having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

[Clem Z.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Hmmm ... no offense intended, but no newer Vette will EVER go up in value? I don't think anyone can know that now. And isn't that what people used to think about C3s?

the 67 427/435 will not go up in value if you DRIVE it ! the only ones that go up in value are trailer queens. JMHO corvettes are not investments they are toys to have fun with,autocrossing,track days and drag racing and throw in a couple of nice long road trips.

[Edward S.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

I have a 65 396/425 Coupe Triple Crown car and just bought a 2009 Vette Coupe. I have had the 65 for 8 years now and have always used it quite a bit, local shows, cruise nights, etc. Once I got the triple crown most of my buddies said I was using it too much, and my answer was always that 1/2 the fun of owning it was driving it.( factory side pipes - loudest car I have ever had ). Four months ago, was in my daily driver waiting at a red light to make a left turn and a lady came out of the street I wanted to go on - through a red light, across 2 lanes of traffic, over a small island into the front of my car. While I was waiting for the police to show I sat there looking at my car and thinking what if I had been driving the 65 - since that day I have not had alot of fun driving the 65 I keep watching everyone around me. I keep looking in the rear mirror and thinking that who ever is pulling up behind me is getting to close.
I go out and buy the new one and find the following - I can now hear the radio and it plays great, I get about 27 miles to the gal. instead of 7 which was a buster when gas hit that $4.00 price point. The car is much faster, roomier and handles like a dream. I would think that I will get used to sitting in traffic and enjoying the AC this summer. I guess to make a long story short, I think me and the 65 will soon be parted when the economy I hope turns around. I will admit that my getting older must have something to do with it - I know I will lose a certain amount of money each year, never lost a dime on my older vettes., but I have reached a point where you can't put a price on pease of mind.
So pick whatever makes you happy and enjoy it, either way it's still a vette.

Did I mention how much I will miss that 4 speed and overheating when I am stuck in that great Jersey summer shore traffic.

[Chris E.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Brandon, that C5 looks great. If, after some more thinking and reading this thread and other inputs, you decide to get it, you won't regret it. C5s are a great car, through and through. Plus, you can drop the top and row the gears on that one. A plus for many of us.

Most of the nasty depreciation is gone on that C5. Will is still go down in value? You bet, but originally that car sold for what....$55-60K? Now it's basically half that? You're past the worst of it.

Oh, and don't worry about the "base" suspension. I had FE1 on my car, and it cornered like it was STAPLED to the pavement. Tires make a HUGE difference, much more than suspension ever does (at least in real world, daily driving). If you're going to track the car, that is a whole different discussion, and you should probably be looking at a coupe or an FRC (fixed roof coupe) for a more rigid chassis.

I remember VIVIDLY when I saw my first triple black C5 convertible. I was in downtown St. Paul. The car burbled past real slow. I was awestruck....must have looked REALLY stupid to the driver, but I thought it was amazing to look at, especially with polished wheels. Nice choice.

[Clem Z.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

just add Z-51 sway bars if you want flatter cornering without the harsh ride of the full Z-51 package. also the Z-51 tires wear out a lot faster than the standard corvette tires and they are not near as good in the rain because they do not have the water grooves the standard tires have

[Gary J.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

As the only infrequent poster on this trail, here's another statement you can take shots at; let me know who amoung us will be around to take a C4,C5,C6,or C7 $35,000 vette, turn it into a top flight $75,000 vette and drive it all the time, never been in a trailer. I did and don't lose sleep worring about the red light runner. I do look both ways before crossing the street, even in a cross walk.

Gary

[Roy B.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Each one of us may have that special year Corvette if your lucky to own one that warms our heart each time you see it. It doesn't matter weather you drive it or not, it's a piece of you no matter what others may say. I love the lines of the 53 to 55 which also reminds me of when I was in my 20's driving around in the rain (some times) smelling the engine while looking for girls to meet. Having and driving this 55 for over 33 years now I also have a C6 . I share my love of both by driving ether one depending how I feel and my wife is happy being in ether Corvette when we go driving.

[Terry M.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Looks familiar. LOVE the color.

[Brandon T.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Brandon, that C5 looks great. If, after some more thinking and reading this thread and other inputs, you decide to get it, you won't regret it. C5s are a great car, through and through. Plus, you can drop the top and row the gears on that one. A plus for many of us.

Most of the nasty depreciation is gone on that C5. Will is still go down in value? You bet, but originally that car sold for what....$55-60K? Now it's basically half that? You're past the worst of it.

Oh, and don't worry about the "base" suspension. I had FE1 on my car, and it cornered like it was STAPLED to the pavement. Tires make a HUGE difference, much more than suspension ever does (at least in real world, daily driving). If you're going to track the car, that is a whole different discussion, and you should probably be looking at a coupe or an FRC (fixed roof coupe) for a more rigid chassis.

I remember VIVIDLY when I saw my first triple black C5 convertible. I was in downtown St. Paul. The car burbled past real slow. I was awestruck....must have looked REALLY stupid to the driver, but I thought it was amazing to look at, especially with polished wheels. Nice choice.

ya I agree this triple black c5 has my eyes! http://www.chettimotorsports.com/det...e-3445096.html I am liking it over the c6 looks wise..but am having a hard time giving say 30k for that 5 year old car when new c6's are selling for 36k. Obivously a new c6 at 36k is a base coupe but still ur getting 438hp base with them now!

like I said just hard to decide...if I go with a 67 theres a 67 convertible 4sp l79 that is rated at 350hp for sale I'm liking. Just not sure on if I'd be pleased with the performance or not. Never drove a 327 I know I'm not that impressed with my dads 68 427/390 4sp...it's got grunt but it wouldn't run with that 95 LT1 I had..

[Clem Z.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

While all of the attributes the previous members have mentioned on the newer vettes are indeed correct, not one of them will ever go up in value or even ramain constant, no matter what you do to them. I basically drive my 1967 401K, it brings me great joy, In addition, the hands on mechanical I perform is my stress release from my high pressure job. The thrill of the driving and the excitment you see in peoples eyes driving a mid-year cannot be found in a newer ride. I'll bet there will be plenty of opinions in the opposite direction, and as they say, "that is why they make 47 different flavors of ice cream".
Regards, Gary

i have lost more money in the market in this last go round than all the new corvettes i have ever owned put together so i don't think the depreciation on a new corvette is a big deal since the fun you will have driving it. JMHO.

[Chuck L.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

That is a beautiful car! After reading this entire thread, my recommendation after owning 13 Corvettes of all generations is you have to have a minimum of 2. One vintage, up through C3 and then a C6 for all the fun stuff. Then one's appreciation will offset the others depreciation. This is the only way, believe me, to be a true Vette officiando!

[Paul J.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

The most important part of the decision is how will you use the car. I don't think you would want to use a C1, C2, or C3 Corvette as an every day driver. If you want to get into a car start it up and drive buy a new car. The old cars are great fun to drive but as with anything old they require a lot more time and effort to keep going and the old technology (steering brakes suspension) might loose its charm after a while. I love my C2 but I have to plan my trips and use care where I park it. I don't want to get caught in bad weather or get hit by a runaway shopping cart.

Brandon:

I was waiting for someone to say it and Bob finally did. The 04 that you're looking at is a modern car, the 67 is not. I remember when I bought my 78 in 1980, when it was a "modern" car. I was amazed at how much fun I could have in an everyday driver. With the T-tops, the AC, the stereo...I could cruise in it, drive it to work, and jump in it to go on trips comfortably, including to your Myrtle Beach while still challenging any curve in the road. While it was one of Chevy's POS's as far as the incidence and cost of repairs, it was truely my "sports" car. However, I owned my 64 at the time, and there was no way that I would have taken the vehicle on a long trip, not only for the concern of dependability but also for the reasons Bob mentioned.

If you're looking for advice, I think that you might be happier at this time in your life with the 04, or any "multi-purpose" modern Corvette. Save the 67 for a little later.

Paul

[Roy B.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

I truly understand people worry en about braking down on a trip. We've driven to NY, Canada and all around the country in the last 33 years in our 55 Corvette. My one and only concern is if the rear end goes out because 53 to 55 is Corvette only , nothing else will replace it (ring and pinion) .
But then it's a V8 PG and I know I can get parts for a V8 Chevy engine they made millions , even the 265 you can find parts, the PG is not impossible to locate parts< OK you may take a day or so to locate and repair but I'm not going to keep it in the garage or trailer it to enjoy it. Sure you could hurt it in an accident or what ever (that's life) Gee-wizz a C2 is nothing to worry about like my rear end parts. Drive it take a trip because you only get ONE trip in this life.
It could burn up sitting in the garage or a meter could hit it sitting in the drive way while your washing it ( what is that word most people use insurance ).

[Chris E.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Brandon, sounds like you're leaning towards a newer car. I would drive a C5 and a C6 back to back.

Also, be aware that an older car will feel "more loose" than a newer car, so you'll have to account for that. Also, be away of differences between coupe and convertible. In other words, don't drive the C5 vert then go drive a C6 coupe. That isn't a fair comparison. Drive the same body style of each.

Another story for perspective. When I was looking for my daily driver (Subaru Legacy GT), I drove 4 different cars of the same trim level. They were WILDLY different. One car wouldn't go (weird throttle issue), one car wouldn't stop (brakes were GONE), and another car wouldn't turn (something was really wrong with the steering). Drove the fourth one, and it was silky smooth so I bought it.

[Brandon T.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

Brandon:

I was waiting for someone to say it and Bob finally did. The 04 that you're looking at is a modern car, the 67 is not. I remember when I bought my 78 in 1980, when it was a "modern" car. I was amazed at how much fun I could have in an everyday driver. With the T-tops, the AC, the stereo...I could cruise in it, drive it to work, and jump in it to go on trips comfortably, including to your Myrtle Beach while still challenging any curve in the road. While it was one of Chevy's POS's as far as the incidence and cost of repairs, it was truely my "sports" car. However, I owned my 64 at the time, and there was no way that I would have taken the vehicle on a long trip, not only for the concern of dependability but also for the reasons Bob mentioned.

If you're looking for advice, I think that you might be happier at this time in your life with the 04, or any "multi-purpose" modern Corvette. Save the 67 for a little later.

Paul

only thing about that is they're just gonna be higher later on...but I get what you're saying.

[Brandon T.]

Re: having a hard time deciding on my next purchase..old vs new corvette

My biggest concern is performance....I will have to go with a smallblock 67 to get a nice one in my price range I want to spend...just not sure if the performance will be enough to please me.

I mean if a l79 car built to spec is a 16 second car...I probably need to stick with the 04.