RE: Driven: Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

[Stu R]

Z06's are £45000 in the US. They're an utter bargain in their home market.
While 'vettes used to be cheaper in the UK, they're more expensive than they used to be in the US too - C5 Z06 MSRP was $55k - that's £35k at today's rates, ignoring for a second there was times when the C5 Z06 was current that £1 got you $2.
The Gransport is $55-60k and offers similar performance in a much better car overall. So you still get a shed lot of corvette for your money even if you don't get the Z06 badge.
The C6 Z06 is $20,000 more than the C5 Z06's MSRP, but it's in a different league when it comes to dynamics, fit and finish, engine, pretty much everything. Aluminium replaces steel, LS7s replace LS3s etc, It's very easy to see where the $20k increase stems from - and $75k is still only £45k.

Price rises are hardly unique to 'vette, compare 996TT and 997TT list prices, nearly £15k in it. I'm sure if you look there's a bounty of other examples to choose from.

For something offering the performance they do, they're remarkable. It's hardly Corvette's or Bauer Millet's fault that the cost of importing is higher than it once was - as said pounds used to buy more dollars, VAT used to be 2.5% lower, shipping was 10% cheaper, it's an expensive business bringing stuff to our silly little island I'm afraid, but you're still getting a hell of a good car for your money. The same story is true for Americans who want to import foreign cars that have no official US supply chain in place.

[PaulFontaine]

Stu R said:

Z06's are £45000 in the US. They're an utter bargain in their home market.
While 'vettes used to be cheaper in the UK, they're more expensive than they used to be in the US too - C5 Z06 MSRP was $55k - that's £35k at today's rates, ignoring for a second there was times when the C5 Z06 was current that £1 got you $2.
The Gransport is $55-60k and offers similar performance in a much better car overall. So you still get a shed lot of corvette for your money even if you don't get the Z06 badge.
The C6 Z06 is $20,000 more than the C5 Z06's MSRP, but it's in a different league when it comes to dynamics, fit and finish, engine, pretty much everything. Aluminium replaces steel, LS7s replace LS3s etc, It's very easy to see where the $20k increase stems from - and $75k is still only £45k.

Price rises are hardly unique to 'vette, compare 996TT and 997TT list prices, nearly £15k in it. I'm sure if you look there's a bounty of other examples to choose from.

For something offering the performance they do, they're remarkable. It's hardly Corvette's or Bauer Millet's fault that the cost of importing is higher than it once was - as said pounds used to buy more dollars, VAT used to be 2.5% lower, shipping was 10% cheaper, it's an expensive business bringing stuff to our silly little island I'm afraid, but you're still getting a hell of a good car for your money. The same story is true for Americans who want to import foreign cars that have no official US supply chain in place.

Nailed it on the head exactly. You'd be horrified for what a TVR goes for here. That being said even with the price differential the new Z06 is a true beast and easily runs with most anything twice it's price if not more. True they don't have the flash of a super car but that may be a good thing and they are not exactly plain either

[thewheelman]

Dagnut said:

thewheelman said:

Dagnut said:

White does it no favours, and I don't think 70k is that cheap really when you consider they cost 55k US dollars

Doing a direct currency conversion would be a little naive way to judge the car's value. Look at the cost of the cars that are mainstream in Europe & how much cheaper they are in the states. When you look at the kind of cars that it beats that cost many times more, then you see the value. The Vette it seems is like the Nissan GTR, it'll have its haters, but for me it's a lot more interesting than the played out cars that the Vette manages to humiliate.

I'm not ragging on the Vette at all or doing a direct currency conversion ...a direct currency conversion comparison like the grand sport convertible at 34k...I don't think the price is justified at 70k, it may still represent good value against competitors but it should be cheaper.

Fairpoint, although we do seem to get stung here in the U.K. I didn't know all that much about the Corvette range, i've been reading up a little today to try & get up to scratch.

[shortar53]

Corvette on super slick tyres is 0.1 seconds faster than Lexus on street tyres...

Hmmm. faster than any japanese car. not likey-for-likey though.

[silversixx]

205007 said:

At the risk of bringing up old news - 70k and plastic panels? no thanks (and cheap bendy plastic at that)

And the brakes - 6x piston or not (the pads are about the size of a custard cream) are not good enough for any serious use with a Z06

The engine though that is the ticket

The rear panel deflects a lot if you push it. Poke and prod at the placcy panels on the front of Astons and Jags (for example) and you get the same result though.

Edited by silversixx on Tuesday 30th August 10:39

[silversixx]

shortar53 said:

Corvette on super slick tyres is 0.1 seconds faster than Lexus on street tyres...

Hmmm. faster than any japanese car. not likey-for-likey though.

Well that's true. The second fastest Corvette you can buy is only a fraction faster than the quickest tech-laden car Japan can build - if you put sticky tyres on it.

And the Lexus costs how much? That price differential will pay for an awful lot of slick tyres

[JimexPL]

205007 said:

At the risk of bringing up old news - 70k and plastic panels? no thanks (and cheap bendy plastic at that)

Very old news.
If the plastic panels are good enough for the £168k plus options mp4-12c (mclaren bought a c6 during the development of their new car to look at the panels), then they're good enough for a £70k vette!

[k wright]

After having Italy's best with heavy Fiberglas interior panels covered in leather that begins to shrink within a year no matter what you put on it, I'll take the plastic of the Corvette any day.

These are stunning cars, it is difficult to get the keys for anything else when this car is at your disposal.

[big_rob_sydney]

Maybe its just me, but I get the impression you're paying for a powerful engine, and not too much else besides.

At £48k, you could get yourself a supercharged VXR8 that has 532bhp, and walk away with change.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Va...


Hell, you could get a Litchfield Type 25, 415bhp, for ~£40k.

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2025...

70k is a lot of money, considering just a few of the options out there, and being LHD only doesnt help in the UK.

Pass.

[LuS1fer]

I've never been a fan of the C6 styling but have always thought the black nacelles improve the looks dramatically (on the other hand, my 5 year old son LOVES the C6) and this car looks very dramatic and I do like it - but it still HAS to be black for me.

I am surprised the seats are still crap. After having supreme comfort in the Corvette C4 seats, I was disappointed by the C5 Z06 seats which were flimsy by comparison and way off the pace in comfort.

I've always been able to accept the interior as functional but then I do like a functional interior without ant superfuous luxo-crap in it. The next C7 is mooted to be a big step up in the interior and I look forward to the moaning when the price goes up because value for money is what these cars are about (though £69k is a bit steep IMHO). I think the biggest drawback to a car like this is that there are quite a few very low mile C5 convertibles about for around £20k which even now are still great cars (not comparing used with new, just saying....).

[Dagnut]

big_rob_sydney said:

Maybe its just me, but I get the impression you're paying for a powerful engine, and not too much else besides.

At £48k, you could get yourself a supercharged VXR8 that has 532bhp, and walk away with change.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Va...


Hell, you could get a Litchfield Type 25, 415bhp, for ~£40k.

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2025...

70k is a lot of money, considering just a few of the options out there, and being LHD only doesnt help in the UK.

Pass.

Well it's a soft so really it's competing against the R8 cab, 911 cab which are 90k and 75k respectively.....even then it doesn't seem like a massive bargain does it? You could argue it's going to be cheaper to service but it's always going to be LHD and probably worth slightly less in 4 years? Not sure on the residuals

[silversixx]

big_rob_sydney said:

Maybe its just me, but I get the impression you're paying for a powerful engine, and not too much else besides.

At £48k, you could get yourself a supercharged VXR8 that has 532bhp, and walk away with change.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Va...


Hell, you could get a Litchfield Type 25, 415bhp, for ~£40k.

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2025...

70k is a lot of money, considering just a few of the options out there, and being LHD only doesnt help in the UK.

Pass.

Just a powerful engine? I'd respectfully suggest that you drive one before you hang your hat on that

[JRich174]

Coming to you in a rap video shortly!

[LuS1fer]

Residuals have always been extremely strong on Vettes.

[Dagnut]

LuS1fer said:

Residuals have always been extremely strong on Vettes.

I've seen C5 z06's for 20k and a C6 Z06 for 44k so I'm not sure how they compare..

[LuS1fer]

Dagnut said:

LuS1fer said:

Residuals have always been extremely strong on Vettes.

I've seen C5 z06's for 20k and a C6 Z06 for 44k so I'm not sure how they compare..

The C5 Z06 was 2001-2004 and used the 405hp 5.7 LS6. The C6 Z06 is an entirely different car with a hand-built 7.0 LS7 and various ligtweight materials and the difficulty there is actually finding one as most have been snapped up by Europe.

[Dagnut]

LuS1fer said:

Dagnut said:

LuS1fer said:

Residuals have always been extremely strong on Vettes.

I've seen C5 z06's for 20k and a C6 Z06 for 44k so I'm not sure how they compare..

The C5 Z06 was 2001-2004 and used the 405hp 5.7 LS6. The C6 Z06 is an entirely different car with a hand-built 7.0 LS7 and various ligtweight materials and the difficulty there is actually finding one as most have been snapped up by Europe.

So safe to assume the grand sport should hold it's value

[PaulFontaine]

big_rob_sydney said:

Maybe its just me, but I get the impression you're paying for a powerful engine, and not too much else besides.

At £48k, you could get yourself a supercharged VXR8 that has 532bhp, and walk away with change.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Va...


Hell, you could get a Litchfield Type 25, 415bhp, for ~£40k.

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2025...

70k is a lot of money, considering just a few of the options out there, and being LHD only doesnt help in the UK.

Pass.

I get the impression you have never driven one or ridden shotgun in one.

The other cars you've listed are not a comparison to it really. I will also point out that I do understand that there is some sort of modification process to make it street legal for the UK but some where along the way the car jumps in price massively from the trip over to the UK. The z06 should come in at less than 60k GBP and this should be about 50k GBP Yes the grandsport is a specialty variant of the car but for that price the zo6 variant can easily be had with plenty of change left over. I suspect there is serious price gouging going on. The base model which I would choose over the grandsport is even less. And if you want to talk about modified cars well look at what tuners in the US do with this.

To put it in perspective I would say this car is priced evenly or a little less than the Boxster s and the Cayman in the US. The zo6 variant is less than the cost of a base 911. I am not going to even discuss the zr1 version here. While the styling is somewhat polarizing its never been called ugly. Yes I agree with the interior gripes and would toss the seats for some proper racing buckets or if possible the seats from the cadillac CTS-V but again something had to give at this price point.

Plastic body panels yes but so what. They are not going to deform or rust are light and easy to replace of course it would be fantastic with an aluminum body but again look at the price point.

I will also say that this car also has a heritage and a racing pedigree as well and has been in production since the 50's

The z06 has extensive use of more exotic materials such as aluminum and magnesium and just google these cars if you dont have access to someone that owns one. If you get a chance speak to an owner and get the straight scoop from them.

As an american I am a little bias but they are the bargains of the sports car world, especially the higher spec z06 and zr1 models

Edited by PaulFontaine on Tuesday 30th August 14:08

[CrisW]

PaulFontaine said:

I get the impression you have never driven one or ridden shotgun in one.

The other cars you've listed are not a comparison to it really. I will also point out that I do understand that there is some sort of modification process to make it street legal for the UK but some where along the way the car jumps in price massively from the trip over to the UK. Yes the grandsport is a specialty variant of the car but for that price the zo6 variant can easily be had with plenty of change left over.

To put it in perspective I would say this car is priced evenly or a little less than the Boxster s and the Cayman in the US. The zo6 variant is less than the cost of a base 911. I am not going to even discuss the zr1 version here. While the styling is somewhat polarizing its never been called ugly. Yes I agree with the interior gripes and would toss the seats for some proper racing buckets or if possible the seats from the cadillac CTS-V but again something had to give at this price point.

Plastic body panels yes but so what. They are not going to deform or rust are light and easy to replace of course it would be fantastic with an aluminum body but again look at the price point.

I will also say that this car also has a heritage and a racing pedigree as well and has been in production since the 50's

The z06 has extensive use of more exotic materials such as aluminum and magnesium and just google these cars if you dont have access to someone that owns one. If you get a chance speak to an owner and get the straight scoop from them.

As an american I am a little bias but they are the bargains of the sports car world, especially the higher spec z06 and zr1 models

They are certainly bargain in the US but I'm not so sure that they are in the UK. As afar as I can see these are US cars which have had the minimum work done to them to make them road legal in the UK. If the car retails for $60k (say £40k) then charging £70k for sticking a car on a boat, doing a little bit for work to the lights etc and then paying taxes is hardly good value.

Now £70k for the car isn't that high a price but does put the car in the same bracket as 911s and R8s both of which can be had with the steering wheel on the right side. If we pretend for a moment that Chevrolet were to sell the car for the same basic cost as the US version i.e. ~£40k + VAT etc then you've got a car in the £50k bracket which really would be a bargain. This could well offset the fact that it doesn't have the steering wheel in the right place. Otherwise I can see these going the same way as the NSX - an excellent car but nobody buys them which is a massive pity.

[LuS1fer]

Dagnut said:

LuS1fer said:

Dagnut said:

LuS1fer said:

Residuals have always been extremely strong on Vettes.

I've seen C5 z06's for 20k and a C6 Z06 for 44k so I'm not sure how they compare..

The C5 Z06 was 2001-2004 and used the 405hp 5.7 LS6. The C6 Z06 is an entirely different car with a hand-built 7.0 LS7 and various ligtweight materials and the difficulty there is actually finding one as most have been snapped up by Europe.

So safe to assume the grand sport should hold it's value

The million dollar question. As I understand it, the Gran Sport is more a prostitution of a past name and was also pilfered for use on the C4. On the C4 it had 35hp over the stock engine and they are quite collectible now (run-out model available in 1996) but like anything, it depends how many they make. My money would go on a C6 Z06 as I think they are destined to lose the hand-built 7.0 and get a version of the Camaro's LSA engine at some point which should theoretically make it cheaper and the 7.0 more collectible possibly.

Most Corvettes suffer a fairly slow depreciation but then stall. As an example, I imported my C5 Z06 in 2004 for about £27k (available at the time for 30-33k), sold it for £26k and they're still worth around £20k - but prices do vary based on the prevailing exchange rate and the limited availability.

In terms of a collector's car the current Z06 might have the edge but who knows, a 550hp LSA version might be better still....