We've had the Z06 up for sale for three weeks and slowly dropped the price from $22,900 (pretty aggressive) to $21,900 (more realistic) to $20,900 (priced to sell). The last price drop did the trick. I got a call Tuesday night asking if the car was still available and when could it be test driven? It was late when I got the call so I texted back and arranged to show it Thursday night. Over the ensuing two days we exchanged texts about the condition of the Vette and I answered several questions. I got the sense that this buyer was for real.
Last night, Cliff Hurff showed up with a friend to drive the Z06. I found out that he is 23 years old and a part-time student. He loves cars and has already owned 10 different vehicles including an '02 Camaro. He has always wanted the Z06 and calls it his "dream car." But surprisingly, this is the very first Corvette he has ever driven. And he drove it well on the test drive, despite the fact that he hadn't worked a clutch for over a year. After the test drive I told him the title and the service records were in the house so we went inside. Notice, we hadn't discussed price yet.
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Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
So what could you do with our Z06?
Because it's a relatively low mileage car in fairly good condition, and because it is a Z06 (they have much smaller production numbers) it could be added to someone's stable of cars as the occasional weekender. It would be a shame to turn this thing into a coffee table, but sadly that's the life a lot of Corvettes lead. It's a thorough cleaning and a fresh driver's seat away from living it's life in a climate controlled garage.
But because it's a Z06, it's also ripe for some track action. Faster than anything in this price range, you're just not going to be able to buy anything that you can drive to the track, pass a bunch of people and then drive home in for less money. Slap in a good seat, a roll bar, some belts and a good set of tires and use the car for what it was designed to do.
I know what I'd do. How about you?
Kurt NIebuhr, Photo Editor @ 59,214 miles
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
As you know, we're trying to sell our beloved 2002 Chevy Corvette Z06. We don't want to, but after 15 months, nearly 20,000 miles and 197 blog posts there just isn't much left to do with our silver bullet. With that in mind, I took the Vette on a farewell drive. The drive took two days.
This is a great car. A car I could own. I love it. It makes me happy. It's comfortable and mellow when you need it to be and stupid fast when you want it to be. It sounds great, has awesome air conditioning and a huge trunk.
But, as sad as it makes me, our Z06 has got to go. What should we replace it with?
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Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Our Z06 is now for sale at $22,900 and we have an ad for it on AutoTrader and a barebones "walk around" on YouTube.
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Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
After nearly 60,000 miles of fun the brakes on our 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 sound like this.
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Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
A few days ago I asked what you thought was a good asking price for the Z06 that we'll be selling soon. I was pleased to see that most of you took the question seriously and posted some good comments and tips for the selling process. We've been mulling this issue too and here's what we came up with.
While Edmunds TMV is a great starting point, every used car is different and the price needs to be adjusted for local conditions and for the target buyer. We also like to see what our competition is so we go to Autotrader.com and browse the cars already listed for sale. Then we think about how the price is going to look and how the negotiations will go down. For instance, in this case, we want to stay north of $20,000 so we're going to have to build in some wiggle room to allow for haggling. So, with all those factors in mind, here's what we came up with.
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Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
It's been over a year of nearly uninterrupted Z06 fun and now it's time to let someone else take the wheel. We're starting to think of separating ourselves from this fine machine and as the sadness grows, so does the need for the right price -- asking and transaction.
The process usually starts with a trip to our TMV guru. No preamble is necessary, just: "2002 Corvette Z06, silver, 58K miles." He closes his eyes and leans back. "I'm gonna want to say..." We wait breathlessly. Meanwhile, other editors throw out prices. With each number comes a point of view, a value judgment about the worth of the car, the strength of the market, the great unknown of gas prices.
We've settled on a price and our ducks are nearly in a row. Before we break the unbearable tension, and name our price, does anyone else have an opinion? (That was a joke.)
Philip Reed, Edmunds senior consumer advice editor @ 58,805 miles
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
The Vette's Average Speed display can be cleared by pressing and holding the Reset button. And hopefully, at least a handful of times while with us, it has been. Otherwise, this slightly-faster-than-school-zone average MPH demands an awkward explanation.
Don't blame me though, friends. No, I whip the old SwissAmeriFranco snot out of this car every chance I get. Set the cruise control at 118, blasting Diamond Dave-era Halen and chain-smoking Gitanes down the length of the San Diego Freeway. And that's just on a weeknight. I really can't answer for my colleagues if they're driving the Z06 like the Leaf.
Damn Leaf - everyone trying to tow a rainforest behind their cars now...
Dan Frio, Automotive Editor
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Scott,
Can we keep it a little longer? At least until September? I'll wash it every week, promise.
Regards,
New Guy
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
A while back, the idea was tossed around about getting new wheels for our Z06. Though I'm certainly not opposed to replacing some Corvette's stockers (I never liked the wheels on the early C5s, for example), I never understood why some of my colleagues thought the Z06 could use different wheels. I think the O.E. jobs look great -- the thin, double-spoke design not only looks elegant but provides a proper sporting flavor by allowing the Corvette-branded, red brake calipers to be seen.
What say you? Would you be happy with these or would you have to go to the aftermarket?
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 58,647 miles
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
The sky is blue, water is wet, and yep, the Z06 is a hoot when you're leaning on it. Whether that means enjoying that bellowing, guttural exhaust while blasting up a few gears, giving it a hearty rev-matching blip while you grab a lower cog or taking advantage of a nearly deserted, increasing-radius on-ramp, it's all the same -- almost too much fun.
But ya know, the Z06 makes a fine day tripper ride too. Taking on L.A.'s "no-budget-for-road-maintenance", bombed-out streets (have you driven over La Cienega lately?!), this low-slung, performance-focused super 'vette doesn't beat you up but rather provides a surprisingly supple ride over the bumps and ruts. And once liberated from that crap, there's not much better on a warm SoCal day than a trip up and down the PCH, kicked back cruising in a Z06 with the windows down and a Beach Boys CD fittingly accompanied by the titanium exhaust's background track.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 58,600 miles.
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
The other day I left the office at a near-peak traffic hour, and as I trundled my way onto the congested highway I was kicking myself for making two grave mistakes: The first was my poorly-planned time to head home. The second was my car choice for the night, our 2002 Corvette Z06.
Probably not the best vehicle with which to be putt-putting between 0-20 mph, right?
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Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
New cars are our thing. We only delve into the used car world from time to time for something fun like a 1985 911, 1984 308 GTSi or in this case a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. So it isn't common that our registration renewals include a smog-test due notice. That's just what happened with the Z06. Do you think it passed?
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Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
I am one of those people who initially got all excited about the Toyota FT-86 and its Subaru twin. And when I drive our long-term Z06, I find myself wondering why. Why get all excited about a rear-drive sports coupe with a 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder that's sure to have all sorts of fuel efficiency measures built in? Why, when you could have something like this Corvette with its 405-hp 5.7-liter V8 for a good $5,000 less?
And I guess it comes down to packaging. I guess I want boring things like "+2" seating, a sedanish ride height, a less huge transmission tunnel and a trunk that's easy to open and load. I think these are the same reasons I'd be prepared to buy a Genesis Coupe over our Z06 (even though I greatly dislike the torque-reduction "feature" that kicks in on redline upshifts with the Hyundai's manual gearbox). In these moments, I realize I am boring. Do not make this mistake.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
So that's the way the IP of our 2002 Z06 looks when I'm behind the wheel. Because of the configurable digital display, I'm able to have the most comprehensive gauge gage cluster in the business.
Some of you may have already peed yourself having noticed that I do indeed drive with the active handling system switched off. That's right, off. Even in stop and go traffic. Why? Well, this is not the most sophisticated stability control system ever invented. It's certainly no match to the trick Performance Traction Management software that comes as part of the new ZR1.
While our Z06's system does give you a little leeway, when it does intervene, it abruptly chops the throttle and then leaves you without any throttle input for a few seconds, even after the ship has been righted - not the best when you'd rather just go home and change your shorts. Simply put, it's crude and I can do a better job of controlling the car in situations that I get myself into then it can.
As primal as this car is, it is not an F-22. It is not inherently unstable and you can drive it without any computer assistance. If you feel you can't, or don't see the point in ever turning it off, then perhaps you shouldn't buy a car like this.
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 58,302 miles
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
We dropped off our 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 to address the "service active handling" threat scrolling across the IP and asked for your diagnosis. From there the guesses came rolling in. They covered just about everything:
"Wheel speed sensor."
"EBCM module... $1500-$2200 at the dealer."
"Yaw sensor."
"Steering wheel position sensor."
"Battery acid on the ECU."
Our service advisor called us a few hours after we delivered the Z06. He explained, "We found fault code C1287, which is a problem with the steering position sensor. We checked for any shorts or bad grounds in that circuit. Everything looked good so we are going to replace the faulty sensor and clear the code. Your car will be ready to pick up tomorrow."
Did you call it? Well, pat yourself on the back.
Total Cost: $290.54
Days out of Service: 1
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 58,249 miles
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Well, this has been going on for some time now, and after driving it over the weekend, including 30 minutes in dark, rainy conditions, I'd had enough of the Service Active Handling warning message. Vehicle dictator, Mike Schmidt, charged me with dropping it off at Santa Monica Chevrolet, Infiniti, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Peugeot, Maserati, Skoda, ATS and whateverelsetheyservice, and I did just that.
Owing to personal experience with the exact same warning in another C5, I'm going to predict a wheel speed sensor. Any of you care to take a guess?
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 58,281 miles
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
In case you haven't heard, Riverside International Raceway closed in 1988. But don't worry, there is a museum (more on that later) that will give you an idea as to what the track was and what it meant to a generation of racers, worldwide.
Anyway, for the 140 mile round trip to and from the museum, I drew the Z06 card. As easy as it is to drive in stop and go traffic, it is just that much easier on an open highway. With the shorter gearing (shorter than your standard C5) sixth gear becomes a very usable overdrive gear; if you need more rapid acceleration, fourth gear is just two blips away.
As capable as these cars are on track, they are amazingly adept at eating up open highway.
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 58,230 miles
Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
After viewing Mr. Oldham's video in which our longterm 2002 Corvette Z06 flashed up two communiques, I became curious.
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Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Thanks to rayray633 for this week's favorite caption. Here are the others that made us giggle.
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Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06,Caption Contest
