Model years

[steve-p]

I'm thinking about getting a Z06, either new or nearly new, and I was just wondering when the model years normally change over.

[tommyg]

Current model Z06 came out in 2006 and aside from minor changes to rear shocks and sound proofing in 07 and improved gearbox in 08 is the same car.

There is a Z06 in the C5 model and also the C2.

(Caveat: there may be more changes to the C6 Z06 but those are the only ones I know about)

[LuS1fer]

Around September/October so a 2005 car can be a 2004 registration.. The sure way is to check the VIN number and look up the appropriate letter on any internet VIN decoder and it will tell you what MY it is. It's easy in some cases. For example the 385hp Z06 was only made for the 2001 MY.

[steve-p]

Thanks. What is slightly odd is that some US websites claim to have tested 09 cars already but they must be making it up. The only concrete announcements I can find are about the ZR1. I am only looking at the current model, not previous ones. Ideally a low mileage car less than 12 months old, but they all seem to be silver, and I'm getting pretty bored with silver now Black would be good but it's not metallic.

[ringram]

Yeah US cars are 2009MY because they sell into 2009 with that model.
As mentioned its normally out 2008 sometime.

[LuS1fer]

Yeah, what they usually mean by that is that there are no planned changes now before 2009 and it's often used as an incentive to get people to buy cars now rather than waiting for some anticipated upgrade that isn't coming. I also read on an obscure Buick website that legally you can sell a car for the following model year as early as January the previous year which just goes to show what an ass all law is.

[mrobin33]

Generally for US makers the factories shut down for several weeks in August at which point workers have a break and the lines are retooled - all production after that is the next model year. Check the VIN, also all US sold cars have manufacture date in the door jam labelling and you can tell from that what model year. So if you want a 2008 car a date of 8/07 onward is what you want.

Also check various US Vette sites for changes in models from year to year - for example with the C6 Z06 you'll see there was a roof fault with 06 models, so look for an 07 model or guarantee it has had the mod. And so on.

Edited by mrobin33 on Monday 11th February 19:58

[vetteheadracer]

mrobin33 said:

Generally for US makers the factories shut down for several weeks in August at which point workers have a break and the lines are retooled - all production after that is the next model year. Check the VIN, also all US sold cars have manufacture date in the door jam labelling and you can tell from that what model year. So if you want a 2008 car a date of 8/07 onward is what you want.

Also check various US Vette sites for changes in models from year to year - for example with the C6 Z06 you'll see there was a roof fault with 06 models, so look for an 07 model or guarantee it has had the mod. And so on.

Edited by mrobin33 on Monday 11th February 19:58

You are a little out with your timings regarding C5 Corvettes the C5's usually started production about the 20th/21st of June for a sales year starting 1st of September.

[mrobin33]

I am wrong - you are right Apologies I was confused.

Here is the schedule for 2009 production start up:

Vette & Z06 June 23; ZR1 July 14 (Yippee).

Dealer allocation and orders starts up about a month before I believe - worth looking at www.corvetteconti.com a US dealer that seems happy to share pretty much everything about production schedules, order deadlines and up to the minute allocations.

[vetteheadracer]

mrobin33 said:

I am wrong - you are right Apologies I was confused.

Here is the schedule for 2009 production start up:

Vette & Z06 June 23; ZR1 July 14 (Yippee).

Dealer allocation and orders starts up about a month before I believe - worth looking at www.corvetteconti.com a US dealer that seems happy to share pretty much everything about production schedules, order deadlines and up to the minute allocations.

Good info interesting they are starting production so late for the ZR1.......also interesting on another post a July delivery date for the ZR1 is quoted by a dealer..........

Bastille Day = ZR1 Day!