I STILL love my RX8, as it sits all warm on its 4 post lift. But I never owned a car for this long, and with 50 approaching next year I'm thinking - is it time? I've since bought a truck and a convertible, but is it finally time for... a new sports car?

I feel especially sleazy that I'm considering a Vette, with all the a-hole old guy stereotypes, but the C7 was the first Vette to peak my interest, the Grand Sport especially.

So this summer, one of the last original owners could be gone! Who does that leave on here?

 

Do it. You only live once.

 

I second that emotion. Screw the stereotypes. Follow your heart.

 

Do it and damn what other people think.

 

Took my son to a motor show when he was about 12, and he had a great time sitting in the sporty models and rowing through the gears.

Eventually we reached the Vette stand and he waited for all the 'oldguyswithhats' to have their sit, then he jumped in.

I'll never forget his face, or his tone as he realized that this sportyest-of-sportys was an automatic!

"Yes son, that's what the old guys with hats like to drive....."

 

Still here 9291150.... I've been wanting the C7 for awhile now, but in the end, other financial priorities too over.. i.e.. wedding... honeymoon... house... and now kid.....

 

Charles, we got too many similarities (but my p-up is a Ram, Fireblade vs. R1, had a Roadrunner)! Wife prefers a 911 though vs. the C7 (though way too much $$ for me).

Maybe the learning here is that the 8 has satisfied our sportscar desires while allowing other frivolities...which is always a good thing.

 

Hey Footman, good to hear!

With one kid at UofT and another to go this stuff's always an issue, but if I were to wait any longer I'd be rolling out of sportscars while loosing my hairpiece

 

Thanks all for the replies and encouragement.

Shame mazda isn't serious about a replacement. Otherwise if it's not the C7 I'll be looking closely at the rumored S2000 replacement or new Supra as well. Or if they put a manual, LSD and larger engine in the 4C, then that would be a sure thing.

 

Do it - I would have picked a corvette if it had 4 seats. The stingr

ay and GS are both gorgeous.

 

if you don't mind waving to to all the other corvettes you see on the road then yes, gotta do what makes you happy.

 

That's why I have 3 - a sport tourer, a dual sport, and a city bike.

 

Very nice. Mine are older: ST1100, KLR650, and a 1981 CX500 (city "rat" bike).

 

Wow - hard question. The KLR650 - Jack of all trades, master of fun.

 

Well, it's official, ordered a white Grand Sport - should be here in 8 weeks

After 12 years, it's time to sell the 8 - best car I ever owned. It's funny, I should be more excited, but I still really enjoy driving the 8. I'd keep it but it's not really possible, sad...

Now to start working on my patience in selling it ..."it's a rotary - that's a type of engine, no you can't drive it if you "kinda" know stick"...

 

congrats 9291150, please make sure to post pics of the Vette when she arrives.
Don't worry, some of us OG members will still hold down the fort in your absence. I've owned my 8 since Sept of '05 and though I don't drive it as much as before, I still enjoy the hell out of it every time I do.

 

9291150, you are officially one of my heroes now!!! Congratulations!!

 

No way I'd trade my 8 for a Corvette. But yes, if that's what your heart desires, good for you!

 

Please post pics - sports cars in white are my favorite color. Couldn't find a Series 2 in White that was priced right and had good records.

 

I still have my 04Rx8 and bought a C5 Z51 Vert 3 years ago. I autocross both of them. I love them both. Just cannot beat the 4 seats in the RX8 when company comes.

The new vettes are totally awesome.

 

Still have my 05

For me it's a Viper, tho I'd take a Vette as well

 

They're way worse replacements for the rx-8. The C7 GS is a great all rounder of a vette. Congrats.

 

I replaced the RX-8 with a C7 too. You'll not miss the RX-8. The C7 is such an effortless car to drive. You can drive it fast, you can drive it slow, it is very analog and mechanical feeling. Like a bigger ND Miata.

I get 26 MPG in city and 30 on the highway.

I test drove the new Gen 6 Camaro before buying the Corvette. IMO this is the sports car to get if you're looking for a cheap modern replacement for the RX-8. There are insane amount of rebates from GM right now ($8k+ off on the Camaro SS). Even the base Camaro with the 2.0T engine will make you completely forget about the RX-8. Great chassis, great steering, great gearbox. Okay visibility is rubbish. You'll learn to trust the backup camera after the first week.

 

Climacus, are those rebates on corvette for Canada? I know there are tons of deals in the US.

 

C7 prices are still stupid high in Canada. GM only imported 1200 units/year into Canada in 2014 and 2015, and around 2000 units since then. They kept the MSRP low in Canada after our dollar tanked, so there are no incentives on them, otherwise our cars will be cheaper than in the US.

There were some crazy deals last September when they were clearing out the 2016 models. A lot of these were optioned out automatic 3LTs with navigation, PDR, transparent roof (some cars were ordered with 2 roofs?!), stripes, etc. in the $90k range. So yes you could get a hefty discount, but the car was overpriced to begin with. That $63k base manual Corvette is basically a unicorn. Apparently only 25% of the C7 vettes are manual, but it feels even lower when you start shopping around, because the manuals are spread across the Z06, Grand Sports and convertibles.

Apparently there is a 3 months factory shutdown this summer to retool for the mid-engine Corvette. The 2017 will finish in June and then there will be no new cars until late September. IMO if you're thinking about scooping a 2017 deal, keep a close eye on the inventories at all the local dealerships and be ready to pounce. They will have received most of their 2017 by now, so you already know which dealership have which car. The manuals will go first, and then the low option LT1s and the Grand Sports. From what I heard if you can pull off a 10-15% discount during the end of year sale, you're doing very well. Unfortunately we don't get the crazy deals like they do in the US.

I opted to buy new instead of used because I can't figure out the used market here. The prices are all over the place. These cars are still crossing the block at fairly high prices due to their low mileage (most used models have < 4k miles). Once you add back the dealer profit + CPO, it is not that much cheaper than a brand new one.

I think the prices are going to crash eventually in Canada because most old geezers are buying Audi A7 or Tesla as toys nowadays. Most vettes are optioned out to $80k+ on the lot, but the traditioanl sports car market is more like $50k. So GM will have to start closing that gap to move the units.

IMO there is a pent up demand for these cars on the used market since a lot of C6 owners are dying to upgrade to the C7, but nobody is willing to pay over $40k for an used one. Also there are a lot of interests coming from younger owners this time around. A lot of 370Z, RX-8 or FRS owners would consider one if the price is right.