constant repairs?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Re: constant repairs? (olefam)
If I had the money and was doing it all again. I would go with the 90-91 vettes. I love the torque monster L98 for street driving. And I really like the look of the new interior.
As for problems I was really scared when I was first vette shopping reading the tech section of this forum. But remember that though there is a good # of vettes out there having problems...there is a lot more cruisin! (And this is a sports car...put this power into another car and beat on it...you will see Chevy gave us some pretty good equipment for the most part!) And most are non-essential things and upgrades anyway. I bought an 86 coupe and love it! Sure you have to pay the corvette tax now and then...but taking your sister for her first ride in a vette and having her curl into a ball and scream when you hammer it....yeah thats worth the $ :lolg:
Have fun.....you will!
:seeya
As for problems I was really scared when I was first vette shopping reading the tech section of this forum. But remember that though there is a good # of vettes out there having problems...there is a lot more cruisin! (And this is a sports car...put this power into another car and beat on it...you will see Chevy gave us some pretty good equipment for the most part!) And most are non-essential things and upgrades anyway. I bought an 86 coupe and love it! Sure you have to pay the corvette tax now and then...but taking your sister for her first ride in a vette and having her curl into a ball and scream when you hammer it....yeah thats worth the $ :lolg:
Have fun.....you will!
:seeya
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,833
Likes: 0
From: Orange County California
Re: constant repairs? (olefam)
Three reasons why there are a lot of repairs:
AGE:
Most of these cars are more than 10 years old. You are going to have some problems with a car thats more than ten years old.
MILAGE:
Most of these cars have more than 100K miles on them. Its time to get all them major repairs done. My 92 car is both over 10 years old and has well over 100K. For the first two years I had it, nothing needed fixing. This year however, I have been finding stuff to work on every month. But then again, some of it, Ive been looking for.
DRIVERS:
Most of us here like to DRIVE our cars. Of course you are going to thrash your bearings if you do a lot of donuts and bootleggers. Of course you are going to mess up the tranny faster if you do a lot of burnouts. But repair bills dont stop us from doing donuts and burnouts. :p:
AGE:
Most of these cars are more than 10 years old. You are going to have some problems with a car thats more than ten years old.
MILAGE:
Most of these cars have more than 100K miles on them. Its time to get all them major repairs done. My 92 car is both over 10 years old and has well over 100K. For the first two years I had it, nothing needed fixing. This year however, I have been finding stuff to work on every month. But then again, some of it, Ive been looking for.
DRIVERS:
Most of us here like to DRIVE our cars. Of course you are going to thrash your bearings if you do a lot of donuts and bootleggers. Of course you are going to mess up the tranny faster if you do a lot of burnouts. But repair bills dont stop us from doing donuts and burnouts. :p:
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 0
From: Easton CA
Re: constant repairs? (olefam)
Bought my '92 in August of 2000. She had 83K on her. She has 112K now and she has not been without her "moods". I think of her as a high maintenance mistress... as long as I pamper her and see she gets what she needs, she treats me right and makes me feel good.
She's worth the effort.......
:cool:
She's worth the effort.......
:cool:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 24,650
Likes: 8
Re: constant repairs? (Bodhi)
Dude, whos side are you on? That chart show only imports are reliable! Only US car on the reliable side is a buick!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 7
From: Lawrenceville PA
Re: constant repairs? (olefam)
Most of the folks on this forum are proud of their cars and take care of them accordingly. So why is it that corvettes seem to need constant attention and / or repairs in order to keep running?
I would really like to buy a C4 vette for the looks and mystique. But I want to DRIVE the car, not constantly repair it. I don't hear about camaros or mustangs with continuous repair issues. You almost never hear about Porsches or Mercedes Benzes with constant repair issues. So what is it about the vette that makes it so trouble prone?
Please don't tell me that it is all the exotic stuff that chevy does to this car. Frankly it has a 50 year old engine design with a few electronic bells and whistles to make it run. The vette is quick primarily because it's light. But getting 250 HP out of 350 cubic inches is almost archaic.
It is a travesty that chevy should be ashamed of when people on this board are having trouble either putting on or removing the top on the coupe. The targa design has been around for at least 35 years, starting with the Porsche. From the very beginning has anyone ever heard of someone having trouble putting on the Porsche roof? If chevy was going to copy a good idea, why couldn't they at least make their product as good as the one they copied?
As I said, I want a vette. I like the things that chevy has done right. But I am really having a hard time coming to terms with all the things that chevy has done wrong.
Glen
I would really like to buy a C4 vette for the looks and mystique. But I want to DRIVE the car, not constantly repair it. I don't hear about camaros or mustangs with continuous repair issues. You almost never hear about Porsches or Mercedes Benzes with constant repair issues. So what is it about the vette that makes it so trouble prone?
Please don't tell me that it is all the exotic stuff that chevy does to this car. Frankly it has a 50 year old engine design with a few electronic bells and whistles to make it run. The vette is quick primarily because it's light. But getting 250 HP out of 350 cubic inches is almost archaic.
It is a travesty that chevy should be ashamed of when people on this board are having trouble either putting on or removing the top on the coupe. The targa design has been around for at least 35 years, starting with the Porsche. From the very beginning has anyone ever heard of someone having trouble putting on the Porsche roof? If chevy was going to copy a good idea, why couldn't they at least make their product as good as the one they copied?
As I said, I want a vette. I like the things that chevy has done right. But I am really having a hard time coming to terms with all the things that chevy has done wrong.
Glen
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
Cruise-In IV Veteran
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Re: constant repairs? (midget)
Most of the folks on this forum are proud of their cars and take care of them accordingly. So why is it that corvettes seem to need constant attention and / or repairs in order to keep running?
I would really like to buy a C4 vette for the looks and mystique. But I want to DRIVE the car, not constantly repair it. I don't hear about camaros or mustangs with continuous repair issues. You almost never hear about Porsches or Mercedes Benzes with constant repair issues. So what is it about the vette that makes it so trouble prone?
Please don't tell me that it is all the exotic stuff that chevy does to this car. Frankly it has a 50 year old engine design with a few electronic bells and whistles to make it run. The vette is quick primarily because it's light. But getting 250 HP out of 350 cubic inches is almost archaic.
It is a travesty that chevy should be ashamed of when people on this board are having trouble either putting on or removing the top on the coupe. The targa design has been around for at least 35 years, starting with the Porsche. From the very beginning has anyone ever heard of someone having trouble putting on the Porsche roof? If chevy was going to copy a good idea, why couldn't they at least make their product as good as the one they copied?
As I said, I want a vette. I like the things that chevy has done right. But I am really having a hard time coming to terms with all the things that chevy has done wrong.
Glen
Quite frankly with your existing bias and negativity about Chevrolet and Corvettes in particular, why would you want to buy one. It looks like you've already made your mind up.
I would really like to buy a C4 vette for the looks and mystique. But I want to DRIVE the car, not constantly repair it. I don't hear about camaros or mustangs with continuous repair issues. You almost never hear about Porsches or Mercedes Benzes with constant repair issues. So what is it about the vette that makes it so trouble prone?
Please don't tell me that it is all the exotic stuff that chevy does to this car. Frankly it has a 50 year old engine design with a few electronic bells and whistles to make it run. The vette is quick primarily because it's light. But getting 250 HP out of 350 cubic inches is almost archaic.
It is a travesty that chevy should be ashamed of when people on this board are having trouble either putting on or removing the top on the coupe. The targa design has been around for at least 35 years, starting with the Porsche. From the very beginning has anyone ever heard of someone having trouble putting on the Porsche roof? If chevy was going to copy a good idea, why couldn't they at least make their product as good as the one they copied?
As I said, I want a vette. I like the things that chevy has done right. But I am really having a hard time coming to terms with all the things that chevy has done wrong.
Glen
Quite frankly with your existing bias and negativity about Chevrolet and Corvettes in particular, why would you want to buy one. It looks like you've already made your mind up.
For the Corvette faithful, YOU find the car....and a way to make it work! :chevy :seeya
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach calif
Re: constant repairs? (olefam)
You sound like the kid, that was always the last one to get picked in any sports. Like i said. You are definately a Honda Civic canadate. :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Walton Bch. Florida
Re: constant repairs? (olefam)
"These cars a one of the simplist cars to work on, they are like a giant model car, Most everything on them is easy to get to"
I have to disagree on that statement. Try to change the tail light bulb in an 85.
I do think one reason the vette appears to need more work on it is that the
owners are more fussy that the average car owner and keep their cars in
better cindition than most.
I have to disagree on that statement. Try to change the tail light bulb in an 85.
I do think one reason the vette appears to need more work on it is that the
owners are more fussy that the average car owner and keep their cars in
better cindition than most.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 5
From: ZR1 Gathering '04, '05 Northlake Texas
Re: constant repairs? (85red_vette)
"These cars a one of the simplist cars to work on, they are like a giant model car, Most everything on them is easy to get to"
I have to disagree on that statement. Try to change the tail light bulb in an 85.
I do think one reason the vette appears to need more work on it is that the
owners are more fussy that the average car owner and keep their cars in
better cindition than most.
I have to disagree on that statement. Try to change the tail light bulb in an 85.
I do think one reason the vette appears to need more work on it is that the
owners are more fussy that the average car owner and keep their cars in
better cindition than most.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 665
Likes: 2
From: Southington CT
Re: constant repairs? (85red_vette)
have owned vettes for 12 years and found them to be reliable; although everything costs more......... if you don't have the appreciation for Corvettes, dont do it. while they are reliable, you dont buy a Corvette because they are ranked "most reliable". You buy a vette because you can have a 10+ year old Corvette (or any Corvette) sitting in the garage and it makes you smile when you look at her and grin when you drive her. i'm going to my garage to go visit with my 91 vert. cya :cool:
Pro
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
Re: constant repairs? (olefam)
And remember, when it breaks, get a beer and say "serenity now, serenity now". Never forget how much fun it is when it runs.
:grouphug:
[Modified by BlackBeast2, 5:34 PM 11/12/2003]
:grouphug:
[Modified by BlackBeast2, 5:34 PM 11/12/2003]
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
From: memphis tn
Re: constant repairs? (RED-85-Z51)
Dude, whos side are you on? That chart show only imports are reliable! Only US car on the reliable side is a buick!
Glen,
This will answer your question:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...iablechart.htm
Glen,
This will answer your question:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...iablechart.htm
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16,024
Likes: 0
From: Stratford Ontario
Re: constant repairs? (olefam)
Dude; I drive my '95 every friggen day, to and from work. I also have a Toyota Minivan in the drivway (my wifes) if I wanted or needed to drive it. Bottom line is I don't need to or want to. Being from Mn I 'm sure you can empathise (sp?) with the kind of winters we get in Ontario, Canada; and yep, I'll still be driving the 'Vette. The forcast shows "flurries, possibly heavy at times" for tomorrow.....oh yea, I'm taking the Corvette to work. I kind of like the looks I get on the highway. :yesnod: :) The biggest flaw in the Corvette; when you drive them they don't stay clean. ;)
:seeya
:seeya
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City Ok
Re: constant repairs? (olefam)
Corvettes are a very reliable car.I have been in the towing business all my life being im the 3rd generation and I have towed more cars than you could imagine and I can count on one hand the corvettes I have towed and 1 of them was my own so if somebody says vette arent reliable there full of it.They are complex and vette owners are the worse customer the car is still in my opionion a damn fine automobile.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: constant repairs? (Bodhi)
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: constant repairs? (CentralCoaster)
My '85 Corvette is more reliable than my '85 Ford. I drive both of them equally.
When something small breaks on my Ford, I usually don't have the motivation to fix it, or fix it right. When something small breaks on my Vette, I go nuts and tear the whole car apart.
My Corvette has never left me stranded. I've had it for a year and a half, and the only roadside problems I've had were a leaking heater hose ($0.00), a torn overdrive filter grommet ($0.65), and a blown taillight fuse ($1.50) I drive it hard too.
There are design weaknesses with the C4, and you'll find many owners experiencing the same sorts of problems.
It's no Honda, but it's as reliable as any other Chevy of the same years, with the exception of a far superior drivetrain.
When something small breaks on my Ford, I usually don't have the motivation to fix it, or fix it right. When something small breaks on my Vette, I go nuts and tear the whole car apart.
My Corvette has never left me stranded. I've had it for a year and a half, and the only roadside problems I've had were a leaking heater hose ($0.00), a torn overdrive filter grommet ($0.65), and a blown taillight fuse ($1.50) I drive it hard too.
There are design weaknesses with the C4, and you'll find many owners experiencing the same sorts of problems.
It's no Honda, but it's as reliable as any other Chevy of the same years, with the exception of a far superior drivetrain.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 732
Likes: 2
From: Baxter MN
Re: constant repairs? (CentralCoaster)
I don't mind being "flamed." I recognize that whenever I make a comment or ask a question on a forum like this I open myself up to whatever folks want to say. The way I see it, if just one person takes the time to respond sincerely and intelligently, I have gained some much-needed knowledge. Hell, I paid over $18,000 to go to school for a year so I could get the knowledge needed to pursue my profession. Having a few strangers make fun of my questions is nothing if it results in my gaining a little more insight or knowledge about the car I hope to buy.
Glen
Glen
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,887
Likes: 1
From: Hill AFB area Utah
Re: constant repairs? (olefam)
Glen you have to understand your driving what is basically a race car. these are not mom and pop comuter cars if thats what you wanted you should have bought a chevette not a corvette. these are hi tech hi performance machines and like any race machine they are high maint. I have owned many differant race machines not just cars and they are all that way the more performance they are the more work you have to do to keep them running properly. If you cant or wont turn your own wrenches or cant afford to pay someone to do it you need to find a different car to drive. this is how they all are ! always were always will be . This may sound harsh however as the owner of a car that was just bet unmercifully until it just wouldnt run anymore I think I have a unique perspecive. So love it or sell it .......My 2 cents you asked you got it dont by toyota :thumbs: