Is the c8 too expensive?

[robvas]

I would submit that no new cars are good deals. The C8 doesn't even come with a manual transmission. What a rip off! It's supposed to be sporty.

All new cars are set up to broadcast information to insurance companies with your driving habits (plus who knows what else?). Most either have turbos or DI (high cost and lower durability). Many have major components like engine blocks that are designed to be thrown away rather than being easily rebuildable. Cylinder count keeps shrinking, as does displacement. I'd rather drive something 10+ years old with a drivetrain swap or other upgrades as necessary.

the C8 isn't too expensive to buy...

But once you want to mod it....open your wallet. So expensive compared to a modern Mustang

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[Hack]

the C8 isn't too expensive to buy...

But once you want to mod it....open your wallet. So expensive compared to a modern Mustang

You can't even get it with a manual transmission though. I wouldn't want to drive it if I was given one.

Over priced at any price.

 

[robvas]

So you'd rather have an MT-82 over a DCT? I can understand wanting to shift gears but...

 

[Vertex]

What are your goals/desires and constraints (beyond price range)?

I came from an A90, so I have first hand experience with the pros/cons of that platform vs. the S550.

Curious what brought you over to the S550 from the Supra?

I ended up doing the reverse out of my Mach 1 into a Supra

 

[COYOTE_64S25FEF]

Curious what brought you over to the S550 from the Supra?

I ended up doing the reverse out of my Mach 1 into a Supra

I absolutely love that platform and would be thrilled to get back into it in the near future.

I had a little one that’s now a toddler. No back seat and much less time to make it to motorsports activities meant it sat in the driveway too much. I had also built it as far as I wanted to go given the lack of time to track it more. So I was basically just paying for it and cleaning it.

I went three months without a “fun” car and got the itch. The S550 (GT Premium) offers a lot of bang for the buck, so I’m hoping to lightly upgrade it for a fun street car that can use to take my little one to cars and coffee, etc. and still hit the drag strip if we find a sitter.

In the near future, should time allow, I’ll either keep or sell the S550, and I’m looking at another Supra, M2, or even a vette. This thread is really relevant to me.

That’s why I asked the OP about goals and constraints. If you like coupes, that limits your options. If you need back seats, that limits your options. If you care more about circuit racing than drag racing, there’s certain platforms that require less work to be reliable on track. Manual or auto? Etc.

 

[COYOTE_64S25FEF]

Also, vettes tend to hold their value, so it may not “cost” as much as some other options depending on where on the depreciation curve you pick it up and how long you hold it. (And insurance tends to be lower anecdotally speaking.)

Can also rent one to see if “feels” right for the costs you calculated above.

 

[webspoke]

Look for a nice used GT500. My wife recently picked up a C8 2LT Z51. It is a much tamer ride than a gt500, very quiet and smooth inside, and the dct trans is not as aggressive feeling as the gt500. Driving excitement the gt500 is the winner.

The C8 has amazing engineering for the price, but they kept the non Z06 cars very tame and civilized to satisfy the new balance and gold chain guys. it is buick smooth in normal modes, and does not feel fast.

The GT500 feels like an american GT3. It rumbles and screams and snaps off downshifts and upshifts. The drive modes feel very distinct and fun, and it still has back seats, big trunk, and can run on the track right out of the box, and knock off low 11's all day long on all seasons.

 

[Hack]

So you'd rather have an MT-82 over a DCT? I can understand wanting to shift gears but...

Yes 100%. I have zero desire to own a vehicle with a DCT. It's heavier than a manual and no third pedal. A lot less fun to drive in my opinion.

I'd rather own a vehicle with a blown up manual that I need to rebuild over a perfect vehicle with only a DCT available.

 

[Vertex]

I absolutely love that platform and would be thrilled to get back into it in the near future.

I had a little one that’s now a toddler. No back seat and much less time to make it to motorsports activities meant it sat in the driveway too much. I had also built it as far as I wanted to go given the lack of time to track it more. So I was basically just paying for it and cleaning it.

I went three months without a “fun” car and got the itch. The S550 (GT Premium) offers a lot of bang for the buck, so I’m hoping to lightly upgrade it for a fun street car that can use to take my little one to cars and coffee, etc. and still hit the drag strip if we find a sitter.

In the near future, should time allow, I’ll either keep or sell the S550, and I’m looking at another Supra, M2, or even a vette. This thread is really relevant to me.

That’s why I asked the OP about goals and constraints. If you like coupes, that limits your options. If you need back seats, that limits your options. If you care more about circuit racing than drag racing, there’s certain platforms that require less work to be reliable on track. Manual or auto? Etc.

All your points make a lot of sense. When I got my Mach 1 I had always wanted a Mustang since before I could drive. It was every bit of fun I imagined and more while I had it. At the time I got the car when I was with my ex she had 3 kids so it also was convenient if we had a couple of them with us and wanted to take that over something else to run around in or do something.

Now my current SO has a graduated kid and just 1 so it's mainly just her and I so the Supra isn't an issue at all. Sometimes I wouldn't mind having just a little more room just because I don't like to not have the spare in the back of the Supra just in case. Car is just amazing though in all aspects compared to my experience with the Mach 1 and getting 36mpg on the hwy with the power the car can put it is a huge added bonus I wasn't aware of when I swapped cars.

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

My 22 Mustang GT is premium with all the features and i can sell it for almost what i paid, but the base c8 is pretty stripped down feature wise and they say you should get the 2LT and i dont think the z51 package is worth it but even 2lt c8 is about 78k and I never spent that much on a car before and idk if its worth it I feel like at that price i would rather have a GT500 cause even if its slower it still has the utility of back seats that can be folded down to carry stuff

otherwise what car would be a step up from mustang GT but cheaper than c8 or gt500?

Yes, I think the Corvette is too damn expensive for having a fiberglass skin, and General Motors quality.

I asked my mechanic what he thought of Corvette quality and he said "It's GM, so it's a P.O.S." and "You should get one" in statements that were practically back-to-back.

He went to one Corvette parked in the shop and pointed to the 'crazing' in the skin. Skin which shouldn't be under stress but nevertheless cracks if you're doing corning like at autocross or on a track.

With another Corvette in the shop, he showed me that if he moved the shifter the whole center console moved with it.

(I asked him about the quality and longevity of a Mustang, and his answer is a big part of why I own a Mustang.)

Just because the C8 Corvette costs so much doesn't mean GM built it any better.

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

So you'd rather have an MT-82 over a DCT? I can understand wanting to shift gears but...

Oh god, yes.

A DCT is still an automatic transmission and every one I've driven has offended me.

The least offensive was in a Mazda 6 I rented in 2007. The automatics I've driven since then were actually dumber and less responsive, including a 10-speed Mustang.

And clicking a paddle is still not shifting, but a shift request to a black box. It's not a substitute for having the transmission I wanted in the first place.

 

[COYOTE_64S25FEF]

Oh god, yes.

A DCT is still an automatic transmission and every one I've driven has offended me.

The least offensive was in a Mazda 6 I rented in 2007. The automatics I've driven since then were actually dumber and less responsive, including a 10-speed Mustang.

Tried Porsche’s PDK?

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

Tried Porsche’s PDK?

You mean have a driven a car I can't afford, that's about half as practical as my Mustang, to see if they're the ONE company whose automatic won't piss me off?

 

[Hack]

Tried Porsche’s PDK?

I drove a GT3 with the PDK on track. Good grip and acceleration. I like Porsches, but not automatic transmissions.

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

I drove a GT3 with the PDK on track. Good grip and acceleration. I like Porsches, but not automatic transmissions.

Porsche knows a PDK won't be an acceptable substitute for some people, so they still have a real stick-and-clutch manual transmission available

...In special edition cars that cost extra.

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