Buy Fast or Build Fast---How Do You Decide?

Well, that's kind of apples to oranges, but ok, I'll play...

According to Edmunds' own rating system:

A '98 Vette (best engine, cheapest price) that's fairly well optioned with average yearly miles (12K/yr) will run ~$12,700 (private party), while an '05 GTO with average miles will run ~$18,400.

So yes, you can buy a C5 for less money. You'll also be getting a car that's probably been beaten up to some degree whereas the GTO is still new enough that it's not likely to need any major repairs yet. The GTO also has a better (though slightly) motor to build on (LS2 instead of LS1 for the Vette). If performance is your goal then I'll leave off all that nonsense about the great GTO interior and the Vette's less than perfect interior or anything about standard options, daily driveability, # of seats, etc...

The Vette will probably be faster around a circuit course where handling is key due to it's lower weight, and lower center of gravity. However, when both were new, the '98 coupe vette ran a 13.3 1/4 mile and the '05 GTO ran a 13.3 1/4 mile (exoticcar.com). The same site has the Vette running 0-60 in 4.7 and the GTO in 4.8.

Simply put, the GTO (due to weight) might be a little more sluggish around the corners, but just as fast on the straights. If you want a pure performance car for the money, and don't mind it having a little age/wear then the Vette is probably a better bet, but not by much. You're paying $5,000 less for a car with a lot more miles, and similar performance.

However, if you take two cars of something closer to the same year (i.e. the vette and GTO are about 7 years apart) and compare the '98 Vette to a '98 Camaro then you've gotta take the Camaro. Once again you'd be sacrificing some things (a nicer interior, handling, etc) for a car thats cheaper to make go fast.

When they were both new (even according to Edmunds) the only edge the Vette had over the Camaro was prestige and styling. It was $15,000 more expensive and not $15,000 faster. It's up to you to decide if a '98 Vette would be $5,000 faster than a '98 Camaro. By the same token, it'd be up to you to decide if the '05 GTO would be $6,000 better than the '98 Vette. It all depends on what you wanna do with them...

Replies to this message:

lemmer (Sep 08, 2008 2:36 pm)
- fadetoblackii (Sep 08, 2008 2:42 pm)
  - paisan (Sep 08, 2008 5:39 pm)

#21 of 23 Re: Buy Fast or Build Fast---How Do You Decide? [fadetoblackii] by lemmer

Sep 08, 2008 (2:36 pm)

Replying to: fadetoblackii (Sep 08, 2008 1:50 pm)

Camaro, I served with Corvette. I knew Corvette. Corvette was a friend of mine. Camaro, you're no Corvette.

Replies to this message:

fadetoblackii (Sep 08, 2008 2:42 pm)
- paisan (Sep 08, 2008 5:39 pm)

#22 of 23 Re: Buy Fast or Build Fast---How Do You Decide? [lemmer] by fadetoblackii

Sep 08, 2008 (2:42 pm)

Replying to: lemmer (Sep 08, 2008 2:36 pm)

True enough. When it comes down to it, I guess there's no substitute for personal preference.

Replies to this message:

paisan (Sep 08, 2008 5:39 pm)

#23 of 23 Re: Buy Fast or Build Fast---How Do You Decide? [fadetoblackii] by paisan

Sep 08, 2008 (5:39 pm)

Replying to: fadetoblackii (Sep 08, 2008 2:42 pm)

There are several factors in play here.

What is the car being used for? Racing? Street driving/cruising? Showing? etc.

There are several schools of thought in the racing world on build v. buy.

Pros and cons to both.

Build: Pros- you know the car is solid, it's custom for you, you may already own it.
Cons- Usually costs more, more time involved, more shakedown time

Buy: Pros- Cheaper, quicker Cons- Sometimes fall apart w/o notice, less personal interest, not custom to your desires.

-mike

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