Please try to talk me off the ledge...

[Colleton]

I've been looking for a GT350 at MSRP for well over a year now, with no luck. I have a '17 RR w/Conv Pack on order, but it comes with a small ADM (which rubs me raw, considering how many cars I've bought from this dealership), and won't be here until Jan-Feb timeframe.

Right now I am out in my garage putting the finishing touches on a clean/detail for my '15 GT in prep for trading it in on a '16 Z51 2LT Corvette later today. Instead of paying an ADM they're knocking over 10% off the price of the car.

Yeah, I know. I've never owned a GM car in my life and I love Mustangs, but I'm tired of waiting and getting ripped off. I'll get ~ the same level of performance out of the Vette as the 350, and it's a beautiful car. What's not to like.

OK, if you care to have at it. Why should I not do this? I appreciate any constructive comments/arguments.

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[Litfury]

If I did not have kids I would totally be in a c7 right now. I've almost traded for one several times. The deals to be had on 2016s are insane right now. My only suggestion is don't buy local. Look at macmulkin, kerbeck, criswell, etc... you can. Easily easily get more than 10% off a c7 from one of the big guys right now.
That being said, I do love my mustang. But I'd definitely be in a c7 if I didn't need the back seats.

 

[mattlqx]

It's hard to argue from a perspective of paying a premium vs. getting a discount. But the thing to keep in mind is that there are far less GT350s on the road than C7 Corvettes and that will always remain that way. In the long run, I'd expect the GT350 to hold values better, but since you're starting at a discount anyway, and like me it doesn't sound like you hold on to cars for a long time, it's probably irrelevant.

This picture was my weekend. I ran with a bunch of friends including this C7 that I have driven on both the road and the track. My friend with it is a good, decently quick driver. I have the experience edge on him, but I'd say natural talent wise, we're equivalent.

I was running my 350 on stock MPSS tires, while he was on sticky Nitto NT01s. My best laps were about 1-2 seconds quicker. Anecdotal and totally pointless comparison, but I was happy to have kept up with the Vette on those tires.

Anyway, as far as the car itself goes. I like C7s a lot. The worst thing about driving them is infotainment system. It's laggy, buggy and in general has a very kids computer like quality to it. The harness holes in the seat (if you so opt) are way too low to be useful for most people. And the coolers have a hard time keeping temperatures low enough to not be concerned about fluid longevity after track activity.

But I can't argue with you on looks. I think it's great. I think the GT350 is also great too and obviously I prefer it.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[krt22]

If I were to get a vette, Id wait for the 2017 Grand Sports to come down to 8-10k off sticker. Currently about 3k off sticker so just give it some time. But 100% agree with Mattlqx, the GT350 will be a much more rare car in the long run and hold its value much longer as well. I have yet to drive a C7 but the C6 just didnt do it for me, I just dont care for the powerband on those cars.

 

[Spartan]

If I were to get a vette, Id wait for the 2017 Grand Sports to come down to 8-10k off sticker. Currently about 3k off sticker so just give it some time. But 100% agree with Mattlqx, the GT350 will be a much more rare car in the long run and hold its value much longer as well. I have yet to drive a C7 but the C6 just didnt do it for me, I just dont care for the powerband on those cars.

Agreed I'd wait also...

 

[Spa2k]

Sorry, but I can't talk you off the ledge either. I had a C6 2LT with Z51 for almost 7 years prior to the GT 350, and it never saw the dealer service department except for regular maintenance - not a single problem. The resale was incredible too - sold it for only about 15% less than I paid for it. I understand your being attracted by the big end-of-year discount, but the '17 Grand Sport really has my attention.

The downside? To some people, a Corvette is just a Corvette, they make more than 40,000 a year, it doesn't have the aura of the Shelby name and you'll have to start wearing gold chains. Good luck!

 

[Todd15Fastback]

Nothing wrong with buying that Corvette. They are amazing cars.

 

[Superdog]

I had a 15 GT that I wanted to flip for the GT350.

My dealer, similar to you I have done a lot of business with. He would not budge from 20k over.

I got a great deal on a Z51. And it is one hell of a sexy car. Silver with red and black accents. Wow.

Fast forward 6 months and I had an opportunity to get the GT350 at msrp and a better the kbb value for my car.

I jumped all over it. I've not had my GT350 for a full month yet, but I realized instantly that I made the right call.

For me personally, the mustang is just a much better car to have. If I were you, pay the small vig and get the 350.

 

[krt22]

 

[EF300]

If you have a full head of hair buy the GT 350. If there is any significant hair loss buy the vette. You can still buy the vette with a full head of hair provided you are divorced and your girlfriends is 1/2 the age of your exwife and has cans as big as a set of 305's

 

[Bossing]

All the points above are spot on and good advice... don't mind EF300 & krt2 though. But they're not wrong.

Anyway the GS is really the one to shoot for now IMO. Both cars perform at a high level but really they're two different cars... meaning any C7 vs. any GT350. So it depends on what you're really after.

I won't try to talk you off the ledge and sway you into one or the other though since that decision is ultimately down to your personal preference... I owned both a C7 Z51 (two actually) and a Z06 so I guess I can speak from experience. I'll post pics of my ex-C7's first... so at least it won't be a one-sided GT350 bias. These were my actual cars... the '14 Blade Silver Z51 coupe, the '15 Torch Red Z51 convertible, and the bittersweet '15 Shark Gray Z06 coupe. Good riddance on the latter.

As you can see, the C7 Corvettes are lookers... they look sharp and fast even when standing still. The GS with the Z06-body style will be even more aggressive in person. I have seen one in Admiral Blue already and it's stunning! The GT350 however also looks great and sounds amazing. Both types of cars are fun to drive but the 350 is more raw, visceral. And as you know from the thousands of posts here, the GT350 is more unique and more rare than a C7... yes, even against the GS or the Z06.

If you can be patient a little longer... wait for a GT350 to pop up at msrp or shoot for a Grand Sport unless you want to stay at a particular price point then as you know a C7 Stingray with discounts can be a seriously enticing deal. Getting 10% off sticker price is a big factor... so the delta savings is huge when you compare a GT350 at sticker or above. GL with your decision!

Btw, a plug with [MENTION=17837]raiderjatt02[/MENTION] 's GT350 because it just looks awesome in RR!

 

[fuhrius]

I was getting on my favorite onramp yesterday (in my R) and spotted a new Z06 waiting to get on the freeway from the other side. I let it rip through this 3-s-turns onramp and went on down the freeway to where I was getting off a couple miles ahead. As I exit the freeway I see the Z06 barrelling down the two-lane offramp in the lane next to me. I stop short so he can come alongside (there were more cars stopped in front of him than in front of me) and he leans way out of his window, towards me, and he's just shouting: "THAT THING SOUNDS FUCKING AWESOME...JUST FUCKING AWESOME...I LOVE THAT CAR...I WISH I COULD FIND ONE...FUCKING AWESOME"

Hey, I dig the c7 vettes and I've had the opportunity to flog one pretty hard and they're great cars. Ultimately, though, I think the GT350 is more 'special' (channeling Matt Farrah). And maybe the Z06 guy is just feeling a little grass-is-greener, but these 350's are pretty bitchin' cars. I understand the angst around the economics of ADM's...but it's probably worth a little extra waiting and a little bit of ADM, IMO.

 

[Colleton]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your thoughts.

Bossing: Great post, very persuasive. You have me thinking again.

krt22: haha, that's my wife's argument - "Vettes are for old guys, keep the Mustang!" ;)

EF300: I still have a head full of (mostly gray) hair, but I'm also married for almost 32 years. No young GF. Damn. :lol:

 

[5.0 435]

I don't see that many C7 's on the road because we wave @ each other. Both cars are special. I like the low end grunt that you don't have in the 350. The C7 Z51 is faster in all catagories. You will also like the rev match 7 speed and heads up display. It's smaller and feels like a sports car. The 350 is kind of like my Boss. Parked next to each other it's a big car.
On the flip side my wife says mustangs are for kids. I think you just got to go for what you want not what others think
If the Vette bores me I Jump in the boss. Talk about raw feel just drive it with the side pipe plates out. It revs to 7500 rpm and with a simple tune it's 8500rpm no problem. The engine was designed to handle 9000 rpm in grand am in case you missed a gear. Both cars are different. That's why I have both. If I get tired of the boy racer I jump in the Vette.
Most people can't distinguish a mustang GT from a GT 350 on the road and there are a hell of a lot more mustang GTs on the road then C7's. Bought both used and saved a bundle. One owner low miles under 6,000 on both.

 

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