It's my brother's fault that I'm here. A few months ago, I was visiting him in Pennsylvania. He has a shop that restores SS Novas from the 60s and we went to a dealer to check out a Nova together. But what caught my eye was a beautiful blue 2002 C5. Although I wasn't looking to buy a car, Jim (brother) tried to talk me into buying the Vette. Not being an impulse buyer, and knowing nothing about bringing a car into Canada, I didn't buy it. But he re-ignited in me an interest in Corvettes. In my late teens and early twenties, when I was drag racing Novas, a friend owned a stock 63 split window that easily blew the doors off any of my Nova race cars. I always wanted a Corvette. Still wanting one, and yet I'm fairly ignorant when it comes to knowing what to buy. Maybe a C6. It won't be a daily driver. It will have its own garage/living room. So here I am roaming through the forums, wanting to learn as much as I can so I know a good deal when I see it. And it won't hurt to meet a bunch of good people offering good advice! (No pic to post...yet)
It's my brother's fault!
- Thread starter Dayvid#27
- Start date
Welcome to the forum Dayvid... You have definitely come to the right place as we love to talk about Corvettes. The C6 would be a great choice and I'm not just saying that because I owned one...lol... All the LS engines are great but the LS3 in the base models (2008 on) is arguably the best engine GM has ever made. Horsepower, trouble free and easily modded if you wanted at some time to squeeze more that the 430 ponies. The Z06 C6 is a good motor (505hp) as well although there are valve guide issues (factory faux pas) that should be, or should have been investigated and rectified if required. But once that's done The LS7 is a great engine as well. Then of course is the 638hp supercharged ZR1 in the later C6 years. Both the C5 and the C6 handle like they are on rails and the transaxle system that was introduced with the C5 model year gave these generations the 50/50 weight distribution that set them yards apart from the earlier generations in that handling department. In a nutshell, all Corvettes are special and wonderful cars, and depending on your list of wants, you wouldn't go wrong with any choice. I started with a newer model only because I'm lazy, not overly mechanically aptituded (is that a word)... and wanted one that was fast, comfortable, dependable, and fuel efficient. I have been on several 6000 to 8000 km summer road trips and my better half and I have always been comfortable.
Most importantly, these cars will put a forever smile on your face that can't be beaten off with a big stick, and you will be thanking, not blaming your brother as soon as you climb behind the wheel of your baby.
That's all I got for now but I'm sure lots of members will jump in with discussion...
Y
YFCvii
Welcome to the Forums.
Help!
I’ve been stuck here for a few years now.
I love the Nova. First car was a 69 Chevy-II. I wanted to get back into one and got exhausted from hunting for one I wanted. So I ended up with Corvettes and this bunch of characters here
.
I would love to see your Novas in a “Cars in Remembrance” Thread to perhaps temporarily rescue me from OCD (Obsessive Corvette Disorder)
Cheers and Enjoy
canadiancorvetteforums.com
Help!
I’ve been stuck here for a few years now.
I love the Nova. First car was a 69 Chevy-II. I wanted to get back into one and got exhausted from hunting for one I wanted. So I ended up with Corvettes and this bunch of characters here
.I would love to see your Novas in a “Cars in Remembrance” Thread to perhaps temporarily rescue me from OCD (Obsessive Corvette Disorder)
Cheers and Enjoy
Featured - 1969 Chevy-II Nova
My very First Car, my High School Car. Dad taught me a lesson, offering to give me his Car or pay for my College. :Hurray: I chose the Car :Hurray: :Confused5: Wanted my independence so bad without really thinking about it :oops: :eek: after all I had to get a Job to pay for one or the other...
canadiancorvetteforums.com
Last edited by a moderator:
- Thread starter
- #5
@SN-III Not at all able to help you out of this place!Welcome to the Forums.
Help!
I’ve been stuck here for a few years now.
I love the Nova. First car was a 69 Chevy-II. I wanted to get back into one and got exhausted from hunting for one I wanted. So I ended up with Corvettes and this bunch of characters here
I would love to see your Novas in a “Cars in Remembrance” Thread to perhaps temporarily rescue me from OCD (Obsessive Corvette Disorder)
Cheers and Enjoy
Featured - 1969 Chevy-II Nova
My very First Car, my High School Car. Dad taught me a lesson, offering to give me his Car or pay for my College. :Hurray: I chose the Car :Hurray: :Confused5: Wanted my independence so bad without really thinking about it :oops: :eek: after all I had to get a Job to pay for one or the other...
I could throw you a rope to pull you out, but I'm pretty sure you will pull me in further!
It's really tough to find a good muscle car without spending lots of money. My first car was a 69 Nova SS. The car was 3 years old when I bought it. A few years later I bought a second 69 Nova SS to race and raced it for about five years. So I had one for the street and one for the track. I wish I had cared more about photos back then, because I have 0 pics of my race car. There was one of a wheelie off the line that a friend took, but over the years it's been lost. I'll see if I can dig up some of the pics I have of the street Nova. Thanks for the welcome!
Y
YFCvii
... thanks ...@SN-III Not at all able to help you out of this place!
I'll see if I can dig up some of the pics I have of the street Nova. Thanks for the welcome!
When “Ontario” becomes a destination for me I will have to see if we can just sit for an hour and just talk “Nova”.
photo anticipation ...
Welcome @Dayvid#27. Once you make the plunge and purchase one, you will get the Vette fever forsure. I moved away from older muscle cars and purhased my first Corvette, a C3 almost 9 years ago now, no regrets and has been a fantastic experience and have met a ton of great people on the CCF and multiple cruises. If you want the authentic muscle car feel and ride, look at the C2 or C3. If newer ride, features and performance are on your list, go for the C4, C5, C6 or C7. I purchased a C7 about 5 years ago, took the Ron Fellows Spring Mountain course, and have put almost 50000km of smiles per gallon to date. Life is short, make the plunge and journey the future in a Vette! Best of luck in your hunt.
- Thread starter
- #8
@turbozig Thanks for welcoming me to the forum. Last night I took a "cruise" through the forum pics and the one of your C7 with arms stretched high, captured by @SN-III, is awesome. A great expression of freedom!
Most of my life has been filled with "projects" of one sort or another. Restoring British motorcycles (as a hobby) was the bulk of it. Although I'm a psych prof, I know my way around tools, and enjoy wrenching, but in a few years (maybe 5) I'll be retiring. That being said, I'm probably looking more for comfort, handling, and burnouts!
Thinking more along the lines of C4, C5, or C6 for my first Vette. If I get bored in retirement, it might be fun to get a C3 project sometime. I tend to take my time looking for what I want. So far, my list includes ...base...yellow, red, or white...manual...targa top (that doesn't leak!).
Welcome dayvid#27. I bought my first corvette 3 years ago. I looked for a full summer before I found what I wanted. It had to be a yellow vert with a manual trans. I purchased a 2006 vert with a standard in yellow. After I had it for about a year and a half I started lusting for a C7 . I looked for a full year until I saw my current vette. Could not resist it so I bought it.. Good luck in you quest and keep us informed....