How many Corvette owners leave the fold?
Discussion
Every day we see a post where someone is being tempted to the dark side: the poorly-built, 5mpg, good only in a straight line, pre-historic suspension and I'll say it again, poor handling, leaf-spring and thirsty 
thrusting fear into those ... er ... not in the know.
And once in a while, people actually look into a Corvette and realize they seem to be around for quite a while, are generally very reliable and parts easy to obtain, they handle better than expected, have lots of room and some people report 30mpg+ on a run!
(Oh, but I don't know if I can handle the left-hand drive).
...
So, I ask - how many do the reverse? Love the Corvettes and leave the 'fold', or indeed loathe their Corvettes and go on to something different? Or is it basically once bitten, the bug's in your blood for life?
For me, I've loved Corvettes since a kid, and my family car's a Cadillac so I'm pretty well stuck...
Would be interested to hear. Course, those who have left Corvette ownership mightn't be here to answer the question... but ho-hum.
thrusting fear into those ... er ... not in the know. And once in a while, people actually look into a Corvette and realize they seem to be around for quite a while, are generally very reliable and parts easy to obtain, they handle better than expected, have lots of room and some people report 30mpg+ on a run!
(Oh, but I don't know if I can handle the left-hand drive).
...
So, I ask - how many do the reverse? Love the Corvettes and leave the 'fold', or indeed loathe their Corvettes and go on to something different? Or is it basically once bitten, the bug's in your blood for life?
For me, I've loved Corvettes since a kid, and my family car's a Cadillac so I'm pretty well stuck...
Would be interested to hear. Course, those who have left Corvette ownership mightn't be here to answer the question... but ho-hum.
I loathed the car for a while[no need to go into why],but i took the cover off today and decided to get her out in the fresh air and give it a clean,next step is to fit a new battery and engine mount,then get her ready for going away.I have also been 'nose to the grind stone to get the funds ready'.
Cleaning her i realised how much i missed the sexy beast
Cleaning her i realised how much i missed the sexy beast
- frightened the crap out of a lot of the youngsters, and made a lot of the lads give a big smile. But best of all my little girl a smile as wide as you could have. 
i think the problem is - once you've got one - what do you swap to ?
something with more power - cooler ??
There isn't really anything to upgrade to
If money was no object i'd go for a Koenigsegg or Pagani Zonda - but that's a hell of a hike in budget and i wonder if you'd make as many friends on the road
Corvette's seem to make everyone smile and enjoy it (surprising really coz not much american has that effect !)
I left the fold due to moving overseas. I had a C3 and then a C5. I was already bringing another car with me and the C5 would have been too complicated because of LHD and frontal impact issues here in NZ.
Anything over 20 years gets round the red tape. Plenty of C4's that can't yet get registered for sale if you search here www.trademe.co.nz but I would probably be better to import one. Maybe. Not sure whats good pricewise here in NZ compared to USA. An early 70's C3 convertible would be good or can anyone recommend which pre 87 C4 should be considered.
Anything over 20 years gets round the red tape. Plenty of C4's that can't yet get registered for sale if you search here www.trademe.co.nz but I would probably be better to import one. Maybe. Not sure whats good pricewise here in NZ compared to USA. An early 70's C3 convertible would be good or can anyone recommend which pre 87 C4 should be considered.
I came in pretty late to the Corvette fold but have been smitten ever since. Every time I drive it, its brings a smile to my face, And I have been told that there is no way I will be allowed to sell it since my sons and daughter have demanded that I leave it to them when I pop my clogs! Not too soon I hope!
G
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Good responses - so it seems that once bitten by the Corvette bug, no one needs to look elsewhere! There's always a nicer, faster Corvette to aspire to - if you need to! - but I doubt there's much to better the Corvette in the combination of performance, looks, community, history, reliability and price.
[quote=V10 BAT]Hi men this car is not going anywhere.cliffy, looking good and i do
like those wheels.
V10 Bat - is that a 2001 Z06 with a supercharger?
I am really tempted to go that route but I want to maintain reliability etc. Have you uprated the gearbox/clutch and is this necessary?
Cheers for the info. My car's mint and I dont want to knacker it.
like those wheels.
V10 Bat - is that a 2001 Z06 with a supercharger?
I am really tempted to go that route but I want to maintain reliability etc. Have you uprated the gearbox/clutch and is this necessary?
Cheers for the info. My car's mint and I dont want to knacker it.
Interesting topic. We only normally hear from new Corvette owners joining the fold - not from disillusioned former owners off to buy something else. Of course if this were a TVR forum, that might be different...
I generally change my car every 2-3 years and I need something that I can do a daily 50 mile commute in, but still brings a smile to my face every time I drive it. I've had my 2001 C5 for 18 months now and I'm struggling to think what I can replace it with that will combine the same levels of performance, reliability, looks, economy and rarity. I'm toying with the idea of a Merc SL500 next, but many of these have suffered reliability and build quality problems, and I'm sure the running costs will be higher than for the 'Vette. 911? Too obvious. Cerbera? Too scary. Etc., etc. So, my inevitable conclusion is that I'll just have to get another 'Vette, but a manual C6 this time.
My one unavoidable incentive to get something more sensible was the recent arrival of no. 1 son. Now the missus rarely gets to use the 'Vette and, of course, we can't go out in it as a family. Which is why I shall be at the front of the queue when the new Camaro arrives in 2009. Not sure whether Stratstone will be selling them, or whether they'll be available in RHD (I think the jury is still out on both those questions), but as long as there's room in the back for a small sprog and it looks even half as good as the concept, I'll be putting my name down for one. Any other 'Vette owners in a similar position?
I generally change my car every 2-3 years and I need something that I can do a daily 50 mile commute in, but still brings a smile to my face every time I drive it. I've had my 2001 C5 for 18 months now and I'm struggling to think what I can replace it with that will combine the same levels of performance, reliability, looks, economy and rarity. I'm toying with the idea of a Merc SL500 next, but many of these have suffered reliability and build quality problems, and I'm sure the running costs will be higher than for the 'Vette. 911? Too obvious. Cerbera? Too scary. Etc., etc. So, my inevitable conclusion is that I'll just have to get another 'Vette, but a manual C6 this time.
My one unavoidable incentive to get something more sensible was the recent arrival of no. 1 son. Now the missus rarely gets to use the 'Vette and, of course, we can't go out in it as a family. Which is why I shall be at the front of the queue when the new Camaro arrives in 2009. Not sure whether Stratstone will be selling them, or whether they'll be available in RHD (I think the jury is still out on both those questions), but as long as there's room in the back for a small sprog and it looks even half as good as the concept, I'll be putting my name down for one. Any other 'Vette owners in a similar position?
Our favourite family car was the Z28, better than all the company BMWs and Mercs I ever had.
I come from Leeds, live near London so that's a regular journey. My wife and I share the driving. I remember the first time we came back from Leeds in the Camaro, my wife would drive the first half (Leeds to Leicester Forest East) and normally by Sheffield it would be "how much further". In the Camero she drove straight past Leicester Forest East - What! I cried - I don't mind driving she said.
My youngest son thought the bucket seats in the Camero were the most comfortable he'd ever sat in; even in a V8 it's a long, but enjoyable journey.
I come from Leeds, live near London so that's a regular journey. My wife and I share the driving. I remember the first time we came back from Leeds in the Camaro, my wife would drive the first half (Leeds to Leicester Forest East) and normally by Sheffield it would be "how much further". In the Camero she drove straight past Leicester Forest East - What! I cried - I don't mind driving she said.
My youngest son thought the bucket seats in the Camero were the most comfortable he'd ever sat in; even in a V8 it's a long, but enjoyable journey.
mark387mw said:
I left the fold due to moving overseas. I had a C3 and then a C5. I was already bringing another car with me and the C5 would have been too complicated because of LHD and frontal impact issues here in NZ.
Anything over 20 years gets round the red tape. Plenty of C4's that can't yet get registered for sale if you search here www.trademe.co.nz but I would probably be better to import one. Maybe. Not sure whats good pricewise here in NZ compared to USA. An early 70's C3 convertible would be good or can anyone recommend which pre 87 C4 should be considered.
Well, a potted history:Anything over 20 years gets round the red tape. Plenty of C4's that can't yet get registered for sale if you search here www.trademe.co.nz but I would probably be better to import one. Maybe. Not sure whats good pricewise here in NZ compared to USA. An early 70's C3 convertible would be good or can anyone recommend which pre 87 C4 should be considered.
'84 gets you stiffest suspension, 205 hp cross fire injection motor
'85 brings the L98 tpi motor, 230 hp, cast iron heads, bit more go and refined slightly
'86 you get abs, and the convertible (all ally heads) late 86 coupes have ally heads, no extra power quoted but loses something like 20kg from the front end.
'87 - think comp ratio was increased giving an extra 5hp.
BUT - the options are probably as important, so apart form the cross fire vs tpi engine, and if ABS is or is not important to you, it'll be a question of whether you want auto/manual, leather/cloth etc. etc. There are some performance options too (e.g. Z51) - which do totaly change the feel of the car in terms of firmer suspension, quicker steering, comes at the price of comfort a little though.
Try some out - you'll either love the early C4's or hate them!
Well, although as it happens my car is for sale, it's down to financial reasons plus 2 kids!! But if ever a toe is dipped back into such waters, it'll be a Corvette for me of course!
Now, on the topic of children and the Camaro: that 2009 looks SWEEEEEEET!! For those who have seen the new Transformers film (it's a hoot by the way! bit slow at the start but second half a lot of fun!) the 2009 yellow Camaro playing bumblebee is lovely.
Nevertheless, and I'll say it very quietly... the new mustang is a wonderful looking car too, never mind the hot versions of it - just a very purty car. But that or the new Camaro, I'd go for the General's V8.
Now, on the topic of children and the Camaro: that 2009 looks SWEEEEEEET!! For those who have seen the new Transformers film (it's a hoot by the way! bit slow at the start but second half a lot of fun!) the 2009 yellow Camaro playing bumblebee is lovely.
Nevertheless, and I'll say it very quietly... the new mustang is a wonderful looking car too, never mind the hot versions of it - just a very purty car. But that or the new Camaro, I'd go for the General's V8.
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