Who has a reliable Vette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Who has a reliable Vette
I constantly read post here about peoples Vettes being unreliable. I have had my 73 Vette for 15 years now and it has never broken down. I have driven it every summer. I had to get a jump start once, needed to rebuild the starter. My Vette has been the most reliable car that I have ever owned and the easiest to work on. I still have the same water pump that came with the car. I rebuilt the engine a few years ago but it didn't really need to be rebuilt.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena Maryland
I've had my 78 since 1995. Let me down just once when the distributor went about seven years ago. I have about 106,000 miles on her and I wouldn't hesitate to drive across country with it. It's all in how you take care of them. Do the preventitive maintenance and keep on truckin. 
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 26,555
Likes: 257
From: Florida
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Actually, I always carry a jump-battery with me. 
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Drive mine EVERY day.
Hit 4000 RPMs every day.
Hit 5500 RPMs at least once a week.
Hope my bottom end makes it through college. You would too if you heard the sounds this engine makes. Vroom-vroom!
-Steve
Hit 4000 RPMs every day.
Hit 5500 RPMs at least once a week.
Hope my bottom end makes it through college.
You would too if you heard the sounds this engine makes. Vroom-vroom!-Steve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Originally Posted by kona
I would'nt think twice about driving my Vette anywhere. It all boils down to good maintenance and care.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 23,957
Likes: 174
From: South West - but north of Dayton, Ohio
Fire's right up and runs like a wild beast... I drove it over 500 miles in one day to visit family this past summer. No problems, except the ringing in my ears from the chambered tubes... 
I have 65K miles on my camry and I havent had to do anything except oil and pads
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 23,957
Likes: 174
From: South West - but north of Dayton, Ohio
Fire's right up and runs like a wild beast... I drove it over 500 miles in one day to visit family this past summer. No problems, except the ringing in my ears from the chambered tubes...
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 23,957
Likes: 174
From: South West - but north of Dayton, Ohio
Fire's right up and runs like a wild beast... I drove it over 500 miles in one day to visit family this past summer. No problems, except the ringing in my ears from the chambered tubes...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
very reliable. i've driven it to florida from Meeeeeeeeechigan at least 6 times, carlisle PA, street machine nationals in duqoin ILL just to name a few. the only problem i had was a leaking heater core in florida that wasn't even a yr old so i just bypassed it and 1 month later it was gone from the vette along with the heater box. what do i need it for, don't drive it in cold weather and will own it till the day i die. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
I can't complain. Sone of the few things that I had to replace in 22 years were the calipers (about 20 years ago) and the rear leaf spring (about 12 years ago). I changed tires a couple of times, several batteries, and oil. My estranged wife stole my daily driver last year and I was forced to use this to get back and forth to work. Although the car doesn't need the work, I am in the process of going over it so that I can get another 20/30 years of trouble free service from it. I have purchased about $3500 in parts over the last 2 years. Mostly engine parts for a 383 (including a nice DeWitt's alum radiator) and rebuilding the rear. I figure a few more hundred to rebuild the front. So the first 20+ years I spent less than $400 on repairs, excluding tire/batteries, which is roughly $20 per year.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Ashland Virginia
I've had my '80 for a little over two years. She only had 18,848 miles on her when I bought her. She now has 33,000 miles. Because she sat for so long I thought seals would be breaking and there would be oil leaks everywhere. But nothing of any consequence. It's my third Vette and I'm extremely pleased. Just a heck of a lot of fun.
Old Black Chevy/Travis
Old Black Chevy/Travis