New boy needs help
Discussion
Hi folks;
Need your help,currently have a tvr chimaera but want a newer more modern car.Tvrs no longer have a v8 so gonna be a no no.Am not new to vettes,had a 1970 454 LS5 for 9 years until 1996.I know quite a lot about the pre 90s cars but am a complete novice with the later cars.
Went to see a c6 on saturday,what a stunning bit of kit but at 38k a bit out of my price range.Will have about 25ish to spend.What should i look for,avoid,etc etc.Idealy want manual open top,not convertible.Any advice or suggestions where to go would be much appreciated.
Cheers,Mark
Need your help,currently have a tvr chimaera but want a newer more modern car.Tvrs no longer have a v8 so gonna be a no no.Am not new to vettes,had a 1970 454 LS5 for 9 years until 1996.I know quite a lot about the pre 90s cars but am a complete novice with the later cars.
Went to see a c6 on saturday,what a stunning bit of kit but at 38k a bit out of my price range.Will have about 25ish to spend.What should i look for,avoid,etc etc.Idealy want manual open top,not convertible.Any advice or suggestions where to go would be much appreciated.
Cheers,Mark
Not open top, but if you stretch your budget slightly you could buy my Z06. Ask anyone who's driven a Z06 vs a Coupe and I think you'll get a good impression as to whether it's worth having the roof over your head :-)
www.pistonheads.com/sales/44622.htm
www.pistonheads.com/sales/44622.htm
You'll get a nice C5 for that money without very many miles on it. Great value car. Lots of electronics on the C5 which isn't a problem provided everything is working so check any car you look at very carefully. Personally I would be looking for a car in very original condition from either a Vette specialist or a genuine owner. There may be some ad's in PH classifieds but look also at www.corvetteclub.org.uk Classic American magazine carries some ad's too.
....don't forget to join the owners club!
....don't forget to join the owners club!
The choices for the C5 are the full convertible which tend to attract premium prices because it's a good-looking convertible in anyone's book, the targa-top which has a solid or glass roof that stores in the boot or the Z06 which is a fixed roof coupe. The Z06 is the track-oriented performance car with no compromises - thinner screen glass, lighter wheels, more powerful engine, more rigid, lower-geared, manual only. Goes and stops like a rocket sled and still faster and better than the 400bhp C6.
LS1's have auto or manual 345bhp engines (350bhp on some of the later imports)
Z06 has 385bhp in 2001 and 405bhp from 2002 on. There were a raft of improvements made to the Z06 in 2002 besides the power hike so it's worth seeking one out. However, if you want a convertible, it's not an option anyway.
As with any GM cars, the later model you can afford the better as they made improvements year on year.
LS1's have auto or manual 345bhp engines (350bhp on some of the later imports)
Z06 has 385bhp in 2001 and 405bhp from 2002 on. There were a raft of improvements made to the Z06 in 2002 besides the power hike so it's worth seeking one out. However, if you want a convertible, it's not an option anyway.
As with any GM cars, the later model you can afford the better as they made improvements year on year.
Thanks guys,all good info.Will be actively seeking one out after festive season.Will probably have a load more questions then.
Roscobbc,like your suggestion,but need something a little more practical.Your vette looks a bit tasty,is it all standard or have you gone big big block.
Mark
Roscobbc,like your suggestion,but need something a little more practical.Your vette looks a bit tasty,is it all standard or have you gone big big block.
Mark
LuS1fer said:
The choices for the C5 are the full convertible which tend to attract premium prices because it's a good-looking convertible in anyone's book, the targa-top which has a solid or glass roof that stores in the boot or the Z06 which is a fixed roof coupe. The Z06 is the track-oriented performance car with no compromises - thinner screen glass, lighter wheels, more powerful engine, more rigid, lower-geared, manual only. Goes and stops like a rocket sled and still faster and better than the 400bhp C6.
LS1's have auto or manual 345bhp engines (350bhp on some of the later imports)
Z06 has 385bhp in 2001 and 405bhp from 2002 on. There were a raft of improvements made to the Z06 in 2002 besides the power hike so it's worth seeking one out. However, if you want a convertible, it's not an option anyway.
As with any GM cars, the later model you can afford the better as they made improvements year on year.
I agree with Lusifer except that a Z06 is a very practical everyday car as well as a track-orientated performance car. The Z06 has a huge boot, does 18-23MPG , 0-60 less than 5 secs. very rare and cheap to service. Only down side is no warranty if that worries you, personally it doesn't bother me.
The standard suspension and brakes on the Z06 are okay but under extreme conditions I would feel happier with an upgrade which will probably set you back a couple of grand.
Oh yes, never meant to take anything away from the Z06 as an everyday car, simply underlining GM's efforts to not only increase power but shed weoght too. My mate bought a 2003 Z06 with 12k on the clock and uses it every single day, rain, shine or snow for a 40-odd mile there and back commute. It's meant to be red but appears in fetching shades of filth, goes like hell unleashed and still returns 25mpg plus and it's never gone wrong. True, he does have to fork out almost £40 for an oil change but no-one said supercar ownership was easy.....
[quote=bigblockmark]Thanks guys,all good info.Will be actively seeking one out after festive season.Will probably have a load more questions then.
Roscobbc,like your suggestion,but need something a little more practical.Your vette looks a bit tasty,is it all standard or have you gone big big block.
Bigblockmark, I know what you mean about something practical (I use another car for 'practical use')
Mine is stock (ish) 427 bbc at the moment (except for headers, intake & carb) however I do have set of Brodix heads on shelf for future use.
Roscobbc,like your suggestion,but need something a little more practical.Your vette looks a bit tasty,is it all standard or have you gone big big block.
Bigblockmark, I know what you mean about something practical (I use another car for 'practical use')
Mine is stock (ish) 427 bbc at the moment (except for headers, intake & carb) however I do have set of Brodix heads on shelf for future use.
LuS1fer said:
True, he does have to fork out almost £40 for an oil change but no-one said supercar ownership was easy.....
....but it's the having to change the oil EVERY 10,000 miles that get me!
£40 does seem too cheap to me as Halfords charge about £70 just for the oil then you have the hugely expensive $6 (U.S.) filter to add to that.
vetteheadracer said:
True, he does have to fork out almost £40 for an oil change but no-one said supercar ownership was easy.....
....but it's the having to change the oil EVERY 10,000 miles that get me!
£40 does seem too cheap to me as Halfords charge about £70 just for the oil then you have the hugely expensive $6 (U.S.) filter to add to that.
Not if you know someone who can get your Mobil 1 from a motor factor at £25 for 4 litres as he can. But yes, that filter is a killer. LOL.
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