Avis Rental Car
Discussion
Hi All
I recently returned from a biz trip to Arizona where I hired a brand new C6 (victory red) convertible (thank you Avis - see picture taken at Monument Valley). I must say I am hooked on them now so much so that I fear my 911 will be traded in soon. Whilst the Corvette is excellent to drive and run in the States, what are the pitfalls over here (LHD, no dealer network (to speak of), servicing and parts)?
What I am after is a YOM 2008+ C6 Manual?
David
I recently returned from a biz trip to Arizona where I hired a brand new C6 (victory red) convertible (thank you Avis - see picture taken at Monument Valley). I must say I am hooked on them now so much so that I fear my 911 will be traded in soon. Whilst the Corvette is excellent to drive and run in the States, what are the pitfalls over here (LHD, no dealer network (to speak of), servicing and parts)?
What I am after is a YOM 2008+ C6 Manual?
David
Hi David,
Glad to hear you've been converted! LHD is a doddle - visibility's worse for overtaking on arrow-straight roads, and ticket barriers are a pain, but that's about it. There aren't a huge number of dealers or service centres, but whether or not that's a problem depends on where you live. You won't find many late models in the classifieds, but Stratstone Birmingham may have a few 2008 models left. If you do get one, get the battery replaced as it'll have been sitting around for months. In general, they're very reliable and don't need much scheduled maintenance so the distance to the service centres tends to be a non-issue. And coming from a 911 you'll find the total cost of a C6 service is probably less than the VAT on a 911 service...! If you'd like to find out more from people with local knowledge, check out the CCCUK web-site for regional meetings.
Gary
Glad to hear you've been converted! LHD is a doddle - visibility's worse for overtaking on arrow-straight roads, and ticket barriers are a pain, but that's about it. There aren't a huge number of dealers or service centres, but whether or not that's a problem depends on where you live. You won't find many late models in the classifieds, but Stratstone Birmingham may have a few 2008 models left. If you do get one, get the battery replaced as it'll have been sitting around for months. In general, they're very reliable and don't need much scheduled maintenance so the distance to the service centres tends to be a non-issue. And coming from a 911 you'll find the total cost of a C6 service is probably less than the VAT on a 911 service...! If you'd like to find out more from people with local knowledge, check out the CCCUK web-site for regional meetings.
Gary
My C6 Z06 fits in a standard 7' 6" wide garage door with the mirrors out.......unlike a Gallardo!
Regarding noise, you wait 'til you hear one with the exhaust replaced with a proper system and you will probably soil yourself.......
LHD is easy to get used to as is right hand gear changes if you opt for a manual. Regarding servicing, they are cheap to do at a dealer compared with most other cars of a similar level of performance and they are easy to service yourself if you so desire.
Regarding noise, you wait 'til you hear one with the exhaust replaced with a proper system and you will probably soil yourself.......
LHD is easy to get used to as is right hand gear changes if you opt for a manual. Regarding servicing, they are cheap to do at a dealer compared with most other cars of a similar level of performance and they are easy to service yourself if you so desire.
Edited by vetteheadracer on Friday 22 May 20:21
GW65 said:
vetteheadracer said:
My C6 Z06 fits in a standard 7' 6" wide garage door with the mirrors out.......unlike a Gallardo!
They must breed 'em bigger down there Nigel! My doors are 7' and mirror to mirror is 6'10" so being a wimp I have to fold the mirrors. Bloody modern houses...Thanks all. Reassuring to hear about servicing costs (although the annual on my 993 was about £150 this year -I digress). Are the Stratstone cars complete with the performance upgrade as standard? Battery aside is there anything else I should look out for? If new then under a 3 year warranty thus no problems at all?!?
BTW do Avis or Hertz modify their cars in anyway at all or are they standard?
Sorry about all the questions but I am 99% convinced I must have one, just need to satisfy that remaining 1%...
David
BTW do Avis or Hertz modify their cars in anyway at all or are they standard?
Sorry about all the questions but I am 99% convinced I must have one, just need to satisfy that remaining 1%...
David
moondog said:
Are the Stratstone cars complete with the performance upgrade as standard? Battery aside is there anything else I should look out for? If new then under a 3 year warranty thus no problems at all?!?
BTW do Avis or Hertz modify their cars in anyway at all or are they standard?
Sorry about all the questions but I am 99% convinced I must have one, just need to satisfy that remaining 1%...
David
All Euro C6s have the Z51 package, which gives you the coolers, drilled discs, uprated suspension, etc, and come with a 3 year warranty. Apart from battery, nothing special apart from just making sure that it's been PDIed properly (so everything works, nothing hanging off!). Two guys who bought cars from Strats recently each had 1 failed tyre pressure sensor, but that was sorted under warranty.BTW do Avis or Hertz modify their cars in anyway at all or are they standard?
Sorry about all the questions but I am 99% convinced I must have one, just need to satisfy that remaining 1%...
David
From what the guys in the US say, the rental C6 aren't modified...although some say that they feel slower than standard.
I've found my Corvettes (and a Camaro that I had before that) to be amongst the cheapest to run and most reliable cars that I've owned. In fact, the only US-built car I've had that was shoddy and badly designed was a BMW Z4!
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