C6 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Which years are the best? (2005-2013)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
- Lyle reviews each year of the C6 Corvettes to try and help you find that sweet spot if you're in the market to buy a C6 Corvette (2005 - 2013)
www.CorvettePartsCenter.com - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
I remember when I bought my '05. I met the guy at an empty mall parking lot on the afternoon of Halloween. I can still see that LeMans blue with the 5 spoke chrome wheels shining so brilliantly in the bright autumn sunlight and thinking to myself "please God, don't let there be anything wrong with this beauty" as I drove up to it. I took it for a 20 minute test drive and it performed beautifully! We drove to my bank. I got a bank draft for the amount ($18.500), paid him and on the way driving it home I got a 'thumbs up' from Darth Vader and Supergirl standing outside of Starbucks. What's kind of cool though is, people that really don't know cars, often see it and think that it's brand new. Proof to me that its styling is timeless. Cheers to all the '05 owners!
Had a guy in a charger at the red light ask me if my silver base C6 was a Z06
@@bentonedwards8689 my z51 always gets mistaken for a z06 xD
How many miles you purchase it with? That's a great price!
@@dylancoric3734 it had 75000mi.
And now that $18,500 buys a questionable C5.
Its sad how youtubers have to spend a couple of minutes at the start of each video explaining themselves or apologizing in advance to people who might get offended over something they might say or not say in the video
To the soyboys.
Started looking for my first Corvette a couple months ago. Your videos, especially this one, have provided me invaluable information. I just purchased a 2008 Yellow C6, thanks for your content.
How much did you get it for? I’m between a c6 or s550 5.0
@@Liluzibertgg5.0s are a dime a dozen get the corvette
Have a 2013 GS convertible and absolutely love the LS3 with the 6 speed, picked it up last summer with less than 12k miles on it.
I think i was supposed to buy that car? Lol...ok...i'll get the next one
I too, purchased a '13 GS, manual with 11K miles back in Oct. '19. Took over 2 years to find the right one. Will never sell it!
Good car 👍
How much you end up paying?
Damn thts a good combo, hope u got a good deal on it ! 👌👍😎
08 LS3 w/ the A6
Absolutely love it, got her for $23,000
w/ 53,000 miles
08 LS3 A6
Love mine too! Got it for $22,500 and 60k miles. A6 is seriously underrated.
Got mine 1 month ago.2008 coupe with a6.. love it..but harmonic balancer starting chirping today with 42100 miles on it. Extended warranty was a good purchase.
Not sure if you guys take yours out to race every once in awhile, but if so how does the auto hold up in these types of situations?
@@brandongarcia4838 I haven’t tracked it but I race my friends w/ high performance cars all the time, haven’t lost yet!
The A6 is reliable, I’d obviously prefer an 8 or 10 speed but the A6 shifts very fast for being 13 yrs old!
@@brandongarcia4838 Never tracked it but the shifts are fast and its held up to 6K miles of spirited driving with many more to come. Once you accept the delay before the up shift happens there is nothing wrong with how fast it shifts, down shifts are immediate with a nice blip. The only thing to keep in mind is the gear spread is very wide. You will only use 2nd 3rd and 4th gear in performance driving situations. Typically on a road I'll only use 2 gears. 2nd is good for 85, 3rd is good for about 135, 4th is 180. 5th and 6th are your economy/freeway gears. I don't use all the revs most of the time but based on my experience and calculations those speeds are correct. Finally the paddles are identical in that they are push to up shift and pull to down shift. It takes a minute to get your head around it but they're in good positions and the act feels natural once you're used to it. Fear not, the transmission will prevent an engine over rev on downshifts. Last factoid, you can come to a complete stop in 4th and then drive away in 4th, auto will allow it in manual mode.
Your videos are super helpful to Corvette shoppers like me - I've learned a lot. Thanks so much for doing them!
So glad you affirmed my recent purchase a of a 2011 Velocity Yellow Grand Sport! Love your channel. Thanks
Man......I'm so thankful for your channel. It has steered me away from quite a few possible lemons!
Thank you. This helps me understand what to look for when I start shopping for a C6 Corvette.
Thank you for this guide.
I know nothing of Corvettes and this video helps
I really appreciate your informative and articulate presentations. So many car post people constantly repeat them selves resulting in a video that never gets to the point or takes twice as long as it should. Your videos are superb and really serve the car enthusiast audience.
Thank you for researching the differences in years. Your recommendations will save a lot of headaches.
Thanks a lot man for your expertise and kindness : two rares qualities those days.
Spent the past year combing through your videos, and bought a 2010 grand sport 2mo ago and couldn't be happier. Thanks for providing such a great resource for shopping.
Terrific the overview of the C6 Corvette. Keep up the good work.
With this 1 video, your quality and thoughtful word choices and respect for your audience and yourself. Subscriber earned and this is getting shared. TY! Looking forward to more mechanics experience videos. My pops was a mechanic 48 years.
Once again, spot on Lyle! I LOVE my 2011 C6 GS vert! Looks fantastic and reliable! You rock Lyle!
Just wanted to say thanks Lyle you helped solidify my decision to buy my 2013 Grand Sport
Have a 2012 gs for a year now and truly love it . Great videos Lyle
Thanks for this. You have saved us from a potential big mistake. Your presentation is informative and to the point no fluff i love it. Thank you again.
Thanks so much for answering my call, (since I couldn’t wait for this video) ... picking up a 2012 GS Centennial coupe ;)
You are awesome. I feel like I'm listening to a true expert and feel so much more confident in buying my Corvette. Thank you.
I wish you were here in New Jersey to help make my corvette purchase! Appreciate all the content! Awesome!
Excellent summary. Thanks for the upload
Being in the market for a C6, this gave me some of the info that I need to make the right decision. Thank you.
Great video. Your comments are spot on. The C6 Corvette GS has an iconic profile and will provide the best performance for cost.
Love my Corvette!!
I appreciate the info. When you read blogs to try & make the best choice for what you can spend,it's whatever the poster owns. The next post contradicts the previous post. I decided to listen to the guy that deals with them everyday in the shop.Thanks Lyle!
Great video! I love my 2005 Z-51 base. I wish you'd discuss the Z-51 option in a future video. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for sharing you knowledge. Now I know what I will be looking for!
really appreciate all the tips and help on the c6 great video !!!!!
Thank you Lyle for making this video! It helped me decide to buy a 2013 gs with manual trans, we pick it up next week! I'm maxed out on the excitement here!😂
I have a 2012 grade sport for 3years now my first vett i love it 👍👍love your videos
Just picked up a C6 2011 Grand Sport based upon this video. Its a very upscale vehicle. Thank you for the content.
Great minds seem to think alike !! From a 2010 Grand Sport owner, awesome car.
Great video! I'm a newbie in the world of Vettes, I purchased a 2012 Grand Sport on 5/11/22 with a 4LT trim package in Crystal Red Tintcoat with a tan convertible top. It had 20.633 miles when purchased, new tires/brakes..This will be a weekend driver...Love the color, performance, and features. Looks like I picked the right vehicle. Keep these informative videos coming!
Really appreciate your videos and shared expertise!
Really enjoy my 08, done some mods and sounds great......no problems.
Really enjoy your content, and while I’m not as specialized as you are in Corvettes I do all the Corvette work that comes into the dealership I’m at. Having had a 97 and now a 2009 M6 I have to say your assessments are spot on. I couldn’t justify the extra money for the GS but had to have the LS3/TR6060. I think it’s worth mentioning that the TR6060 is nicer trans. Certainly the LS3 will go down in history as a very high point of V8 performance.
Yes sir! When I decided to buy my first Corvette back in December 2020 I made sure to buy a 2008 because it had that LS3. I am in love with her!
I am not an owner but have liked Corvette's,and learning the facts about price,reliability ,and heritage, l really thank you for your videos.l sub already.
I got my eye on a 2011 grand sport convertible after watching this video I think it’s time to pull the trigger. Thanks Lyle great information
Thank you for this tips. I'm looking for C6 here in Poland and your movies help me a lot. It'smy dream car.
Excellent Video.
I have followed Corvettes for 40+ years and thought I knew a great deal about them. I didn't know the Grand Sport sales were that high, but it makes sense. GM seemed to hit the sweet spot between the Base and the Z06. Very informative.
Just bought my 05 with a supercharged upgrade 6 speed manual convertible , I'm loving it love everything about it ...
Lyle, thanks for these videos! You give the information straight like it is with no bs and that's why I believe so many trust your content. With that said, will you please do a factual video about the C6 Z06 LS7 engine and what is true vs false regarding the issues with the heads and valves? Like are all LS7s from 2006 to 2013 the same? Do I have to worry about the heads if I buy a Z06 that was taken care of? Will all of them eventually have the valve issue regardless of how the car was treated? Please give an in-depth review of this engine and what someone needs to know before buying one!
Thank you for this information. I'm looking to purchase my first in the future, and this was very helpful!
You are most welcome, Ted! Lyle :)
Love my 08 cpe. Wide body added, GS wheels and rubber, big brake pkg, z51.
Thank you for all your great advice- I just recently purchased a 09 base with 10k miles on it - love it
Congrats! That's an excellent/rare find with only 10K miles! 👍
I’m in the market and you were very helpful great video thanks
I'm a new subscriber, you have been the most helpful in providing information about C6 Corvette.
I sold my 94 ZR1 two years ago, my granddaughter was in medical school and I decided she was the better investment.
Currently in the market for a 2012 Grand Sport, thank you for sharing your expertise.
Excellent information Lyle. I purchased an 05 because I was after a certain color (Daytona Sunset) . If my LS2 starts giving me issues I'll be looking for and LS3 to drop in it's place. :)
Thanks for your videos. I am 65 and wanted a Vette all my life. Watched many of your videos. So today I brought a 2009 C6 Automatic 57,400 miles. New tires. They just changed the oil. This weekend I will change all filters. Service Trans, diff and cooling! It is a red base coup. Thanks for the help!
Great report. I bought VetteBlu 2 yrs ago for $18.9k & 25k miles. It is a Le Mans Blue 2006 base with Z51 LT3 A6. I love this car and we had 8 bracket race wins last year even with the now dated engine drive train and technology. This car is very consistent and beats faster cars because of it. Be blessed.
I do agree with you 💯, wonderful cars, I did own a c5 2001 for 12 years, amazing car 🚗
Very informative information, thank you
just installed your mild to wild exhaust control to my 2010 3LT. so rare to have one piece that can make me and my wife happy. thanks
What’s 3LT
I’m new to C6
Very informative as usual Lyle. Sold my C5 a few months ago; got tired of sinking money into it all the time, and some of it was on the things (EBCM) that have been worked on before!!
Looking to get into a C6, 2008 or newer, 6-speed
I purchased a 2012 GS Anniversary ED with 17000 miles in 2021 and I love this car. It's a weekend driven car. Sounds like I picked a great car to purchase. I just subscribed plz keep the info coming
Thanks Lyle. Just sold my 94 and bought a 13 GS. I liked my 94, had it for over 17 years but time to move on. Cheers!
Great video. There is a reason they are still using that 6.2 L V8 to this day because it is so bulletproof. You can get it in a Corvette you can get it in a truck I think it’s just fantastic. My Corvette 2009 got 291,000 miles on it before I sold it this year. I averaged around 25,000 miles a year and even the transmission was flawless. I went through three different clutches but it was the original transmission. I now have a GMC sierra off with the same motor and I just cannot speak more about how great the motor is.
I agree, Just bought a 2013 GS convertible my self.
bought a 2011 grandsport convertible lt4 burgundy ,black top love the car thanks for your video i think your info helped me decide what car to buy thanks
100% agree with your thoughts - thanks!
Thank you Lyle, for the honest review ..I´m now sold to corvette :D
Solid content, I enjoy my 96 C4, thinking about picking up a C6 as well, once the prices goes down
Hey great information, thank you so much, just what I needed
What a great video, tossed up some serious knowledge. I just made the switch to my 2010 GS manual targa with the heritage package, long tubes xpipe NPP mild to wild, tsp cam and supporting valvetrain and holy smokes the car is amazing. 500whp. Until seeing this video I pretty much didn't even know what I had I suppose. Always had some pretty nasty mustangs before but after this car with the power and the handling together, I couldn't ever go back.
Clearly you don't live in California. Everything in California is illegal, which includes any car modifications, That won't be an issue much longer, as the rumor is the politicians will be outlawing all personal transportation of any type, except for walking, & even that will be severely restricted. I'd like to say that gasoline-powered cars will be the first to be outlawed, except they've already outlawed electric bicycles. People already say bad things about anyone with a gas-powered car, They whisper in grocery stores, and look at car owners with loathing. Some people go around slashing car's tires. Something as impractical as a powerful sports car is met with even more derision than a massive SUV. At least the SUV can more stuff.
Had a 08 Z06 for three years loved it .had to get rid of it .will own another one someday. Would like a 15 Z06
Love the video, I did similar research to what you just described people to do when I just bought my first Corvette; I found a 2009 three LT with the Z 51 performance package in cyber gray metallic love the power it’s a six speed and I love the look at the car. I plan on holding onto this
Outstanding!! Congrats! Lyle
Love my base 08 ls3/a6. Whole lot of options(3lt) and runs far beyond anything you could need. Just Fun ! And, got 28.5mpg on recent trip to Fl. Keys !
I got 28.5 on my trip to Ohio with my 06 Z06 from NC n my wife got 29.5 in her jetta... I also got into it a few times. Love this Z06
Great information Lyle. I have a 2012 RS Callaway convertible that I bought a year ago with 4600 miles on it. It's the 15th out of 25 made for Callaway's 25th anniversary. Absolutely love it. I get compliments everytime I take it out.
WE had a 2010 Reeves Callaway Signature Edition 606 Callaway here for a while...I have never driven anything that pulled so hard and in such a linear fashion as that beast...and it did it with style. Such a cool car you have! Lyle
C6 is my favorite modern vette generation (C2s, my favorite old gen). I'm 22 right now and remember seeing them drive around with loads of C5s in the 2000s when I was a kid.
Thank you for the breakdown
Just bought a 08 base 3lt 4 weeks ago took out west had 63 k when purchased now almost 72 k. Fist vette I have ever driven or sat in love it convert As well
I bought my 2013 G/S convertible in 2017 when she had just over 10.000 miles on it .Now with over 44.000 . The only thing I had to replace that surprised me was the tonal cover locking unit other that regular maintenance as normal
Nothing quite like a C6 wide body!!
Just wanted to give you a big THANKS (and I subscribed, of course)! You helped me pick out my first Corvette with this video. Thanks to your advice, I was able to find a 2012 GS LT3/Z51 convertible in almost show-quality condition with only 7,000 miles on it. Always garaged, with new 12/2020 date-coded Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 rubber. It's Arctic White/Cashmere with a big factory stripe from front to back. Now it lives in my garage, and when the weather's good, my wife and I get a real kick out of driving it. I didn't realize this at first, but I get a lot of toots on the horn or thumbs-up from fellow drivers. Kind of a fun bonus to a great set of wheels!
I just purchased a 2010 GS convertible with 6600 on the OD. Would like to know your experience so far with your car.
@@jaybarr8098 Wow, that's great! I'm very happy with mine. Getting a 'Vette with such low mileage is a real hoot. Everything works just like new. I became a member of the National Corvette Museum, and bought laminated copies of the original window sticker and the build sheet from them. It's been a treat to have them. As far as the car itself, everything has been great except for one little thing. It has a minor squeak coming from one of the things driven by the serpentine or crank belts. Hopefully it's not the water pump, but I haven't traced it down to the exact item yet. I think the C6 is really the ideal 'Vette--it's got the classic look, the round taillights (very important to me), and we get a lot of comments on it from random folks. I wasn't looking to attract attention, but it's fun anyway! One of my friends has a 2017 C7, and we've traded seats to try out each other's cars. There are some things I like about the newer model, but for now, I'm super happy with my C6.
Yes definitely check the harmonic balancer for wobble and if its been replaced in both LS2/LS3.
The most important video in my decision making process for deciding which vehicle to bring onto my channel next! I watched this last year and had to come back to it just to confirm my decision!
Thank you! Appreciate the kind words and I'm glad you found it useful! Lyle :)
I'm an owner of a 2013 Z06 which I ordered new. Base 1LZ. I've put over 90,000 miles on it so far. It's been on a race track 3x. My first major repair due to a factory issue was a split in the radiator, leaky PS hose and leaky CAGS solenoid. 2 HVAC actuators have failed (one is flakey). All this happened at about 75Kmiles. Otherwise, just tires, front brakes, hood struts and a battery. Overall, I'm really happy with the car. For 2013, only about 470 C6Zs were built. Switched to Michelin PSS tires. HUGE improvements everywhere compared to the OEM GY F1s!! Will upgrade soon to 4Ss.
Not sure if this was already mentioned but the manual C6 GS with dry sump oil system gets a forged steel crankshaft just like the Z06 with Ls7&Ls9. I purchased my 2013 C6 GS manual with performance exchaust to spec from the factory. It has been amazing. I haven't had any mechanical issues with it going on 8 years over 54K miles now. It is not a garage queen. The only issue I can think of is my hatch sometimes wont open easily if it sits for too long. That's no big deal for me once you give it a push from inside and clean up the rubber molding its fine.
outstanding info. always fall in love into Corvette territory. .. draw and paint them all the time especially that yellow one)))) all the time winner and leader of Le Mans 24H)))
I bought a 2011 GS 3LT convertible used with 54k miles and sent it to the dealership for 2 full days for all fluid flushing and fine tooth comb inspection. The only thing that was discovered was the battery needed to be replaced. The car is incredible to drive and just to look at. Beautiful machine inside and out. I also have a recent purchase of a C7 2014 Z51 that only has 7500 miles on it. The weird thing is that I would rather drive the C6 most of the time. I'm not sure why but I'm sure it has to be the feeling I get while driving. Cheers to you and all!
Lyle thanks 😊 for sharing this information about the C6VETT I'M IN THE MARKET FOR 😀 CORVETT U DEFINITELY 👍 HELPING ME WITH MAKING A VERY GOOD 👍 CHOICE, THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS WITH US 🇺🇸, 🇺🇸 MAY GOD BLESS.
I own a 2012 C6 centennial edition grand sport , it is everything I could ever want , I love the car ❤
Doesn't matter to me, all the C6 yrs are beautiful and are the best looking. Thats just how I see it. Thanks for the video
Just bought a 2011 GS 3lt that should be here next week! Thanks for the advice, it definitely helped my choice for my first vette!! This car is my dream car and I plan on holding on to it for a decade at the very least
Wow, how pleasant to be able to plan on holding onto your C6 for more than 10 years, You must not live in California like I do. In Cali, all politicians, regardless of how stupid or drunk they are, is smarter and more capable, with superior planning & use of logic, than any citizen. They are just SO DAMN clever, Brilliant, even. God's gift to the rest of the nation, planning the perfect ant-like colony for all us tax-paying morons. Soon we won't have to think about anything or make any decisions. They'll do all that for us, because they're just so perfect. Actually, having met some of these politicians, I can declare with high confidence that these politicians are so much worse than you think they are, Paint your most horrific picture in your head of how corrupt, selfish, evil, & psychotic they could possibly be, and then double that and you'll be getting close.
Coral Gables 🌴🇺🇸 GOOD practical info. Thank you Kyle ! 🏄
I love all of your comments regarding the c6. I live in central Illinois and as you know own a 2007. It's remarkable how many used corvettes are on dealership lots with the popularity of the C8 & the difficulty of getting one at MSRP. It's made everyone want a corvette, no matter the year. Excellent job on GM for producing a world class car.
Really? Are you kidding me? There's lots of used Corvettes in Illinois? Not here in the PRC (People's Republic of California), People hold on to them because they figure it's more likely they'll be able to keep their existing gasoline powered sports car than to buy a new one, Everything is illegal here. I guess maybe I'll visit Illinois and buy a spare C6 in case the Sate decides to confiscate the C6 I have now, Or force me to give it up as a shelter for the houseless. I'm not sure if it's just talk, or if it's been legislated somewhere, but they're talking about forcing homeowners to provide any spare bedrooms, or offer some amount of outdoor space, to any & all houseless people, They no longer enforce trespassing violations, but if the homeowner tries to enforce their rights to use their own property as they see fit, the homeowner will be cited, jailed, and made to pay a fine, possibly even forfeit ownership of their property to the State for no-cost usage by the houseless,
Great information regarding the C6 Corvette. I would also add that the 2008-2013 Corvettes with the 6spd MT were upgraded to the smoother and more robust Tremec TR-6060 which are wonderful transmissions. Thanks for sharing your insights!
Thank god !! I own a 2012 base manual transmission I love my vette but always worry about reliability 5 years now she's been a sweetheart
Great video. There’s a (I think) common problem that was on my 2008 and supposedly the 2006’s (not sure all years). My ‘08 was an automatic, and the ‘06 I heard about the same problem on was a manual. I had a grinding sound. Usually sitting at a red light or when I was driving slowly through a restaurant drive-thru. I actually drove with this problem for over a year. It was annoying. So I took it to a GM certified (he used to work at the local dealership, then opened his own place) transmission mechanic. Turns out the grinding I heard was a loose bolt. At the time (this was around 2013) the part was $35. Not a big deal..... but the whole thing cost $700 after tax, because of the labor/time it took to unhook the transmission and I guess install the new bolt. He told me to bring it back up after a week and he would make sure it wasn’t loose or have loosened any. I never did, because I figure it was fine. Later on, months maybe, I started hearing that sound again...... I ended up selling the car for a reasonable price. I sold it with 88,000 miles on it (September of 2015). But the initial grinding probably started when it had 60,000 miles on it. Anyways, he said that his friend’s 2006 had the same problem. He knew right off the bat what it was.
I just started to have that same problem but on one of my 09 corvettes, i though it was the torque tube, but what you describe is exacly what my car sounds like
Thanks Lyle, I overhauled my first vet at 16 and have been smitten with them ever since. I did not buy one until this year however having waited 50 years. I found my base model 2008. 3lt at a car dealership in Vernon Texas. It was pristine, never been wrecked and was absolutely gorgeous, love at first sight. After some minor haggling I forked over 23 grand and some change, drove it home and am living happy ever after. I did change out the 6 cd changer for a new alpine stereo and added front and rear cameras. Keep the videos coming……..
What did you use for rear cameras
2012 GS Crystal Red Tintcoat. When I first seen it, I said "Pictures did this car no justice". Such a fun car to drive. Driving it is therapy, nothing else matters except you and the road! Very good video on the C6 Vet. Any year Corvette you own is awesome. I've had 3 C4 Vets and a C3 1972, and now my C6 2012 GS. Trying to figure out how I can slip another C4 in the garage without my wife knowing about it!!
Yeah, don't tell anyone, but I get a funny feeling in my pants, the same as when I look a pretty girl, when I see the C6 in that Crystal Red Tintcoat. I've NEVER been a fan of that color, until I saw the C6 in it, and now I think there is no better color, and that that color red paint belongs on no other car than the C6. My C6 looks good, Switchblade Silver with bold black racing stripes, but it doesn't look Crystal Red Tintcoat good.
My vote for a nice daily driver is for the base model 08 plus as the grand sport tires are notorious for wearing out too fast. Loved my 08 and 2013 base models.
Thanks again Lyle, you da man!!
my LS2 equipped 06 has 150,000 on it and no issues Love it.
Thanks for that video. I enjoyed and agree with your review/recommendations. I just bought a ‘12 Grand Sport 6MT coupe this past May and I’m loving it! I did find it interesting that there was no mention of the well documented LS7 valvetrain issues in the Z06 - but others have already brought that up here. I was also surprised that there was no mention that the engines in the manual trans. GS coupes (only) were hand-built by master engine builders at the GM Performance Build Center (formerly at the Wixom plant) alongside the LS7/LS9 engines that went into the Z06/ZR1’s - and also shares their dry sump oiling system. The engines have a little plaque on the right/front of the engine that has the name of the master tech who built it.
Yeah, surprising for sure. No mention of the trans switch at 08 either (unless I missed it)
Dang that’s super cool!
know it's a late comment. Some of those LS3 engines were found in 5th gen camaros as well.
My first Corvette was a Magnetic Red Metallic C5 coupe. I sold that when I had the opportunity to purchase a 2010 red Grand Sport Coupe. I wish I never sold that, but had to after I got my father's 05 triple black convertible off probate after he passed away. All great cars for me. We're only caretakers for the next owner - never permanent owners.
Thanks. great video and info.
Have a 2013 Grand Sport with a automatic. Just a incredible car.