Skytanic

I am sitting at 1100 and next in line with my dealer. I was told I can still make some changes so now I am in scramble mode and I have a hard time making big decisions anyway so now I am a freaking mess. I plan on trading up for the Z06 in two years. I want a C8 now while I wait so I am not going wait for the used market. Since I rarely keep any of my vehicles more than a few years I am looking at two potential scenarios.

#1 - 1LT Coupe. This would put me around 62k how I want it. Nothing fancy, but I think it has more than what I need already. I considered the 2LT but I only see value in a handful of the options and not for 7k more.
#2 - 3LT Convertible. This would out be about 81k. I am only considering the 3LT because of the Rapid Blue/Tension Blue combo that can only be had with the 3LT.

I understand that these are two different vehicles and that is why I would like to have an idea of the resale hit between the two. I think the 1LT coupe loses the least. Yes I know I might disqualify some buyers with it being a 1LT and not the 2LT, but I think realistically that 62k 1LT is worth 50-55k in two years depending on GM price increases. However, if I go with the 81k 3LT and I spend the extra 19k, how much of that do I get back on resale? 7k? 10k? Personally, I think the 3LT vert is worth 60-65k in two years. Do my estimates sound correct? I would love to hear others thoughts on this since I don't want to make this decision alone! Thanks in advance.

Additional info: This is a weekend toy and not a daily. It will not get tracked. Neither option will be Z51 but the car will have low miles at the time of resale/trade.

C8Jake

incredible bargain...stands to reason

TFen

Contrary to what ppl will tell you, I can assure you that you'll lose less money on a base 1LT than any other potential combo. If 1LT wasn't constrained when I placed my order, that's the route I would've gone. I too plan on a Z06 upgrade.

rmorin1249

I agree. Loaded cars almost always lose more.

roadbike56

Fact: The more options a C7 had, the more $$$ it lost. Period.
I know because I bought a CPO, 2 year old C7 in 2016. A comparable situation to what OP wants to do. Consider that for around $3K to $4K over a two year old base coupe, I bought a 2LT, Z51 with Mag Ride, Nav and painted calipers. Those options are nice, yes they make it a little easier to sell, but brother do they depreciate.

gatti-man

1lt loses less but you’d lose even less having some patience and getting a 3LT beast Z06. I hate buying stripped cars. I’d sooner buy used.

Skytanic

I agree that buying stripped cars suck, but a 1LT C8 is hardly stripped. I wish patience was a virtue of mine, but it isn't.

BIG Dave

OP - if you never keep your cars for more than a few years, you should be accustomed to taking big depreciation hits. So what’s so different now?

But back to the main question, get the minimalist version possible. Options don’t retain much value, so the more you spend on options, the more you’ll lose at trade-in time.

RKCRLR

If you know you're going to get a Z06 when it comes out get the cheapest C8 you can live with (if you can't wait).

Skytanic

While is is definitely true. However, my depreciation hasn't been too bad because my daily cars are leases and my "fun" cars are used. This will be my first new fun car.

Skytanic

I have a hard time predicting the future. Yes, assuming nothing drastic changes in the economy I will be getting a Z06. However, since I want a C8 now, I am going to get one now and deal with the future once it arrives. I will happily pay a depreciation rental fee for my lack of patience.

Phil1098

It sounds like you've pretty much answered your own question. Get the 1LT, have fun for a couple years, lose a little $, get the Z06 that you really want.

jimmyb

"Options" depreciate much faster than the car itself. The exception to that (in the C7 Stingray, at least) was Z51. That option depreciated at about the rate the car did.
So...if heads up or heated/vented seats or whatever doesn't matter to you, by all means, get 1LT.
That said, you should order the car as YOU want it and to hell with worrying about depreciation. I'm not trying to be flippant here, you're going to live with and enjoy the car for 2 years or so. It would suck to have buyers remorse ("I wish I had gotten 2LT...etc...") for 2 years over $4,000+ additional loss.

A little comparison (Kelly Blue Book Trade In value):
2016 Stingray Coupe with 7 speed manual and 15,000 miles, listed in "Very Good" condition"
1LT; $34,931
2LT: $35,384
1LT with Z51: $37,507

As you can see, Z51 held value VERY well on the used market. 2LT lost MOST of it's initial purchase price.

gatti-man

I would call it stripped. No seat warmers or ventilated seats? Plastic everywhere. It’s stripped (to me)

jimmyb

^^^^
You obviously haven't seen a 1LT interior in person....
No seat warmers, but it's not a plastic factory either.

Skytanic

Where does the 1LT have plastic where to 2LT doesn't? I honestly don't know. As far as the seat warmers and ventilated seats. Not having them doesn't make it stripped in my opinion. All my other cars have them and I use them once in a while, but I wouldn't miss them very often for the upcharge. I think I would miss the front parking cams the most.

23/C8Z

how about an auto dimming rear view mirror? Or how about no LUMBAR support at all? The lesser stereo. No pdr. No front cameras (fun to always back in or play roulette) no heads up display? Go to a new generation of Corvette and don't have the coolest feature they offer? No way. 1LT is so stripped. A 1LZ at least has the HUD. Chevy should have made it standard on the stingray.

IdRatherBGolfing

I plan on doing the same, getting a C8 as soon as possible, then getting the C8 ZO6 when available. That said, I am getting the car that I most want now because who knows what might happen in the future, divorce, death, stock market crash, whatever. At least I will be in the car that I want in the here and now, and hopefully the one I want in the future. If all works out, getting both cars back to back ill lose $ on depreciation, but to me that's the best outcome.

Wee

On a side note what do you think a base lt1 will bring when it's sold say in 2 years with 15,000 miles or so....?

Brian

Wyldfyer

for some folks, the performance is the best feature.