The most reliable year?
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The most reliable year?
One of the other threads started me thinking about the most reliable year/equipment package Vette. My guess would be the 91 with the 350 at its most refined and the 6-speed ZF. Plus the new dash/electronics/body package. Best of both worlds reliability (if not performance) wise....
What do you guys think?
What do you guys think?
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Well, my vote would be on the 1996 LT4 
But as with anything mechanical, it would all come down to how well it has been maintained. Even a brand new car can't hold up to constant abuse. I don’t care who makes it.
But as with anything mechanical, it would all come down to how well it has been maintained. Even a brand new car can't hold up to constant abuse. I don’t care who makes it.
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From: Maryville Tn
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I'll vote for the '85.. No ABS, Opti-Spark woes, traction control, or other complex electrical gadgets to go south. The only major component that might give you grief is the digital dash (never had any problems with mine). I guess I'm biased because I own an '85... 
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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95-96 for sure, they had most of the bugs worked out by this time.
Reliability comes with the competence of the person maintaining the vehicle. This goes for almost every vehicle(a Yugo, no matter what, will never be reliable).
Reliability comes with the competence of the person maintaining the vehicle. This goes for almost every vehicle(a Yugo, no matter what, will never be reliable).
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
The 85 is reliable in the sense that it's simpler. I guess you'd have to look at all the changes, and see what was improved for performance vs for reliability, and what was merely complicated for convenience or safety.
It's tons easier to work on, that's for sure.
Tell me how your 96 is treating you in 11 years, and then we'll know the answer. These things seem to really start wanting attention after 20 years.
I guess the manual tranny became more reliable.
The instrumentation became more reliable.
Did the stereo quality improve?
Seat electronics?
I can't think of anything else.
It's tons easier to work on, that's for sure.
Tell me how your 96 is treating you in 11 years, and then we'll know the answer. These things seem to really start wanting attention after 20 years.
I guess the manual tranny became more reliable.
The instrumentation became more reliable.
Did the stereo quality improve?
Seat electronics?
I can't think of anything else.
Last edited by CentralCoaster; Nov 28, 2005 at 11:21 PM.
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It seems like Gordon Killebrew said to buy a 95 or 96 if you could afford it. All the latest technology and most of the bugs worked out by then.
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From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Originally Posted by GreenG
One of the other threads started me thinking about the most reliable year/equipment package Vette. My guess would be the 91 with the 350 at its most refined and the 6-speed ZF. Plus the new dash/electronics/body package. Best of both worlds reliability (if not performance) wise....
What do you guys think?
What do you guys think?
My guess is that all this thread will generate is guesses...
Without data generated by incidents and service reports / repairs, etc, this is a useless thread - sorry...
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
My guess is that if there really were one year that was noticeably more reliable than any other....this forum would have known about it years ago.
Larry
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Larry
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From: The land of 10,000 lakes ,Minnesota 89 coupe 6speed with 383 and 89 roadster 6speed bonestock with XXX low miles
Originally Posted by *89x2*
My guess is that all this thread will generate is guesses...
Without data generated by incidents and service reports / repairs, etc, this is a useless thread - sorry...
Without data generated by incidents and service reports / repairs, etc, this is a useless thread - sorry...
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From: Kerrville, Texas USA Hook 'em Horns!
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Originally Posted by Mr Mojo
95-96 for sure, they had most of the bugs worked out by this time.
Reliability comes with the competence of the person maintaining the vehicle. This goes for almost every vehicle(a Yugo, no matter what, will never be reliable).
Reliability comes with the competence of the person maintaining the vehicle. This goes for almost every vehicle(a Yugo, no matter what, will never be reliable).
My 96 has been extremely reliable (knock on wood)
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Reliability from my repair experience would have to be C3s and older, because as stated in an earlier reply, they're simpler to repair.
No ECMs to worry about, electronic fuel injection? Digital dash? (like my '85) I can't repair any of these, let alone trouble shoot them.
It's guess the bad part and replace it.
But then again, I'm a simple person.
And late model C3s are comparable in price to early C4s.
(Sometimes I wish I still had my '76
)
No ECMs to worry about, electronic fuel injection? Digital dash? (like my '85) I can't repair any of these, let alone trouble shoot them.
It's guess the bad part and replace it.
But then again, I'm a simple person.
And late model C3s are comparable in price to early C4s.
(Sometimes I wish I still had my '76
)
