No breakdowns.....
Does your vette
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 64
From: Bocabec, New Brunswick
Had my '78 since '78 and never had to have it towed. Came close a couple of times though, once when a heater hose burst one dark and foggy night but an old rag and some ditch water got me home, second time it wouldn't start in a mall parking lot, this time some well placed taps to the ground wire connection on the frame and I was on my way.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 2
From: Sherwood Park AB
I bought it, drove it 3000 km including ice and snow. No problems. I started rebuilding it and I basically haven't driven it since... Oh wait, I took it to the drag strip in 2005 and made one pass after burning the clutch. It hasn't left the garage since.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 713
Likes: 1
From: plymouth mass
I have owned mine since 1984. The car hasn't broken down on the road yet. But, I must admit the car lives a very sedate life. I have tried to treat the car like a over thirty year old car should be treated. It has only been rained on once since I have owned it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
Anything I've spent on my Vette thus far (2.5 years of ownership) is for tweaking the carb or replacing consumables. It's never stranded me and has always been ready when I decide to drive it. Now that I've said that, I've probably pissed off the car gods.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 13
From: Kingman AZ
The reason I posted was that we always here our forum friends asking for advice on repairs and such that it sould like a lot of vehicles are hurting all the time. Since we dont post the good stuff, I wanted to determine was if vettes in general (c-3's) are dependable or not. After all the posts I would have to say the vette all in all is in fact a dependable vehicle with decent maintainance
SO I also am a hardly at all !!
SO I also am a hardly at all !!
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Vero Beach Florida
I've had my '81 since July. Wife, daughter and myself have added 3,000 more miles to the odometer since - no trouble. Engine starts (auto choke and all) first try every time. 
I'm thinking a high percentage of folks asking for help on the Forum have just bought another C3 and are trying to undo years of neglect (or re-doing Bubba's work) and will soon have a dependable ride.
Alan K.
I'm thinking a high percentage of folks asking for help on the Forum have just bought another C3 and are trying to undo years of neglect (or re-doing Bubba's work) and will soon have a dependable ride.
Alan K.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
I had to think about this. In 7 Corvettes over the part 25 years I have been fortunate with dependability. I can recall a rear wheel bearing going out and the car (a '79) limped home in San Diego. I have never had one break down needing to be towed or leaving me stranded.
Once in San Diego my wife drove our Corvette over a manhole cover on a street that was being resurfaced and the left rear suspension bolt got caught on the cover and sheared off the nut at spring.
Just her luck; and I was able to fix it on the street with a new bolt.
Once in San Diego my wife drove our Corvette over a manhole cover on a street that was being resurfaced and the left rear suspension bolt got caught on the cover and sheared off the nut at spring.
Just her luck; and I was able to fix it on the street with a new bolt.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 2
From: North Royaton Ohio
Most cars break down because proper car isn't taken to maintain them, and looking at the kind of people that own C3's, I think they all put too much care into them and sometimes even fix problems before they are problems just to keep their cars perfect, therefore avoiding any potential breakdowns.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 492
Likes: 3
From: Temecula CA
i've owned five Corvettes in the last 25 years and they all have been good cars. I broke down twice in that time-once was my fault (water in distributor cap after an engine cleaning) and once is still a total mystery (car worked fine after I had it towed home)....