Bang for the Buck Thread

[Bob]

In light of the Integra Type R I recently saw going for over $30k in a bringatrailer.com auction, I decided to create a thread for used car deals that offer excellent bang for the buck. To kick it off, I would like to present this C5 Z06:

This is probably the cheapest non-salvage title Z06 I have seen. High mileage, but I challenge you to find a better overall performance car for under $15k.

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5671977436.html

[kevm14]

That is crazy. Easy mid-12 second 1/4 miles for $15k (maybe even a 12.3 @ 116). Good mpg. Reliable/durable. Almost unlimited aftermarket options. It is very hard to argue with that.

Similar performance envelope as a brand new $40k Camaro SS. And still 500 lbs lighter!

The Z06 may not be communicative like the Elise, but it does have that 90s raw feel to it that later cars have largely abandoned. Edmunds covered it well on their 2002 long termer many years back.

[kevm14]

I just noticed this one has a few tasteful bolt-ons. So it will handle better than stock and be a bit faster than stock. Maybe even a 12.0 @ 118 or something. Or a high 11 on DRs. For $15k and it's not a German POS or whatever.

Honestly if you look up the value for the mileage, this one may even be $1 or $2k over book. But it seems very clean. Actually it's probably priced right as a 2002. I'd stand by 1-2k if it was a 2001.

[Bob]

I think book can get a little squirrely with rare-ish cars, and with high mileage stuff where the mileage is outside of the range of most of the cars currently available (extrapolation-based valuation is a dangerous thing sometimes). With all that being said, this is the cheapest non-salvage C5 Z06 I have ever seen advertised.

[bill25]

Powertrain Pontiac GTO
power, bhp @ rpm 400 @ 6000
torque, lb-ft @ rpm 400 @ 4400

lb per bhp 9.5
0–60 mph 4.8
0–100 mph 11.7
0–130 mph 19.6
1/4-mile 13.3 @ 107

Z06:
Displacement:
Power: 405 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 400 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
Zero to 60 mph: 3.9 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 12.4 sec @ 116 mph

Sure the Z06 wins to 60 but look at the 0-100... Interesting.

http://southcoast.craigslist.org/cto/5669847157.html

$13,200 with 39K miles.

[bill25]

That GTO is a deal. This Cayman S is almost the same for specs and going for 26K vice 13K
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... de1=CAYMAN

And that is one of the cheapest Cayman S's within 500 miles

06 Cayman S:
0–60 mph 4.8
0–100 mph 11.4
1/4-mile 13.3 @ 107

[Bob]

Having driven both the GTO and Cayman S, I can say they are entirely different animals. The GTO weighs about 800 lbs more than the Cayman and isn't mid engine. As far as driving dynamics for the buck goes, I think the Cayman ranks pretty well, although I think it still has a tendency to feel a bit sterile compared to the Elise.

[Bob]

Another low dollar 2002 Z06: http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5678671497.html

[kevm14]

Sure the Z06 wins to 60 but look at the 0-100... Interesting.

Huh? You have the 1/4 mile in the 0-100 for the Z06. Not sure what I am looking at. Anyway, the trap speed is nearly 10 mph faster on the Z06. It will run away from the GTO at any speed.

[kevm14]

Another low dollar 2002 Z06: http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5678671497.html

Which matches both my expectations: you can get these under $20k without finding a needle in a haystack and also that the newer Corvettes are driving resale down. C7 Z06 could drive C6 Z06 resale down, and thus that drives down C5 Z06. The thing is, the C5 Z06 is in a very special price category and is also a very simple car by comparison. No blower, no LS7 valve train issues, no nonsense.