2014 Corvette Stingray To Start $52,990*

base car is amazing, what options what y'all get?

I don't buy new cars... period. The depreciation is simply not worth it. I buy 3~5 year old cars, and I look for those which are heavily optioned because -- as far as used cars go the price for a stripper and a loaded example does not vary all that much.

However, if I have to order the new Vette, the only thing I absolutely will splurge on is Magnetic ride control.

If I was to spend the money on a Vette, it would be fully loaded top of the line. I have in the last few years changed from buying fully loaded top of the line to taking Dwightlooi attitude of buying a few years old.

Perfect example is I bought last year in 2012 a 2008 Fully Loaded Trailblazer SS AWD. Beautiful only had 25K miles on it. Bought it with GM's bumper to bumper 3/36000 mile warranty for 26K. Way below the original selling price and a good deal. Been a sweet ride for my wife to drive.

GM did well to improve this car and hold the bottom line on the base car.

But as with the present car once you start checking boxes the price will go up fast. Once they add the performance models it will go up even faster. I have seen Z06 carbons already stickered right at $100,000 now so I suspect the same will apply here. At least GM is trying to keep the cars affordable on several levels.

what is sad is my Mom gets a Magazine called Reminisce Magazine. She gave me the last issue since they did a story on how older folks remembered their Corvettes. Most bought theirs while still in their teens and still in High School. Not one of them bought one older. It is sad but understandable with the changes in times and insurance that kids today can buy their cars till 40 years later when their kids are out of the house. But that is just the way it is.

If I were to spend $70K today on a Vette it would be hard for me to choose from a new C7 or a 1959-60 C1. I love the new car but I have fond memories of the many miles I spent in my Neighbors 59 FI car. Today they are about the same price and the one is continuing to climb.

Just a note today I took my son out in my Buddys 94 convertible today. It was the first time he was on the road in a Vette or a Convertible. He had to tell mom we needed to get a Vette.

The car my buddy has is nothing real special but it only had 30K miles never been in the rain and Torch Red as it should be. He only gave $12 K for it and it only needed a few simple things like a new shift boot etc. that came with the car and just needed to be put on. We have spent time fixing little things on Saturdays and upgrading things like the Skip Shift and removed the rear resonators. He did get a pretty good deal from what I Can see.

If I was to spend the money on a Vette, it would be fully loaded top of the line. I have in the last few years changed from buying fully loaded top of the line to taking Dwightlooi attitude of buying a few years old.

Perfect example is I bought last year in 2012 a 2008 Fully Loaded Trailblazer SS AWD. Beautiful only had 25K miles on it. Bought it with GM's bumper to bumper 3/36000 mile warranty for 26K. Way below the original selling price and a good deal. Been a sweet ride for my wife to drive.

BTW, now is a horrible time to buy a used car. Used car values in 2012 was at a 30 year high -- 2008 was a 30-year low so it was a dramatic swing around. Used car prices for a 4 year old $60~70K car is about 40K today which is higher than it normally should be (low 30s). In late 2008, a similar car would have sold for the high 20s -- I bought a 1 owner, 2005 C55 AMG (3 yr 10 months old; $62K when new) in December 2008 for $27K.

One thing to note when buying used is that you cannot be too hung up on one model, preferably you'll be flexible on the exterior and interior colors as well. It'll help if you shop for a "category" of cars rather than one specific model. For instance, I may be open to an M3, M5, C63, RS4, CTS-V Coupe, IS-F or even the Jaguar XF Supercharged when shopping for a replacement for the C55. I also won't be stuck on a particular color or interior trim -- basically I'll take anything that isn't black. Generally, that's how you broaden your chances of getting a good deal. Also, remember that the power to walk away is your most powerful weapon. If the seller (or worse yet dealer) thinks you are set on the vehicle he won't be prone to cutting you any price breaks! Finally, do not ever have a time horizon -- always be shopping in a mode where you can buy today or next month or a year from now, just only when the right deal comes along.

I had a jerk walk on a used 135i M pkg once. He was like 21 and his mom's alimony money was behind the car. They came in making like it was just to sign the paperwork and then she forced him to say they weren't going to buy the car unless we knocked another couple grand off. It was already down like 4k from our original asking price (which obviously was high) and we gave like a 1g tire allowance.

The auction paid more for the car than the kid would IIRC, those types of cars are rare, when deals are out there, you sort of have to move on them, if the car in question is not a commodity car.

Had a similar deal once on an SRT8. Funny thing was we let it sit all winter (snow state), had it marked 6g less than the start, had some nibblers, had one guy walk because he got another one with more miles for 300 less. Spring came around, relisted the car, and we jacked the price up. We were able to get about 2500 more because that dude walked.

I think Dwight though you are one of those guys that educates yourself on the deeper market, a greater geographical area etc. But mostly it is as you say, if you are forthright in saying that the one car in question is not the ONLY car you are considering, when you make what is considered a lowball offer, it has cred because it suggests you will actually follow through if it is accepted.

Back to the Vette, the base price is really good. The options are far too pricey. I too would probably consider the magnetic suspension. I don't think I would look at much else.

If I was to spend the money on a Vette, it would be fully loaded top of the line. I have in the last few years changed from buying fully loaded top of the line to taking Dwightlooi attitude of buying a few years old.

Perfect example is I bought last year in 2012 a 2008 Fully Loaded Trailblazer SS AWD. Beautiful only had 25K miles on it. Bought it with GM's bumper to bumper 3/36000 mile warranty for 26K. Way below the original selling price and a good deal. Been a sweet ride for my wife to drive.

BTW, now is a horrible time to buy a used car. Used car values in 2012 was at a 30 year high -- 2008 was a 30-year low so it was a dramatic swing around. Used car prices for a 4 year old $60~70K car is about 40K today which is higher than it normally should be (low 30s). In late 2008, a similar car would have sold for the high 20s -- I bought a 1 owner, 2005 C55 AMG (3 yr 10 months old; $62K when new) in December 2008 for $27K.

One thing to note when buying used is that you cannot be too hung up on one model, preferably you'll be flexible on the exterior and interior colors as well. It'll help if you shop for a "category" of cars rather than one specific model. For instance, I may be open to an M3, M5, C63, RS4, CTS-V Coupe, IS-F or even the Jaguar XF Supercharged when shopping for a replacement for the C55. I also won't be stuck on a particular color or interior trim -- basically I'll take anything that isn't black. Generally, that's how you broaden your chances of getting a good deal. Also, remember that the power to walk away is your most powerful weapon. If the seller (or worse yet dealer) thinks you are set on the vehicle he won't be prone to cutting you any price breaks! Finally, do not ever have a time horizon -- always be shopping in a mode where you can buy today or next month or a year from now, just only when the right deal comes along.

I agree with your approach as I have always kept my options open, the dealership had 3 SS AWD in stock and I drove them all. Decided on the one I wanted and made an offer and when they wanted to play games I told them I would continue to look around and walked out the door with the wife and the sales manager came out and said he would take my offer. Price I felt was fair for a Premium fuel auto in a state with one of the highest gas tax's around.

I would agree that used prices have gotten crazy high.

Back to the vette, I think GM will be able to move more of these this year as things have settled down in the US for many people and those looking for this type of ride will go for the base package. One thing I do wonder about is if GM will push out a ton of the base package models and flood the market which could cause prices to depress?