OT: Anyone Know Anything About Corvettes?

[ckcarr]

I doubt I'll buy one, but right now I have the bug to look into them. I'm hoping it will pass. An old age crisis...

Of course, my all time favorites are the 1963 and 1966/67 models. Which are totally out of the question.

So actually I want a more modern version, if I were to buy one, like within the last 10 years. And to refine my search,, I'd like red, convertible, low miles, space age cockpit, hot blond in the passenger seat, blah blah blah...

Is a particular year better than another?

I sure can't afford a brand new Z06 although that would be nice.

Where is a good place to even start a search? Dealers, eBay, Craigslist?... Just anywhere? Or, is there a forum like this one, where people take pride in the vehicles, and take care of them..?

[tm1100s]

They'll check your driver's license, you know. You need to be at least 55 to have one.

Other than that, the first place to start looking is the local or nearest Corvette car clubs. They'll have a line on what's available.

[Jozef Schumann]

My son just sold his '09 C6 Z06 speed. A fast car no doubt, but there's more than numbers to a car. 'Clunky' and 'lacking refinement' come to mind. Sure, it stuck like glue, stopped well and even turned decent MPG numbers - but it's the way it goes about doing its business that left me (and him) wanting. I could readily feel the roots of the car being linked to the '70 LT-1 4 spd 'vert I had back in the mid 70's which was also quite fast for the day but rattled and bounced around heaps. Now that I think about it, even slow cruising through Palm Springs wasn't enjoyable in his Z06 and certainly not something the LT-1 would do without considerable protest.

He always refers back to his favorite car which was a '95 928 GTS 5-speed which was/is a pretty rare bird as being the nicest, best all around car he's ever owned - sadly, totaled when an undocumented immigrant gardener in his loaded up F150 ran a 4 way stop taking out the right front of the car.

I suggest you go take a 'vette for a spin and see if its suits your fancy.

J.S.

[ckcarr]

Thanks!
That's what I want to hear..
Sounds like a r1100s...

I already have a 928, although it's certainly not a '95 which barely existed when I bought mine. The good news is it looks like the 928 Porsches are finally starting to go up in value.. Little by little... Maybe there will be a price surge like the 911 style did a couple years ago...

[RBMann]

Since I know CK, remember to bring $$$$$ if you get an older car. Being a little OCD can add up. Right now I am probably at 30+ hours of working on the Datsun Roadster to every hour I have driven it. I am getting close but everything you touch can be a new can of worms. Have admit it puts a smile on my face when I see it in the garage or drive it.

[CoffeeGuy]

ckcarr, you should contact BMWR502 on this board. I would consider him to be one of the resident experts.

[bradzdotcom]

the one i had would leap off the ground in harsh protest when you ran over a toothpick.
nose heavy and tail happy, it could do talk slappers at the mcdonald's drive thru.
it had a habit of slipping into reverse when parked, locked and walked away from. neato!
it was afraid of water, but a really big fan of water skiing. don't even take it out when it's foggy.

oh yea...and you can't see out of 'em. never back up.

other than that, you learned to be a semi-contortionist getting in and out, though it was an advantage to help a lady out at times...

bottom line: we didn't get along. not a good match. went our separate ways.

[ckcarr]

Thanks Brad,
The sickness is passing now...

I guess one huge difference oddly enough is that my 928 seems much more compact, and it goes well in any weather. Long ago I had to use it driving to work in Denver, and through the winter it felt like it had cat feet. Not that it was a Jeep, but as good as my GMC Sierra on snow... I always looked at Porsches as more suitable for shorter dudes, while a Corvette was for taller slick guys who attend discos...

A Corvette would end up being garage art, not that I don't like that, but something would have to be booted out.

[Jozef Schumann]

I asked my kid if he had any pics so he forwarded these. I must admit they sure do look pretty neat though. They look way, WAY better than they work though. JMHO. Oh, and yes - in anticipation of getting quizzed. That's my '67 GT350 in the garage, yes it's real and no its not for sale. It, also is an amazingly, almost hilariously crappy car to drive. But I can't argue the fact it was a decent investment. Bought it in '92 for 12k and it would probably fetch upwards of 100k today.



That's his GF's in the background which she also off'd for an M3 'vert, which is a much, much nicer unit in every respect.




Gig is - you'll get so many varied responses either praising them or not. Just like every other car, truck, bike, plane, boat, beer, sandal, news network, etc. You just have to test one or two or however many you can, perhaps optioned differently to get a proper idea of what they're about. For me though, I drove plenty of them back when I was running my shop. Just like vegemite - they're an acquired taste. And virtually every time, at least for me, just like vegemite - it was 'ewww' yuck.

[ckcarr]

That's a beautiful Vette Jozef, red Z06, exactly what I would have liked.
I guess in 2015 they came up with a convertible Z06, made the body more rigid? Or was that before..

It seems a lot of vehicles become albatrosses that you are simply the custodian of, until such time as you pass the keys to the next custodian... I sort of look at the HP2 Sport as in that category, with the exception of a handful of riders here that actually use them.

[AZ-J]

They have a rigid Z06 and Z07 Covette in 2015. The Z06 has a convertible, the Z07 does not.

[Bob Hancock]

[QUOTE=Jozef Schumann;8476930]



That's his GF's in the background which she also off'd for an M3 'vert, which is a much, much nicer unit in every respect.




QUOTE]

Your friends have round heads....not that there's anything wrong with that.

[ckcarr]

It's Vegas.
Wise Guys, Goodfella's... witness protection program...

[Jozef Schumann]

bwaaaah hahahaha!

round headed friend elbowing the car is my son - round headed person with the broom is a hired hand who, well...washes cars, sweeps and cleans up around the property and shovels horse s**t when he isn't brushing 'em down, shoeing or feeding 'em - and..who also has an uncanny knack for inconveniently inserting himself during an impromptu photo shoot according to my son's GF who took the shots. Hmmmm, I wonder if she and...oh, nvm.

Anyhow, the pics are as I received them. Something about facial recognition software, social media and professional adversaries is what he grumbled when I inquired.

J.S.

[Bob Hancock]

Oh I know. I was just being a goofball. :-)

[nathanmargolis]

I have had a '69 Stingray for over 30 years and will have a C7 on order within a month. Active in Corvette club in Houston for quite some time.

How much money do you want to spend?

C1 and C2 are extremely high in price $40K and up.

C3 favorites are chrome bumper and will go from $15K to $25K but with big block, may be more.

Good buys are '73 to '82. Very nice ones can be found for $10-12K.

The best buys right now are C4s because no one likes them but they are actually very nice "modern" cars. One of my friends purchased an extremely nice '95 with 55K miles for $10.5K a few months ago.

Call me if you have any questions.

Nathan
713 831-6163

[ckcarr]

Nathan,

That's a nice Corvette. '69 ranks right up there for sure as desirable..

Congratulations.