Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Coupes & Convertibles Chevrolet Corvette Corvettes and all things about them
1908 messages, Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 5:37 PM
You are in the Chevrolet Corvette Forum. Your Host is claires
|
Hi All, Virgin poster here. I bough my first Vette on December 31st, an incredible blue LeMans Commemorative Edition 2004. Can I say that I am in love? (yes, with the car) I haven't seen much posting about this particular car, but I am curious what the aficionados on Corvettes think about this model. I come from a Corvette family and my parents have a few models that are their favorites. It took me til age 35 to afford one myself, and I have to say, out of all the cars I've driven (including BMW's and my hubby's Jag XK8), this is my favorite. What is the consensus on this car? Should I be garaging it instead of driving it and having fun (heaven forbid!). Is this a gimmick by Chevrolet, or a potential collectible? |
|
There are hundreds if not several thousand Z16 paint units out on the road. From looking at the used Vette pricing for the past 3 years it might be worth a little more with low miles out in the future but I'm guessing not a lot. The Z06 Z16 version will have fewer units and might be worth more, but doubt that as well. I got a '95 with only 18k miles on it a year ago and only paid a few $k over what a higher miles unit would have gone for. Reason I got it was owner couldn't get anything from dealers on trade. With all the electronics to go wrong over time I'm guessing that old cars are going to have different value dynamics in the future than what we all think of today with the old mechanical cars out in the market today. Most good wrenches can keep a '63 Vette running pretty good on a low budget, try that with a '03 in 2043! Remember the chips that ran the first PC in 1981? That was only 23 years ago, I don't know if they are available today.
|
|
|
I'll chime in here. Agree with Starrow on limited increase in value over the non Z16 but also feel increased value is quite limited. Let me add, you like the Vette, enjoy driving it and wonder if you should make it a garage queen??? NOT A CHANCE!!!!!!! You bought it for fun...use it! BTW, welcome to the forum. |
|
|
|
Absolutely, drive it. There are thousands of regretful Corvette owners who thought their "special editions" of this and that car would be worth a lot more by never driving them but turns out that they all come out of the garage at the same time to sell and guess what...marketed saturated, price goes down. "Stashing" modern serially produced (assembly line) Corvettes for profit has turned out to be a complete bust.
|
|
The car was designed and built and begs to be driven! My 2001 Z06 has 64k on it and my only regret is that I can not drive it more!  The only issue I have had with it was the leaking differential, that for a series of boring reasons needed 3 times and 5/6 trips to fix. I do 15k oil and filter changes and the way it is running, I anticipate 200-300k from it. :)It also still gets 26/27 mpg at xxx cruising speed in the desert at 104 degrees with the AC going! I know if I go 65 mph under the same conditions we are talking 30/32 mpg! I love this car!
|
|
| The C5 is definitely the more refined car. Vipers only recently were equipped with ABS. Vipers still do not have anything like Active Handling. The power differential can even be bridged if that is the objective. The list can go on, but I think my point is made. | |
|
I'm considering purchasing 05 Corvette Coupe. Wanted one for years! Would like to know if this is: 1. Every day driving car. 2. All year driving car. 3. Relatively reliable for high-performance car. 4. Hi-maintenance. P.S. Live on the east coast..Weather can be brutal. I Love Vettes!!! |
|
|
1. Yes. In good weather states it's fantastic and in what I'll call moderate weather the new stability system is amazing. 2. Yes. In any weather I drive the car, although I've read about those who never let the car see damp roads. I use a Vette as a daily driver and probably will for years to come, but 30" of rain a year is not going to be much of an issue. 3. Now you're talking, great reliability with one qwirk in batteries going bad if it sits for weeks at a time which some do. 4. Only one experience but comfirmed by many others, all I've done is oil changes for 27k miles. The undercarriage clearance is just 3.5 inches and for me that is only a driveway issue, no snow here. Stability control, ABS and traction control would keep you very straight on icy or packed snow, lots of contact patch if you have the right tires for the systems to work with. You'll have to judge beyond the above. BTW, I've read about many who use them for daily driving in the cold north but also many more who put them in the garage all winter. YMMV |
|
|
I'll chime in here also. Everyday driver----absolutely...except for your second question. Not an all weather car. It sucks in snow. As to your reliability question, my '01 was flawless as is my '03. Can't comment long term as my '01 had about 30k miles when I traded for the '03 which now has about 8k on the clock. Build quality/fit/finish is lacking compared to some Japanese/German models but that old fashioned push rod V8 puts more smiles on my face than anything else. |
|
| If you use A/S tires (like Michelin Pilot Sport A/S) in place of the OEM tires, you can drive the car in light snow. Heavy snow, I doubt it even with the A/S tires. | |
You are here:
Forums
Coupes & Convertibles Chevrolet Corvette Corvettes and all things about them
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Chevrolet Corvette
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
