Am I going crazy?

[Adam]

After several rides in a 2002 405hp Z06 corvette at the local autocross I'm starting to contemplate buying a ummm gasp...corvette. The car just has such a higher level of perfomance than my boxster. I'm trying to decide why I shouldn't buy this basically new cherry 2004 Z06 that is close to my home and just trade in the boxster. Here is the car.

http://www.isringhausen.com/is_invdetail.php?stock=127071

Sure, the interior isn't great, but hey who are you kidding the 986 boxster interior isn't either. And yeah, the Porsche is more exclusive, but you don't get the camaraderie with other owners and the waves with this Porsche. Additionally I live in downstate IL, we have don't have curvy smooth roads around here. The only time I get to excercise the boxster's handling is on the occasional autocross. The Z06 just crushes it in a straigt line and that is what we mostly have around here plus the Z06 can handle very very well. It's different in the way it attacks corners and doesn't give the driver the same amount of feedback, but it gets through them just as fast if not faster.

[Jaxonalden]

Follow this link;

http://www.nadaguides.com/default.aspx?LI=1-21-1-5014-0-0-0&l=1&w=20&p=2&f=5022&s=301949&s2=109597&av=3&vt=new&vt2=used&c=15&c2=15&z=

You'll see their asking $10K more than it's worth. With that said, it's amazing the car depreciates $23K, or 46.5% in 4 years with only 500 miles! WTF?

They are practically giving away new Corvettes in the Chicago area. I could see adding a Corvette to the stable, but not replacing the Porsche with one.

[David N.]

The suspension type on the older corvette by itself is enough to swing my vote. Independent vs. leaf spring? No contest!

-David

[Brucelee]

It depends on what moves you. I have driven the Zo6 and it is simply a rocket ship. I like the car alot, and ditto for the Box.

Hey, you can always buy another Box if the spirit moves you.

Either way, you are welcome here.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

It depends on what moves you. I have driven the Zo6 and it is simply a rocket ship. I like the car alot, and ditto for the Box.

Hey, you can always buy another Box if the spirit moves you.

Either way, you are welcome here.

Thanks Richard, I appreciate you saying that. I've been on this board for awhile and you guys have been great.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by David N.

The suspension type on the older corvette by itself is enough to swing my vote. Independent vs. leaf spring? No contest!

-David

The suspension on the vette is independent. It has been since 1963. Plus, it's a lightweight fiberglass spring and there is only one spring for the front and one for the back; lighter than the boxsters strut front/rear setp I'm sure.

[Cloudsurfer]

I have driven a few C5 Z06's, both on the track and on the street, and I will say its a hell of a car. Sure, the interior is a bit low rent, and sure its still a Chevy, but its a hell of a car.

I"ve never quite understood by they use the transverse leaf springs, but apparently it works, and yes they are independent.

Patrick

[coreseller]

I too had this dilemma before buying my Boxster S last spring. For pure performance the ZO6 kills the Boxster. Upgrade and maintenance costs are a bit different also. C5 ZO6's have dropped considerably in value since last fall also, heck, they're even discounting the new ZO6's now. The LS6 motors and Tremec 6 speeds are pretty bullet proof also (No IMS or RMS scares). Heck.....WTH was I thinking? Oh yeah......I ALWAYS wanted a Porsche.

BTW....ZO6's on open roads get up to "Stupid Fast" pretty quickly, at least I can twist the little Boxster up now and then without dipping into triple digit speeds...JMHO.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Jaxonalden

Follow this link;

http://www.nadaguides.com/default.aspx?LI=1-21-1-5014-0-0-0&l=1&w=20&p=2&f=5022&s=301949&s2=109597&av=3&vt=new&vt2=used&c=15&c2=15&z=

You'll see their asking $10K more than it's worth. With that said, it's amazing the car depreciates $23K, or 46.5% in 4 years with only 500 miles! WTF?

Yeah, I hear you. I looked it up on KBB on it came to around 35K retail. So they would probably be willing to negotiate price especially if I came in with a nice boxster S for trade.

[shaman1204]

Originally Posted by Adam

Yeah, I hear you. I looked it up on KBB on it came to around 35K retail. So they would probably be willing to negotiate price especially if I came in with a nice boxster S for trade.

Hey Adam, I was born and raised in Springfield. Isringhausen is notoriously high on prices, they are (used to be?) the only luxury dealer in the area. I remember when the local newspaper covered Dennis Rodman coming down to Springfield to pick up his new shiny yellow Porsche.

On a side note, a friend just told me the other day that a mutual friend sold his Nissan Z and Ford F150 to buy one car. I asked what he got and my friend asked "what car do you think of when I say midlife crisis?" I nailed it with the Vette. But I guess the same could be said for any sports car. BTW, the guy's 32.

[Mike_Yi]

Originally Posted by shaman1204

On a side note, a friend just told me the other day that a mutual friend sold his Nissan Z and Ford F150 to buy one car. I asked what he got and my friend asked "what car do you think of when I say midlife crisis?" I nailed it with the Vette. But I guess the same could be said for any sports car. BTW, the guy's 32.

I guy I used to work with saw my Firehawk and said, "I should get a midlife crisis car." I thought, "I'm not having a midlife crisis. I just never grew up."

[renzop]

I think the Vette is a very good car. Especailly when you factor in value. But there are two things that stop me from considering one:

1) Excess power is not important to me. I had an Evo 8 and after a few weeks the joy of full throttle acceleration lost its appeal. The vette is more of the same. I amperfectly satisfied with my 245 bhp Boxster. I much prefer precision handling to all out acceleration. Granted the vette has high cornering limits but not the same kind of placement control as the Boxster.

2) I don't like to be thought of as a Vette kinda guy. Several women I know have the same reaction when they see a guy driving a vette: "Sorry about the small p@n!s"

[Adam]

Originally Posted by shaman1204

Hey Adam, I was born and raised in Springfield. Isringhausen is notoriously high on prices, they are (used to be?) the only luxury dealer in the area. I remember when the local newspaper covered Dennis Rodman coming down to Springfield to pick up his new shiny yellow Porsche.

Yeah, tell me about it. They wanted my car plus 17k for the vette just talking to them over the phone so I didn't bother wasting the gas to go over there. I think they would've offered slightly more if they saw and checked my car in person. I'm willing to deal some, but that was a rediculous low ball offer. Anyway, I said Uhhh no thanks! I've done some shopping around and I might just have to sell the car myself. Car dealers just try to shist you anyway. Here are some pics I took over the weekend. If any of you guys are interested in it let me know. It's for sale.

[aBsOlUt]

Your Box is beautiful. I wouldnt never change that car for a Vette. See it is perfectly understood that you want more power and it looks like a Vette Z06 can offer plenty of it - never been in one but I can imagine.

But the beauty of the Box besides the respectable acceleration and tremendous handling is owning one. I always thought European cars have much more style than US cars. Not only for Porsche cars, but for BMW, Audi etc. They feel more exclusive in the US.

To each of his own I guess, so good luck whatever you do!