Talk me out of this: trading C5Z for C6Z

My 04 Z06 Commemerative just rolled 65k miles. New brakes and tires in the past year. I've out 12k trouble-free miles on the car. One chip in the paint. Otherwise, the car is flawless. Market value is $26k and about $23k trade-in.

Local dealer has a 06 Z06. Same color (Le Mans blue). 22k miles. Price dropped to mid-30s.

Was thinking I could possibly sell/trade mike and have an almost equal payment, just for one more year. I'd also gain 100hp and 1/3 the miles. Insurance is almost the same.

Any reason I don't want to do this, provided the numbers work out?

If it helps, I can buy the 04 from you and I'm being serious..assuming you're not too far from Metro DC area..

Not that I can think of. I love the C6Z.

I wouldn't, but here are my assumptions: The c5 doesn't have nearly as far to depreciate, and, I'd rather wait for a c7 to come down into that price range. Not really a resounding no there, is it?

If it makes you happy, do it.

Well you won't lose money on this in my opinion. I doubt clean title c6z will ever get down below $25k. And it seems like the C5z has been going up in value

I traded my 2003 Z06 for a 2007 Z06 a few years ago. No regrets at all - the C6 is a better car in every way. Much faster, nicer interior, looks better (IMO), more cargo room, and the same low insurance rate. I have since sold my C6 and got what I paid for it. I broke even when trading in the C5 too, so it basically worked out to me driving free Z06s for a few years.

I like C7s, but I'm pretty sure I'll end up back in a C6 Z06 or ZR1 at some point in the near future. Here's a picture from the day I made the trade:

there is zero reason not to do it. the only thing hotter than a c6z is a zr1

To me it comes down to FRC vs hatch. I dislike the look of the FRC. I would.

Yes, I would definitely upgrade to the C6 from the C5. No doubt.

Yavuz wrote: I traded my 2003 Z06 for a 2007 Z06 a few years ago. No regrets at all - the C6 is a better car in every way. Much faster, nicer interior, looks better (IMO), more cargo room, and the same low insurance rate. I have since sold my C6 and got what I paid for it. I broke even when trading in the C5 too, so it basically worked out to me driving free Z06s for a few years. I like C7s, but I'm pretty sure I'll end up back in a C6 Z06 or ZR1 at some point in the near future. Here's a picture from the day I made the trade:

That seems like the time to do a Corvette deal. When there is snow on the ground. The prices seem to go down quite a bit during a long winter.

I actually like the FRC, believe it or not. It's odd looking. Then again, I also have a 92 Notchback Mustang..

I'm going to scope the car out on Monday and report back. I have an absurdly low rate as it stands, and the car is set to be paid off in the next 1-1.5 years. But if the numbers work, I'd highly consider it.

It comes down to whether or not the extra power justifies the sentimental value. I've had quite the hear in this car.

I originally had starting setting money aside for Heads/Cam/Intake/Headers on the C5, but having a factory-stock car with more power might be the ticket as far as the "start with the best car you can afford" matra.

Yavuz wrote:

This is my favorite color for these generation Corvettes.

I'm pretty sure no one is going to talk you out of this.

Mazda787b wrote: Local dealer has a 06 Z06. Same color (Le Mans blue). 22k miles. Price dropped to mid-30s.

It is amazing to me you can buy a 7.0L 500 HP sports car with low miles for ~$35K... I understand the C6 intereior is more durable and ergonomic to live with than the C5, so that alone could be a factor if intended for daily driver use.

I remember when the C6Z was new and it seems they were "special" cars only taken out on nice days... but now I see quite a few being driven in all sorts of weather. I've even seen a couple in the winter with snow tires.

Yavuz wrote: I traded my 2003 Z06 for a 2007 Z06 a few years ago. No regrets at all - the C6 is a better car in every way. Much faster, nicer interior, looks better (IMO), more cargo room, and the same low insurance rate. I have since sold my C6 and got what I paid for it. I broke even when trading in the C5 too, so it basically worked out to me driving free Z06s for a few years. I like C7s, but I'm pretty sure I'll end up back in a C6 Z06 or ZR1 at some point in the near future. Here's a picture from the day I made the trade:

For some reason I think you like yellow car...not sure why...

Mazda787b wrote: My 04 Z06 Commemerative just rolled 65k miles. New brakes and tires in the past year. I've out 12k trouble-free miles on the car. One chip in the paint. Otherwise, the car is flawless. Market value is $26k and about $23k trade-in. Local dealer has a 06 Z06. Same color (Le Mans blue). 22k miles. Price dropped to mid-30s. Was thinking I could possibly sell/trade mike and have an almost equal payment, just for one more year. I'd also gain 100hp and 1/3 the miles. Insurance is almost the same. Any reason I don't want to do this, provided the numbers work out?

have the heads been done yet? if not plan 2k to get new valves...

Mad_Ratel wrote:

Mazda787b wrote: My 04 Z06 Commemerative just rolled 65k miles. New brakes and tires in the past year. I've out 12k trouble-free miles on the car. One chip in the paint. Otherwise, the car is flawless. Market value is $26k and about $23k trade-in. Local dealer has a 06 Z06. Same color (Le Mans blue). 22k miles. Price dropped to mid-30s. Was thinking I could possibly sell/trade mike and have an almost equal payment, just for one more year. I'd also gain 100hp and 1/3 the miles. Insurance is almost the same. Any reason I don't want to do this, provided the numbers work out?

have the heads been done yet? if not plan 2k to get new valves...

This is what scared me away from a C6Z. It seems that most of them, or at least a lot of them, have this issue. Is 2k a realistic cost to get this done? What exactly needs to be fixed to prevent the valve from dropping? There is a thread on Corvette Forum about a replacement LS7 that later had its valves dropped.

I've been thinking about doing the same thing. Mine '02 is all stock (I have an MGW shifter but have never gotten around to installing it). I could drop a pile of money into the C5Z to get it to where a C6Z is already and that extra money wouldn't make the car worth a single penny more.

Ian F wrote:

Mazda787b wrote: Local dealer has a 06 Z06. Same color (Le Mans blue). 22k miles. Price dropped to mid-30s.

I remember when the C6Z was new and it seems they were "special" cars only taken out on nice days... but now I see quite a few being driven in all sorts of weather. I've even seen a couple in the winter with snow tires.

How is that last part even possible. Do they even make snow tires for the car and would they even work? The car wears 325s out back.

In reply to Harvey:

Not uncommon to run different a size (usually more narrow) for snow tires.

Oof, $2k? That's well on my way to heads/cam for the C5..

For the record, I drove mine until snow/salt went down (Jan 3) this year. No issues in cold weather...

Backed it out of the driveway in March to wash it on a 50* day. Got stuck in the 1/4" of snow that was still down.

I'd do it.

Drove it. Wasn't work the huge price jump for an extra 100hp. The interior is a bit nicer, but meh. Put the cash back in savings and having a paint correction done on mine this fall instead. Thinking about entering the Rally North America Ohio Valley 700 with my dad for his birthday in fall. We also started planning for the Indy 500 next year, I figured that is a better investment in the long run.

I feel better now

Good on ya. I'm not one to be able to walk away like that once I "think" I want something.