[Stealthman]

I'm 45 and soon to be 46 and I love the new C7 but my wife hears the word "vette" and she automatically thinks 'mid life crisis'. I personally don't care about what other people think of me based on what I drive, but it would be helpful to have my wife on board. Perhaps getting her down to the dealership with me to see it in person, sit in it and drive it would change her mind!

Anyway, I know there is a thread about 'youngsters' buying the C7 -- but aren't us in the 40 - 50 age range perfect for this car and not in a mid-life crisis? LOL

 

[glen e]

I am 62 and bought my first vette. I never look at this as a mid life - or late life crisis...why?

It's not some psychological stage I'm in, that I think another material toy will satiate it...it's all about timing:

1. kids are gone - no need for family truckster anymore
2. wife has an 2014 X1 BMW for hauling me, her and stuff
3. I am in dead love with the corvette looks and love to mod it (my hobby)
4. it's a good car..period...
5. Like many, many others, I always wanted a vette since my teens. but it was never a luxury sports car as it is now...
6. and did I mention the drop dead looks of this car for 51 grand base?????

have little to no reason what others think of it...but when I do get with all my friends, they wholeheartedly approve, which is fun...

 

[scottsdaledave]

Im 45 tomorrow and this is my 4th corvette, and 2nd in household currently. Guys like performance cars. Next time she goes shopping for Louis Vetton purse or new shoes, ask if shes going through the same thing. LOL Or better yet, you get the vette and surprise her with new purse to match the car haha

 

[Stealthman]

Well put and agree!

 

[rdslon01]

Um, I am 38, my Dad passed away at 61, and my Mom at 75. Based on that, I am beyond mid-life.

Although I have wanted a 'vette since I was 15, I am now in a financial place where it will be no problem. Plus, the 2014 StingRay is just awesome! Lastly, I do think I am having what people refer to as a mid-life crisis. I admit it. However, what is the crime in that? I don't see how that makes me a bad person.

 

[mjw930]

It really depends on why you are buying the car. If you have no experience with sports or muscle cars your entire life and this is your first then while I may not call it a mid-life crisis the purchase is certainly motivated by something entirely different than someone who owned, rebuilt, raced and coveted sports cars their entire life.........

 

[Grandsport]

I buy the wife a new vehicle of her choice every 2 years.No problems for me when I get bored with my current vehicle and want a change.I think I had my "mid life crisis" when I was in my 30s.Boy the 80s were fun times lol

 

[rdslon01]

By the way, one of the things that helped with my wife was to ask her about her opinion on colors (interior and exterior). Ask "Do you like this or that better?" Keep it simple with just comparing two things, both of which you like. Then go with what she says. Also, take her to see the type of car she has already picked out for you. Then, the biggie is ask her if she thinks you should get an automatic so she can drive it, too (that is, if you are okay with either transmission, and if she cannot drive a manual). This last option for her picking the transmission may not be something you are willing to compromise on, but if it is, it can be the last step in getting her on board.

Yes, I could have bought it without her permission, but it is better to have the car PLUS peace with her, than to have the car and have to deal with unhappiness on her part (her unhappiness could later crop back up in unexpected and surprising ways even years later). My wife is a keeper, so I do want peace with her.

 

[mjw930]

It's interesting the perception people have based on the model car you are buying, not the cost or practicality, just based on the brand or model....

In 1984, at age 26 I bought a Porsche 944, people thought I was a spoiled rich kid, nothing could have been further from the truth. My car payment was more than my rent! I traded my '83 Z28 4 speed which no one had any snide remarks about.
In 1996, at age 38 I bought an LT4 Corvette, I got the "mid-life crisis" comment, never mind I traded a '94 Mustang Cobra heavily breathed on that again, no one had a remarks about.
In 1999, at age 41 I bought a 10 year old Porsche 930, I got the "we are paying you too much" comments from co-workers. Never mind it was less expensive than most of the Suburbans and Tahoes they were tooling around in.

Interestingly, over the last decade, no one makes any comment on what I drive or buy...... The funny thing is, those who know me simply ask, "So, what are you driving these days"?

 

[mjw930]

By the way, one of the things that helped with my wife was to ask her about her opinion on colors (interior and exterior). Ask "Do you like this or that better?" Keep it simple with just comparing two things, both of which you like. Then go with what she says. Also, take her to see the type of car she has already picked out for you. Then, the biggie is ask her if she thinks you should get an automatic so she can drive it, too (that is, if you are okay with either transmission, and if she cannot drive a manual). This last option for her picking the transmission may not be something you are willing to compromise on, but if it is, it can be the last step in getting her on board.

Yes, I could have bought it without her permission, but it is better to have the car PLUS peace with her, than to have the car and have to deal with unhappiness on her part (her unhappiness could later crop back up in unexpected and surprising ways even years later). My wife is a keeper, so I do want peace with her.

I'm extremely lucky, my wife is as much of a gear head as I am. It's usually not a question of if but of when.........

 

[rdslon01]

I buy the wife a new vehicle of her choice every 2 years.No problems for me when I get bored with my current vehicle and want a change.I think I had my "mid life crisis" when I was in my 30s.Boy the 80s were fun times lol

Oh, that is another good one. My wife got a 2014 Cadillac a few months ago.

 

[Davez51]

I bought a new 2001 Plymouth Prowler in the fall of 2001...that was over 12 years ago.
I'm selling it and getting a 2014 LT3 Z51....life is too short not to enjoy yourself.....
The fun will be trying to teach my wife how to drive a stick.

She drove the Prowler after I put Zex Nitrous in it....she nailed it and the front end lifted and she said "Wow, this is my kind of car"...I have it on video.

Can't wait till she nails this one!

 

[rdslon01]

I bought a new 2001 Plymouth Prowler in the fall of 2001...that was over 12 years ago.
I'm selling it and getting a 2014 LT3 Z51....life is too short not to enjoy yourself.....
The fun will be trying to teach my wife how to drive a stick.

She drove the Prowler after I put Zex Nitrous in it....she nailed it and the front end lifted and she said "Wow, this is my kind of car"...I have it on video.

Can't wait till she nails this one!

LOL you should post a link to the video.

Apparently my wife's Dad tried to teach her how to drive a manual when she was a teenager. It didn't work out to be of help now.

 

[Joeguzski]

By the way, one of the things that helped with my wife was to ask her about her opinion on colors (interior and exterior). Ask "Do you like this or that better?" Keep it simple with just comparing two things, both of which you like. Then go with what she says. Also, take her to see the type of car she has already picked out for you. Then, the biggie is ask her if she thinks you should get an automatic so she can drive it, too (that is, if you are okay with either transmission, and if she cannot drive a manual). This last option for her picking the transmission may not be something you are willing to compromise on, but if it is, it can be the last step in getting her on board.

Yes, I could have bought it without her permission, but it is better to have the car PLUS peace with her, than to have the car and have to deal with unhappiness on her part (her unhappiness could later crop back up in unexpected and surprising ways even years later). My wife is a keeper, so I do want peace with her.

If my better half is happy, then I am happy. She loves her 2013 BMW i28 convertible. Just ordered my Laguna blue convertible with an automatic, just in case she wanted to drive it. Give a little and I get to buy a new Stingray!

 

[Georgio51]

Have her appraised at the dealership. Consider a trade-in.

Sorry, couldn't help myself!

 

[Stealthman]

Hahha...nice one Georgio51!

 

[rdslon01]

If my better half is happy, then I am happy. She loves her 2013 BMW i28 convertible. Just ordered my Laguna blue convertible with an automatic, just in case she wanted to drive it. Give a little and I get to buy a new Stingray!

Yeah, there is probably enough material for a new thread with 5 pages on automatic versus manual transmissions. With new automatics being capable of essentially the same performance as manuals, the only reasons, in my opinion, for the manual are that it makes you feel more a part of the car, and because that is the way "it is supposed to be".

On the other hand, with an automatic my wife can drive it if she needs to.

By the way, at the local large dealership the sales guy said the take rate on the automatic was about 5% for them so far. He said they were expecting 40% or less, but that they were shocked at just how few automatics have sold so far.

 

[Texas2Gun]

Rules #1 - Always marry a woman that loves cars as much as you do. Of course it took me a few to get it right!

 

[mjw930]

Rules #1 - Always marry a woman that loves cars as much as you do. Of course it took me a few to get it right!

Luckily I didn't have to make more than one try but it took 40 years to find her

 

[mjw930]

Yeah, there is probably enough material for a new thread with 5 pages on automatic versus manual transmissions. With new automatics being capable of essentially the same performance as manuals, the only reasons, in my opinion, for the manual are that it makes you feel more a part of the car, and because that is the way "it is supposed to be".

On the other hand, with an automatic my wife can drive it if she needs to.

By the way, at the local large dealership the sales guy said the take rate on the automatic was about 5% for them so far. He said they were expecting 40% or less, but that they were shocked at just how few automatics have sold so far.

When I married my wife she didn't know how to drive a manual but she wanted a Porsche in the worst way. Being the purist and remembering this was long before the current crop of DCT's and lighting quick computer controlled boxes you simply didn't demean a Porsche with an automatic. Sure, they built them but the take rate was about 10% worldwide. I made her a deal, learn to drive a manual and when the time is right I'll sell my 930 and get a newer ragtop Porsche.

To force the issue she actually went out and bought a VW GTI with a manual trans. I had to drive the car home from the dealer, she hadn't learned how to drive it yet. After about 2 weeks starting on a large parking lot and ending with a drive through rush hour traffic she felt comfortable enough to make it her daily driver. 2 years later we bought the Boxster S she was drooling over and she's never looked back.

When I asked her about whether I should get the 7 speed or A6 she just gave me a look and parroted the comment I made to her all those years ago. "True sports cars have manual transmissions".

(However, if they offered a DCT in the C7 it would be a very, very difficult decision)