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
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!
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.
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.
@@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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!😂
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.
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……..
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.
You're killin' me! I've been shopping for a C6 Grand Sport and I'm planning to pull the trigger in the next month or so. You're going to have everyone else looking at them now and driving my price up.
Putting my 2012 Centennial Edition Grand Sport up for sale next week. 4LT trim, dual mode exhaust , dual roofs. Bumper to bumper warranty till October 2022.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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!
@@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.
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!
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 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.
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!
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
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.
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. :)
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!
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.
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 !
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.
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.
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
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
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 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,
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
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.
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
@@MS-nq7uy thats so dope, wish I could say the same lol I'm stuck with sedans until my sons grow up. I'll probably be one of those midlife crisis Corvette owners. Khaki shorts and New Balance sneakers to go with it😅
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 love my 2005 and never get offended when people tell me I should get a newer year ... No thanks I have seen 2013 with more issues than my 05 ... I would like to get a 2008 or 2009 more hp more features ..but for now I'm super happy with my lemans blue 2005
Love my 2005 vert. I've addressed all the known issues and will keep an eye on the harmonic balancer issue. BTW color is machine silver but blue is my favorite color.
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
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.
I'm in the minority. I actually prefer the base over the Grand Sport. To me, the base convertible is great for street and highway cruising. I always admired the clean and less uninterrupted lines of the base models. Although I rarely track it, I did get the Z51 option on my 2008 with a manual transmission. If I were more into track usage, I would for sure have the GS without the convertible top and with ride control shocks.
Totally agree with you. I bought my red 2008 Corvette Z51 convertible new and I’ve had very few problems with it in the last 14 years. I had a minor transmission problem early on, and it needed a new harmonic balancer 4 years ago. Developed a fuel leak about five years ago in one of the gas tanks, but convinced the dealership and manufacturer to replace both tanks under warranty. The engine itself has been bulletproof and it still pulls just as hard today as it did when I bought it. LS3 rules.
@@Lawraven I had a choice between an 08 and an 09, both with the Z51 features, both verts, both Red Metallic Tint exterior, etc. I went with the 09 and don't regret it at all. It's an auto with Paddle shifts on the L and the R side of the wheel. It's loaded with features and I can't wait until the dealer delivers it next week. Cheers, Bob
@@rvnmedic1968I just bought an '08 with Z51 suspension also in Crystal Red. It has paddle shifters on both sides of the steering wheel as well. Only 15K miles on the clock for a 15 yo car.....that's what attracted me to it.
Great video, thanks. I know I'm two years behind, but this video popped up in my feed. I bought a C6 without knowing much about Corvettes, and knowing almost nothing about the C6. I knew I didn't want a C7 because my neighbor has one, & I don't like the lines of the C5 as much as I do the C6 (no slight intended, I know you have a C5). The C6 appears to me, visually, to be just about the most perfect sports car ever produced. A nice balance of edge & soft, without all the gratuitous busy-ness of a Lamborghini, the butt heaviness of Porsche, the long schnozz of the Viper, the tepid boringness of the Mustang or Dodge, or the flaccid performance profile of any British sports coupe ever made. Looks wise, only certain Ferraris or Ford's GT are in the same league as the C6. I bought the car from a dealer, so I got no repair records. Carfax came up clean, so there's that. I bought the car to drive it. I don't believe in buying a car, and then denying myself the pleasure of driving such a fantastic machine. I bought it because I want to drive it. That's what cars are for. Why leave it perfect? Just to give to my kids when I pass away? No thanks. Since I don't have maintenance records I'm assuming no maintenance was done, and I'm having everything done. The variability in maintenance service costs, and the difference in knowledge of the car from one Chevrolet dealer to the next is remarkable. It seems some Chevy dealerships are very Corvette friendly, and others view the car as some sort of alien spacecraft: dangerous and unfathomable. Admittedly, the Corvette is unlike any other car I've ever had, and I'll be bringing it to a non-dealer repair shop that only works on Corvettes to make sure I'm not missing anything major, like a wobbling crank balancer, or other issues I'm too inexperienced to notice. Anyways, thanks for all the work you put into your videos. I'm a fan. Your experience and knowledge are invaluable. Keep it up!!!
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.
