Well, it's been a fun year, and thanks to all who have answered questions and shared their insights. the lure of 400 hp was too much for this guy, and when I saw a used (yes used) 2005 corvette for under 50k, I just couldn't help myself from trading in the rx-8 (paid for, so got a good chunk of equity) and driving it home. This car has so many refinements it's amazing, and did I mention the 400 hp in a car that weighs about the same as the 8? :D I do miss the 8 for all the reasons I bought it, but I think I'll learn to get over it!

Anybody want any specfifics on the vette, or pics? It too is silver, with pretty much every option available. The prior owner even took museum delivery on the car, then sold it with 3700 miles on it!

I'll still be here sniffing around, but I have another forum to check on now!

Tbone

Good luck with your C6. That car is absolutely gorgeous.
Yeah, and 400 hp does help. :cool:

I am jealous. Congratz on the HOT ride! :D

I just cleaned out my center console area and my 8 is now lighter than your C6. I might be faster now.

I can't blame you. 400hp is hot :D
Post pics!

I finally like the Vette. C5 was close. They got it right with the C6. Nice ride, congrats!

nice one :) i'm hoping to be picking up my c6 zo6 soon! can't wait.

Definitely nice car. I was drooling over the Z06 I saw at the autoshow. Why did the guy get rid of it so quickly ? The C6 is a big leap over the C5

probably just preference..or he's just a super rich guy that can move on to a bigger and better car..etc.. maybe he's drivin around in a Zonda now..lol..or maybe he went to the dark side (ford) and got a GT..

when you get ur car post pics!

Ttiwwp

Congrats!!!! The C6 is just near perfect....post pic's please...vid's, etc...lol

how do you like the HUD? I thought it was cool, but that it'd get old as a daily driver.

Cool - enjoy it! For us poor folks who cannot afford a C6 and need four seats, I'd like to hear anything you miss about the RX-8.

how do you like the HUD? I thought it was cool, but that it'd get old as a daily driver.

let me tell you about the HUD. I LOVE it. I don't know if the older ones did this (don't think so, but not sure) but when you change the radio station, it shows up on the HUD, as does the directions for the NAV system, telling you which way to turn and such. There are two track modes and a bare bones street mode. I just discovered today that the track mode has a lateral G indicator in there as well. I tell you what guys, I have always loved corvettes, but never bought one for one reason or another. I cannot think of ONE thing about this car that would have kept me from buying (except the price-ouch. 2 RX8's!) But, I can afford it without selling organs on ebay, so I decided to just do it. I found it on a lot here that sells high end cars. it was on consignment from a guy who owns about 30 cars, and he took museum delivery of the car at the museum in KY, drove it home, kept it for a bit then decided to sell. I think he's INSANE. I looked around a bit and found that it truly was the best price and had all the goodies.

The only thing I miss about my 8 was the steering wheel audio controls, and the 6 disk. (the nav system did not come with a 6 disk as on option. had to have one or the other) personally I'd like the 6 disk, but the nav system is really cool, too!

I'll get some pics soon. it may still be on the dealer website:

www.archibalds.biz

Ahhhh... Real Gauges

Congrats on the Vette. Have fun with it...400 hp... nvm we know you will. :D

Wow, do vettes really weigh the same as our 8's???????

The vette is a great looking car. Congrats on the purchase. Did you have to sell your kids? Ha ha. I on occasion see a yellow Corvette in a parking lot near my work and have had a peek inside ... looks great! But don't you miss our digital speedo?

this one (http://www.archibalds.biz/2005_chevrolet_corvette_silver.htm) right?

*drools*

It's an auto! I noticed the tach fell short of 7k. ;)

I wonder if they make clear corners for that car? :)

I wonder if they make clear corners for that car? :)

they're probably having the same discussion about whether or not it's legal in the Vette forums too

Wow, do vettes really weigh the same as our 8's???????

3130lbs to be exact :D

3130lbs to be exact :D

but where ours is mostly made of metal the vette is plastic and fiberglass. the whole car is like a nascar car. it's ALL fiberglass.

i though the c6 had MUCH bigger itres than 245/40/r18/ and 285/35/r19

Good car to go to. Hope you enjoy it.

From Edmunds :

RX8 Curb Weight : 3029 lbs.
Corvette Curb Weight : 3179 lbs.

The one I'm waiting for :

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/chevrolet/corvette/100545128/prices.html

Wow, do vettes really weigh the same as our 8's???????

I believe the 8 is right at 3100 lbs. the vette is 32 hundred and change! almost 200 more horses, and tires to get it to the ground!

The vette is a great looking car. Congrats on the purchase. Did you have to sell your kids? Ha ha. I on occasion see a yellow Corvette in a parking lot near my work and have had a peek inside ... looks great! But don't you miss our digital speedo?


Did not have to sell one of the kids. But after the last drive to the coast for vacation, I might have taken somebody up if the offered. Kids are great, as long as they have some space between them on road trips

this one (http://www.archibalds.biz/2005_chevrolet_corvette_silver.htm) right?

*drools*

yep, that's the car. And yes, it's an auto. I thought I'd try for a 6 sp, but after driving one, I felt the auto was a bit more fun. The running gear is very heavy duty, and it's a heavy clutch and touchy short throw gearbox. I think our 8's shifted better than the vette. That and the fact that to locate another one would take me a long while and probably a flight and long drive home. I LOVE the way it drives, and auto or no auto, it's DAMN fast and quick

Aren't the auto's faster than the manual's? 4 gears instead of 6 so there is less shifting and you get better traction from the launch...or maybe just better traction on the shifts. The stick is of-course a lot more fun, but 0-60 and 1/4 the auto should win stock vs. stock.

yep, that's the car. And yes, it's an auto. I thought I'd try for a 6 sp, but after driving one, I felt the auto was a bit more fun. The running gear is very heavy duty, and it's a heavy clutch and touchy short throw gearbox. I think our 8's shifted better than the vette. That and the fact that to locate another one would take me a long while and probably a flight and long drive home. I LOVE the way it drives, and auto or no auto, it's DAMN fast and quick
:(

Aren't the auto's faster than the manual's? 4 gears instead of 6 so there is less shifting and you get better traction from the launch...or maybe just better traction on the shifts. The stick is of-course a lot more fun, but 0-60 and 1/4 the auto should win stock vs. stock.
:(

I had heard the same thing about the GTO a while back. People were saying that the 4AT was faster to 60 basically because of less shifting. I guess the torque converter doesn't matter as much when you're talking 400+HP. You do have to pay a gas guzzler tax on the AT though, which begs the question how did Mazda get around this tax?

Yes that Vette is one sweet machine, great purchase! I'm sure it's a blast to drive. Yet, given all it's qualities, I'm wondering if after a while you'll have preferred stick. Auto can be fun on a powerful car, but it simply doesn't engage the driver like manual does. The 8 6MT comes with a standard stock shifter to please the masses, but change it to the Richard Paul short shifter without the rubber damper and it's a whole new experience. You feel (and hear) the gearbox and syncros which completely adds to driving pleasure.

Aren't the auto's faster than the manual's? 4 gears instead of 6 so there is less shifting and you get better traction from the launch...or maybe just better traction on the shifts. The stick is of-course a lot more fun, but 0-60 and 1/4 the auto should win stock vs. stock.


:(

They have always been very close and in the hands of an average driver the AT might be a little faster. In the hands of an excellent driver the MT is probably going to be faster. On the highway from a roll the MT will almost always be faster due to less drivetrain loss.

^^ what he said...and the reason why autos are preferred for drag racing is because they are consistant.

Damn that car is sweet! I love the C6.

droool, i intend on trading in my car and get a C6 in 2-3 years. Its so nice with exotic curves in a European way.

And did I mention...400 hp ? :D Seriously guys, the only thing I miss from my 8 is the on demand sunroof. In the vette you have to stop and remove the top, but it gives you a great view of the sky above, and tonight it was 70 degrees and clear here. What a great night for a drive!

Trevor

god im so jealous. Ill wait 2-3 years when a used one is in the mid $20k and make my move :)

do you have a beater for when it snows?

do you have a beater for when it snows?

My "beater" is my 2002 Dodge ram quad cab. My wife drives our Yukon XL, so both of those rigs are good for winter. The vette will just stay nestled in the garage awaiting good weather.

I have always had a thing for those Vettes. Congrats. I have never drive one, can please tell me how it handles compared to the RX8.


I'm sure someone, if you want to go that route, someone will offer a after market kit to up the displacement to 7.0L. I think it is called a Z06 kit, because the Z06's get more ponnies. Can you image an N/A 500 hp engine? :eek: DROOLING

Best of luck. My best buddy in my office is an about-to retire lawyer who races Corvettes (and who has already wrecked one for free on the track, courtesy of State Farm) who's about to get the "next generation" manual himself. And I have other friends who drive the C5, AT and manual both. The best (American) car there is, and just plain practical and livable as an every-day car if you don't mind not having a back seat. So there you go.

Hey tbone,
what kinda MPG are you getting? Just curious. Hey congrats on the car!

Hey tbone,
what kinda MPG are you getting? Just curious. Hey congrats on the car!


Ok, to answer a couple of questions. the handling is different. I don't know how else to describe it. The 8 handles great, but you feel the corner more. In the vette it feels more like you are carving through the turn, and it makes you want to pour on the power to push it harder. It feels like it's hugging the road more. Does that make sense? It feels like a larger car, but I think the actual dimensions are not much larger. It fits in the garage very nicely! :D

The MPG is actaully almost laughable it's so good. I was pushing the car pretty hard from every start, mostly in town driving and some 50 mph (plus the 120mph run I took today just to "clean out the carbon" ) and I am averaging 19.5 mpg. the highway gets me about 25-28 depending on conditions. It's amazingly good for a car with 400hp and 0-60 in like 4.5 seconds!

Keep asking me questions. I love this freakin car, and am very happy to talk all the time about it!

Trevor

here's a link for a good run down in not too many words:

http://www.roadandtravel.com/roadtests/reviews/2005roadtests/newcarreviews/chevroletcorvette.htm