17 Limited PP or a C6 Z06???

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by yip

Thanks for the responses everyone. I sold my Monogram a couple of months ago and thought I put enough time into making a final decision before ordering the 17 BRZ and never really ever considered a vette. I'm a small guy at 5'5" so I always assumed that a C6 would feel like I was driving a barge to me but my friend convinced me to give one a test drive when a friend of a friend deal came up. Surprisingly I don't feel as small in it as a 370Z and the overall ergonomics fit me well. The power is more than anything I would ever need.

Not too concerned about the cost of repairs or maintenance and I would address pulling the heads off to replace the guides before I start driving it daily. I average 20k miles a year driving around for work and even with the FRS I was used to replacing my rear tires every 6-8 months (RE71's).

When I took the Z06 for a test drive I thought I was certain that I wanted it but I always like to step back for a few days before I pull the trigger and since then I've started having second thoughts and went the full gamut again considering cars a S2K CR, Nismo 370Z, Miata RF etc...

I have a truck so I don't need a vehicle with a lot of space even though it's nice to be able to throw a decent amount of stuff in the back on the fly if needed. My criteria is that my next car must be FR, manual, 2dr, lightweight (3000lbs'ish or less) and a sports coupe or convertible. Lastly I don't want my daily to give off the vibe that I'm wealthy or flaunting that I'm well off. With that said does the vette give off the vibe? Maybe it's a silly thing to worry about but it matters to me.

As far as power goes I was fairly content with just a non catted header and E85 tune on my FRS. I bought a 335 Sprintex kit for the FRS but never installed it and it's been sitting next to my desk at work for some time now.

Something keeps bringing me back to the 17 BRZ. I think it has to do with how well rounded the car is as a daily driver. The S2k and other cars I mentioned seem to have more compromises but excel much farther in certain areas whether it's performance or refinement. Oh man I'm all over the place. I need to go take some ritalin :P

'Vettes make horrible DDs if you travel any distance and 20K a year is up there. They just are not designed for that. Easy to say the cost of repairs and upkeep is OK now but if you start having to put tires on a 'Vette every 6 months you may change you mind in a hurry. Also even though a good deal it is a 10 year old car and even "normal" cars that age can start to be a pain.

[NLS8520]

Best advice is get the nicest and newest car you can afford, especially so if its your only car.

[Yardjass]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

Why?

Lifter failure for one thing. If I was dailying a corvette, it would be a LS3 equipped C6 or a C5 Z06.

Don't get me wrong. I love the C6Z and I'd probably have one sitting in my garage if I wasn't doing the whole Zvette thing instead but I also wouldn't ever consider daily driving one.

OP, if you really want a good deal, get a used 86. They depreciate like a rock and if you can be patient and find one in really good condition with a lot of records, you can get a good one for mid to high teens and have something almost as good as a brand new one for way less.

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by Yardjass

Lifter failure for one thing. If I was dailying a corvette, it would be a LS3 equipped C6 or a C5 Z06.

Don't get me wrong. I love the C6Z and I'd probably have one sitting in my garage if I wasn't doing the whole Zvette thing instead but I also wouldn't ever consider daily driving one.

OP, if you really want a good deal, get a used 86. They depreciate like a rock and if you can be patient and find one in really good condition with a lot of records, you can get a good one for mid to high teens and have something almost as good as a brand new one for way less.

Care to expound on lifter failure and "other things?"

[pinski]

Originally Posted by yip

Not too concerned about the cost of repairs or maintenance and I would address pulling the heads off to replace the guides before I start driving it daily. I average 20k miles a year driving around for work and even with the FRS I was used to replacing my rear tires every 6-8 months (RE71's).

As long as you're prepared to address the valve guides as soon as you get it, I can't think of a reason not to get the C6Z. The interiors are garbage (even compared to ours), but the rest of the car is absolutely fantastic.

[switchlanez]

Investigate if it's been wrecked/repaired if you haven't. I test drove a Vette clean title offered for a "good deal" before I bought my BRZ. Though it wasn't reported on the CARFAX, I saw subtle signs of body repair. Need a discerning eye for this i.e. CARMAX employees are trained to find these things. I was a Paint QA Engineer for Toyota.

[Capt Spaulding]

I've always subscribed to the belief that "it's more fun to drive (ride) a slow car (bike) fast than a fast car (bike) slow."

Having said that, I'd have a hard time passing up the 06. Then I wait around for the 2nd gen 86. (and probably be disappointed - but that's how my luck rolls).

edit; +1 what switchlanez said

[Da Brz]

C6 all effin' day.

Handling AND power.

As for reliability, it's a pushrod small block Chevy before all the cylinder deactivation garbage. The car itself is a piece of squeaky junk but the drivetrain is godlike.

And you said it's cheaper?

Shoot. No question. Z06. I also don't agree that the BRZ would be the better DD.

[Da Brz]

Drive the Z and the BRZ back to back.

You'll buy the Z.

[~el~jefe~]

there are $5-10k dollars worth of parts youll need to replace before the BRZ gets above $1000 dollars. It is meant for a low mileage car. I also would never buy a used one for a dd. I cant imagine a non-idiot buying one new and not redlining it out of the dealer knowing he will never keep it past 20k miles.

[EAGLE5]

Such different cars.

You will look like an old fool with too much money in the Z06. It's a show-off car. It doesn't matter how much it's worth. I drove a 1984 Mercedez 300SD in 1993. I got crap for being a rich boy. The damned car was worth $5000.

You said the BRZ has enough power for you. So why get the C6 Z06?

As a third or fourth car, the Z06 sounds great.

[SleepingPanda]

Corvettes make fine daily drivers. Yea tires are expensive. But that's about it. They're solid cars. And it's meant to be a touring car. Not a car that kills your back after 50 miles. My friends c6 is more comfy and easier to get out of than my BRZ.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by SleepingPanda

Corvettes make fine daily drivers. Yea tires are expensive. But that's about it. They're solid cars. And it's meant to be a touring car. Not a car that kills your back after 50 miles. My friends c6 is more comfy and easier to get out of than my BRZ.

I guess it depends on how you define "daily driver" and what your actual drive is like. My daily drive is between 50 and 238 miles and the C6 would suck. Same would apply if commuting 10 miles in stop and go traffic for an hour. You are probably the first person I have ever heard call any Corvette ever made "comfy".

[Da Brz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I guess it depends on how you define "daily driver" and what your actual drive is like. My daily drive is between 50 and 238 miles and the C6 would suck. Same would apply if commuting 10 miles in stop and go traffic for an hour. You are probably the first person I have ever heard call any Corvette ever made "comfy".

I drove a C6 last week and I'd say it was comfy. They're a bigger car with more comfortable seats than the BRZ.

I will say though you have a point with the Z06 being a bullseye kind of car. You'll get all kinds of attention that you may not want. I've actually found my BRZ to be this way. Everyone I see thinks it's some kind of Vette-killer. I kinda have to shrug and be like, "Uh, well..."

And Corvettes ARE creaky and cheap on the inside.


I WOULD like to know where this guy found a C606 for cheaper than a BRZ.