You may have had a nice experience with the Z06 but you will never see an S2000 depreciate $12000+ in just one year.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fanman
[B]Well, if you think a S2000 & $7K will get you a turbo S2000 that would put you in the mid 12's.

 

Paul, have you ever driven or considered FI for your S2k? I'd be curious to hear your observations compared with the Z06.

 

so what?
so you buy it slightly used.
$12000 depreciation in a year is 24% on a $51k car
my car was bought at MSRP, with hardtop for around $36k.
I tried to sell it and couldn't get anymore then $28.5 for it, it is 1 1/2 years old.
$7.5k on 36k is 21%....not that much different.

 

Nice timeslip. That 60' time is unreal...WOW ! I have heard air intake can add 25 hp to the Z06 (They dynoed a K&N kit for the regular C5 at 21 hp on Shadetree Mechanic). I'm wondering how the rags are getting 12.5-12.85 for the car ? Is it really that hard to launch that people are getting that much disparity.

 

Well, two points: First, you usually figure depreciation as a percentage of original cost, not as an absolute number. Secondly, Chevy offered some heavy incentives on the '02's, as they offered $2002 off for quite a while, coupled with dealers offering heavier discounts on them then most dealers would do on an S2000 *and* great financing packages worth thousands. Taking these factors into account, the depreciation is within spitting distance of the S2000.

Now if you paid full price, got no rebate, and sold a year later for $38,000 you would have taken a beating. Just like those who paid $5,000 over for an original '00 S2000 that might now be worth say $26,000.

 

I've considered that option. No, I've never driven a turbo/supercharged S2000.

My main concern are twofold:

1. I want a car that runs without constant tinkering and reliable enough to run multiple hours on the track without anything melting/burning/breaking. I'm not convinced that an aftermarket supercharger or turbocharger with a semi-piggyback ecu on a high compression motor will give me that result.

2. Highly modified cars usually are very tough to sell, with little credit for the cost of the modifications. Putting $5,000+ into say a Vortech supercharger will yield the pleasure of driving it, but not much if I decide to sell a year down the road. On the other hand, if I bought a used Z06 for under $40K, it would likely not depreciate more than another few thousand a year, especially if they really quit making them after '03 as everyone says they will.

All of this is just theoretical at this point. I'm not sure I want to put another $12-15K into *anything* right now considering how terrible the economy is... but I've now had the S2000 for a little over two years and I'm just jonesing for a new toy!

 

Pfb,

You must be a really smart guy, b/c your thoughts mirror my own.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pfb
[B]

I've considered that option. No, I've never driven a turbo/supercharged S2000.

 

I can believe a Z06 with stock pads/fluid would cook the brakes, but they are not known for engine cooling issues...

Now the Viper, that's another story!