Help Needed - Should I trade in my Camaro for a new Vette?

[hzl6cm]

I need some help here. My daily driver, rain, snow, ice, sun, whatever for my 95 mile a day round trip is an '01 Camaro SS with a 6-speed transmission (I also own a '70 Vette Convertible but only for nice days) and I have a chance to buy one of the GM executive driven Corvettes for a good price, my main hangup is that the Vette has an automatic transmission while my Camaro has the 6-speed, which I really like. What do you guys suggest that I do, is the Vette with the auto still a good enough step up from the 6-speed Camaro SS that I should do the deal? The Vette would also be my daily driver just like the Camaro currently is. The Vette is an '04 Coupe, Spiral Gray metallic (which I really like, almost the same color as my Laguna Gray '70), black interior, both tops, magnesium wheels, 1SB (memory, HUD, etc) while the Camaro is red with black leather, tops, all power, 500 watt factory Monsoon stereo, steering wheel radio controls (one nice option that the Vette doesn't have). The sticker on the Vette is $48,130, with the current rebates I can get the car for $31,711 (if it has over 7,500 miles on it) or $33,897 (with 2,500 to 7,500 miles on it). The car will probably have 3,000 - 4,000 miles on it when it is released to me in April. My Camaro has 44,000 miles on it and I can probably sell it for $17,000. So what do you guys think, is it worth it?

Kevin

 

[*89x2*]

The sticker on the Vette is $48,130, with the current rebates I can get the car for $31,711 (if it has over 7,500 miles on it) or $33,897 (with 2,500 to 7,500 miles on it). The car will probably have 3,000 - 4,000 miles on it when it is released to me in April. My Camaro has 44,000 miles on it and I can probably sell it for $17,000. So what do you guys think, is it worth it?

Kevin

I would think with all the rebates / offers out there, you can get a brand new one for close to what they want for that used one...

Honestly that is what it is, a used Vette - GM exec. means different things to different people... Could be a factory distributors car, or maybe just a dealerships owner who wants to feel a "bit more important"...

I would prefer a 6 spd if the traffic (gridlock) isn't an issue - Hope this helps

 

[hzl6cm]

Thanks for the quick post. This deal would get me the car for $5,000 to $7,000 under the normal GM employee price. It looked like the best I could do with a similar car on the normal retail market with the rebates is about $42,000 so this car would be $8,000 or so less than that. These cars in this program are not the normal program vehicles (which are usualy rental returs etc) that you see advertised but are ones owned by GM and driven by GM personnel that are a high enough level (employment classification of 8th level and above) to have a company vehicle. Since the car has never been titled it is still eligible for all rebates etc. Also, GM will repair anything on the car not considered normal wear and tear. I do know the car is located in Kentucky so it is probably at the Corvette plant. Plus I think that my wife will let me buy this car because of the price and there is no way I could get a brand new one at a higher price.


I'm not in too much gridlock normally. Even though I drive right through downtown Kansas City every day I do so at 6 in the morning and 3:30 in the afternoon so traffic isn't a real problem. I agree with you on the 6-speed that is why I am in a quandry about weather or not to buy this Vette. As a comparison I drove a 6-speed Vette coup the other day and was not impressed by the low speed torque of the car in 6th gear. At 1,500 rpm in 6th (65 mph) it was really flat while my Camaro, at the same speed and rpm, pulls storng still, the Camaro will even pull strong in 6th down at 1,200 rpm. While I realize the car is a sports car meant to be driven hard, the reality of my situation is that at least 75% of my daily 95 mile drive is in 6th gear. While a lot of it is at 75 mph as I approach Kansas City I'm running in the 65 mph range so adequate performance there is important to me. I also test drove an automatic equiped new Vette and was very impressed by how it drove. I didn't think I would like it at all, but it is definitely the best automatic equiped vehicle I've ever driven so I am really undecided about what to do.

Kevin

I would think with all the rebates / offers out there, you can get a brand new one for close to what they want for that used one...

Honestly that is what it is, a used Vette - GM exec. means different things to different people... Could be a factory distributors car, or maybe just a dealerships owner who wants to feel a "bit more important"...

I would prefer a 6 spd if the traffic (gridlock) isn't an issue - Hope this helps

 

[atmmac]

keep the camaro you already have a vette. Save your money to make your 70 better and faster. Just my take.

-Andy

 

[Daryllawman]

Dump the camaro........Vette is the best.......Camaro is a step down for sure....drive safe or look in your rearview for the rest of the story.......

 

[phxraptor]

;stupid Don't argue with the law

 

[BlueL36]

We had the C3 first. It was a weekend cruiser. I wanted to drive a Corvette everyday, so I was willing to let go of a nice SUV to go with a C5 as a daily driver. I use it in all conditions except accumulations of 2 plus inches of snow. I have no regrets.

Ask yourself if you want to drive a Corvette or a Camaro to work everyday. That'll help answer your questions.

 

[wallyknoch]

I Have some different opinions on your situation. You already have a Vette, of which the 70 is one of the better C3`s. Whether the new Vette is a coupe or roadster is one thought. Both the Camaro and Vette are desirable 6 speeds, and no more Camaros are being produced and yours is a SS model but a 01. If it was a 02 being the last model year I may not want the Vette as the 06 Vettes made the 05`s come down on price considerably. Lets see where am I going with this. Oh hell, get the Vette! If one is good, two are better.

 

[fhturner]

...Lets see where am I going with this. Oh hell, get the Vette! If one is good, two are better.

I'm with you on that, Wally! ;stupid
[Sorry, couldn't fine a smiley whose sign said "I'm with Wally"!]

Seriously, though, Kevin-- I'm sure your Camaro SS is nice, but a Vette is a Vette, dude! BTW, I can't figure how your Camaro could have better "low speed torque in 6th gear" than the Vette you drove. Your Camaro has 25 less HP (325HP) and identical torque (350lb-ft) as the Vette, the 6th gear ratio is the same (0.50:1), and the final drive ratio is the same (3.42:1). And oh yeah-- your Camaro also weighs 200 lbs more and is not as slippery through the air. So, in my not-too-auto-mechanically-oriented mind, I would think they would feel about the same, if the Vette didn't feel stronger. Regardless, 6th gear is a very overdriven gear (at 0.5:1), whose primary goal is fuel economy. If you want to feel some "pull" drop it into 5th or 4th..

As for your potential purchase, I think I would still get the auto Vette, even though I would rather have the 6-speed. If you're getting a good enough deal on it, I suppose you could always turn right around and sell it for a profit and get what you want with that.

Good luck with your decision! Let us know what you decide to do...
Fred

 

[johnny80]

Hands down....get the Vette!!

 

[backdoorbargains]

a new vette would be very cool. I just got done driving two vettes this weekend. One had an auto and the other a 6 speed. both were great. I just ordered me a vette on valentines day and it will have the automatic. Its about time. A new vette has no miles. A used vette has miles on it and you don't know how it was driven. I to was looking for a used vette but decided to just buy a new one that way I know what its been through. Good luck. If its the money buy the used one.

backdoorbargains (Richard)

 

[hzl6cm]

Thought I would update this thread. I didn't buy that Vette because of the automatic and becuase the regular C5 was not that much of a step up from my Camaro - however, last week I traded the Camaro in on a new Yellow Z06 - now that is a step up! I'm still just breaking it in but so far I can describe it in one word - sweet!!

Kevin

 

[silver98]

Should I trade in my Camaro for a new Vette? duh?...

 

[Ken]

Just keep in mind, they don't make Camaros anymore. And if they do bring the F-body back, it's liable to be something we'd rather not have, like the Impala. :cry

 

[Ken]

Jeez, I just realized that this was another resurrected thread from long ago. I imagine the decision's long been made. :L

 

[jrose7004]

Jeez, I just realized that this was another resurrected thread from long ago. I imagine the decision's long been made. :L

I love it February!:L

 

[hzl6cm]

I love it February!:L

Hey - it took me that long to make the decision! Plus by then I got to drive a C6 and decided the Z06 was a lot better ride. I see that you are in Oklahoma - that is where my Camaro went after the dealer replaced the rear axles (no wonder it was making noise - good thing I noted it on the sales order!). I guess he wholesaled it to a dealer down there - no market for them here this time of year>

Kevin