As the last front-engine Corvette ever made and the last with a manual, the staying power of the C7 Corvette has been remarkable. But there are still deals out there! Sure, the miles may be higher, and/or the history may have some dings, but there are good-looking examples out there if you are looking to upgrade to the features a seventh-generation offers us enthusiasts. [Author’s Note: This article is FREE and not behind a paywall. If/when any popups occur, please click to make them disappear and continue enjoying the article.]
Before we jump into the top five C7s available at or under $30,000, CorvSport’s founder and contributor Scott Kolecki recently did an excellent piece on the staying power of the C7 Corvette.
The Staying Power of the Seventh-Generation Corvette Stingray
Who Knew the C7 Would Depreciate Slower Than Its Mid-Engine Successor?
“When it comes to the Corvette, history has often proved two things: 1.) When a new-generation is announced and later, made available to consumers, an influx of used Corvettes from the earlier generations become available in the used car market. 2.) Those used Corvettes regularly depreciate rapidly in value, affording second-hand consumers the opportunity to purchase an older Corvette well below its former market value. This combination 1-2 punch of market saturation driving rapid depreciation has caused many naysayers to argue that Corvettes simply do not hold their value, and/or, they were never worth the premium, new car prices charged by Chevrolet in the first place.
In recent years however, it appears as though the script has flipped a bit when it comes to the staying power and fair market value of seventh-generation (2014-2019) Corvette Stingrays, along with its Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1 counterparts. Although market demand for the mid-engine C8 Corvette is undeniable, the staying power, price, and consumer preference of the C7 Corvette is beginning to demonstrate that new isn’t always better. In fact, there is more than a small divide amongst Corvette enthusiasts as to which Corvette – the C7 or the C8 – is the superior sports car. In terms of depreciation, the financial analysis report (below) demonstrates with certainty that the C8’s value is falling far more quickly than the older, seventh-generation model…” Continue Reading or Save For Later
Now, without further ado, here are the top five C7 Corvettes we found for a $30,000 budget.
#5
2014 Corvette Stingray 3LT Convertible
72,514 Miles
Asking Price: $29,995
Title Status: Clean/non-branded (structural damage reported on Carfax)
Number Of Owners: 2
Number Of Accidents: 2
Offered By: Dealer
Listed At: Autotrader
Deeper Dive: Click here for the full listing (Note: We have no affiliation with this seller. All images and information are credited to Autotrader.)
#4
2016 Corvette Stingray 1LT Coupe
99,000 Miles
Asking Price: $29,500
Title Status: Indicated as clean
Number Of Owners: Undeterminable (no VIN provided)
Number Of Accidents: Undeterminable
Offered By: Private Party
Listed At: Facebook
Deeper Dive: Click here for the full listing (Note: We have no affiliation with this seller. All images and information are credited to Facebook.)
#3
2014 Corvette Stingray 2LT Convertible
74,882 Miles
Asking Price: $29,395
Title Status: Clean
Number Of Owners: 3
Number Of Accidents: 1
Offered By: Dealer
Listed At: Autotrader
Deeper Dive: Click here for the full listing (Note: We have no affiliation with this seller. All images and information are credited to Autotrader.)
#2
2014 Corvette Stingray 1LT Coupe
71,428 Miles
Asking Price: $28,994
Title Status: Clean
Number Of Owners: 2
Number Of Accidents: 0
Offered By: Dealer
Listed At: Autotrader
Deeper Dive: Click here for the full listing (Note: We have no affiliation with this seller. All images and information are credited to Autotrader.)
#1
2014 Corvette Stingray 3LT Coupe
58,265 Miles
Asking Price: $27,980
Title Status: Branded, Buyback/lemon
Number Of Owners: 2
Number Of Accidents: 0
Offered By: Dealer
Listed At: Autotrader
Deeper Dive: Click here for the full listing (Note: We have no affiliation with this seller. All images and information are credited to Autotrader.)
As always, thanks for joining CorvSport today! Would you pull the trigger on any of these C7s? If you want to keep up to date with all the fresh Corvette news and maintain a pulse on the lifestyle and culture of this exciting, iconic brand, CorvSport has the fastest-growing Corvette community on our Facebook page, with over 172,000 followers (53,000 since January 2023!). Come join other hardcore enthusiasts and say hello. This is Douglas B. signing off–click here if you would like to see more of my features.
