RE: Chevrolet Corvette C6: PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
I’ve been kicking myself ever since I got rid of my Z06. Simply awesome car. The LS7 is fantastic.
I’ll admit I shared the typical misconception about American cars and corners, but it’s a load of nonsense. Mine spent a lot of time on track where it would shine.
Weighs about the same as a Lotus Evora, but with 505bhp and 480ft.lbs of torque. A go-kart, a very fast go-kart.
I will have another, ideally just my old one back and I’ll stick some later yr seats in it.
I’ll admit I shared the typical misconception about American cars and corners, but it’s a load of nonsense. Mine spent a lot of time on track where it would shine.
Weighs about the same as a Lotus Evora, but with 505bhp and 480ft.lbs of torque. A go-kart, a very fast go-kart.
I will have another, ideally just my old one back and I’ll stick some later yr seats in it.
5tu Mac said:
I’ve been kicking myself ever since I got rid of my Z06. Simply awesome car. The LS7 is fantastic.
I’ll admit I shared the typical misconception about American cars and corners, but it’s a load of nonsense. Mine spent a lot of time on track where it would shine.
Weighs about the same as a Lotus Evora, but with 505bhp and 480ft.lbs of torque. A go-kart, a very fast go-kart.
I will have another, ideally just my old one back and I’ll stick some later yr seats in it.
That looks just like mine; did you have it in the UK?I’ll admit I shared the typical misconception about American cars and corners, but it’s a load of nonsense. Mine spent a lot of time on track where it would shine.
Weighs about the same as a Lotus Evora, but with 505bhp and 480ft.lbs of torque. A go-kart, a very fast go-kart.
I will have another, ideally just my old one back and I’ll stick some later yr seats in it.
BTW; I see you're now in Texas. I'm assuming oil-related. You're not related to Brian, are you?
Scottie - NW said:
When these reviewers keep mentioning the same points it is worth taking note. However, I am all ears (or eyes on here 
) and always happy to learn so if anyone wants to explain the benefits please and why it's not as bad then go ahead.
Ok, here goes. It's technically true that the Corvette uses a leaf spring. However, that's not very descriptive. ) and always happy to learn so if anyone wants to explain the benefits please and why it's not as bad then go ahead.Suspension has to do three things: Hold the wheels onto the car (locate them), support the weight of the car, and damp bouncing.
Even before the motor car, horse-drawn carriage makers discovered that by fixing the axles to multi-leaf springs, they could achieve all three functions in one simple arrangement. The leaf spring held the axle in place while letting it move up and down, the springiness supported the carriage, and the friction between the adjacent leaves of the spring as it bent damped bouncing. Perfect!
Except, by trying to do all three things at once, it makes it very hard to do them all well. The location is imprecise because the spring is flexible, letting wheels move backwards and forwards under load. And the damping is hard to tune, because it arises as a side-effect of the leaves rubbing against one another.
Therefore, a modern car separates the three functions. One or more control arms hold the wheel in place, a coil spring supports the weight, and a separate damper controls bouncing. Each component can be honed to do a single job well.
At the back of the Vette, all three functions are still separate. A set of double wishbones locates each wheel precisely, and there are still conventional dampers. The only difference is that the spring, instead of being wound in a spiral, is stretched out across the width of the car. The end of the spring still provides a force proportional to how far it is deflected, just like a metal coil spring. The only difference is really packaging. It's a single leaf, rather than multiple, so no added friction.
As you can hopefully see, there's nothing cheap or unsophisticated about the Vette's rear suspension, it's fully independent and just as advanced as a Ferrari or any other thoroughbred, it's just a different way to achieve more or less the same goal.
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_leaf_spring
Also: traditional leaf springs were used with a live axle, ie a solid axle across the back of the car. The problem with this is you have the whole axle, diff and one end of the propshaft bouncing up and down, adding unsprung weight and making it harder for wheels to follow bumps in the road. The Vette is fully independent, as good as any other car (arguably slightly better as the fibreglass leaf spring is lighter than two metal springs).
samoht thanks for taking the time to type that excellent and very informative post, I hope others as well as me have learned something. That has told me more than the journalists in the magazine articles, and the key parts seems to be the separation of functions as highlighted.
It's hard to beat real world feedback from genuine PHers on here, I've owned two cars that I'd never have done due to reputations without these "facts" being corrected by real world owners.
Not that I think it needs it, but does that mean lowering a leaf spring car is very difficult?
It's hard to beat real world feedback from genuine PHers on here, I've owned two cars that I'd never have done due to reputations without these "facts" being corrected by real world owners.
Not that I think it needs it, but does that mean lowering a leaf spring car is very difficult?
Cracking cars. Surprisingly few ever seem to come up for sale in the UK - so probably not an easy task to find a good one already here with a spec you would really want. Manuals in particular are very thin on the ground, same with the C5. Ford must have pretty much cleaned up with the S550 Mustang for most who have had a serious hankering for a slice of V8 manual Americana.
Strudul said:
AdeTuono said:
Strudul said:
LHD is the only reason I don't have a Vette. It just restricts the overtaking opportunities too much.
It really doesn't...Good timing! Im currently typing this from a motel in Austin, Texas, going to do a trackday at Circuit Of The Americas tomorow, in a C6 I bought from California last week for 10k dollars!!!
I will write up a full readers cars report when I get home buy basically:
End of 2016 on a California roadtrip I got to go out in a C6 Grandsport at Laguna Seca.
Spent everyday since reading up, dispelling myths, joining the UK Corvette club and looking at classifieds.
UK cars are pricey and almost all autos, although did manage to test drive a manual at the helpful main dealers, Ian Allan to check my wife and I could get on with LHD.
Just before Christmas was browing classifieds in bed at midnight and found what has become my car newly advertised on a US vette forum.
One owner, 2007, $9995 (£7500ish) but high mileage- 193,000! Plenty of emails and calls and I paid a deposit. The seller had lots of interest and over asking price offers. Arranged flights, insurance, shipping, hotels etc.
Flew to LA with my wife last week and have so far covered over 2000 faultless, unforgettable miles. From the pacific coast we have visited California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas including stretches of Route 66, The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and much more.
We have only seen one C4, one C6 and two C7, so hardly common and it has had nods, smiles and thumbs up. Both of us are really enjoying it and even after all the costs, by the time I get it shipped from Houston on Monday and all costs (exc. 'holiday' costs) paid to get it on the road in the UK it will costs less than my Z4M Roadster which will sell in the spring I expect.
I will write up a full readers cars report when I get home buy basically:
End of 2016 on a California roadtrip I got to go out in a C6 Grandsport at Laguna Seca.
Spent everyday since reading up, dispelling myths, joining the UK Corvette club and looking at classifieds.
UK cars are pricey and almost all autos, although did manage to test drive a manual at the helpful main dealers, Ian Allan to check my wife and I could get on with LHD.
Just before Christmas was browing classifieds in bed at midnight and found what has become my car newly advertised on a US vette forum.
One owner, 2007, $9995 (£7500ish) but high mileage- 193,000! Plenty of emails and calls and I paid a deposit. The seller had lots of interest and over asking price offers. Arranged flights, insurance, shipping, hotels etc.
Flew to LA with my wife last week and have so far covered over 2000 faultless, unforgettable miles. From the pacific coast we have visited California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas including stretches of Route 66, The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and much more.
We have only seen one C4, one C6 and two C7, so hardly common and it has had nods, smiles and thumbs up. Both of us are really enjoying it and even after all the costs, by the time I get it shipped from Houston on Monday and all costs (exc. 'holiday' costs) paid to get it on the road in the UK it will costs less than my Z4M Roadster which will sell in the spring I expect.
Fishy Dave said:
Good timing! Im currently typing this from a motel in Austin, Texas, going to do a trackday at Circuit Of The Americas tomorow, in a C6 I bought from California last week for 10k dollars!!!
I will write up a full readers cars report when I get home buy basically:
End of 2016 on a California roadtrip I got to go out in a C6 Grandsport at Laguna Seca.
Spent everyday since reading up, dispelling myths, joining the UK Corvette club and looking at classifieds.
UK cars are pricey and almost all autos, although did manage to test drive a manual at the helpful main dealers, Ian Allan to check my wife and I could get on with LHD.
Just before Christmas was browing classifieds in bed at midnight and found what has become my car newly advertised on a US vette forum.
One owner, 2007, $9995 (£7500ish) but high mileage- 193,000! Plenty of emails and calls and I paid a deposit. The seller had lots of interest and over asking price offers. Arranged flights, insurance, shipping, hotels etc.
Flew to LA with my wife last week and have so far covered over 2000 faultless, unforgettable miles. From the pacific coast we have visited California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas including stretches of Route 66, The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and much more.
We have only seen one C4, one C6 and two C7, so hardly common and it has had nods, smiles and thumbs up. Both of us are really enjoying it and even after all the costs, by the time I get it shipped from Houston on Monday and all costs (exc. 'holiday' costs) paid to get it on the road in the UK it will costs less than my Z4M Roadster which will sell in the spring I expect.
Now, that's the way to do it! Living the dream...I will write up a full readers cars report when I get home buy basically:
End of 2016 on a California roadtrip I got to go out in a C6 Grandsport at Laguna Seca.
Spent everyday since reading up, dispelling myths, joining the UK Corvette club and looking at classifieds.
UK cars are pricey and almost all autos, although did manage to test drive a manual at the helpful main dealers, Ian Allan to check my wife and I could get on with LHD.
Just before Christmas was browing classifieds in bed at midnight and found what has become my car newly advertised on a US vette forum.
One owner, 2007, $9995 (£7500ish) but high mileage- 193,000! Plenty of emails and calls and I paid a deposit. The seller had lots of interest and over asking price offers. Arranged flights, insurance, shipping, hotels etc.
Flew to LA with my wife last week and have so far covered over 2000 faultless, unforgettable miles. From the pacific coast we have visited California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas including stretches of Route 66, The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and much more.
We have only seen one C4, one C6 and two C7, so hardly common and it has had nods, smiles and thumbs up. Both of us are really enjoying it and even after all the costs, by the time I get it shipped from Houston on Monday and all costs (exc. 'holiday' costs) paid to get it on the road in the UK it will costs less than my Z4M Roadster which will sell in the spring I expect.
Just be aware that you'll not be able to overtake anything when you get to the UK.
Worked in a dealership with attached Corvette/Cadillac franchise back in 2005 when these were new. We did the servicing on them.
Didn't see them very often because the salesman was a lazy sod who was hardly ever there but as I recall they gave no trouble in service, just check them over and change the oil and filter.
Thought the interior was a bit cheap but they looked great and went like stink for the money.
Didn't see them very often because the salesman was a lazy sod who was hardly ever there but as I recall they gave no trouble in service, just check them over and change the oil and filter.
Thought the interior was a bit cheap but they looked great and went like stink for the money.
Mound Dawg said:
Worked in a dealership with attached Corvette/Cadillac franchise back in 2005 when these were new. We did the servicing on them.
Didn't see them very often because the salesman was a lazy sod who was hardly ever there but as I recall they gave no trouble in service, just check them over and change the oil and filter.
Thought the interior was a bit cheap but they looked great and went like stink for the money.
Was that Stratstone? If so, they (he) had a terrible reputation within the Vette community. Didn't see them very often because the salesman was a lazy sod who was hardly ever there but as I recall they gave no trouble in service, just check them over and change the oil and filter.
Thought the interior was a bit cheap but they looked great and went like stink for the money.
K50 DEL said:
I ran a C6 as my daily driver in the UAE for a couple of years and found it incredibly easy to live with... a couple of extra points I'd add though.
The targa roof panel is not brilliant, removal and refitment are 2 person jobs and stowing the panel in the car will massively reduce the luggage space - best to either accept the car as a coupe or buy the convertible version in the first place.
The auto box is beyond woeful - seriously, only consider a manual, it's a great box and a delight to use.
The loose under-seat wire mentioned in the article leads into a wider C6 problem - the electrical systems are not the best, over the course of 2 years I had all sorts of niggling issues, some serious (sudden instant loss of all headlights) to trivial (pax door wouldn't open from the outside)
In chasing these faults, various design issues came to light, most serious of which is the placement of the main fusebox - it's unlikely to be an issue in the UK but in the Middle East (and hotter states of the US) fusebox replacements are commonplace (and indeed I had to) the box gets crazy hot, causing the internal insulation to fall apart and wires and links to touch each other.
The start/stop switch, door release buttons and driver's door window/mirror control panel are all also common failure points as they're cheaply made and the contacts within them degrade - weirdly replacing the door master switch cured a bunch of little issues on mine that were not related to windows or mirrors in any way!
Mechanically though they are beyond bulletproof, aside from servicing and a starter motor change (probably unnecessary but the dealership insisted it would cure an issue I had - it didn't) I had no problems with mine in all the time I had it, it even coped fairly well with some mild wadi-bashing.
I'd have another in a heartbeat, but for the reasons listed above would buy a full convertible next time rather than the targa.... oh and a Borla exhaust upgrade is worth every penny as well!
This could have been an owner's review of a Blackpool TVR if Peter Wheeler has chosen LS engines rather than manufacturing the Speed Six.The targa roof panel is not brilliant, removal and refitment are 2 person jobs and stowing the panel in the car will massively reduce the luggage space - best to either accept the car as a coupe or buy the convertible version in the first place.
The auto box is beyond woeful - seriously, only consider a manual, it's a great box and a delight to use.
The loose under-seat wire mentioned in the article leads into a wider C6 problem - the electrical systems are not the best, over the course of 2 years I had all sorts of niggling issues, some serious (sudden instant loss of all headlights) to trivial (pax door wouldn't open from the outside)
In chasing these faults, various design issues came to light, most serious of which is the placement of the main fusebox - it's unlikely to be an issue in the UK but in the Middle East (and hotter states of the US) fusebox replacements are commonplace (and indeed I had to) the box gets crazy hot, causing the internal insulation to fall apart and wires and links to touch each other.
The start/stop switch, door release buttons and driver's door window/mirror control panel are all also common failure points as they're cheaply made and the contacts within them degrade - weirdly replacing the door master switch cured a bunch of little issues on mine that were not related to windows or mirrors in any way!
Mechanically though they are beyond bulletproof, aside from servicing and a starter motor change (probably unnecessary but the dealership insisted it would cure an issue I had - it didn't) I had no problems with mine in all the time I had it, it even coped fairly well with some mild wadi-bashing.
I'd have another in a heartbeat, but for the reasons listed above would buy a full convertible next time rather than the targa.... oh and a Borla exhaust upgrade is worth every penny as well!
AdeTuono said:
Strudul said:
AdeTuono said:
Strudul said:
LHD is the only reason I don't have a Vette. It just restricts the overtaking opportunities too much.
It really doesn't...1) keep so far back from the car in front so that you can see the opposite lane easily
2) keep checking by moving half way into opposite lane, while staying close to the car in front
3) keep checking by leaning over, while staying close to the car in front
Neither of which works well in areas or on roads with heavy traffic (e.g. South East) since you're either in a queue of cars and you need to be fast and committed without hesitation or the gaps in the oncoming traffic are so small that by the time you identify the opportunity there's no time to execute it unless you drive a La Ferrari or drive like a bellend.
AdeTuono said:
Strudul said:
AdeTuono said:
Strudul said:
LHD is the only reason I don't have a Vette. It just restricts the overtaking opportunities too much.
It really doesn't...
Your vision is impaired, that's not really up for discussion.
As such, you either have to drop back and / or wait for a bend, both restricting your options, plus you can't peep.
Still makes me laugh the LHD overtaking brigade putting their opinions forward whom generally don't own or spent a long time in a LHD car in the UK.
I'll give you my personal experience after driving them in the UK for 30 years. Past my test at 17, first car was a Corvette. Currently have a Corvette C6 Z06 in the garage (love them!). I also own RHD cars too.
Overtaking. Being honest on todays packed roads, I don't think many of us overtake as much as we did!
In LHD, going round left bend LHD has an advantage, right bend not so great...opposite applies to RHD. As other stated either stay back a little, or if closer take a peak on the inside, being careful and leaning across as you edge out.
Parking is a doddle, as you can look straight at the curb.
Car parks, I use a litter picker to grab ticket...and always puts a smile on the faces of toll operators.
Back to the Corvette Z06, absolute beast of a car. Being honest the interior is not that great, but I soon fixed that taking her to a trimer adding Alcantara and leather to seats, door panels and dash. Also changed the carpets. Completely changed the car feeling very high quality.
I'll give you my personal experience after driving them in the UK for 30 years. Past my test at 17, first car was a Corvette. Currently have a Corvette C6 Z06 in the garage (love them!). I also own RHD cars too.
Overtaking. Being honest on todays packed roads, I don't think many of us overtake as much as we did!
In LHD, going round left bend LHD has an advantage, right bend not so great...opposite applies to RHD. As other stated either stay back a little, or if closer take a peak on the inside, being careful and leaning across as you edge out.
Parking is a doddle, as you can look straight at the curb.
Car parks, I use a litter picker to grab ticket...and always puts a smile on the faces of toll operators.
Back to the Corvette Z06, absolute beast of a car. Being honest the interior is not that great, but I soon fixed that taking her to a trimer adding Alcantara and leather to seats, door panels and dash. Also changed the carpets. Completely changed the car feeling very high quality.
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