Hello everyone. It’s been awhile since I last posted. So, I have a question for you, and as for answers, whatever info you reply with is appreciated. I have done my research, however, your opinions and experiences are also important.
I am looking at choosing between the following cars:
C8 Corvette Z51
BMW M4 Competition X-Drive
Toyota Supra
Ford Shelby GT-350 or GT-500 (If Ford actually brings them back)
Dodge Viper (If Dodge actually brings it back)
At least for me, these above vehicles, offer incredible performance for the price. The performance numbers and handling capabilities I am familiar with. What I am hoping for from you is what car you would choose and why? If you have or have had one of these cars what did you and didn’t you like about it.
There is not one vehicle on your list that I would ask anyone else if I should buy it. I know what I like, what I can afford, what meets my needs in a vehicle .
Sorry, but I have a little trouble taking you serious since you just recently bought a vehicle and if you trade or sell you will take a bath on the price,
Wow, I guess it is a good thing that Car Talk was not around many decades ago, and John Force, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Danica Patrick, Mario Andretti, etc etc etc etc, never came on here when looking for a performance vehicle when they were still young, I mean all of them sure did waste their life on this stupid performance vehicle thing that most on here think is stupid…
I guess Mustangman should also takes y’alls advise and sell his street/track car and buy an Accord???
I’d go for the C8. Assuming you get similar enjoyment from driving them, the Corvette is about $9000 less MSRP in 1LT trim. The Stingray will cost less to maintain too. Edmunds True Cost to Own estimates the Corvette will cost $9800 over 5 years to maintain while the M4 will cost about $15,500. I used MY2022 to factor out free maintenance on a new BMW.
I’d LOVE to get one, but a fully restored one (correctly) is NOT cheap. I would like a retromod one (NOT STOCK). One in good condition is $150k and up. I’ve seen them as high as $250k.
Not a fan of the C8 vette. #1 - The design is more like a Lamborghini then a traditional Vette. #2 - Can’t get a manual. That’s the main reason I bought my C7 vette. There are C7 vettes (2014 - 2019) with low mileage for under $70k.
They brought it back once already and it was a disaster. Doubt it’ll ever be reintroduced. Right now Chryco is just trying to stay afloat.
The C8 as a track car means you will need some pricy service. I think the jury is still out on the reliability of a C8 as a track car and I noticve it is the only mid-engine car you listed. I have a buddy that owned a C8 alongside his 175,000 mile C6 Z06. Yeah, you read that right, 175K! Its been his track car since new and it has been very reliable - and very fast (I’ve driven it!) He sold the C8 - did not like it and the local service techs around us were not up on the car.
Stay away from the BMW. Even more expensive service than the C8 and not as good a track car as the M1.
Supra - wow, just ugly as heck! Probably make a decent, reliable track car.
Ford GT350 or 500. I have a friend that tracks his older GT500 and likes it quite a lot. Loaded with coolers, brakes and tires so it makes a good track car - for someone who knows what they are doing!!! That is a LOT of horsepower that can get you into serious trouble, seriously quickly. The 350 is a better choice…all the coolers and tires, with a bit less speed. The GT350s with the flat plane crank were not reliable so Ford quit making the engine and current GT350 owners have to switch to a cross-plane crank engine if theirs break. I track a ‘21 Mach 1 and I can say it is FAST and it has all the coolers to keep things happy. My previous Mustang track car was quite reliable. I always drove it home from a track day.
Dodge Viper??? I wouldn’t touch one with YOUR 10 foot pole!
Additionally, Stellantis’s Owner Satisfaction numbers are in the toilet.
It would appear that many owners of Stellantis products would not buy another one.
I will NEVER put my C7 on a track. I see the C8’s all the time around here. We happen to have the LARGEST Corvette dealer in the world in Nashua NH (go figure). People all over the US buy their Corvette from them. But you may have to wait 1-2 years.
So far, the service on my C8 is minimal. Able to do everything myself except wheel alignment. The engine air filter is a royal pain.
It is certainly capable of track days and what the Corvette engineers designed it for.
The old meme for Corvettes is the first owner puts more coats of wax on the car than miles. The second owner (you, if I remember correctly) actually enjoys the car and puts miles on it. It is the THIRD owner that thrashes the car…. autocrosses, dragstrips and track days.
The Corvette clubs around the country reflect all 3 sets of owners. The Dayton Ohio club were waxers when I owned my ‘84. The Troy Ohio club were the thrashers. The clubs in SW Florida all tend toward waxers.
The car was designed to do all those things well or exceptionally well. Plus there are options that make the car even more capable as a track car… Z51 suspension, Z06, ZR1 and so on.
So drive on and enjoy that C7 the way you want to!
5,000 miles a year is my goal for the Vette. Can only drive it 6 months a year anyways. And from what I’ve seen - 5,000 miles annually are considered a lot.
If I was on the market today for a sports car, I would get a cheap FRS and fix it up. I never owened one before but I believe it would be a good mix between performance and street legality and practicality, whilst being very affordable.