C6 as a daily?

[Marc p]

Hi Guy's,

Hoping for some honest owners insight here in my current predicament, but first, a little back story:

I spend alot of time out in Texas every year and thankfully have a freind who works for Hertz at Austin airport, so get an array of wonderfull cars to try out, over the past couple of years I've tried Mustangs in both V6 and 5.0GT spec, Camaro's as V6 and V8, Challenger R/T's and a C6 'vert (LS3 engine). The C6 I had on my last visit for a few weeks and there's no beating around the bush here, I fell in love with it(I put 2000 miles on it driving everywhere I could! Even found my favourite twisty driving road, in Texas of all places!), but I need to know if it was one of those holiday romance type affairs with rose tinted glasses and the harsh reality is that in the UK with rougher/smaller/RHD roads it doesn't work to the same effect.

My current car scenario is so:

- '98 MR2 (daily beater)
- '89 944S2
- '99 Supra TT6
- '94 Skyline GTR

Now to fund it and make it more viable, the MR2 and 944 would be going(Supra has too much time, money and love in it and the GTR is purely a garaged investment).

I would also add that my father has an old '69 Mustang that I have borrowed on quite a few occasions, so I'm not a newbie to a LHD over here and know what to expect on that front, but the Mustang isn't quick and you don't do much overtaking in it.

So after the above, what would be incredibly helpful is just some insight into what it would be like to run a C6 as a daily, what are the average running costs like? I'm realistic about petrol costs, but it's more the general running and repair costs, any common issues?

I do have plenty of time to get my facts together as this isn't something I'm going to look at doing until March/April time.

Thanks in advance.

Marc

[BlackZeD]

I have had an '86 Trans Am, '86 Corvette convertible, '93 Trans Am and a 2001 Corvette coupe as daily drivers.
All ran great the time I had them, only normal day to day things were required, such as oil, tyres, brakes etc.
The C6 will be an even better daily, as it will be more European feeling.
Parts that wear are cheap enough considering the performance and with the internet, help is everywhere now.

Get a good one and you wont regret it.

Dave.

[Adeyb]

I drove my Z06 as a daily for 2 years, absolutely perfect, It lives in my garage most of the time now as I dont get time to use it.

Are you thinking C6 or C6 Z06?

[Marc p]

Thanks for the info guys, that is exactly what I was hoping to hear, unfortunately it would be the C6 and not the Z06, as much as I would love a black on black z06, the budget will be mid twenties which will be a C6, my Supra should be pushing around 800hp after the next mapping session though so I still have my ballsy rwd car

I know I must be getting older when I say this aswell, but I did like the Corvettes auto box and would be tempted to go for the lazy approach and get the auto, however, I haven't driven the manual and would really need to do so before I made my mind up.

[GW65]

I've owned by '08 C6 from new, and for the whole 6-odd years it's been my daily driver. Other than the obvious challenges at car-park barriers it's been totally hassle-free to run (it's an auto which does make life a lot easier...).

In terms of running costs, I've averaged low-20s to the UK gallon, it's needed one service per year at somewhere between £200 and £500 depending on the specific service, road tax is £400-odd, and insurance is currently £400 (I have a Borla system which bumps it up a little). Other than that, nothing to report except that no matter how cr*p your day at work has been, the world seems a better place when you're driving home in a Vette

[irish boy]

Superb cars and well up to the daily grind. Be careful buying tho…..my first one, bought from a 'specialist' turned out to be a write off in the states before coming to the uk. I was too green to know what a carfax was and just did an hpi. Could have cried as I traded in a stunning ram srt-10. Law was no help as legally he doesn't have to declare damage that happened outside the uk insurance system. Lost a fortune.

Didn't put me off corvettes tho, bought a rather good one and enjoyed it for 3 years. Looking at a lovely grand sport at the minute but unsure how values of late ones will hold with the new model c7 and the rhd mustang on the way also.

[Marc p]

irish boy said:

Superb cars and well up to the daily grind. Be careful buying tho…..my first one, bought from a 'specialist' turned out to be a write off in the states before coming to the uk. I was too green to know what a carfax was and just did an hpi. Could have cried as I traded in a stunning ram srt-10. Law was no help as legally he doesn't have to declare damage that happened outside the uk insurance system. Lost a fortune.

Didn't put me off corvettes tho, bought a rather good one and enjoyed it for 3 years. Looking at a lovely grand sport at the minute but unsure how values of late ones will hold with the new model c7 and the rhd mustang on the way also.

Ouch, to be honest, if I was buying from a dealer, I'd probably go to Bauer Millet, you pay a premium, but you have peace of mind.

Anyway, I have been in contact with one of the members on here who has informed me that his stunning example might be available for sale in Spring next year, so it's time to continue saving up as much as I can and get the MR2 and 944 ready for sale.

Once gaing guys, thank you for all the responses, obviously I realise there is a tad bit of biased based opinions here, but the answers were exactly what I was hoping for

[nitrodave]

i did exactly what you did - had one a C6 as a hire care for a couple of weeks in the US. I loved the heads up display encouraging me to pull more G's through the bends, the grunty engine and wasn't put off by the build quality.

I fell in love and still hamper after one. If you can deal with the low mpg i don't see why it should be a problem being used daily. There seem to be specialists here for parts and i guess anything you may ever need can be shipped over easily.