J Vette

NADA & KBB.com are good references for prices. Try to buy at trade in price. IF you can get it for loan value, all the better. It depends on the time of the month (end is better) and how long it's been on the lot. DO NOT PAY RETAIL.

Having a 3lt myself and low mileage as well, I'd go for the 06. FWIW clean trade value is $28775 Rough trade is $27050

Now if you listen to some around here you'll get the idea that they bought an 08 3lt with only 6k miles for $5500. It's the nature of men to BS and over exaggerate about their exploits.

Me...I got an 11 GS loaded with 2700 miles for $7500. Yep. The former owner died and his wife was trying to sell it for $5k. Naturally I didn't want to take advantage of the poor widow , so I offered her 50% more out of the kindness of my heart.

hdkeno

I also just bought a mint 06 coupe with 7500 miles on the odo. 3lt, and could of got a 08 base 1lt with more miles, for the same price. I drove both, and as well didnt really notice any difference, but went with the like new 06, with magnetic ride, it also was in much better overall condition imho then the 08. do not regret it a bit.

TLS_Addict

Yes you can. Drive them back to back and you will notice it. Not only that but you will notice the steering, the easier shifting tranny for the M6 and the shorter shifter.

Just because you have never had one doesnt mean you wont feel the difference.

AddisonD

mno221, I sent a private message to you last night that might have some usefulness. If nothing else, for the fun of the vette hunt. I'm pulling for you to get one!

My wife was absolutely not interested in this car at all. Never shopped with me, never went to dealer, never anything. At times she would see a low, sleek car on the freeway and ask "So, is that a vette?"

But she did keep saying, "Just get one and get this over with!" That all changed as soon as she started taking a few rides in it. Now she says "Let's take the vette." And she will see another one and now can say with accuracy, "Look, thats a nice C5", and so on.

it is a cult-like experience, and one not to be missed if you have a hankering for these cars.

AGC23

Check the for sale section. There are a couple of nice low mile 08 with asking price very close to your budget

Are you looking for m6

Flh Den

My best friend bought a real nice 06 a few days after i bought my 08. We drove each others cars and the first thing he said when driving mine was "WOAH, this thing has way more power than mine" Although mine is a 6sp with lower gearing and his an auto. so that might have made a difference in feel when he stomped on it in 1st.

RJRSW

Both are overpriced by a few grand but always go with the loaded car with the lowest miles or you will regret it later and will cost you a lot of bucks in the long run.

As far as the difference between the LS2 and LS3 I have driven a lot of vettes and it is nearly impossible to tell the difference on the street if both cars have the same type trans. You will notice a far bigger difference in the drivability of the car with either a Z51 or F55 suspension package than the engine difference.

I have owned a lot of vettes and have found that the difference in buying cost between a 2,500 mile one and a 25,000 mile one is only about $1,500 so will go with the low mile one every time. I bought my like brand new 2007 LMB Z51 3LT convert with every option on it and only 2,751 miles from the original owner two years ago for $34k.

Take your time and do not settle.

You are going to kick yourself for waiting 65 years? I bought my first one when I was 17 and now 52 years and 24 more vettes later I still am driving one.

Snowwolfe

If I were 65 (getting close) and buying my first Corvette I would spring the extra $10K or so and buy a new 2013 from a supporting vendor here (Tommy Jr is first choice).
Fly in, drive home, and you will be all smiles for years to come.

need-for-speed

All the people who say you can't tell the difference have an LS2.

What a coincidence ?

Jefe's GS

A friend just sold his 10' w/ 14,000 for $31,500. Not sure about trim level but I would assume a 1lt.

Keep looking.

RJRSW

You never stated if you ever owned a LS2 vette that you are using to compare performance difference with?

If you read back thought the postings there are people that have stated they now own or have owned both and did not really notice a difference. I have driven many of both LS2 and LS3 vettes and the difference is so small that it is nearly impossible to tell on the street.

An example:
Another posting in the thread:

Mike Campbell

Interesting....is it?

Showroom Stock LS3 (2008 - 2013)
11.718 @ 119.94 - AndrewZPSU - 08 M6 - (2586)
11.806 @ 118.82 - Gmrulz - 08 A6 Z51, NPP - (3478)
11.974 @ 116.98 - Proney - 08 M6 Z51, NPP - (4652)
12.058 @ 122.05 - AndrewZPSU - 10 A6 NPP - (5051)
12.100 @ 115.19 - Odin - 09 A6 2.73 npp - (4325)
12.102 @ 117.60 - Dingrao - 08 A6 - (3561)
12.127 @ 116.59 - Pettvette - 08 A6 - (4278)
12.159 @ 115.59 - Old Goat - 09 A6 2.73 - (3708)
12.167 @ 117.15 - DarkOctane - 08 A6 NPP - (6310)
12.167 @ 116.54 - Vinsane112 - 08 A6 2.73 - (2740)
12.186 @ 117.72 - Hardhattg - 08 M6 Z51 - (2686)
12.237 @ 112.86 - 940CACC - 08 A6 - (2871)
12.244 @ 117.83 - 74Vette - 08 M6 - (4617)
12.400 @ 116.36 - RandyDank23 - 08 A6 - (6059)
12.262 @ 115.22 - Oklahoma - 08 A6 - (3765)
12.276 @ 118.66 - EZ28 - 08 M6 Z51 NPP - (3247)

LS2 (bolt ons)

11.792 @ 117.26 - 06C6FVR - 07 M6 - CAI, 3.90, Z06 exhaust, tune, DR - (3225)
11.811 @ 118.76 - Joe G - 05 M6 Z51 - CAI, 3.90, hdr, pi, tune, DR - (1870)
11.879 @ 120.02 - C5pilot - - 07 A6 Z51 - CAI, hdr, pi, tune, DR - (3554)
11.87x @ 112.99 - Cucchiara - 05 A4 - CAI, cb, conv, hdr, tune, DR - (835)
11.937 @ 115.77 - DMcRacer - 07 A6 Z51 - CAI, conv, Z06 exhaust, tune, DR - (5438)
11.94x @ 117.99 - JimSpeed - 06 M6 Z51 - CAI, cb, hdr - (525)
11.969 @ 118.98 - GMRULZ - 06 M6 Z51 - Bilstein shocks, cai, hdr, pi, tune, DR - (2159)
11.98x @ 116.44 - C6speedjon - 07 M6 Z51 - CAI, cb, hdr, pi/tb, tune, DR - (1966)
12.01x @ 116.00 - Mr Z51 - 06 M6 Z51 - CAI, cb, hdr, pintake, tune, DR
12.03x @ 118.50 - Serendipity - 06 M6 - CAI, cb, hdr
12.035 @ 118.43 - Glennhl - 06 A6 Z51 - CAI, hdr, pi, tune, DR - (2273)
12.05x @ 117.02 - CYA Vett - 05 M6 F55 M6 - Hdr
12.052 @ 113.71 - Justasheet - 05 A4 Z51 - CAI, cb, 3.73, hdr, tune, DR - (4467)
12.084 @ 117.00 - Forrest - 06 M6 Z51 - CAI, cb, hdr, tune, DR - (1445)
12.091 @ 114.63 - 68RSSS -05 A4 F55 - CAI, hdr, tune - (5066)
12.133 @ 116.10 - ParisTNdude - 06 A6 - CAI, cb, hdr, tune, DR - (6566)
12.136 @ 115.15 - Ben Diss - 07 M6 F55 - CAI, hdr, tune, Nitto Ivos - (1915)
12.169 @ 116.82 - Gmkillr - 07 M6 Z51 - CAI, cb, fast, hdr, x pipe, tune, Dr - (6345)
12.174 @ 114.58 - C6dreamvette - 05 A4 - CAI, no muff, tune, kdw - (2185)
12.17x @ 119.00 - RHecox - 06 A6 Z51 - CAI, cb, hdr - (1224)
12.18x @ 115.85 - Mdrrandall - 07 M6 Z51 - CAI, cb - (1818)
12.18x @ 114.00 - Toptoneone - 06 M6 Z51 - CAI, cb, hdr, tune, DR - (1820)
12.216 @ 115.98 - Mike Campbell - 06 A6 - CAI, DR - (5093)
12.219 @ 115.14 - Shocker Racing - 05 M6 - Homemade Air filter, DR - (1319

Flh Den

Interesting Mike. Are there no time comparisons stock to stock. The fastest stock LS3 is still .074 faster than the fastest LS2 with Z06 exhaust. 3.90 rear end, Cai, Tune, with Drag radials. Which is probably $3000 worth of bolt on's. Think what the LS3 would do with $3k in bolt on's. Bottom line around town they are both great motors.

'13GrandSport

Well, if you are in no hurry, then don't rush. I am sure there will be a lot of deals floating around very soon. As the release of the C7 comes closer there will be people out there that just have to have the latest. The lots will be filling with C6 vettes. I waited until the press release of the C7 and then started shopping when the dealers wanted to off load inventory and get their allocation for the new line. They were willing to give them away then. And chevy helped by giving rebates and owner loyalty money as well.

So take your time. Enjoy the search. And look at dealers in areas you may want to visit for a vacation. I flew to CT to see family and drove a new car back to Florida. It could be fun. Enjoy the search.

Tally Ho

I'm with the majority here. Don't rush into this. A co-worker of mine bought a loaded 2009 3LT coupe with 11K miles in crystal red for $35K two years ago. Lots of good deals out there but you have to shop around.

If my decision was between the two you listed, I'd go with the 06 with the options but not at that asking price.

J Vette

I agree that stock vs stock would be more accurate. And use the same driver for both since the driver can make a big difference also. I dare say that a good driver of an LS 2 can beat the not so good LS3 driver.

I know that when I purchased my 07, I'd have rather had an 08 because of the HP. We all love HP don't we. But I didn't have the $$$ for an 08 or newer. My thinking was that a tune, CAI and exhaust could be added as $$$ came available & that would pretty much get me the 30 HP I missed in the LS3.
Can 30 extra HP be felt? I'd say that depends on where you are at. IE, I doubt you could tell any difference on the Dragon or The Snake. Drag racing? I'd say yes. How much? I don't know. The specs I found say .3 in the quarter and .2 0-60. I don't know how reliable those specs are though. But as you said, they are both great motors

myfunz

I would buy the hyundai.... Oh wrong forum.

brewcitygymratt

Fastest bone stock ls2 on the 1/4 mi list is 12.21-ish so it's about a half a second difference. Ls2's dyno in the 330-340rwhp range stock depending on transmission and the ls3 put down 370-380-ish on avg stock.
So it's a pretty significant difference to some people who modify or track their cars. To others it wouldn't matter if it was a 100hp difference since modifying or racing the car is of no importance. Different strokes.

I would choose the 08 for better a6 tcm(if you choose an auto trans ) and better motor. At 43000miles the LS motors are barely broken in. I bought my ls1 camaro with 50k on it and it has 150,000+ now with the untouched 4l60e and plenty of track passes. My 06 3LT had 69K one owner(he owned chrysler dealerships) miles on it. It now has 83k with headers, ported fast, bullet axleback, ported tb, vararam and now a circle d stall converter going in in the next week. If you are buying a new to you c6, there is no wrong choice.

Mike Campbell

Guys, my statement was" an LS2 with a decent cold air intake runs about the same as a stock LS3." That's why I dug up those 1/4 mile stats. If you read the list, it's not stock versus stock. It's stock vs CAI. My LS2 runs 12.2-12.3's all day long just with a Vararam & a 160 deg stat. Most of the time with my stock RF's too. With a set of headers I'm in the 11's as are 3 buddies with identical cars to mine. Yes the LS3 has more potential and with the same mods is equally quicker. My whole point was, if you were making a buying decision, the gap is not that great so don't let the engine make it for you. IMHO the miles and car's condition are more important.

hdkeno

Last year I saw a 2010 base coupe on a dealers lot with 46k that looked like it was a unloved Hertz rent a car. BUT someone paid 40k for it.

Corvettes get a premium price here in the Northeast.

My 06 with 7800 pampered miles on it is a much better car then that base 2010,with 3 prior owners in only 2 1/2 years.


I know of a guy, whom I meet up with at Carlisle each year who has a 05 that he bought new, took meticulous care of it, drives it almost daily, and has 120k on it with no major problems to date.

I would take his 2005 over that beat 2010 any day of the week.