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Getting started on searching for my first Vette. I was initially considering a 2003-2004 C5 Z06 Manual because it's the last model with flip-up lights. While searching I was suprised to find C5 Z06 and C7 Stingrays similarly priced!
Doesn't a C7 Stingray drive bettter while outperforming a C5 Z06? Trying to understand why C7's are selling for the same price as older generations.
Seems like a no-brainer for a first time Corvette buyer to buy a C7 over previous genernations but maybe I'm missing the obvious?
it probably does outperform a C5, it's two whole generations further
but obviously in the market people will pay the same for a C5 Z06 as a base C7
it's understandable to me
personally I don't love the C5, but the C6 Z06 is pretty darn cool IMO and I'd no doubt pay way more for that than even a Z51 C7
Getting started on searching for my first Vette. I was initially considering a 2003-2004 C5 Z06 Manual because it's the last model with flip-up lights. While searching I was suprised to find C5 Z06 and C7 Stingrays similarly priced!
Doesn't a C7 Stingray drive bettter while outperforming a C5 Z06? Trying to understand why C7's are selling for the same price as older generations.
Seems like a no-brainer for a first time Corvette buyer to buy a C7 over previous genernations but maybe I'm missing the obvious?
I think the thing that changed was C5Z values. They used to be $10k - $20k depending on condition, but people figured out that they were a bit undervalued, plus less are on the market.
Now they have "appreciated", but they are not influencing base C7 prices since most people are not cross shopping the two.
In general, C7 Stingray prices are down about $10k from a year ago for the same car from what I am seeing. As a buyer, you are in luck! Post up pics when you get your Vette! Exciting times!
C7 prices are not down from a year ago, they are selling well and will stay strong. The C5 is popular because it has the flip headlights and are much less money and also because it doesn't have all the electronics. The Z would of course be more valuable.
Getting started on searching for my first Vette. I was initially considering a 2003-2004 C5 Z06 Manual because it's the last model with flip-up lights. While searching I was suprised to find C5 Z06 and C7 Stingrays similarly priced!
Doesn't a C7 Stingray drive bettter while outperforming a C5 Z06? Trying to understand why C7's are selling for the same price as older generations.
You're not comparing apples to apples when you're looking at C5Z vs. C7 base. You'll need to compare C5 to C7 and that's where you'll see the price differences.
If you ask me, the C7Z is more comparable to a C6 ZR1 than anything else (there wasn't a C5 ZR1).
Originally Posted by XXXX
Seems like a no-brainer for a first time Corvette buyer to buy a C7 over previous genernations but maybe I'm missing the obvious?
That was the same conclusion I came to last year and thus bought a C7 Stingray rather than the more affordable C5 or C6. It just made more sense in many ways, much more performance and comfort for my $$$ (plus I prefer the C7 styling).
Now, if you're looking to get into track-days ... then you should compare C7 Z51 vs. C5Z and C6Z. I think.
I had a 2004 Z06 and sold it for like $17k with 72,000 miles in 2015. That same car is mid to high $20's these days. Of course with inflation alone 17k in 2015 is almost 22k today. Over-priced in my opinion but the market is the market. I'd take a C7 anytime after owning a C7 Grand Sport M7 for about 5 years. Just hands down a better looking and performing car in every way. And if the C5 Z06 has appreciated that much while the C7's are going for really good deals, just a great situation for C7 buyers.
Found a pic of it on the Ford dealer lot in 2015 where I bought it. Says no haggle with $21,987 price tag but I got a little off (that's $27,412 in today's dollars). It had 62k miles. The salesman said a guy traded it in for a new Ford Taurus. Had to be a sad day for him as he bought it new.
C7 prices are not down from a year ago, they are selling well and will stay strong. The C5 is popular because it has the flip headlights and are much less money and also because it doesn't have all the electronics. The Z would of course be more valuable.
They are easily down from summer of 2022. Up to ten percent. I know because I bought my 2019 July 2022 and still check from time to time and they are selling for about $5k less than what I paid on average. I know older C7s are also down about the same amount.
They are easily down from summer of 2022. Up to ten percent. I know because I bought my 2019 July 2022 and still check from time to time and they are selling for about $5k less than what I paid on average. I know older C7s are also down about the same amount.
That’s what I’m seeing as well. Last summer the offer from Carmax, Vroom, Carvans was $50k for my C7 now it’s $40k.
Same here. Last June I had an offer for $69k on my 2019 GS 2LT M7 12k miles and now I see similar for $62k on Cargurus (rated as Good deal). Decided I liked it too much. That and a forum friend talked me out of it lol. So glad I listened.
The C5Z has always been popular for track usage. The basic package is fast. The C5s have always needed reliability and safety improvements to be seriously used regularly. Engine cooling, brake calipers/rotors/pads, transmission/diff cooling, seat replacement have been required since they were new cars. With the improvements, they are very fast on track and can run multiple 20-minute sessions per day, day after day with few issues. Add a cam to the engine and it will easily keep up with or pass a C6Z. They can give a C7 GS/Z06 a run for the money. They also have lower operating costs than the C7s. Brake pads and rotors are lower cost, tires are lower cost, fuel consumption is less, etc. It takes more money to haul a couple hundred extra pounds around a track for 20 minutes. Spending on track insurance if you want it is about half the cost of track insurance for a C7 Z06. If you go without track insurance wadding it up although painful to the wallet isn't anywhere near as painful as wadding up a C7Z.
I wouldn't say that they are cheap at all. In late 2019, early 2020, I could have gotten a Z06 with low miles in the 50s and a transport in the mid to high 40s. Now, you are lucky to get a good Z in the high 60s, sometimes in the mid 60s if there is higher milage. Same for grandsports, they are routinely in the mid 50s. I would definitely agree that prices have come down from the crazy asking prices of a year or two ago, but imo they are still higher than they should be. The C7 is a great car, probably my favorite generation, but still are still up quite a bit from what they were a few years ago. There are many factors that played into this, but I think that they really aren't cheap quire yet.
I must confess, I've opted to keep both my C5 and C7. I just couldn't let the C5 go after so long when I bought my C7. Drive both and see which YOU like best. But, buying a used car, especially sports or performance, I'd be very picky and go with minimal options to have to fix down the road when parts availability may be... already is sometimes... in question . All the best, and enjoy whatever you get.
This isn’t an apples to apples comparison. Th C5Z was the top performing and at one point the most sought after Corvette of its generation. Even after the C6Z first came out the C5Z was strongly sought after. Bang for the buck there isn’t a better performing Corvette. A base C7 would have a hard time keeping up with a C5Z around a track stock for stock. Also there’s so much more out there for the C5s that they are way cheaper to modify. You can easily do an LS3 conversion and then you have a monster on your hands that if set up correctly could keep
up with a stock C7Z around a track for a lot less money.
In my area, you can find nice deals on Stingrays, but everything else tracks with what has already been said. I paid $38k in October for a really nice 31k mile 1LT from a dealership, which I thought was fair given the options it is missing. I haven't reviewed the options sticker yet, but all I really have is the Nuclear Propulsion Package. I have always been a fan of low-option cars. There are so many C7s out there for sale that you can truly comparison shop. Try doing that for the Buick Grand National that I am looking for.
Part of why I got a good deal on it was that it was on a Kia lot that was almost exclusively Kia in their new and used inventory. They wanted the Vette gone.
The C5Z has always been popular for track usage. The basic package is fast. The C5s have always needed reliability and safety improvements to be seriously used regularly. Engine cooling, brake calipers/rotors/pads, transmission/diff cooling, seat replacement have been required since they were new cars. With the improvements, they are very fast on track and can run multiple 20-minute sessions per day, day after day with few issues. Add a cam to the engine and it will easily keep up with or pass a C6Z. They can give a C7 GS/Z06 a run for the money. They also have lower operating costs than the C7s. Brake pads and rotors are lower cost, tires are lower cost, fuel consumption is less, etc. It takes more money to haul a couple hundred extra pounds around a track for 20 minutes. Spending on track insurance if you want it is about half the cost of track insurance for a C7 Z06. If you go without track insurance wadding it up although painful to the wallet isn't anywhere near as painful as wadding up a C7Z.
Bill
I track my c5A4 coupe a few times a year, brakes aren’t bad at all. About 200 for hawk pads and 240 for Delco gold performance rotors. I also have 3.73 gear, 3200 converter, trans cooler, and no heat issues at all. If you want a track car, go for a c5z. If you want a weekend cruiser or summer car, go with a c7.
Cheap now? When many of the new 2019's were being sold at 20% off sticker, that was cheap. A $80K 2019 GS could be bought new for $64k +fees and taxes. Today, that same, low mile (under 15,000 mile) almost 5 yr old "used" 2019 GS is selling for mid $60k +fees and taxes. How is that "cheap"?
Here's a few at a fairly popular Corvette dealer in our region. I'm not sure any of these look particularly cheap given the fact of high interest rates and winter.....
12-19-2023, 07:32 AM
Why are C7's so cheap?
