Did you ever consider a used Vette?

Mr. Jack · Mar 7, 2004

I am in the market for a car. I have narrowed it down to two choices: 2003/04 Cobra, or a used 1998-2001 Corvette.

I have test driven the Cobra and loved it. A major improvement over my 2002 GT in every way. I have not ever driven a C5 (or any year Vette for that matter) but I've heard lots of good things about it. I am wondering if it would be a better choice. I know they are comparable in power (stock-wise anyways), and the handling would have to go the Vette with its lower curb weight. My main concern is with build quality. I know our SN95's have gotten a bad rap for a while now and I find myself wondering if a C5 would be a better choice.

Did you current Cobra owners ever consider a Vette?

Morpheusgpr · Mar 7, 2004

I did...and I almost bought a new 2004 Zo6 too. Would have traded my 01 Lightning and 01 cobra for it. I was offered 10k off sticker on it too. I passed. Figured I would rather have two cars and mod one and then have the other until I can get it fixed. So the Cobra is going to be modded I think. I also looked at some used vettes, a 2002 with only 10k miles in the blue color I drewl on to boot.

Maybe when the C6 comes out I will get one of those or once my 01 cobra is paid off I can add another nice car to the fleet at that point maybe? Hmmm...sounds good to me.

Friedchicken · Mar 7, 2004

If build quality is your deciding factor, you have to realise that the 03 cobra is built with the same factory spec as the $16k mustangs are. That being said, I am more than happy with the build quality of my car and my old 2001 gt vert. I thought about a vette, but didn't think too long as I occasionally have people in the back seat and I wanted to increase the performance without overpaying for aftermarket cause it's a vette.

Rogue Cobra · Mar 8, 2004

I thought about a used Vette also. In the end the Cobra won out hands down. I bought an 03 the day after Christmas. Merry Christmas to me. With the money I wanted to spend I could get a used Vette or the Cobra.

Here is what I based my purchase on:
1. NEW Cobra. I am not buying anyone elses troubles. I don't know how a used Vette would have been treated, plus the mileage.
2. Great Deal. I got a very good deal based on it was an 03.
3. Supercharger and the easy upgrades to get to 500hp.
4. The Cobra just feels more like an old school muscle car than the Vette.
5. Convertible! I would have had to look at a Vette Coupe.
6. Resale value down the line. The Cobra is limited in production and I believe down the line the Cobra will have a better resale value.

IMHO,
Rogue Cobra

JBVobra · Mar 8, 2004

no, I never considered a used vette...I bought brand new

Mr. Jack · Mar 11, 2004

Rogue Cobra said:
6. Resale value down the line. The Cobra is limited in production and I believe down the line the Cobra will have a better resale value.

IMHO,
Rogue Cobra

Do you really think the Cobra will have a higher resale then a Vette?

yellow5.0cobra · Mar 11, 2004

I guessing he is stating 20years down the line?

I know a Z06 will keep a very high resale... a Cobra... ehh.. possibly, but not as high.

Personally, I have looked at a couple Z06's, and I would have liked to own one, but it just didnt fit my personality.

Rogue Cobra · Mar 11, 2004

I guess yes and no to that question. Yes, I believe they will have a better resale value than the stock Corvette. Not the Z06. I will also qualify that by saying I think the supercharged version will hold a better value progressively 20+ years.

Just my opinion.
Rogue Cobra

shadowland2000 · Mar 12, 2004

I considered a vette and did quite of bit of research. Problems I found were:

1) lots of electrical issues
2) leaking differential
3) rocking seats
4) piston slap
5) excessive use of oil
6) column lock issue
7) AC leaks on carpet
8) lots of tranny noise from the rear

Its very difficult to judge this car because so many people love it no matter how many problems. I would say as a race car, its great. As a reliable, comfortable car, its not so good.

RealQuick · Mar 12, 2004

shadowland2000 said:
I considered a vette and did quite of bit of research. Problems I found were:

1) lots of electrical issues
2) leaking differential
3) rocking seats
4) piston slap
5) excessive use of oil
6) column lock issue
7) AC leaks on carpet
8) lots of tranny noise from the rear

Its very difficult to judge this car because so many people love it no matter how many problems. I would say as a race car, its great. As a reliable, comfortable car, its not so good.

Some comments for you from someone that knows alittle about the C5's and have driven one many times (my dad owns a 99 C5 M6):

1. Electrical issues - Yes (my dads battery goes dead if it sits for 3 weeks without starting)
2. Leaking diff - Nope
3. Rocking seats - Nope
4. Piston slap - Nope
5. Oil Consumption - Nope
6. Column Lock - Nope (but my dad had the dealer fix done before it ever happened)
7. AC leak - Nope
8. Noisey tranny - No more noisey than an fbody, actually it sounds like a turbo spooling up

Its obvious you havent driven one, or atleast havent driven more than once. The vette is docile, quiet, unbelievable road manners and could easily be a daily driver. It funny that the car would be labeled unreliable by you because you have heard of some problems that some people have. If thats the case, nobody should by a 99 cobra, 03 cobra or a MACH1 (with its traction control coming on and off for no reason). All cars have problems. I seem to remember the cobra has had alot! It doesnt mean the cobra is not a reliable car.

yellow5.0cobra · Mar 12, 2004

Hell... even my old 2002 GT had rocking seats, and so does my buddies 2002.

Nothing a little wrench cant handle!

shadowland2000 · Mar 12, 2004

The problems I mentioned about Vette's are well known and quite common. Don't get me wrong -I think highly of these cars. When I spoke about comfort I was referring to interior noise, the firmness of the ride, and the seating position due to how low to the ground it is.

RealQuick · Mar 12, 2004

shadowland2000 said:
The problems I mentioned about Vette's are well known and quite common. Don't get me wrong -I think highly of these cars. When I spoke about comfort I was referring to interior noise, the firmness of the ride, and the seating position due to how low to the ground it is.

The stiff ride doesnt seem so stiff to me, but yes it is damn low to the ground. I really think you need to take a ride though if you havent been in one. Well worth it. Interior noise is not loud IMO. GM trannies are somewhat noisey i guess, maybe thats why I am used to it I wasnt trying to sound like a di(k, just trying to show that not every vette has ALL of the problems. In my dad's case, his battery drains all the time. No other problems beside that.

Fusion · Mar 12, 2004

Some comments for you from someone that knows alittle about the C5's and have driven one many times (my dad owns a 99 C5 M6):

1. Electrical issues - Yes (my dads battery goes dead if it sits for 3 weeks without starting)
2. Leaking diff - Nope
3. Rocking seats - Nope
4. Piston slap - Nope
5. Oil Consumption - Nope
6. Column Lock - Nope (but my dad had the dealer fix done before it ever happened)
7. AC leak - Nope
8. Noisey tranny - No more noisey than an fbody, actually it sounds like a turbo spooling up

I've owned 3 vettes and most of the problems listed above do happen on C5's... not on all, but they are all known problems. Electrical items are hit and miss... I've seen a rear ABS sensor left unplugged from the factory on a 2002... rear end work lock up at speeds above 70... very dangerous.

Leaking diff is a known problem.. they were made with a very porus material.

Rocking seats happen.. it again is hit or miss.

Piston slap is very common on the 2002 and up cars... oil consumption on some of these cars are through the roof. Dealerships says it will stop after 10K miles but in all the cases I've seen.. it doesn't.

Column lock only affects earler model automatics... but I know more then a few people who've been towed to the dealer or just broke the lock with brute force knowing it's have to go back to the shop anyhow.

Haven't heard much about AC leaks or tranny noises.

But I myself have left the world of vettes for now and got a 96 Cobra... two totally different cars IMO. Both nice in there own ways.

tistan2 · May 9, 2004

If you take a 93 corvette and a 93 cobra and compare selling prices then you will see that a 93 cobra in good condition is very hard to find for und $14000. You can buy a 93 corvette for $10-12000 all day long.

95GTS · May 9, 2004

I thought about buying a new Vette when buying my Cobra. I love the looks of the C5. However, the two main issues that kept me with the 03 Cobra were a back seat and cost. The family (my wife and daughter) love to cruise on the weekends and the Vette unfortunetly would not allow me to do that. Though I could have afforded a brand new Vette and possibly a slightly used Z06, 45k or so was my personal limiting factor.

I tell you though, my old flight surgeon let me drive his 99 C5 several times and I loved every minute of it. The handling was and is superior to the 03+ Cobra while down a bit on power compared to it, its weight should put it right with a Cobra with a good driver. Obviously a few small mods (pulley/tune or cai/cat back) will put the Cobra above a regular C5 but the vette is still fun none the less. I didn't drive a Z06 since I would have wanted one without a doubt. Better I not even know how the Z06 drives. It would have just been a tease.

crew_dawg16 · May 11, 2004

tistan2 said:
If you take a 93 corvette and a 93 cobra and compare selling prices then you will see that a 93 cobra in good condition is very hard to find for und $14000. You can buy a 93 corvette for $10-12000 all day long.

I don't know where you live, but here are some prices from where I live on 93 vettes http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/...CHEV&address=60050&search_type=used&x=29&y=11

And here are some prices on cobras http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/...FORD&address=60050&search_type=used&x=25&y=10

The only real reason that the cobra's resale is that high is because of the limited production (only 4993 cobras, and 107 cobra "R"s) That and the fact that they are considered to be one of the best mustangs ever made. (93s)

A 1993 corvette, however, aside from the 40th anniversary models and the ZR-1s, is just another corvette. And the resale is virtually the same. And there were 21,590 corvettes made that year.

crew_dawg16 · May 11, 2004

Oh, and given mileage and price and condition were comparable, the corvette would be in my garage hands down. But, I can't afford a 2001 corvette, that is why my signature says what it does.

JBVobra · May 12, 2004

tistan2 said:
If you take a 93 corvette and a 93 cobra and compare selling prices then you will see that a 93 cobra in good condition is very hard to find for und $14000. You can buy a 93 corvette for $10-12000 all day long.

thats not an apples to apples supply and demand equation

thats like comparing an '89 ZR1 to an '89 GT mustang as far as resale % loss.

Did you ever consider a used Vette?

Mr. Jack

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