Chevy may have done it correct this time...

A group of us headed out to York, PA this Saturday to take deliver on my friends new Z06. All I can say is that 500 hp feels mighty fine. Great looking car with such nice lines as it resembles the Viper in many ways.

The only thing better than the 996 in that picture is the power. If that thing had 300hp you'd rather have the Porsche. To each his own, but bright yellow, puke. It just screams "look at me, please". I'll take the black viper.

Considering that thing costs 70-ish (if i am not mistaken), I think that is the best value supercar today. With that sort of money, one can only afford a Cayman, not even a base Carrera (new). So even though I am not a big fan of Vettes, I have to admit that I thought about getting that car many2 times coz of the value it represents (not in Yellow of course... )

you do get a lot of performance for the cost thats for sure, but I have yet to see a modern american car hold up over time. The true test is in 10 years and 150k miles....what condition is the car in? My 7 year old C4 with 108k miles looks almost new....Will a similar age and mileage american sports car being driven daily hold up as well? Hmmm....Usually you get what you pay for. Corners had to be cut, so where did they cut them, or did they all of a sudden try and reduce the profit margins? NOPE...

i am not sure about longevity of C6z06 (10 year? 150k?) or if it will last 3 heavy track seasons 15k track miles, but performance wise, it's phenomenal. i had a three car length advantage coming out of a tight corner (T15 at TH) in my GT3. a C6z06 blew by me 1/2 down the straight like i was a spec miata. sure, i got him back at the turn, but if you put 10k and get some real suspension and binders on the vette. i am not sure GT3 can beat it even in the coner (remember, i am exclusing durability/longevity concerns here).

AGREED...its a FAST car....very fast.....but durability? Thats what you pay for....anyone can make a car to last 5 years...but 25 years...thats the key. I heard somewhere that something like 75% of ALL Porsches ever made are still driveable. That says something about how these cars are made....

So are you saying you bought your Porsche because you intend to keep it for 25 years? Is that really why you paid the Porsche premium? If not, what does it matter how long it lasts beyond your ownership...

I assume he means "Resale Value"

for the money...the NEW Vette is a great value......but not for the longterm.....and they look best in BLACK!! I have to say they look better than ever...still love the very old ones the best!!

Well I dont flip cars that often...I like to own them 8-10 years....so if Its a piece of junk in 6, then the resale is horrible and I lose my shirt....also the repair costs will escalate and that great buy in the beginning may turn into a money pit in the long run. I bought my Porsche because I liked the car, its my 2nd Porsche and I would have kept the first one much longer if my wife didnt push me to get this one. The reason I bought Posche is also the reputation for performance and reliability and durability....My brother has a 1979 911sc and its in amazing shape for a car thats 27 years old. That says something....would you want a 1979 Corvette? HELL NO....I rest my case....Again...new c6 Z06 awesome performance for the price, but time will tell if its a great car.

To the original poster, did you get much seat time? Did your friend ignore the break in?

Viper is the best looking car of the bunch. Hands down. Took GM 10 years to catch up, performance wise. Still way behind on the looks and more of a "me-too" design statement. SRT (Dodge performance) is now working closely together with McLaren (through their Mercedes association) on the next generation Viper. It's motor really needs an overhaul. Can't believe the old 2-valve technology they're still using . On the other hand, you don't notice that when you're driving it. Compared to my 911, it feels like on steroids. There's no replacement for displacement ...

Actually I do see lots of older vettes on the road. Maybe it's because they are made of fiberglass. GM made a big leap forward with the C5 and the C6 is even better. With respect to stying I believe the C6 looks great with the exception of the rear end. As far as resale value is concerned, the 911 does hold its value well as long as you are able to sell it privately. The Porsche Dealers I've gone to have never given me anywhere near a decent wholesale value for my car. So I was compelled to sell them privately. One of my neighbors took his well equipped '04 996 that stickered for $89K to Valley Motors in MD. The car was in excellent condition and only had 12K miles on the odometer. Well their offer was $47K. Since he paid $85K for the car, that's almost a $40K drop in two years. Granted that a car depreciates the most the first two years, but $40K is a lot of depreciation.

oh crap, here we go again with "for the money, 'x' car is a better value and is faster than a 911". If that is the case, go buy a frickin Subie STi, spend less than $5K in mods and walk all over the Z06 and 911! You don't buy a 911 for displacement or hp, you buy it for durability, longevity, lines, heritage, and track-worthiness. On the track, I have yet to be passed by a viper, any vette other than the new Z06 (since I haven't seen it on the track yet), or for the most part, most other cars! When I am getting passed, it is by a more superior Porsche to mine......TT, GT3, Cup, etc. Is the new Z06 nice? Yes. Is it an "American Muscle Icon"? Yes. But what's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a Vetter owner? And yes I have heard the jokes about porcupines and Porsche. Next argument please.

NewPort996 made the point. I buy Porsches because in 10 years what had I rather be driving? I drove 928's for 14 years and I will own my 02 for probably 10 years. And my 964 gets more attention at the local drive up than any of the newer Vettes. Even the Z06 guys come to admire it. The C5 vette guys in local SCCA could not keep them on the track with everything breaking every weekend. As said, the Z06 is a great car for the money. Just don't expect a Porsche

I had a C6 6 speed in black with the F55 suspension that I took delivery of in Nov of '04. This was my second corvette, as I previously owned a '00 black 6 speed with F45. After a borla exhaust, intake and MAF changes (on both), they were an absolute blast to drive. Although they indeed dropped in value quite a bit (especially the C5, which I purchased for $50k brand new, and sold for $33k after 2 years and 18k miles), I still am very happy to have owned them. When I relocated from DC to Colorado last Nov, the C6 was the first thing to go - not a practical car in the least bit to begin with - pretty much an albatross in the mountain climate. This gave me the chance to justify (with my wife) an '02 C4S, my first P-car with NO regrets. Apples to Oranges for sure. The C6 is an amazing piece of work - so much improvement over the C5 in HP, handling (esp with the F55), workmanship and most of all, technology (I still miss the tech goodies in the C6 that you can't get on sports cars in that price range...heads up display, keyless, etc). I'll take a C6 over a Viper if you're talking about ownership any day of the week. Chrystler IMO still has some serious build quality issues that the corvette folks are at least *trying* to overcome. But either way, those cars and a 996 might as well be on mars and jupiter for what you get from it.

Test drove a C6 Z06 back to back with a Gallardo and F430. Z06 made them all seem slow. Great car for the money, but they will depreciate, especially with the 600hp Blue Devil possible coming out in a year or so. Will be a great buy a couple of years from now when you can pick up a slightly used one for $40k. I had three vetts over the last 10 years, two C4's (94 & 95) and one C5 (02 Z06) all were a blast to drive. I bought them all used so depreciation was minimal. I bought my Z06 used for $32k three years ago and sold it for $29k. Car was $53k new in 02. All were extremely reliable (even on the track). Sold my Z06 a month ago and picked up a 02 C4S. Both are great cars. You can't go wrong with either. Glenn P.S. I think it looks great in yellow

A friend of mine has a C6 and I had an opportunity to drive it and my 2002 C2 back-to-back and I noted that the Vette's clutch had very little feel and it was difficult to get a smooth start. The steering also had very little feel as well as the brakes. The car is just not as refined as the Porsche. I also noticed that it's starting to get some rattles whereas the P-car is silent and my friend has had to replace the top because it came unlaminated. But I agree, you sure get a lot of "bang" for the buck. Muscle car icon and it's made in the U.S. of A!! Roger B.

Agreed! Plus I think it would be infintely easier to deal with than my other favorite color (black)

Test drove a C6 Z06 back to back with a Gallardo and F430. Z06 made them all seem slow. Great car for the money, but they will depreciate, especially with the 600hp Blue Devil possible coming out in a year or so. Will be a great buy a couple of years from now when you can pick up a slightly used one for $40k. I think that you are dreaming when you say that you'll be able to pick up a slightly used one for $40K in a couple of years. Call any Chevy Dealer with an allocation of Z06s and see if you can get one next year without paying at least $5K over sticker. It'll be at least until 2008 that it won't take an act of God to get a Z for MSRP, so I don't believe that you'll be able to but a used one in '08 for $40K.

I think that you are dreaming when you say that you'll be able to pick up a slightly used one for $40K in a couple of years. Call any Chevy Dealer with an allocation of Z06s and see if you can get one next year without paying at least $5K over sticker. It'll be at least until 2008 that it won't take an act of God to get a Z for MSRP, so I don't believe that you'll be able to but a used one in '08 for $40K. That is what everyone was saying when the early 90's ZWhatever Vette came out. Didn't happen then? Great car.....still a Vette

I am usually not a fan of US company sports cars (and I'm originally from Detroit). I also don't usually like yellow cars. That said, there is a Yellow Z06 in my building and it looks and sounds great. I would drive this car in a heartbeat.

I love my 996 and would not trade it in for the world. Porsche blood runs deep in my veins however the Z06 is a great looking car. I also noticed they have some engineering that resembles Porsche. e.g. When "sport" mode is enabled, the flaps open up and allow flow through exhaust (PSE)

At least the new C6 Z06 does not have a sunroof :-P

Nope, just a non-intentional targa roof that removes itself from the car at speed :evigrin:

/\ l l l what he said. I have a yellow Vette and I like the color. It's not a 911 but so what? It's different. Not necessarily better or worse . . . just different.

Those days are gone, my friend. I wouldn't want to own a 997 10-15 years from now ( I doubt many will survive 27 years). It promises to be quite the maintenance nightmare. Mainly thanks to all the networked electronic crap that it has in common with most other cars on the market these days. In your brother's 911sc, the black boxes are relays. In the 997, they're networked electronic control units which manage just about everything. Just wait til a few years of corrosion take their toll.

A couple years means two to three years. I paid $32k for my 2002 Z06 in 2003. Car was 12 months old with 12k miles, original sticker was $53k, and I bought it from a dealer, private sale, could have been cheaper. Car loss 40% of it's value in 12 months. (BTW I sold it a month ago for $29k.) 2002 was the first year of the 405hp and they were also selling for 5k to 10k over sticker. They make 5,000 Z06's a year, maybe even more now ,so they are not a rare car. Many new Z06 owners will be trading in their cars in a year or two when the 2008 600hp Blue Devil Z06 comes out. Same thing happen to the 385hp 01's when the 405hp 02's came out. Everyone trader in their 01 for an 02 and 01 value went in the toilet.

I paid $32k for my 2002 Z06 in 2003. Car was 12 months old with 12k miles, original sticker was $53k, and I bought it from a dealer, private sale, could have been cheaper. Car loss 40% of it's value in 12 months. (BTW I sold it a month ago for $29k.) 2002 was the first year of the 405hp and they were also selling for 5k to 10k over sticker. Doesn't your post prove that it will be different with the C6 Z06? You bought a one year old Z for $20K less than the original sticker. 2006 was the first MY release for the C6 Z06, and I believe the first deliveries were in October '05. Do you seriously believe that you will be able to buy a used '06 C6 Z06 in a couple of months for less than a couple K under the original sticker unless it has some very seious issues: serious body damage, flood damage, etc. I called Kerbeck about a month ago about ordering a Z and they told me that their waiting list extends well into 2008. Who knows maybe you are right about the depreciation , but I doubt it.

Let's just agree to disagree. Maybe your right? I didn't say a couple of months, I said a couple of years from now. In 2008-2009 you will be able to pick up an 06 Z06 for low $40's. Most cars (and a Z06 is no exception) lose about 50% of their value in the first three years (trade in value). A 06 Z06 has a base price of $65k, $70k will all options. In 2009 the trade in value should be about $35k (1/2 of $70k). Owners will ask about $45-48k for their Z06 and will sell it realistically for low $40's. Many cars depreciate even more, look at the Lotus Elise. 05 Elise with MSRP stickers of $50k with 5k miles have trade in value of about $25k and are selling privately for $32-35k and are only 12 months old. That's a 30% loss (assuming selling for $35k) in 12 months. I been to Kerbeck many times, I live in Jersey (waiting list mean nothing, a lot of speculators are on those list, looking to resell the cars, once production meets demand, those list will disapear fast). Go to the corvetteforum.com Months ago people were paying 20k over sticker and now some dealers are already selling at sticker a few months later. In 2001 I went to Kerbeck to order an 02 and they told me a two year waiting list. 12 months later I picked up my slightly used 02. Again, you may be right and I may be totally wrong, but I've owned three vettes and bought them all used when they were approx 12 months old with 10-12k miles for about 40% less than the original sticker.

Back on the topic at hand, I completely agree that the new z06 is a tremendous value at 70k new. A lot of the price difference with Porsche's comes not from the aggregate cost in parts and R & D, but merely from the fact that Porsche's reputation allows it to earn higher margins on their cars. That fact doesn't really benefit us as consumers ( until its time to resell the car), but if Porsche made a car with the exact same Hp, suspension, etc, they could sell that same car for 150k and still have a line out the door. In fact, take that chevy badge off and put an aston martin or ferrari badge on and you'd still have a car that would sell in the 100's. Even though this is true, I'd still rather have a c2...am I crazy?