Riding Dirty

One thing I've enjoyed with my 2007 C6 is the relative low cost of maintenance. I use it as a daily driver. Current mileage 71,000. In the six years I've owned it, I've replaced the tires twice and the brake pads twice. The rotors have not needed changing. Other than that, it's been oil changes, wiper blades etc. The second set of tires were just done last month, so, probably good to almost 100,000 mile. On long trips I average 29-30 mpg on the highway. It's practically an economy car.

Has anyone figured out the cost of normal maintenance on a Z51 vs non-Z51? I've heard that the Z51 brake pads and rotors would likely need changing every 10,000 - 15,000 miles. And that the brake components will be expensive. Also, tire life and cost?

As a daily driver, what would the cost of normal maintenance be over say 100,000 miles? Z51 vs non-Z51.

From what I've heard, the eLSD makes a big difference in the cornering. Unfortunately, the eLSD is only available on the Z51. I'm wondering if a base C7 with eLSD would make for a good daily driver? Considering the current backlog for Z51's, due to parts shortages, perhaps a few more options, like eLSD, for the base car would make it more attractive and get more cars made and sold quicker.

direct007

I have the same concerns as well as tire life. I remember reading that people were going through sets of tires every 15,000 miles or less with the upgraded suspension on the C6. Meanwhile, I'm getting 40,000 miles per set on my daily driver with magnetic ride control.

Mike Campbell

You cannot get the eLSD in the "base" car. As far as I've read the "base" will allegedly perform as well or slightly better than the present C6 Grand Sport. Well, I'm waiting for someone to take a "base" out & see how quick it is ,especially the A6 version. From what I can glean the "base" with the 1LT interior most likely will be quicker than a Z51 equipped the same mainly due to the weight difference. All I can do is wait & see until those results come out.

JRBurn

I think the rotors and the ceramic brakes on the Z51 will wear faster than on the non Z51

rsl2715

Very good question.I have a C-5 now with 327,567 miles on it. My daily driver for the past 14yrs.I have ordered C-7 Z-51.Will put about 12,000 miles on this one retired now.I hope to get 50,000 miles on the tires, brakes and rotors. "No track runs".

JerriVette

Wow! My hats off to you sir...

The difference in cost on the z51 is minimal considering the performance potie tial.

Oil changes, brake pads and tire cost differential is minimal ...

Get the car you desire. If you can afford the car....the cost differential is in my opinion worth the difference.

If it isn't then enjoy your choice.

Edit: tires every 15 to 20 k miles
Brakes: every 50k miles
Oil changes every 8k miles

drivestwin

One thing I have been wondering....

What about when the eLSD goes out after warranty....How much will that cost?

Some of you will probably brush this off as no big deal but as a C5 owner who just had a Mag shock just go bad on the '04....trust me, when all this stuff goes bad, it can be really expensive.

MitchAlsup

These costs are almost completely dependent on the way you drive the car.

Go to the track and you can expect to change pads and rotors regularly. Go to the strip and you can expect to change rear tires regularly. Drive sedately down the hiway and you can expenct brake pads to last 100,000 miles. Agressive backroad driving might see 10-15,000 miles on the pads. It IS up to you.

Oshuwah

Dude you are my hero.

I drive 25k miles per year and cols my C6 w/76 k miles due to long term cost concerns. I am now considering going back to a vette as a DD instead of a garage queen.

v26278

This. How you drive. I cant speak for the C7, but I just replaced pads & rotors on my C6 w/Z51 after 25K miles of stop and go daily city driving and regular weekend day trips out through mountainous terrain, with lots of spirited driving. Z51 brakes are bigger and I would expect them to actually outlast the standard equipment for any given driving style.

SCM_Crash

I think the major cost is the extra oil and everything else is the same. So I'd assume over 100K miles you're adding about 3 qts more oil every 7K miles.

So...
15 total oil changes
$6/qt
15 * 3 * 6 = $270

And there you have it.

musclecar6

For many of us, who use our vettes as daily drivers. Z51, Mag Ride, NPP are must haves. Don't worry about the possible small extra costs, they'll be well worth it. OTOH, if you tend to be a super thrifty type worried about the very reasonable up front cost and possible replacement cost way down the road of mag shocks, Z51 lower tire life, maybe higher cost of E LSD replacement etc, then you may be better off going with the base vette. Won't have as many nice features, but think of all the money you might save. Just a matter of priorities to you.

AORoads

I think the above post on costs by muscle is reasonable. Usually, every addition of some component adds complexity and potentially cost if you own it long enough for repair/replacement. But almost all these components of Z51,* plus other options on top of that, are not five-figure repair/replacement. Only a buyer can decide if they're willing to put up with the potential cost of owning an "option" by either setting aside the money or having it to spend whenever it might happen to break.

*can't think of one actually that is $10K.

runutzzzzz

Oil changes for the first two years are Free so it's actually less than that!

It's cheaper just to buy a new car every 1-2 years, that way you don't have to do any maintenance! LOL

keenanj

It is it your daily driver do yourself a favor and get the base tires and brakes will last longer and you get a softer better ride for long distances and you save money on purchase price and depreciation.

also the base car should be faster top end and 0-60 since you don't need a shift to third and it weighs 200 pounds less then a Z51 this is the reason why you don't see base test results.

read this c7 reviews on the z51 vs base
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...rst-drive.html


z51 is great for a track day car but few will ever see the track.

Also the performance traction management is for track use only according to GM so why spend the extra cash for a street car?

I was super happy with my c6 base tires and brakes lasted 17k miles and it was faster and more fun to drive than a grand sport on the street.

rcooper

Based on my '09 cost to own, 60,000 miles, third set of tires, dd and some fun runs in the hill country, I am still on the original rotors and pads. This is a Z51 car, and I am very pleased with the cost to own, with the new C7 it is a guess as to cost to own, as no one has put enough miles on one yet but my guess is that if you don't flog it every time you get in it the cost won't be much more than a non Z51. But I would not buy a Corvette without Z51 on it, my last 4 have had the Z51 package and I have never regretted it.

musclecar6

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...rst-drive.html

This write up is likely accurate if the writer is referring to a Z51 car without mag ride as being harsh and unforgiving for a Monterrey to Chicago trip. If OTOH if he says the Z51 with mag ride is too rough, based on reports from new owners and others, sounds like he's maybe full of s--t.

keenanj

The car was mag ride equipped with PTM.

vetteLT193

Even if you get the Z51 and the car eats pads in 10k miles you can change them to a longer life pad at that point (i.e. the standard pads) and call it a day. So at most you are talking one extra set of pads over a standard model.

keenanj

I think the biggest COO is the initial $2,800 for Z51 + $1,795 for mag ride + tire replacement $1,500 per set.

And then you are lugging around another 200 pounds on the street. There is no reason for dry sump if you are not on a track :-}

If you think you will be on the track ever week by all means it turns great numbers otherwise pocket the money you wont get it back at at resale time.