since I have always wanted to start this list. Mind you, my taste has gotten more expensive the older I get and I attribute that to my wife. But I guess that's the way it is, right?

By the way, for demographics I am retired late 50's and have owned three Corvettes. I am not sure how I migrated to Chevy/GM, I think it was all of my friends because growing up, my dad was not brand loyal.

1965 Chevrolet Impala
1961 Ford Fairlane
1960 Volkswagen Bug
1955 Dodge PU
1964 Chevrolet Biscayne
1965 Chevrolet C20 PU W/409
1965 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 4 Speed
1966 Chevrolet Impala SS
1976 Datsun PU
1971 Pontiac Lemans
1964 Chevrolet Impala 4 Speed
1977 Datsun PU
198? Subaru Wagon – don’t ask…
1989 Dodge Daytona Shelby
1976 Chevrolet Cheyenne PU 4X4
1994 Acura Legend
1999 Volkswagen Passat
2004 Acura TL
1996 Chevrolet Silverado Extra Cab Custom PU
2012 Audi A6
2001 Toyota Tacoma PU
2005 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 3LT Convertible
2007 Chevrolet Corvette 3LZ Z06


In the stable now…
2013 Audi S5
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 3LT M7
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab PU
2017 Audi Q7

ExRedRacer

I know you said not to ask, but... ya just gotta tell us about this one...

kenthomas4

So a friend of mine was buying and selling cars on the side. I thought I could do that too. I found this rotary wagon and the lady said it was burning oil and she had to put oil in almost one quart per week. I pulled the dipstick and there was oil all the way up the dipstick. Not just to the lines for low and full but ALL THE WAY UP!

I gave her the old "yep, its shot" routine and picked it up for half of what she was asking. Took it home, drained 6 quarts of oil out of it so it was full (where it should be) and drove it around for a month or so and it quit smoking. Sold it for twice what I paid for it.

I also forgot about my 1997 Chevrolet Suburban and my 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee on that list... too many cars man!

kenthomas4

When I woke up I realized it was a Mazda wagon, not Subaru. Subaru didn't make rotary.