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Comments
What's the mileage on your Z06 and what do you mean by, "after a few trips"?
BTW, I've noticed you on the Civic forums. I'm looking for a commuter car to keep the miles off the other cars because our drive is approx 140 miles a day and feel that the Civic is the best choice so far. Our 91 Accord (bought new) now has 335K and still going strong. Maybe it will hit 400K?
If not, it's good to know our Z06 will handle a few weeks of high mileage until we find a Civic deal.....
1. Injection of dye and static test. Both covers were tightened.
2. Metallic grinding sound doing figure 8's and still leaking. Replaced gear oil and additive (due to dilution of fluids due to injection of dye) still leaking.
3.Seal 12369460 & 12457739 R/R new gear oil and additive
4. leak at bleeder screw, bleed screw cleaned and fluid level adjusted.
Finally no more leaks.
My Z06 is a garage queen at 75,000 miles.
Since you have a commute of 140 miles per day x 22 days mo x 12 mo or 36,960 miles per year; the Civic is a distant second (38-42 mpg.) The first (in my opinion) would be VW Jetta TDI same commute with 48-52 mpg. The math indicates (38/50 mpg) Prices of (will of course flucuate and vary) fuel over here is 3.41/3.05. So however you wish to run the numbers.... But here are some gross metrics 37,000 miles/38/50 mpg = 974/740 gals x $3.41/3.05 per gal= $ 3,321/2,257.per year/277 mo/188 mo. Run the fuel savings out 10 years and you are talking 1064 per year = $10,640.
Just don't look at the stickers in the showroom. The two Z06's are going for $94,000 (20K in added dealer mark-up) and the verts and coupes are going for MSRP plus 10K in ADM - Yikes!
The new Z06's have a smart good-looking mud flap arrangement to help keep the pitting under control.
Does anyone make a similar good-looking set-up for the 2004 model?
Traditionally the arm-waving was done with sportscars that were so rare that you were surprised and delighted to see another one.
However, that doesn't seem to be the case with motorcycles---that's more of a "we're in this together" kind of wave...and besides, you don't have to roll the window down. :P
get the first Vette ever as a C6 are going to take awhile to
learn the ropes. I know when I got my C5 it took awhile for
me to be looking for other Vettes. And, as noted, there
are a lot more Corvettes on the road than there used to be.
If the newbies get enough waves, they will begin to ask and
then get into the flow. Save the Wave!
Randy
has no history of the car. it could be on lease, etc.
am proud to own 2 c5's. i love car and history since childhood.when i seen that RED STINGRAY on diplay.
so i salute all vette owners when i see them passing by. and thats coming from a NYC boy. wouldnt catch me waving to a rice burning tuna or mustang! lol
As for the C6, I had a red one coming up from behind my C5 in the left lane and he paced me for a few miles, staying back about 30 feet or so. When he finally passed me, both he and his wife both waved and I gave them the thumbs-up.
The wave seems to get passed-on to SOME of the C6's....
ruking - Four trips is not fun, but glad they eventually nailed it. It may be indicative of what I may have to experience regarding my cooling system leak. The axle seal replacement seems to have worked so far.
When they fixed the axle seal, they also replaced the water pump, saying that was the cause of the coolant scent. However, the scent is still there and now I do notice another slight leak, so back to the dealership for more diagnostics...stay tuned.
So far, the axle seal is holding up.
In my humble opinion, if you do longer touring, weekend warrioring, more specialized track applications, the 6 speed is the one to have. The anomoly is the Z06 has app 10% lower gearing vs the non Z06 6 speed. So the Z06 gets app 1-2 mpg LESS.
If you do a fair amount of stop and go traffic, or are a LA cruiser type,(PCH on a gorgeous SAT/SUN afternoon), an automatic can be a no brainer.
2001 Z06 Corvette here, got it new with 4 miles on the odometer. The salesman took me through the streets of St Helena, CA (wine country) for its first full tank and two extra miles.
set and so you can move either when the time comes. The big
thing for me getting my 6sp in a 2002 was that I didn't do
much driving in heavy traffic, and it's a good thing, the
few times I've been in grid lock it has been painful. With
the new 6sp Auto I think the decision has just gotten a lot
harder. I drive my manual on track and it is the way to go
for performance compared to the old 4sp Auto. But I've also
driven the 6sp Auto on track it is amazingly close in the
performance at speed. It's worth a look. IMO the 4sp auto
will be the hard one to move in the future.
randy
The 6-speed automatic:
Coupe = 14093 & 65.6%
Convertible = 8329 & 76.3%
Z06 = 0 & 0
The 6-speed Manual:
Coupe = 7391 34.4%
Convertible = 2589 & 23.7%
Z06 = 8159 & 100%
Now IMHO none of these numbers should sway a potential purchaser toward or away from any particular configuration – or color combination, for that matter.
A Corvette purchase is typically not the same as many other vehicles. And if I am buying, insuring and filling the tank, then I want as close to ** MY ** perfect configuration as I can afford. Resale \ depreciation – within the range of ‘best to worst’ among all Corvettes concerns me far less.
I ordered my C6 with a combination of color & equipment that my local dealer ( largest in the SouthEast ) would never order for stock. And I am certain that I will not receive the absolute highest trade-in value, when the time comes. But I drive over 15,000 miles a year in my Corvette – and I wanted it equipped with ( and without ) certain options.
YMMV.
- Ray
Very happy with my choices . . .
I ordered my C6 with a combination of color & equipment that my local dealer ( largest in the SouthEast ) would never order for stock. And I am certain that I will not receive the absolute highest trade-in value, when the time comes. But I drive over 15,000 miles a year in my Corvette – and I wanted it equipped with ( and without ) certain options."...
Your above quotes are some of the reasons for the success of the Corvette line. In theory the "ordered" choices (on the issue of auto vs manual: is dictated by customer demand, rather than an oem making more automatics than manuals, because is a "safer" guess about what would be "better" on the market. Also resale according to what I have read is one of the best for ANY American car and competes rather well with the highest end Euro nameplates in that category, i.e., Porsche might beat it out slightly on the resale issue.
http://www.forbesautos.com/advice/toptens/best-resale-value-2007.html?partner=yahoo
Roughly comparable to a Lexus. Many find this surprising. As many also find the highway cruising \ trip fuel economy ( I average close to 30 MPG at 70 – 80 MPH with passenger & luggage ), the insurance rates and many other aspects.
My dealer is the largest volume Corvette dealer in the SouthEast – and #4 in the country, last numbers I’ve seen.
My sales person does the ordering for stock. Close to 100% are ordered with the Z51 package. Though roughly 42% are built with this option, they know from years of experience what they can most easily sell to THEIR typical customers.
They do typically end up with a few Non-Z51s on the lot. A couple are ordered primarily for comparison test drives - and some are purchased from other dealers. Thus, before ordering, I was able to test drive a Z51 and an FE1 back to back.
The availability of the 6L80 automatic w/paddle shift was a primary determining factor in my purchase timing. For me, this was a critical ‘step up’ from the previous 4-speed automatic with very limited manual control.
YMMV.
- Ray
as Z51 orders. Out on the left coast we don't really have
a super high volume Corvette dealer and the low volume guys
are pretty clueless except about walk-in impulse buyers. So
lots of dealer orders for stock are auto's when that was
standard and not extra cost and those were the ones left on
the lots when the year ended.
I've now picked up two Vettes by ordering off the internet
and both as I and the wife wanted them as to options and
colors. Don't think I would waste time on local dealers
except to see new colors if I decide to get a new one in the
future.
Randy
So for example, by the time one goes to the dealer and sees 75% of the new crop of Vettes with automatics and wants say a 6 speed and upcoming 6 speed auto paddle shifter, most probably one has missed the model year. So if you bypass the 6 speed manual because all they had WAS automatics, the system really thinks most like autos.
RE: Volume Dealer in CA. Boardwalk, in Redwood City is a relatively high volume Corvette dealer – in the top 10, nationally, as I recall. They currently have 27 2007 coupes according to their web site.
RE: ‘ordering off the internet’. How did that work for you, exactly?
Although my initial contact with this salesperson and this dealership was via email, I physically went to the dealer 3 times. And bought my 2007 from them.
1 – I wanted to drive a new Corvette. Or 2. ( See above. ) Since I had not driven any C6, I needed to check several items regarding both the car’s dynamic behavior and how I fit.
2 – Once we had agreed on the price, I went to finalize the order & sign it.
3 – I picked up the car.
When I felt close to making the decision to buy my 2007 Corvette, I scheduled a visit to this dealer and spoke only with this salesperson – to test drive Corvettes. About a 45 minute drive from where I live.
This was in early July 2006.
Once I had driven the 2 C6s ( both were 2006 automatics – 2007s were not yet at dealers, but had no significant changes ) that I wanted to evaluate, I told the salesperson that I wanted the best price on an ordered 2007.
The price was about what I had expected ( $2K off MSRP ) and I said:
“When you meet the discount I want, I’ll buy.”
Response:
“OK. Great, I will keep you posted.”
I was kept up to date via weekly emails, as discounts grew over time – but with no further real interaction until the email arrived with a discount that met “my number”.
This was late in September 2006. I called and set an appointment the next day to order my 2007. It was delivered in early November.
So my test drives were – 4 months prior to actually closing the sale. I suppose you could describe it as 2.5 months of ( very one-sided ) price ‘negotiation’ and 1.5 months for the schedule \ build \ delivery process.
More important, before scheduling my Corvette test drives, I had test driven a number of other “contenders” prior to the C6 test drives – including the BMW 335i coupe, for example. I knew my timeline. I was up front with each salesperson I spoke to.
If I had less stringent requirements on exactly the optional equipment I wanted ( and didn’t want ) and more flexibility on color, I would probably have bought a C6 from the selection on the dealer’s lot. They usually have 25 or so new Coupes in their inventory.
The Internet is great. Research is great – and essential, for me. But a thorough test drive ( or 2 ) is necessary before I’ll spend close to $50,000.
YMMV.
- Ray
Happy Corvette Driver
By contrast: For example, the STS could not be ordered with the highest level performance handling package ( was RPO: QAF – now designated PCZ and essentially includes the former QAF components + more ) except on the highest PEG level on the V8. ( That was a 1SG ‘Preferred Equipment Group’ and was an $8,000+ package – and included a number of rather ‘pricey’ luxury \ convenience items that are of very limited interest, thus limited value – to me.
GM \ Caddy Marketing triumphs over actual customer preferences.
Another item of particular interest to me: The Head-Up display was also ( during much of MY 2005, 06 & 07 ) available for order only bundled with the ( K59 ) Adaptive Cruise Control ( at over $2,000 additional ) and only on the 1SG as well. Since my Corvette has a HUD – and no adaptive cruise control, this is clearly marketing driven. Again.
This is one primary reason that today I drive a Corvette and not an STS. I do like the RWD STS. And I do understand that certain combinations of optional equipment may conflict – or legitimately one may require another.
But. The ordering limitations & associated pricing were 2 big reasons why I have not purchased one. Had I been able to ‘cherry-pick’ only & exactly the options I wanted & was willing to pay for, I’d likely have purchased an STS V8 back when GM was running their “Employee Pricing For Everyone” promotion.
For 2008, GM \ Caddy appears to have addressed several of my concerns in these regards. I plan to test drive & price a 2008 STS.
- Ray
Really, really curious about your ordering experience . . .
post but don't seem to be competitive with other 'National'
dealers. I ordered my first Vette from a dealer in San
Leandro and the salesman took my $1k down and then since I
had put in a 60 day, confirm build or refund, he called to
admit that the sales manager was using all their allocation
to fill the show room. I wasn't getting a slot. That's
when I found Ken F. at Fichtner Chevy in Laurel, MT. One
email set the discount, another set the order details and
returned the build slot in his allocation list. This was
summer of 2001 and I got an August build 2002 in Electron
Blue. As I remember I then called just to make sure the
phone number worked and sent off my $1k check. I got notified
of a build date in early Sept., arrived at the dealer in mid
month and flew up late in the month to pick up the car.
Saved an extra grand over what I'd been promised by the local
dealer, but not delivered, and about 2k over what was avail.
if I took what was sitting on lots, wrong colors and options
I didn't want. The trip got me a couple days in Yellowstone
with the wife which was one reason she ordered one a couple
years later. Same drill except she got the last of the '04s
at $12k off or $39k out the door with $2k more in options
than my '02 and sticker about $2k higher due to price increases.
I'm very happy with Fichtner!
Randy
track days in 4 1/2 years of it's 6 year life. It isn't an
inexpensive car to track but with a little thought and just
learning the ropes about driving on race tracks it can be
done reasonably. I used to think the $200/$300 entry fees
were a big deal until I learned how quickly I would use up
tires, brake pads and rotors. That's not to mention the
work to bleed brake fluid and the mods to keep it cool when
you start to pick up speed. I have several grand into the
mods.
From some folks I've talked to the electronics in the C6
seem to be a little more finiky than the C5, don't know for
sure. Then with 18/19 wheels the tires are less available
and lots more expensive than the 17/18 sets I run on the C5.
I'm guessing the rotors and pads would be about equal.
I think if I were to replace my current coupe I would love
to find a C5 Z06 with a telescoping steering wheel, they
didn't come in the Z, even as an option, that had been a
show car for some non performance owner. It's amazing how
many Corvettes sit in garages and just go to shows on weekends.
I even know a guy who had never washed his C5 in 6 years, it
had never been washed, or out in wet weather. Amazing!
Randy
Thanks for posting...
- Ray
Doing Yosemite this Fall w/Daughter - but without my 'Vette ( sigh )
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Everything sounds reasonable except the limit on production.
If it sells, they will make more.
Randy
The Corvette Wave is still alive and the word seems to get
out there somehow to new owners.
Randy
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Corvette you would find that prediction started some time
in the 50's, ok maybe just before 1963. I'm not holding my
breath.
What I can't figure out is who is qualified to drive what we
have today? I have learned so much going on track for four
years that I can't believe how little I knew when I started.
My C5 coupe is 3250#s with 350HP or about 295rwhp. That is
right about 10#s/hp. AS you dip below that threshold the
cars get crazy fast, and even things above that can get most
drivers into trouble. The gas crisis and smog rules, along
with insurance costs, cut off the last HP wars, don't know
what it will be this time around, but it will happen. Hope
I have in the garage what I want when it happens.
Randy
BTW, just before they cut back before, they were underrating
engines. Well, saw a dyno of the new 430HP 2008 and it was
370rwhp, which isn't a normal correction factor, they are
underrating again, it seems ...
I'd like to bone up on cornering techniques before dealing with a 400+ HP mid-engine Corvette. Mid engine cars can snap-spin so fast you wouldn't believe!
I'm wondering if anyone knows where to find a cargo cover for the C6 coupe. I don't see it on Chevrolet.com nor on Autoanything.com. I know they were produced for the C5 coupe. My salesperson can't one either.
Any suggestions ?
http://storesense.megawebservers.com/HS198/Categories.bok?category=C5+%26+C6+Int- erior%3AMisc+Interior
i'm very interested in how livable is the C6... 15k miles per year sounds like a minimum to me, not a maximum!
That means I’ll likely hit what I typically have each year for the past 5 – 18K +/-.
At 12,000 miles, I’d guess my tires have another 12K – or more.
My Coupe is NOT a Z51.
The tires included with that option package ( by all reports ) wear MUCH more quickly.
Anyway – my Corvette is my Daily Driver & my only vehicle.
I find it quite livable – in commuting, “grocery getting”, and long trips.
I doubt I drive mine the most miles per year.
- Ray
Some will call me crazy, but . . .
(( sigh ))
A friend locally with a 2006 Corvette has just ** UNDER ** 2,000 miles on his...
Yet - I am really enjoying the miles.
And this is just what it costs...
- Ray
Many (s)miles....