About to buy an '08 LS3
11 GT hold it's value a bit more as well ...
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 252
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From: ATX
I wouldn't buy a used car unless you can pay for half of it in cash imo. I went the c5z route and put down ~70% and financed the rest at a low rate.
I had some issues with that. Tightening the bolts and silicone washers fixed most of the squeak. I get it occasionally, seems to be temperature dependent, but it cured 95% of the problem. Roof is off in the good weather, which is the ultimate cure.
I'm having a hard time believing that driving a new Mustang off the lot isn't going to instantly kill some value unless Ford is deliberately holding down the production of the GT.
I'm having a hard time believing that driving a new Mustang off the lot isn't going to instantly kill some value unless Ford is deliberately holding down the production of the GT.
Sure it will lose a little value but it will be a while before you see a 5.0 sitting on any lot for more than a week or so. Around me (South FL) I can't even find a used one on a LOT through the Autotrader (not inc. verts). They sell fast and for the next few years guys will be willing to ****** them up far better than any Camaro or C6.
South FL is a sea of Camaro's though.
Just thing to consider-
I did the same thing for my C5Z put down 60% and financed the rest to bump my credit score up.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 173
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From: Jasper, Indiana
Well I'm picking the car up Friday if I have time or definitly Saturday The squeaking roof won't be an issue as it will 90% of the time have the top off, though I really wish it had more options I cant see spending 4K more to get them (best price I could find on cars.com)
I got it for 29,500+1917.00 (tax) = 31,417 out the door. The monthly plan the bank gave me is 60 payments with $11K down $491.. 72 payments with 11K down $429...66 payments with 11K down $457. I'm prolly going to go with the 60 or 66 though.
I'm a little late to the Vette game at 26 but having a son age 8 and daughter age 3 and married at 20 set my spending money waaaaaaay back
I'm really looking forward to get back into the game and will post pics as soon as I get it to the house 
Thanks for the advice everyone, my choice also would've been an '11 Mustang but 4 people on my block alone have 05-10 GT's, and noone with a Vette so I'm just tired of seeing them 
Oh, and the license plate is definitely bolted to the bumper, I asked, though I'm sure I'll find a plate that will fill it nicely
The squeaking roof won't be an issue as it will 90% of the time have the top off, though I really wish it had more options I cant see spending 4K more to get them (best price I could find on cars.com)I got it for 29,500+1917.00 (tax) = 31,417 out the door. The monthly plan the bank gave me is 60 payments with $11K down $491.. 72 payments with 11K down $429...66 payments with 11K down $457. I'm prolly going to go with the 60 or 66 though.
I'm a little late to the Vette game at 26 but having a son age 8 and daughter age 3 and married at 20 set my spending money waaaaaaay back
I'm really looking forward to get back into the game and will post pics as soon as I get it to the house Thanks for the advice everyone, my choice also would've been an '11 Mustang but 4 people on my block alone have 05-10 GT's, and noone with a Vette so I'm just tired of seeing them Oh, and the license plate is definitely bolted to the bumper, I asked, though I'm sure I'll find a plate that will fill it nicely LS1 Tech Stories
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Jasper, Indiana
I wouldn't say that. Most of the econoboxes I've owned can do over 20mpg in the city and hit 32-35mpg. I have yet to know a Corvette owner get over 30mpg. Vettes get better mileage than other sports cars and luxury cars but I would never say they get better gas mileage than econoboxes, especially in the city.
so exactly why do some of you classify the ls3 vette as *not* a daily driver? due to mpg? is the car uncomfortable? rough ride? what is it? i just have a hard time understanding why a 60k car shouldn't be driven every day.
LOL, some people worship the car and think it should only come out of the garage after it has 10 coats of Zaino and the weather is clear between 55* and 80*.
The car is clearly capable of being a comfortable year round driver and I take it to work pretty regularly. I definitely look for turns to take fast and places to mat the gas on my commute. However, I often will drive our 4 cyl Volvo automatic in crappy weather during the winter. If it is cold, dark, and raining and I'm sitting in 50 minutes of stop and go traffic, there's not a lot of enjoyment from 400+ HP manual car and the gas/oil/tires/depreciation are much less on the volvo.
The car is clearly capable of being a comfortable year round driver and I take it to work pretty regularly. I definitely look for turns to take fast and places to mat the gas on my commute. However, I often will drive our 4 cyl Volvo automatic in crappy weather during the winter. If it is cold, dark, and raining and I'm sitting in 50 minutes of stop and go traffic, there's not a lot of enjoyment from 400+ HP manual car and the gas/oil/tires/depreciation are much less on the volvo.
Corvette LS3. 
I get over 30mpg (as high as 34mpg at only 55-60mph) on the highway all of the time and mine's a modified automatic, a stock manual could do even better.
Not nearly that much around town/stop and go of course but still damn good for a nearly 400rwhp car with a higher stall converter.
I get over 30mpg (as high as 34mpg at only 55-60mph) on the highway all of the time and mine's a modified automatic, a stock manual could do even better.
Not nearly that much around town/stop and go of course but still damn good for a nearly 400rwhp car with a higher stall converter.
Corvette LS3.
I get over 30mpg (as high as 34mpg at only 55-60mph) on the highway all of the time and mine's a modified automatic, a stock manual could do even better.
Not nearly that much around town/stop and go of course but still damn good for a nearly 400rwhp car with a higher stall converter.
I get over 30mpg (as high as 34mpg at only 55-60mph) on the highway all of the time and mine's a modified automatic, a stock manual could do even better.
Not nearly that much around town/stop and go of course but still damn good for a nearly 400rwhp car with a higher stall converter.
The vehicles I'm looking at are in the 25-35K price range.
1. '11 Mustang GT
2. '08 Vette LS3
3. 03-04 Z06
4. 09 G8 GXP
5. Challanger R/T
Out of your list the Vettes are the only ones I would look at. I too wouldn't go black for a daily driver though. Most economy cars don't get much better gas mileage than Corvettes do, and they're about the same weight too. A lot of people don't realize how great of a job GM has done at keeping weight off the Corvettes as additional safety items keeps adding weight. An '80's economy car use to weigh 2500 lbs, now they weigh 3000 lbs +. Bob
1. '11 Mustang GT
2. '08 Vette LS3
3. 03-04 Z06
4. 09 G8 GXP
5. Challanger R/T
Out of your list the Vettes are the only ones I would look at. I too wouldn't go black for a daily driver though. Most economy cars don't get much better gas mileage than Corvettes do, and they're about the same weight too. A lot of people don't realize how great of a job GM has done at keeping weight off the Corvettes as additional safety items keeps adding weight. An '80's economy car use to weigh 2500 lbs, now they weigh 3000 lbs +. Bob
From a DD standpoint, for some of us who work a lot the commute is sometime the only time when I can have some driving fun other than the weekend.
Only time I got worried was getting front and rear bumper scratches like if I parked on the street.
Only time I got worried was getting front and rear bumper scratches like if I parked on the street.
After reading all of the above i figured i would chime in with the targa top issues...I have an 09 and an 08...The 08 pops like a son of a bitch, the 09 makes absolutely 0 noise........08 makes rubbing noise turning when its cold or chilly out...09 has zero issues...I really think it might just be an 08 specific issue...Automatic tranny can be a little rough in the 08 as well. When my 20 year old girlfriend bitches about the noise of the top from her "dream car", I just say "Its a 430 horsepower ls3, shut the **** up" 
Corvette LS3.
I get over 30mpg (as high as 34mpg at only 55-60mph) on the highway all of the time and mine's a modified automatic, a stock manual could do even better.
Not nearly that much around town/stop and go of course but still damn good for a nearly 400rwhp car with a higher stall converter.
I get over 30mpg (as high as 34mpg at only 55-60mph) on the highway all of the time and mine's a modified automatic, a stock manual could do even better.
Not nearly that much around town/stop and go of course but still damn good for a nearly 400rwhp car with a higher stall converter.