Should I get the 430, or a 12 year old chevette ;)?

In the spirit of other threads on here, I post this question. I am sure lots of serious buyers on here are asking themselves the same question...

Now, I can get both tommorrow. I have this friend of a friend thats a dealer, and he can get me a 430 spider for sticker tommorow. I have bought over 16 ferraris in the last 6 months alone (most parked in my mom's garage), and am a preferred customer. I also have a Centurion Black Card, a lear jet, and a ocean front house.

I plan to finance using my home equity line, and put the balance on my visa cheque card. If I have to, I will sell the jet, and my ownership interest in the New York Yankees, or I can just borrow the money from mom.

Now, on to the important stuff, how do these cars compare?

The Chevy has hit its dereciation plateau, so its looking pretty good. Its 5 year majors are only 16$, and the vinyl interior durable. When I deliver papers in the morning (just for fun), do the windows roll down? How is the mileage? I am only considering mint cars, with full service history, and from a Chevy Dealer only. I only want the best. I had this car on my wall as a teen, and I have always wanted one.

But, my heart is torn. Part of me wants the f430. Is it really better than the chevette? How does it handle? Can I find a blue/yellow one with pink stripping and the carbon fiber option.

I plan to track both cars. Does that make a difference? Which is faster?

Will the chevette help me get laid?

What kind of trunk space does the 430 have?

Whats the towing capacity of the 430?

Does it float?

Does either require premium?

Which will be worth more in 5 years?

Guys, I'm really torn. Help me make up my mind...

 

Those are indeed serious questions but you are probably better off posting them in the Chevette section. That's where all the Chevette guys hang out.

 

Depends on whether the Chevette is a Bicentennial edition or not. That red, white, and blue interior really set it above the average car. I can also just about guarantee there are more 430's than surviving Bicentennial Chevettes, so don't forget about the certain appreciation of such a rare vehicle.

 

Consider which one will look best parked in front of your ocean front house in the Wisconsin/Chicago area.

 

Chevettes are under appreciated and often get ragged on by those who don't know or have 'heard' about their friends grandma's cousin's dog who had problems.

I say get the Chev'

 

You certainly should go for the Ferrari. After all, without your own private island, the Chevette is above your current station in life. Unlike FerrariChat, where anyone with a Lear jet and a mother is welcome, you will be rebuffed on the Chevette boards without proper housing.

 

What do you do for a living???

 

Put a tow hitch on the back of the 430 and drag the chevette behind you for emergencies. F-car breaks? No problem, hop in ol' reliable (The Chevette has to have a nickname) and keep on truckin'.

Best of both worlds, don't you think?

Oh, and hey, how much money do you have that you can afford two such fine automobiles, the best the '70's had to offer, and the best of '06.

DM

 

Are you going to need to sell $300,000 worth of jewelry to pay for this first though? If you are, I will need to first see some camera-phone pictures before I buy them.

Peter

 

Chevettes rule! By the way, does anyone know where I can get a lift kit for my TR?

 

I appreciate the posts, but I need to hear from real owners of a chevette, not wanna-be owners .

So, who has owned both? Is it true that the chevette can blow a trans if I pop the clutch? I heard its like 3$ for the ring and pinion, whole new trans for 45$. How does that compare to the ferrari?

Is the chevette faster around the track? Is there a CS version, with carbon fiber mudflaps?

 

My high school French teacher had a Chevette Scooter edition (like a Stradale), so I'd consider myself knowledgeable. This had the special wheels that are corrosion-proof except in moisture.

Definitely get a PPI, but these cars were engineered. Louis Chevrolet was a Swiss racing driver - 'nuff said.

Watch for dash leather shrinkage. If you put your wallet up there and leave it in the sun, it can sometimes get smaller. Owners recommend covering it with the title for the car for shade.

This one looks good, except the guy's mom may have tampered with the odometer. Worth a look:

http://www.chevettes.com/showinfo.php?section=na&infoid=37
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I have a Chevette replica, based on a Fiero, that I keep at my house in Monte Carlo. Its nice to be able to fit in with the locals without having to worry about maintanence problems associated with Chevettes.

 

Good thinking. However, if you drop the 430 engine and drivetrain into the Chevette replica, you'll have looks AND performance!

 

LOL.....Bo you crack me up sometimes !!

 

6 speed or F1?

 

PERFECT!! Brian you crack me up.

 

I'd go with the Chevette, but only if you get it with the carbon fibre hood. And a hood scoop.

A stock Chevette doesn't handle quite as well as the 430, but cut three inches off each spring and they'll be equal. What about the leaf springs? Cut three inches off them too.

 

I hear a major/belt change on a Chevette can run anywhere from $1.00 -$3.00 and you have to do it every 3yrs. or 15,000 miles, whichever comes first......pretty scary!
And those Chevette snobs are always taking shots at our cars on Fchat with their superiority comments.

 

Ahhh... reminds me of an old Fchat joke from the past:

Realistically, how fast is the Chevette?

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95018&highlight=realistically

 

Well that's just because Car & Driver reported a slightly better 0-60 time for the Chevette. Don't believe it for a moment. The factory sent out a souped up version of the Chevette for sure. Road & Track tested both cars on two different tracks and two different drivers, and the 430 clearly had the edge.

 

I wouldn't buy a Chevette unless Jim Cramer recommended it. That guys knows everything.

 

Does anybody have any sound clips of a Chevette with a Tubi vs. a Capristo?

 

They didn't do that.

The Chevette left the factory with a carefully tuned exhaust to maximize performance. Actually, to this day, original equiptment Chevettes fetch a premium on the market over aftermarket "tuner" 'vettes.

DM

 

The car in the photo needs hydraulic shocks and narrower white wall tires, plus a fuzzy lime green dash pad and a bunch of other things. Deduct 90% from it's value...