996 vs C6

markwemple wrote:

Ian F wrote: In reply to markwemple: That kinda makes me want to buy a Vette for DD use. Just to see if one will last since I can put 100K on a car in about 3 years.

Go for it

Oh, I thought about it... even went looking for Vettes less than 10 years old and found quite a few in my price range. Problem is right after posting that, I was driving home and got behind a brand new Mustang. Damn, that's a good looking car. And cheaper too (plus, new-car financing < used-car financing).

Berk.

And that reminded me of all of the other cars I could buy in that price bracket (or less). Regardless, I'm not buying anything until my current fleet is back in running order (1800ES excepted). ...and assuming my high bid for the NB on BaT doesn't hold.

What if a C6 or a 996 was your only car? Which one will start every time and be more livable?

I think that REALLY comes down to if you will ever need back seats. I've actually had 4 people in my 911 (once), but for me back seats don't matter for this car. Other than that I would say the Vette is more practical overall with a little more cargo versatility and quicker/easier to get parts/service for. It will also get better highway MPG! My 911 gets terrible mileage for a 2900lb car with a 6cyl.

Good friend had a 996 that I drove a few times, and we owned a C6 Z51 for a (short) while...

The 996 was older and higher miles, but the build quality was far superior to the C6 and it was a much tighter car. Much better quality interior materials.

The 996 did not feel 'fast' to me (Carrera 2 Tiptronic), but was very precise... good steering, well tuned stock suspension. The 'Vette was obviously much faster, but the suspension was not as well tuned, and the steering was numb by comparison... tons of grip, though.

Cost of ownership seemed to be a wash... both have expensive consumables. Shortly after purchasing the car, my buddy had to do an oil seal, and replace coolant hoses... to the tune of ~ $2500. My C6 was a POS and I put over $2k in parts in it in 8k miles, with me doing the labor, which is why I didn't keep it long.

As far as 'people', I never meshed with the 'Vette crowd... around here most seem to be garage queen 'cruisers' with very few interested in actually driving them. The P Car crowd seemed more interested in actually having fun driving their cars, and I still hang out with them. They haven't had any issues accepting my Miatae. I know that wouldn't be the case with the local 'Vette crowd.

Something to be aware of with the C6Z is the cylinder head/valve issues. If it hasn't been addressed, be prepared to spend $$. If you don't address it and lunch the motor, be prepared to spend $$$$.

If I were dead set on one or the other, my choice would be a 996TT or 997 for a little more money. And a good extended warranty!

The 996 tt is at least 10k more. Outside of my clutch and suspension intervals coming up, my expenses have been relatively cheap. I use redline so oil changes are ~130 every 5k. I've done the alternator at 400, coils at ~30 ea and brakes. That's about it at 110k so far.

Of course, I didn't include, plugs, fluids, and other regular interval maintenance items. Also, don't fo the wp metal impeller swap. Most in the know don't recommend it.

Mike wrote: What if a C6 or a 996 was your only car? Which one will start every time and be more livable?

My C5 had two days out of service in three years, one for a failed water pump, one for the ignition lock.

There's a sacred cow I need to slaughter right now.

Corvettes are great in the snow. Summer tires are not. Put snows on it and you have a 18" c.g., 50/50 car with the easiest throttle to modulate in the entire industry and a progressive limited slip differential. You will be stopped only when you are completely out of ground clearance the whole way across the car. If there is traction you will find it.

I'd build something amazing. $25k builds an incredible car 1000 ways. I vote use a little more imagination.

The 996 was older and higher miles, but the build quality was far superior to the C6 and it was a much tighter car. Much better quality interior materials.

For me this was a major consideration given the similar prices of the cars i was looking at, but i also figure if people are serious about buying a Corvette then they're already ok with Corvette 'perceived quality'.

The 996 did not feel 'fast' to me (Carrera 2 Tiptronic)

Im sure the auto didn't help, but I think the 'feeling' of power is even more of a problem than actual numbers performance when comparing a 996 Carrera to a Vette. The Carrera is one of those cars that feels faster the faster you go. It is not that impressive to me below about 75-80mph. Its first 3 gears are pretty tall, and even as a light car, tall gears and 3.4L of naturally aspirated torque just isn't going to feel impressive, regardless of the ~4.9s 0-60. But, once you get into 3rd gear, it does start to feel like a fast car. The Vette feels fast all the time, even though a non-Z 5.7 Vette really isnt much faster than a Carrera once you get into the higher speed ranges. When you get to the Zs and 6.0s then you are talking significantly faster. All of them 'feel' faster, so if you want to 'feel' like you are in a fast car without breaking the law (80+mph), the Vette is the hands down winner.

Buy the Vette. C5 is my preference ('99 FRC) but I've also owned a C6.

The Porsche tax will kill you. I've owned a Boxster S and everything is expensive. The Corvette is effortless fast, relatively cheap to mod, relatively bulletproof. Compare the cost of a crate 996 motor to a LS1 or LS2

chaparral wrote:

Mike wrote: What if a C6 or a 996 was your only car? Which one will start every time and be more livable?

There's a sacred cow I need to slaughter right now. Corvettes are great in the snow. Summer tires are not. Put snows on it and you have a 18" c.g., 50/50 car with the easiest throttle to modulate in the entire industry and a progressive limited slip differential. You will be stopped only when you are completely out of ground clearance the whole way across the car. If there is traction you will find it.

Indeed, snows on my Z are working out pretty well this winter. I just went with base C6 sizing in a Michelin PA4 which is a sporty winter tire, nothing hardcore. Coworkers are incredulous, but I keep showing up to work on time.

Also, I'm very much a Japanese/Euro car guy and ideally I'd own a 240Z, FD RX7, 997 GT3, and a Golf R or RS3 as my dream garage, but the Corvette has been a great experience thus far. The interior is fine and I get lots of waves and thumbs up from people. I considered a Cayman S or 997 S/4S but I'm glad I went this way.