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Comments
Randy
You're analysis may well be on the mark.
However, what good does this do the General? The dealers pay GM "X" dollars for the car. If the dealer marks it up 10k+, the General gets zip in additional profits. The dealer likes the extra profit but that does nothing to GM's bottom line.
On the flip side, "price it for the masses" is my mantra; introduce it in a timely fashion and GM benefits in additional sales/profits.
I am involved in a couple of Vette boards and the consensus seems to be that if the sled comes in at over 65k, it will tank in the sales numbers. One fellow has two on hold but he has the option of bailing out depending on pricing. Over 65k and he is OUT! And that seems the sentiment of the board members. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
No question, the content of the new Z is incredible! Resale history is another matter. There certainly will be those who "gotta have it" right from the get go, no matter the pricing---the American way as such. I'm to cheap to pay the price. As stated, I will have one...just depends on when.
Good e.g., I wanted an '01 after all the car mags were positive about the car. May '01, the best I could do was sticker plus $3,500. End of May it was sticker. Early July is was sticker MINUS $5,000 so I bought. Granted, the '02's were about to hit the ground but a 2 month wait saved me $8,500. Same for my '03---bought that in August of '03. The '04's were already out but that $53,305 sticker was purchased for dealer invoice less rebates.
It all depends on how hungry one is.
Agree with the excellent points made-as awesome as this car seems to be it is imperative that GM not make a strategic error in long term marketability. With all the internal issues facing the general, they have very little, if any, margin for error.
Everyone knows year two and three can be brutal depreciation wise, and availability could be easy. Given a choice most folks picked the vert over the C5-Z06, what makes us think the appeal of 500hp would make any difference this time around? In the fifteen years I've owned Corvettes, the vast majority of people I've met wanted the convertible, it was always way cooler and sexy than any powerblock. Me! I always chased the hp, in fact, I'm shopping for my first vert presently.
One of my former undergraduate students is a regional manager for a major electrical supplier, has GM as a client and even sells to the BG plant. He is an active racer and has owned almost thirty vettes to present. In February, he told me the new Z06 would come out of the shute about $62- 65K, but within 10 to 12 weeks it would be cheaper than a moderately loaded convertible.With the "junk bond" status pending, they have no margin for error and must maximize units sold.
He is also the guy who said two years ago the next vette would have expose headlights. We laughted two weeks over that one.
Soft sales for the new Z06? Too much $$ when the base models are so powerful?
Also, the Panoz Esperante (handbuilt sports cars in Georgia) beat all of the Porsche 911s in the GT2 class.
Here is a picture from Friday's test session.
Great win for the C6-R's since they were faster on the track at Sebring but spent more time in the pits than the AM's. ALMS races may not hold a lot of drama but the LeMans race should get lots of attention, seems they love the Vette over in France, especially if it beats things from Italy and GB. Gotta love sport.
Randy
The 12 Hours of Sebring was awesome to watch on tv. The Panoz Esperante will run in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Randy
here is the website where I found it.
Aluminum Z06
Also, the odd-looking thing in the second picture is the exhaust valve. It opens all the way after 3,500 rpms or when full-throttle is applied. I've heard it makes for a pretty cool exhaust note. Perhaps it makes grown men curse and children scream.
check out his website here
Leighton Reese
Lou Gigliotti
Lou Gigliotti and his Corvette
Tony Gaples
Tony Gaples and his new Corvette
Should be fun to follow this week!
Not that it didn't leave me wondering what he really thought ...
New C6
Headed to the 'Ring?
Should I put an aftermarket air intake system on it ? Any suggestions for making the car last longer?
Thanks,
Lee :confuse:
I am thinking about doing it myself but am not sure about a couple of things.
Specifically, What is the proceedure for disconnecting the steering shaft from the rack ??
Does anybody have a link to a step-by-step proceedure ??
Corvette Racing
Anyone own both a C4 and C5 and would like to share their experience in maintaining both cars.
Thanks, Loren
Randy
Randy, thanks for you input, Loren
Seems the older generation Vettes were well known for multiple squeaks/rattles/cowl shake etc. When the C5 hit, all the car mags commented on the structural integrity of the C5 and that it was 'light years" ahead of the C4. I agree. Suspect between the Z's I have logged over 40k in miles and neither had a single squeak or rattle.
Panel fitment will not be of Lexus specs and all Vettes seem to have excessive orange peel.
However, for long term enjoyment, I suspect the C5 would win hands down.
I've found the way to maintain value in a Vette is to keep it garaged or at least covered and yes the purists do get stressed about leaving them out. But mine is a daily driver, winter too, even had to return from a weekend track trip at Reno-Fernley Raceway through a blizzard down from Truckee one Sunday afternoon. Took weeks to get the grit out of many spots and I still come across a bit at times.
The C4 I bought was a '95, 8 years old with 18k miles and sold it a year later with 28k miles and it was garaged or parked in a highrise garage during the day. It had the glass roof so I didn't do much day time driving in it, I personally don't care for sun. Interior and mouldings were in new shape and that is what made it a great car to look at. When the wife got out of grad school and wanted another C5 that took the space in the garage and I couldn't see leaving the C4 out to lose value.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Loren
But, if you want a Z06, why worry about tire wear, it's a performance car. Just from talking to other's with Corvettes the Z06 is a fantastic track car, a great weekend driver and works as a daily driver. Several I know put the Z06 in the garage and drive they C5 coupe or vert when the want to go on a trip, it is not set up for touring ride. Even the Z51, performance suspension, in the C5 is a better ride than the Z06, until you get them on track. FWIW
As Starrow 68 has said, the tires are more expensive, low of 700 to a more normal high of 1500. . Tire wear can range from a few track sessions to 60k . After the GY E F1 SC's I got a set of Toyo Proxes T1's. They are great for the trips that it "never" rains in the desert" times to Las Vegas and Las Vegas, NV to the Grand Canyon, AZ. I have driven the GY E F1 SC's many times in the rain and also in the snow. I would not recommend driving in snow if you can help it I am pushing 70,000 miles! I have almost loved EVERY one of those miles.
Good Luck,
Randy
I think there is something to be said of the constant drain on Corvette batteries. Mine just gave up one day with almost NO warning at app the 4.25 year mark.
While I do not use a trickle charger, it makes logical sense that automatic recharge when needed, tends to let the battery last longer, but there is not a lot of anecdotal data, let alone side by side ( more) scientific testing.
On other cars, I am used to batteries going app 10 years before dying. So would a trickle charger use let this battery last longer? up to 2.35 x longer or 23.5 years? Good ones can cost from 45 dollars on up.
So basically, I just replaced it with a 40 dollar, 3 year full replacement, 100 month prorate, Johnson Controls made battery. (Johnson Controls makes Optima batteries, among many others) So according to the warranty paperwork, if this new battery dies again (at the 4.25 year mark), I basically have to pony up a prorated 20 dollars for a new one. By that time this 2001 car will be 10 plus years old.
I have now gone through 4 mid-level "die hard" batteries over the past year none of which would take a charge when I returned them for replacements.
I bought an "on-board" trickle charger that I used for a while, but I had two batteries go dead with that plugged in. I switched to disconnecting the battery after the weekend which works, but is an aggravation.
With the original factory battery, I could leave the car sit 3 weeks and start it right up without a problem. Now it only takes a week and the battery is dead.
Pretty amazing, say $70k with what you need to run on the track without any of the extra weight that might just slow you down. Of course that's in Blue, extra cost option!
Randy
Agreed, a TON of content and I just hate drooling all over my keyboard with my absolute lust for this sled...and I will have one...just depends on how greedy (read instant gratification) I need here. Jump in early and pay list, or hang in there for the discounts/rebates.
Of interest here is the fact that a number of dealers are selling at sticker..NOW!
When the first Z hit in '01 it was sticker+. This one is a gonzo upgrade and to see the C6 version at sticker is a bit surprising. Suspect discounts will be early. GM is pricing real close to 911 territory and that is some serious competition from a resale standpoint as Vettes historically drop like a rock.
I'd love to be driving one this fall...then again, next spring may not be all bad if I can save 5k+.
Randy
Old boys and toys----can't beat it.
Randy
When the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 hits this fall, General Motors says it will be the quickest and fastest production car it has ever produced.
Follow-Up Test: 2005 Corvette Convertible
2005 Corvette Convertible: Still blazing after all these years.
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VIR looks like a kick of a track, hope to some day get a try there.
Randy
Kinda like in the early C4 years when you were missing a caliper clip. I pulled the wheel and inspected the clip and caliper. Rotor seems fine. No one, No one can seems to find the cause.
New to GA so I don't have a good wrench. Have you seen or heard of this issue. Bought the car from American Sports Car here locally and they are stumped.
All/Any Help welcome - LASTC4 :confuse:
Randy