Thoughts on a base C6
 

Understanding the natural leanings of a 370Z discussion group, may I pose this to you?

I have, through a relationship I have with a Chevy dealer, an opportunity to purchase a new 2009 Corvette BASE 6MT model (no frills -- 1LT version, which is comparable to a Sport/Touring level trim Z) for $39,700. MSRP is $49,600, so the savings are substantial.

Given that a Sport/Touring 370Z can be had at invoice for around $35,500 these days, does it really just boil down to personal preference?

I love the Z and had my heart set on it, but as soon as my friend started talking about working that 430hp Vette into my price range, I got very interested. Plus, the Vette gets the same or better gas mileage, better acceleration, cornering and top speed, better warranty (3/36 B2B and 5/100 powertrain). So, some of my admittedly ill-informed quality concerns seem alleviated, too.

Looking for some perspective... What do you think?

Honestly speaking, the Vette is a better bet overall, for the prices you mentioned. It's got about 100 HP more, more torque, straight-line acceleration etc. But I don't know about the handling part...and don't really care.

Here's the downside of the Vette, in my honest opinion: styling looks generic relative to 370, it's too simplistic and retains the fundamental silhouette of early 80's Vette-->bland styling: long nose, hatchback. It's not voluptuous as a 370. I'm sorry, but the C6 looks "cheapy" for a $50K+ car. It may be a good value, but ironically the poor "fit & finish" defeats that.

The Vette is a step up from the Z-car. But it's not a fair comparison because Vettes are $50K+ cars, and Z's are $30K+ cars--a $20K disparity.

I speak from experience, I used to work at Penske Chevrolet/Cadillac as a salesman and drove Vettes around on test drives. Very torquey b/c of the LS-1/6 motors.

But if you can get a C6 Vette at that price, I reluctantly say it's the obvious choice.

First, let me just say that the nissan 370 general discussion area is probably not the right place for this. I just want to say it nicely so that the next guy skips bashing you about it. :tup:

I've had 3 vettes. 2 c5 z06s and a c6. Obviously much faster than the Z, although I think their handling is on par.
I got rid of the vette because its interior was an embarrassment. Cheap plastic parts, and huge stereo that they put in every POS vehicle they make, horrible quality leather, so on and so on. A couple people who rode in it made polite comments about the low quality.
So, that's my .02, I would rather have a comfortable interior for my daily driver.

Best bang for the buck out there, really, but to be honest? I'd recommend getting a used one with the Z51 package. Strongly. Chevy's depreciate very well, and Corvettes are far from immune...

The c6 is the only car I would get if I didn't get the z. I thought of getting the c6 with grand sport package because it makes it look so much better. I'm not too fond of the base c6. I took a look at the dealer and thought the fit and finish on the outside was acceptable, not great though. But one of the things that prevents me from buying it is the reliability of a gm car. I also thought the c6 looks a bit too lean and long for my taste. Obviously the c6 performs better than a 370z and only cost a bit more. It's a great buy if you aren't concerned about reliability, and the plastic/fiberglass exterior.

Thanks for not crucifying me for asking those questions here. I appreciate the responses. I really do like the looks of the base C6. The Grand Sport, to me, is just a pretender package to make it look like the version that costs nearly twice as much -- kinda like getting an M appearance package on a 328. So, not that big of a deal to me.

You guys are validating many of my reservations. I haven't owned an American car since the '85 Pontiac Fiero GT I drove in high school. In 24 years since then, I've had only German and Japanese cars (about 9 of them).

I hear a lot about how much better GM is these days. I think the interior is a bit better on the 2009 C6. The price seems to be really right. And yet, I still pause on a Z board to talk about it. Maybe that's telling me something...

I was a complete american muscle guy till my 370 (my distinguished list includes the aforementioned vettes, an ls1 ws6, ls1 camaro SS, and an 06 gto)
The quality of the drivetrain is there; but they still lack in the interior. I finally just gave up. It would be pretty hard to pull me back to american now.

Not quite - the Grand Sport package now replaces the Z51 suspension package, and for the money you get some nice stuff. So far as Ive seen, its gotten solid reviews (the package itself) as far as being a good deal. As far as looks...thats in the eye of the beholder I suppose. But the performance stuff is there...

One great thing about the 'Vette. You can get it fixed in any town in the USA. As for the Z? Not. So. Much.

I drive every day on little winding back-country roads in Connecticut, with stone walls on either side. The '09 Vette I test-drove felt incredibly wide going around blind corners on these narrow roads... like driving a very-good-handling tank. I scared myself a few times, and decided I needed a more compact footprint. The Z has been fantastic on those same roads. Case closed, for me. YMMV

Go for the Corvette. It's simplt a better sports-car overall and in a completely different league performance-wise. Don't let anyone brain-wash you into thinking the interior is crap. That's just nonsense...the updated interior on the '08+ Corvette is on par with the 370Z in terms of feel and quality.

You really can't beat it for under $40K. :tup:

They did improve it for 08, but to call it comparable to a 370 is just inaccurate.

http://www.zcars.com.au/images/2009-...-interior1.jpg

Holy buttons batman, they really need to re-design that cockpit. Materials I could live with, but it its an upgraded gauge display and interface.

Perhaps I can chime in on this one in that I currently drive a 2008 C6, Vert, 3LT, NPP, Nav and a bunch of other goodies. MSRP was about $65k.

Pros for the Vette: (so far) always starts, (IMHO) looks sharp, great power, very good (not great, 4 out of 5) handling when at speed, NPP is very nice when you step on it, passing power is outstanding, spacious for a 2 seater, fairly comfortable seats, cool heads up display, very good upgraded factory stereo.

Cons for the Vette: cheap interior, penny pinching noticable on small things (ie. glove box is very flimsy), about the worst nav display I have seen in a modern car, after 21,000 miles - it feels like it is already aging even with scheduled routine maintenance, wide turn radius - handles like a boat at low speeds, fit and finish NOT on par with cars that cost less. IMHO, the quality, particularly for the price, just isn't there for the Vette. Great power only gets me so far.

Keep in mind, that there are hidden costs for Vette ownership. Vette tires are not exactly cheap, oil changes do not qualify for GM discounts / coupons, overall, most items for the Vette are double / triple the cost (ie. brakes, even wiper blades!). LOL

Vette ownership has been fun for both my hubby and I, and we have no regrets. However, we are looking forward to moving on come March. Don't get me wrong, the temptation to get into a 2010 Convertible Grand Sport Vette is there, but frankly, it will be readily overcome.

Oh, I should add that the 1LT package is so zzzzzzzz (boring). There is no way I would get a Vette without the 3LT or 4LT. To me, a fully loaded 370Z is much more rewarding than a Vette, especially a base Vette.

If you need to get it out of your system then do it. I ordered a new '08 and kept it for 1.8 years and 13K miles. It was the 56th car I've owned and was on the Bucket list of cars I needed to own before I die. Did some mods (475 hp and suspension stuff), had some fun but the general day to day satisfation and fun factor was just not there. It's a heavy feeling car around town. My first American car in a very long time after lots of German stuff. It was bad for my image....:-) I like driver's cars and the Vette just didn't do it for me. The limits were so high you just couldn't have fun on the street. Sold it last April for $40K, bought car #57, the Z for $31.5 and threw the rest in the bank. Couldn't be happier with the decision....YMMV

Out with the old, in with the new...

http://images47.fotki.com/v1498/phot...MG_1466-vi.jpg

i fought hard between the two. coming from a truck (sport truck, x runner, handled great!) with 350rwhp/rwtq, i found myself ready to move on. the 370 and c6 fit the bill of what i wanted. sporty, two seater that could move in a straight line, and dive into the canyons with confidence.

i ended up with the 370. while i acknowledge the vette is faster, and easier to make faster than the Z, i wanted not only an upgrade in horsepower, but looks, and interior. i felt the vette interior/exterior was not as pleasant as the Z, or my old truck. not to mention i see about a dozen vette;s every time i drive my car.

coupled with being 24, and not wanting to be the "young" guy in a vette, and the nasty depriciation the vette's have over a few years, i was settled. every time i think i could have had XXX hp, i get in my Z, and it makes me smile before i even start it.

edit- FWIW, i paid 37.5 for my Z, which would buy me a base c6, so cost wasnt too much of a deciding factor for me.

LOL We're in the same boat. Our Vette was on the "bucket list" as well. 50+ cars later, we finally gave the Vette experience a go. Looking forward to moving on in March. BTW... the Vette was our first American car in 20 years as we've been buying Japanese and German as well. Oh, and now that GM is "Goverment Motors", that even adds more reason to look forward to "out with the old, in with the new".

You are right, the cost factor of the Z will also be a nice change. To us, spending about $43k for a 2010 370Z Roadster / touring / sport will be a bargain compared to what we generally spend on cars. The Z sure offers much for the money.

if you're like me and don't care too much about leather and all the bells and whistles, i got my base/manual/sport pkg for not too much over 30k. so if u stick with a relatively "basic" z you save abo0ut 10k which is nice.

as for the two cars, if raw performance numbers are whats important to you then the corvette is it. if finesse and refinement is what you want then the z is better. they are both great cars its pretty much up to what mood youre in, if you are in the mood for tire melting american muscle or sophisticated import sports car

my 05 350z had cheap *** plastic interior and i loved it to death.
I also love the corvette but price kept me warry of it.
I woudlnt factor in the interior at all.

You should ask the question do i want to be faster than everybody else? if the answer is yes then corvette you want.

If price is a option i would call the z a "Japanese corvette" its not as fast but its defintely a sports car.

Really great, insightful responses. I think I may keep the Vette on my bucket list for now. Maybe in 10 more years, when I'm 50. I want to see a 370 Roadster before I make any decision. I wish they'd hurry up and get here.

Go for the Corvette. They don't overheat after 10 minutes of track use or "spirited" driving. (Hey, Nissan! :owned: )

For some reason, I find the base C6 to look "plain," but the Z06 is just...WOW!

The C6 is faster by a long stretch, and I'm sure it handles well, but as mentioned, the (interior) quality just isn't there. I've never owned one, so I can't comment on reliability.

The Vette certainly has the proper makings of a good sports car, but the body just lacks that "wow" factor for me, personally. The 370Z looks like it was designed by designers, while the Vette looks like it was done on a computer. The 370Z's curves are just gorgeous. IMO, the same can't be said for the Vette.

In the end, if I had to make up my mind between a 370Z for $39,000 or a C6 Vette for $39,000, I think I would go for the Vette just because it's such an awesome discount I'd be getting.

Exactly. The C6 was a step up from the 350, and the 370 is a newer design than the C6 and is also a step up, but I actually really like the interior of my 05 C6. Its modded to the hilt, but its one car I will probably never get rid of, the first car out of about 32 that I have ever kept til it was paid off actually.

Mine started out as a base vette with only the Z51 package, (for 10 grand more than your quote also!!)

While they are both roughly the same weight, the vette feels much heavier and stable than the Z. My wife actually prefers driving the Vette over the Z, me the opposite. If you do any road courses, the Z is definitely a more challenging car, with a lot more twitchiness to it. The C6 is basically point and shoot.

I don't think you can go wrong with either choice.

http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/5629/both2.jpg

I've gotten the same way over the past 10 years. Granted, I'm speaking of non-sport vehicles first, but the 370z is a great tipping point for me as well.

Great power, great handling, great price and great looks...and great quality.


My next vehicle, if not a Nissan Frontier, may be a Toyota Tacoma...

I don't know if you care about this or not, but the LT1 package (I think) does not come with side air bags.

Have both and love both. Interior doesn't matter to me as the C6 interior isn't exactly horrible. The Z is better in tight slower corners, both are good in long sweeping corners. Can't beat the V8 of the Vette though and the torque brings a nice smile to my face. It's a hard choice but you can't go wrong either way. Also, don't let reliability be a factor. After 3 years our Vette is still running fine with no issues. I'd be leary of lower end GM cars but the Vette is a different story. Good luck in your choice but you can't go wrong with either choice

LOL - reminds me of the late 80's early 90's Nissan interirors with the buttons around the instrument cluster - maybe they are going for the retro Japanese look :P

Sorry but if you are going troll at least make correct statements..... hard track driving - yes it will overheat. Spiritied driving - no. Oh and don't forget to mention that this is a protection factor that Chevy, etc doesn't build into their vehicles to prevent them from causing damage from overheating or the fact that for $400 or less you can install an oil cooler and drive it hard all day on the race track......

As much as I love the 370Z, the vette for that price is too sweet to pass up.

Given the pricing though, I'd lean towards the C6 as well.

+1

Way more performance over a Z and they usually had at least a step up or two for interior options.

Chevy did build it in, through proper design. I've tracked with a bunch of guys with Vettes. One thing they DON'T do is overheat at the track and I track in Texas where it is not uncommon to run in 100*F or more in the summer.

The Vette is arguably one of the most overengineered sports cars on the planet, certainly the most overengineered for the price. The engine and drivetrain are virtually bulletproof (at stock power levels) and will handle anything you can throw at them on a track. The brakes are extremely powerful, the cooling system is robust, and the motor is far from stressed. It is a solid platform for track days.

Honestly, for a Z to go into limp mode at a track day is a slap in the face of Nissan. The Z is a focused sports car and should not have such poor stock cooling as to be unable to sustain lapping a track for 25 or 30 minutes at a time. Same things goes for the Mitsu Evo X MR (another car I've considered), which has transmission cooling issues at track days or hard canyon running.

Get the Vette

Mike knows his Z's and C's. :D nice collection. :)

"Sorry" right back at ya, slick. If you're gonna accuse somebody of being a troll, get your facts straight before you do it. Most any idiot could see the sarcasm behind the statement, so back off.

I've seen the posts on this forum from people who have taken their cars out on "spirited drives" and have seen the oil temperatures tickle 250-260 degrees. Don't feed me bs and tell me it's chocolate ice-cream.

BTW, Chevy didn't need to build in a "fail-safe factor." Their car doesn't have overheating issues.

Have a nice day.

Hey, why don't we all calm down. A message board is nothing to get amped up about. Let's all stare at this cute baby ... porcupine?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/...432af07a24.jpg

Just to be clear, I have not yet driven a 370z....that said, I can say this:

I have driven a 350z touring, and an 07 vette with z51 package. Both of which belonged to a friend of mine. He traded the 350 for the vette, but loved the 350. Never had one mechanical issue with either of them, and he still owns the vette. So saying the vette is unreliable simply because it's made by GM is not an accurate statement in my opinion. His has the LS2 and is crazy fast with good handling, and besides the z06 and zr1, always the best bang for the buck. Personally I think the interior could be a little nicer, but it suits me just fine for I tend to enjoy simplicity. Plus, you seem to forget about what the car looks like inside once you push the ignition button and put the pedal to the floor.

The 350z was very similar to the vette...lower quality interior coupled with performance and reliability. He ended up modding it out (about $12,000 to be exact), and the car sick. Never had one issue with it. From what I've read, and I've done a lot of reading, the 370z is better than the 350 in nearly all aspects; and I love the interior. With some of the mods that I've seen on these cars they sound amazing, and are very quick. I can't wait to drive one!

Honestly, when it comes time for me to buy a new car, it will come down to one of these two. Also, from my experience, parts and maintenance is pricey for both of these cars, as it is in most high quality performance vehicles. That said, if you like the vette but can afford a few extra thousand...get a used z06. You can get one with low miles for around 45 grand, and blow both of those cars out of the water. In my humble opinion, this is a supercar at a bargain price. If not, you really can't go wrong with a base vette or 370z in terms of performance and reliability. Drive both, and base your decision on that. Oh and, don't forget about the z06, another great 'z' car ;)

Thats a hedgehog

10-4. The hedgehog would like people to stop arguing about opinions :D

Wait what? The overheating thing is for protection?

No, limp mode is for protection, and as far as I know the Vette has an oil temp sensor...not that it needs one though, its track-able right away...

When did someone buy a vette for it's interior lol Throw some bolt ons on that LS1 engine and enjoy wetting your pants all the way home, I don't think I'd even notice the interior driving a vette.

From what I hear though, the vette will get a new look pretty soon. Imagine buying the vette now when a new one launches in like a year, that sure would hurt.

Just my 2 fils

My interior comments are due to the fact I refuse to keep a garage queen. Cars are meant to be driven, so any car I buy, including the vettes I have owned, all need to drive 50+ miles a day for commuting. That being said, when you're spending an hour and a half+ in your car daily, interior comfort gets to be pretty important.