Real question ...buy first year or wait a year for second year?

[JB]

i was all set to try and get a first year c8 but a good friend of mine really made some sense saying a second year will probably offer better long term ownership experience.

i tend to keep my cars for a long timeand i do prefer seamless ownership experiences within reason...

whats your take guys...rush to pickone of these up as they become available or wait the year...

in the end with the massive first year demand itll probably amount to just a few months of earlier ownership based off of previous generation releases...

just a surprising new persepctive i wasnt anticipating...

the price im confident is just five grand more than todays similiarly priced corvette...and i have the money laying around...

im just thinking holding off will end up costing me a few months difference in actual ownership time..

just a new topic to discuss...

i expect those on the waiting lists before me will push my delivery to late spring of 2020 where i could probably just order a second year c8 generation and get that probably 4 months later.?

[SheepDog]

i was all set to try and get a first year c8 but a good friend of mine really made some sense saying a second year will probably offer better long term ownership experience.

i tend to keep my cars for a long timeand i do prefer seamless ownership experiences within reason...

whats your take guys...rush to pickone of these up as they become available or wait the year...

in the end with the massive first year demand itll probably amount to just a few months of earlier ownership based off of previous generation releases...

just a surprising new persepctive i wasnt anticipating...

the price im confident is just five grand more than todays similiarly priced corvette...and i have the money laying around...

im just thinking holding off will end up costing me a few months difference in actual ownership time..

just a new topic to discuss...

i expect those on the waiting lists before me will push my delivery to late spring of 2020 where i could probably just order a second year c8 generation and get that probably 4 months later.?

The feedback from the experience of those who buy ahead of you and evolving information concerning the second year upgrades will take you to the right place as you wait and observe.

[capevettes]

The last time I jumped and bought a first year Corvette was in 2004. I bought a very early 2005 C6. The car was a complete disaster that GM eventually bought back. I won't make that mistake again. Besides, I would like the higher horsepower variant which will most likely appear in the second year of the ME. Patience is a virtue that I had a hard time developing. I am content to sit back and watch the first year cars as they get sorted out.

[Boomer]

The feedback from the experience of those who buy ahead of you and evolving information concerning the second year upgrades will take you to the right place as you wait and observe.

I agree except my observation time frame is from initial distribution to about Jan 2020 for a 2020 MY. Thats the way I did it with my 2014 C7. It was evident by then there were no major flaws with the C7. Never have had an issue with my 2014.

I feel no need to wait till second year since I'm not interested in the higher powered version and I will have sufficient time to get all the feedback I need from the early 2020 buyers.

[Busa Dave]

I will most likely be waiting for 3 years. Even if the HP version comes out in year 2 the well documented problems with the early Z06's have made me rethink this. GM is always under tremendous pressure to get something to market to begin the ROI and this time the 2nd year of production for the HP version is what I will be doing just to be on the safe side.

[John]

Good thread JB! All good points for waiting until year two. Common sense in lots of ways, and why previous to the ME, we always bought a year two of a gen.

But no more. We are going all in, and will hopefully get ours made in the first month of production. BTW, our C7 Z06 was made the first week of production and except for the two most minor or issues (less than 30 minutes to fix each one), the car has been flawless. Similarly, the number of posts of those who bought a 2014 C7 on Stingrayforums, and who have had flawless or near flawless cars since, is absolutely amazing.

Yes, statistically waiting makes sense, and even JD Power and Consumer reports use almost the same language, “we don;’t care if you are buying a Rolls Royce or similar, we recommend you wait until a second year of either a new generation or even a majorly changed model.” (Some slight paraphrasing in that quote,)

But for the ME, we are again jumping into the pool the day it is filled and our turn to dive in. Everyone’s points above are valid, but life is short and we will deal with the cards in the first hand. However, covering two bases, we are then planning to sell it as soon as the Z06 equivalent comes out..

[Frenzy36]

My thought is to purchase first year production and if another year is more appealing you can always sell it or trade it in. I will be using the first year as a driver and later model will be more of a show piece or special occasion.

[Sigmon]

Last two first year cars I bought, 2010 Camaro SS and 2015 Lexus RC, were two very different experiences. The Camaro had a few flaws, trim fell down in the interior, and the radio needed reprogramed, other than that, it has been a great car. The Lexus has been flawless, though it is mostly made out of parts and tech that they already had proven in other platforms. Personally, I'll be getting a second year, but my main reason for this is to get the higher horsepower version (Z06) .

[MidEngine]

I am getting a first year ME. Life is short, and looking at all the medical and other tragedies cutting too many lives way too short, going full speed ahead.

[Brian Kissel]

Once again, I'm with Busa Dave. I will be waiting until year 2 or 3 when the high HP variant comes out. Even thou like MidEngine states about the medical issues. Those I do have. But, I have the money stashed, so if I die before I get it my wife can use the cash to buy whatever she wants. I don't want to buy a early one just so I can say " Look what I have ".
Regards Brian

[JB]

I really havent decided yet...if the first year has around 500 hp and a dct, mrc amd z51and if the first year list calls my name then Ill make the choice right then and there...

lots of good points in this thread..i really dont know what Ill do when the call comes in to decide...we have too much time on our hands waiting..lol

as i turn 60 I remember back 30 years ago when my dad, a good friend and a guy who was never sick a day in his life died of bone camcer...

you guys who are getting the first year are correct..you never know when your number is called...and then again...first year of any manufacturer can have itsown set of adventures...

cant wait till january 14 th when supposedly the new c8 is offically shown and released...

i think one look and Ill know.

fun topic as we mull around as we wait for the official unveiling,,,

i just this past summer picked up a first year alfa romeo stelvio ti sport for the wife and it seems to be a very good car..and its an alfa romeo..lol but thats a three year lease so who cares...its always under warranty anyway..

no teething problems so far with this alfa so what must I have been thinking whwn i thought even for a minute gm would have any issues? Right. ?

60 or 70 days and counting ...we will see this beauty soon enough...

what do you guys think the basic lt1with 460 hp or an upgrade to closer to 500?

just shooting the breeze...

first year could be a winner!

[meyerweb]

Back in the 60s and 70s, buying a first year American car was almost guaranteed to be a decision you'd regret. I remember a Mercury my dad bought: part of the front bumper fell off as he drove off the dealers lot! And that was just the beginning. My dad later did some work for Ford, and mentioned his experience to a Ford exec. The Ford guy said, according to my dad: "That was the best car we ever made. All it needed to be perfect was a net underneath to catch all the parts that kept falling off."

But lately, all the manufacturers have gotten a lot better at build quality, and I don't worry about it as much.

BUT, the C8 really is a totally new car. Not just new parts, but a complete redesign of the concept. Different suspension design, new transmission, new assembly requirements, new electronics, axles, and more. A whole lot of new components that are significantly different than their predecessors. And it's the first ME design from the Corvette team, which means the potential for more miscues. There's going to be a significant learning curve for the line workers, even more so than going from the C6 to the C7, which were at least similar in concept and overall design.

For these reasons, I personally would be very hesitant to buy an early production C8. Let GM figure out where they missed the mark, and fix it in the 2nd year model.

[JB]

I know well respected friends say the sa,e thing...

c5 was fine on launch, c6 amd c7 ..nothing major that i can remember.

c8 will probably be fine...but second year often does have its benefits...

just depends on the mood at the time I guess

[Ssscooter66]

I am getting a first year ME. Life is short, and looking at all the medical and other tragedies cutting too many lives way too short, going full speed ahead.

IF possible I'll be doing the same as you, exactly for the same reasons ....

[MikeC8]

Bought the first C7 to hit the Atlanta streets. Drove it under 5000 miles and sold it and got my money back because it was still hot. Later picked up another C7 GS. Buying a first year model has its advantages. I think the C8 will be so hot you can probably get out in two years and still not lose a penny. Then move on to another edition of the C8. Like a GS. Done that with other brands also like the 05 Ford GT. Except on that one I got in during the financial crisis of 2009 and held it while it took off price wise.