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Corvettes and all things about them

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Corvette, Coupe, Convertible


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#1605 of 1906
Re: Auto vs. manual [motorhead1] by ruking1
Jul 14, 2007 (7:54 am)
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Replying to: motorhead1 (Jul 14, 2007 7:39 am)

I guess you can see that 3% (6 speed manual, non Z06) any number of ways: 1. very limited, almost custom production, increased desirability (resale value) 2. It is so limited and such a minority population (3%) it is in danger of being overshadowed and don't be caught dead with one. 3. etc.
 
2001 Z06 Corvette here, got it new with 4 miles on the odometer. The salesman took me through the streets of St Helena, CA (wine country) for its first full tank and two extra miles. Since he knew the area WELL and was a SCCA licensed driver, we took a longer ala "fast" tour of the locations of a few wineries.
#1606 of 1906
Re: Auto vs. manual [motorhead1] by starrow68
Jul 15, 2007 (6:52 am)
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Replying to: motorhead1 (Jul 14, 2007 3:53 am)

As noted by several, the auto vs. 6sp appeals to a different
set and so you can move either when the time comes. The big
thing for me getting my 6sp in a 2002 was that I didn't do
much driving in heavy traffic, and it's a good thing, the
few times I've been in grid lock it has been painful. With
the new 6sp Auto I think the decision has just gotten a lot
harder. I drive my manual on track and it is the way to go
for performance compared to the old 4sp Auto. But I've also
driven the 6sp Auto on track it is amazingly close in the
performance at speed. It's worth a look. IMO the 4sp auto
will be the hard one to move in the future.
randy
#1607 of 1906
actual #s \ percentages Re: Auto vs. manual [ruking1] by rayainsw
Jul 16, 2007 (2:55 am)
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Replying to: ruking1 (Jul 14, 2007 7:54 am)

Final 2007 production numbers have been published.
 
The 6-speed automatic:
Coupe = 14093 & 65.6%
Convertible = 8329 & 76.3%
Z06 = 0 & 0
 
The 6-speed Manual:
Coupe = 7391 34.4%
Convertible = 2589 & 23.7%
Z06 = 8159 & 100%
 
Now IMHO none of these numbers should sway a potential purchaser toward or away from any particular configuration – or color combination, for that matter.
 
A Corvette purchase is typically not the same as many other vehicles. And if I am buying, insuring and filling the tank, then I want as close to ** MY ** perfect configuration as I can afford. Resale \ depreciation – within the range of ‘best to worst’ among all Corvettes concerns me far less.
 
I ordered my C6 with a combination of color & equipment that my local dealer ( largest in the SouthEast ) would never order for stock. And I am certain that I will not receive the absolute highest trade-in value, when the time comes. But I drive over 15,000 miles a year in my Corvette – and I wanted it equipped with ( and without ) certain options.
 
YMMV.
 
- Ray
Very happy with my choices . . .
#1608 of 1906
Re: actual #s \ percentages Re: Auto vs. manual [rayainsw] by ruking1
Jul 16, 2007 (5:25 am)
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Replying to: rayainsw (Jul 16, 2007 2:55 am)

..."A Corvette purchase is typically not the same as many other vehicles. And if I am buying, insuring and filling the tank, then I want as close to ** MY ** perfect configuration as I can afford. Resale \ depreciation – within the range of ‘best to worst’ among all Corvettes concerns me far less.
  
I ordered my C6 with a combination of color & equipment that my local dealer ( largest in the SouthEast ) would never order for stock. And I am certain that I will not receive the absolute highest trade-in value, when the time comes. But I drive over 15,000 miles a year in my Corvette – and I wanted it equipped with ( and without ) certain options."...
 
Your above quotes are some of the reasons for the success of the Corvette line. In theory the "ordered" choices (on the issue of auto vs manual: is dictated by customer demand, rather than an oem making more automatics than manuals, because is a "safer" guess about what would be "better" on the market. Also resale according to what I have read is one of the best for ANY American car and competes rather well with the highest end Euro nameplates in that category, i.e., Porsche might beat it out slightly on the resale issue.
#1609 of 1906
Re: actual #s \ percentages Re: Auto vs. manual [ruking1] by motorhead1
Jul 18, 2007 (3:44 am)
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Replying to: ruking1 (Jul 16, 2007 5:25 am)

Well I have decided as soon as I can sell my 02 Vette I am going to order a 08. I`m going to get the manual with the new red color and 3LT with chrome wheels. Thanks to everyone for the help.
#1610 of 1906
resale \ ordering Re: actual #s \ percentages [ruking1] by rayainsw
Jul 18, 2007 (5:17 am)
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Replying to: ruking1 (Jul 16, 2007 5:25 am)

The resale \ trade-in \ residual values for Corvettes have historically been among the highest in the segment.
 
http://www.forbesautos.com/advice/toptens/best-resale-value-2007.html?partner=yahoo
 
Roughly comparable to a Lexus. Many find this surprising. As many also find the highway cruising \ trip fuel economy ( I average close to 30 MPG at 70 – 80 MPH with passenger & luggage ), the insurance rates and many other aspects.
 
My dealer is the largest volume Corvette dealer in the SouthEast – and #4 in the country, last numbers I’ve seen.
 
My sales person does the ordering for stock. Close to 100% are ordered with the Z51 package. Though roughly 42% are built with this option, they know from years of experience what they can most easily sell to THEIR typical customers.
 
They do typically end up with a few Non-Z51s on the lot. A couple are ordered primarily for comparison test drives - and some are purchased from other dealers. Thus, before ordering, I was able to test drive a Z51 and an FE1 back to back.
 
The availability of the 6L80 automatic w/paddle shift was a primary determining factor in my purchase timing. For me, this was a critical ‘step up’ from the previous 4-speed automatic with very limited manual control.
 
YMMV.
- Ray
#1611 of 1906
Re: resale \ ordering Re: actual #s \ percentages [rayainsw] by starrow68
Jul 18, 2007 (7:35 am)
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Replying to: rayainsw (Jul 18, 2007 5:17 am)

Interesting about large volume dealer in Vettes and high %
as Z51 orders. Out on the left coast we don't really have
a super high volume Corvette dealer and the low volume guys
are pretty clueless except about walk-in impulse buyers. So
lots of dealer orders for stock are auto's when that was
standard and not extra cost and those were the ones left on
the lots when the year ended.
I've now picked up two Vettes by ordering off the internet
and both as I and the wife wanted them as to options and
colors. Don't think I would waste time on local dealers
except to see new colors if I decide to get a new one in the
future.
Randy
#1612 of 1906
Re: resale \ ordering Re: actual #s \ percentages [starrow68] by ruking1
Jul 18, 2007 (7:48 am)
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Replying to: starrow68 (Jul 18, 2007 7:35 am)

Right! As a "VOTING" matter, the real vote (that count toward the ACTUAL statistics) is at the factory order level. I found the factor order process almost totally byzantine. This was after translation by my salesman; who for some reason, made it his mission to get me what I wanted rather than sell me on what he could readily get.
 
So for example, by the time one goes to the dealer and sees 75% of the new crop of Vettes with automatics and wants say a 6 speed and upcoming 6 speed auto paddle shifter, most probably one has missed the model year. So if you bypass the 6 speed manual because all they had WAS automatics, the system really thinks most like autos.
#1613 of 1906
Re: resale \ ordering Re: actual #s \ percentages [starrow68] by rayainsw
Jul 18, 2007 (8:20 am)
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Replying to: starrow68 (Jul 18, 2007 7:35 am)

A coupe of things to keep in mind regarding the Z51 percentage & my dealer. Here, near Atlanta the fact that the Z51’s tires do not perform well in the cold weather is much less of an issue than at 3 other large volume dealers I can think of ( Atlantic City, Detroit & New Hampshire ) where their local market conspires against such percentages. And ( though there are exceptions ) the road surfaces in this area are smoother than in the Northern Tier.
 
RE: Volume Dealer in CA. Boardwalk, in Redwood City is a relatively high volume Corvette dealer – in the top 10, nationally, as I recall. They currently have 27 2007 coupes according to their web site.
 
RE: ‘ordering off the internet’. How did that work for you, exactly?
 
Although my initial contact with this salesperson and this dealership was via email, I physically went to the dealer 3 times. And bought my 2007 from them.
 
1 – I wanted to drive a new Corvette. Or 2. ( See above. ) Since I had not driven any C6, I needed to check several items regarding both the car’s dynamic behavior and how I fit.
 
2 – Once we had agreed on the price, I went to finalize the order & sign it.
 
3 – I picked up the car.
 
When I felt close to making the decision to buy my 2007 Corvette, I scheduled a visit to this dealer and spoke only with this salesperson – to test drive Corvettes. About a 45 minute drive from where I live.
 
This was in early July 2006.
 
Once I had driven the 2 C6s ( both were 2006 automatics – 2007s were not yet at dealers, but had no significant changes ) that I wanted to evaluate, I told the salesperson that I wanted the best price on an ordered 2007.
 
The price was about what I had expected ( $2K off MSRP ) and I said:
 
“When you meet the discount I want, I’ll buy.”
 
Response:
 
“OK. Great, I will keep you posted.”
 
I was kept up to date via weekly emails, as discounts grew over time – but with no further real interaction until the email arrived with a discount that met “my number”.
 
This was late in September 2006. I called and set an appointment the next day to order my 2007. It was delivered in early November.
 
So my test drives were – 4 months prior to actually closing the sale. I suppose you could describe it as 2.5 months of ( very one-sided ) price ‘negotiation’ and 1.5 months for the schedule \ build \ delivery process.
 
More important, before scheduling my Corvette test drives, I had test driven a number of other “contenders” prior to the C6 test drives – including the BMW 335i coupe, for example. I knew my timeline. I was up front with each salesperson I spoke to.
 
If I had less stringent requirements on exactly the optional equipment I wanted ( and didn’t want ) and more flexibility on color, I would probably have bought a C6 from the selection on the dealer’s lot. They usually have 25 or so new Coupes in their inventory.
 
The Internet is great. Research is great – and essential, for me. But a thorough test drive ( or 2 ) is necessary before I’ll spend close to $50,000.
 
YMMV.
- Ray
Happy Corvette Driver
#1614 of 1906
Re: actual #s \ percentages Re: Auto vs. manual [motorhead1] by motorhead1
Jul 18, 2007 (9:07 am)
Reply

Replying to: motorhead1 (Jul 18, 2007 3:44 am)

I forgot, I`m also going to go with the museum delivery. Thanks

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