Sobomaster

Ok, so I may soon be a new member to the Corvette family... but I can't decide yet as to what I really want, so I'm asking for your opinions.

I'm debating between the '04 LeMans z06 which I can get for about 44,498, brand new and the new '05 z51 1SB with Nav and cashmere interior which I can get for about 47,998. Which one would you recommend? and why?

I think my greatest question is resale value... which one will have a higher resale value in one year? I currently own an Infiniti G35 coupe 6mt and I can sell it after owning it for 6 months for what I originally paid for it after my discount, which would be nice to do with the corvette as well.

Thanks in advance for everyones' replies.

rbartick

You might not want to purchase a Vette if this is a concern for you.

On the other hand if you want to actually enjoy the car I vote for the C5 Z06 or the C6 Z06.

Sobomaster

Do you think the prices I can get are good at least?

ylwZ06

If your primary concern is resale value, I would say the C6 will have a higher resale in 1 year.

If resale value is not a concern, then I would say it all boils down to your personal taste as to which vehicle you like better. I chose an 04 Z06 for various reasons: getting the last year of run with all the refinements, versus 1 year of a new run, solid roof with no squeaks or rattles, hate the style of the exposed headlights, hated the silver interior pieces.

WA 2 FST

I agree that if you're worried about resale, then don't get a "new" Vette at all. Any of them will depreciate. The C5 will depreciate more since it is no longer in production and the C6 is the "latest and greatest" thing out there.

I think you can do better than $44.4k on an '04 Z06, but that is still an outstanding price for the car! $47.xk on the new C6 is a good deal.

Drive both of them and let that be the determining factor. If you're only going to keep the car for a year, I'd lease it.

Sobomaster

So I'm assuming the LeMans commemorative edition z06 doesn't hold resale any better than any of the other vettes? That's the one i was considering getting.

FlyingZ06

Buy the C6. Almost as fast and alot nicer interior.

rbartick

The C6 interior is not really all that much better than the C5 interior.

Crushinator

I really like the C6's but I'd get the '04 CE Z06 in a heartbeat.

Corvette1221

I have a Red Vert 2001 Corvette. I have not driven the C5 z06, and only sat in the new one. But here is my point. If resale is important to you buy the c5 z06 because I think GM is selling these at a discount now to get them off the lot. Since, even with a new c5 z06 that discount is already built in, then it should depreciate less then if you buy the c6. But both prices are good.

To give you an idea, I paid 42,500 for my c5 vert and it is only 2001.
That is kind of high, but at the time the blue book was 38,000 to 45K.
If you can buy a new z06 at 44 I think that is a good price

gssZ06

I agree with the post above that if resale value is of paramount concern, than a Corvette (or ANY GM prduct, for that matter) is not for you. That said, either of these are great cars, and great performance values. I race with the BMW and Porsche clubs and a Z06 is far faster than the Germans at half the price or less. One note though - whenever a hot new American car comes out, at first there is little to no discount, or even a price premium...for a little while. Then, production catches up with demand, and the next thing you know there are $10,000 discounts, which HAS to hurt the folks that paid sticker or above. (Think SSR, CTS-V, PT Cruiser, etc.) FYI - I bought an 04 Z06 last spring at $9,500 off. That seemed like a good deal until late fall when they were advertising $13k of list. Still, I am a Corvette convert - outstanding performance, and they don't break (well, at least not as often as BMWs)

Joe’s Z06

Just save money up and get the 2006 Z06 and be done with it.

GR8-LIFE

I'd suggest saving up a few $$$ and getting the new Z06 but i heard that this will not be be a major production car and it will be one of those waiting-list deals. That means selling your existing C5 ASAP, getting a DD (if you dont already have one) and patiently waiting

Zora

C6

robvuk

All cars depreciate. Imports or otherwise. AND surprisingly, they all depreciate within a percent or two by the same amount. There are extenuating circumstances that may cause temporary fluctuations in the depreciation rate. Such as a limited production car that is not fully appreciated till decades later or an 04 Corvette which is a lame duck status with the C6 being introduced for 05.

The 04 is already reduced greatly so you have already realized the first year or maybe two years of depreciation on it. The C6 will revert to a normal depreciation rate. So a year from now when a C5 purchased at a bargain is considered two years old (even though you'll have owned it only one year) will still be worth less than a one year old C6. It'll probably be just as close as they are now.

I can't imagine why you'd be able to get as much for your Infinity as what you paid for it unless you got some kind of special offsheet-discount that nobody else can get. If that's the case, you can't compare that to a Vette unless you can get the same kind of offsheet deal.

levettegrl

don't buy either vette if you are concerned about resale.

the 2 models you mention are different in style-buy the one that gets you excited to own it and drive it

l2vette

The '04 Z06/Z16 will be the one worth more in time.

Sobomaster

I got a preferred supplier discount through my firm on the Infiniti and saved about 7,000 off of the sticker, and they were selling with a slight markup since the 6mt was limited edition, so i can sell it now for what i originally paid for it back in august. I can get a similar deal on the corvette, about 7,000 off sticker on the '05 and 14k off sticker on the '04. However, i'm realizing that maybe this isn't as good as deal as i had gotten on the infiniti since percentage-wise it's less, especially on the '05, and it seems like most people can pick them up below msrp anyways.... but we'll see. I'm really starting to like the Vette, and my car is already listed for sale, so if things come together, sooner or later i may be a new vette owner.

Vettdaddy

Have you driven either car yet?
One's a hot rod marsh mallow, one's a HOT ROD!!!
Pretty different cars, the new is very cool, the old is very exciting when you wring it out at the track. The new C6 Z06 wll be awesome!!!!
If your worried about depreciation etc, stick with the toyota or whatever it is. ;>)

DannyKing

regardless what you buy, you will get hit by depreciation at some point....don't know what you paid for your g35 but you can get them all day long for mid 20s like wise c5s.....buy which ever car you want...i wanted performance and ended up with the Zeeeeeeeeee