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

 

if I think you are misguided, Corvettes have no more problems than anyother sports car on the road. In general the reason there seems to be more problems is because sports cars are driven a lot harder then a normal car. I have owned 4 C4's over the past 12 years, and had less problems with them then other cars I have owned. My first one was a 1986 and I put 120,000 miles on it. Just did normal maintance and tune ups. My 1993 coupe I sold with 77,000 miles on with no problems. The current owner has 98,000 miles on it, and has done nothing but oil changes.

My 1993 roadster I sold with 68,000 trouble free miles. and my current 1993 ZR-1 with only 16,000 miles, has had only the battery changed.

A lot of these guys on this forum are there own worst enemy. A lot of problems they bring up, could be solved very easy if they read there owners manual when they first bought there car. Others modify there cars and this brings a whole other set of problems. 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, you can't beat the space you have with the clam shell hood.

Bottom line, if you do your routine maintance on these things they will last a long time. But remember the C4 is getting up in age, so don't expect to find a perfect one. But then again, any car this old will have some sort of problem.
:cheers:




[Modified by Mikez40, 11:48 PM 11/10/2003]

 

I think there is a difference between repairs and Mods. Most of the things I hear corvette owners do are Mods, not repairs. Sure, there are repairs needed, but not as often as you think.


[Modified by Alcee1, 9:29 PM 11/10/2003]

 

I'm driving and enjoying my 86 with no needed repairs yet! But then I only bought mine back in September! The only thing I've started to do is renew things that are starting to show their age, and so far that hasn't really been much. My car only had 29,000 when purchased and since I own it, it will be maintained to the standards! :thumbs: I'm well pleasedwith it! :yesnod:

 

I bought my 93 a year ago and I guess I bought a bad one because I have had to replace the optispark which is a lousy design cost 1100, replace the air pump -more money, and now it is smoking on me - see above posting. It is stock with no mods and seemed OK when I bought it but has cost me more in repairs than any of my 24 other vehicles in the last 36 years (Mustang, GTO, Charger, Camaro, MGBs, Mercedes roadster etc except for a 75 Jimmy that my wife blew the engine on). I would recommend a complete check by a trusted mechanic before buying one because though a lot of people told me that their Corvette never gave them any trouble there are bad ones that the owners will not talk about. Also the exterior rubber deteriates badly and the leather interior does not hold up. My family has a Dodge van, 240SX, Honda Accord, and a Camaro but most of my money goes to keeping the Vette running. One thing though, 99% of the people who read and answer this forum are friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help you out if you do have a problem. I have met a great bunch of people in the club I belong to so though my car has not always been reliable the people have been.

 

So you want to DRIVE the car huh? Well, my 1992 (which I purchased new) now has 92K miles on it and aside for ignition wires at 74,000 miles, has never needed a repair (aside from routine maintenance). Its predecessor, a 1987 (also purchased new) was traded in at 89,000 miles and had a similar repair record. Vettes are VERY reliable cars.
As for why the world's largest automaker would stick with a 50+ year old engine design is simple: it works. It works VERY well.

 

Glen,

This will answer your question:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...iablechart.htm

 

:iagree:

 

I've owned 10 Corvettes, 0 major repairs needed. No on the road failures.
Outside of a battery, brakes, tires, hoses, fuilds, thats the total of all 10 cars.

I own 1 Mercedes and its in the shop for a $1,600 repair.
In 20,000 miles of ownership the car has eaten $2,800 in repairs.
This car sold new for $55,000 one would think for that kinda money they could have made the car a little better.

The water pump failed at 99,000 miles $1000.00
The head gasket failed at 120,000 $ 850.00 along with that the engine wiring harness went $ 800.00

I will always buy Corvettes but never another foregin car.
If you want a Corvette jump in, not matter what it costs its cheaper than a ex-wife.

 

Was your opti solid gold for $1,100.00

It should have cost no more then $450. :mad


[Modified by xlr8nflorida, 10:26 AM 11/11/2003]

 

MHO is that the foum members feed off of each other for ideas and mods. If this forum and others like it didnt exist, neither would most of the aftermarket catalogs.

If a vette owner never read this forum, it is very likely he would save a bunch of money on generally unecessary stuff. (ask my wife).

His experience would be limited to repairs, and mostly at a dealer because most owners wouldnt have the confidence or the abiltiy to turn a wrench unless they had support this forum gives.

In summary, blame the forum. I do. :jester :party:

 

Set flame on...

You get what you take care of. My 1992 has 130,000 miles on it and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere. It has been very well cared for and its in very good shape. I keep it up and I drive it. I replace wear items as required. I don't care who makes it, it still takes money to keep a older and high mileage car going. The nice thing about vettes is its worth putting the money into it to keep it nice this is not true of all cars.

My 2003 has 10,000 miles and I would say the same but that is just not a fair comparison because of its relative age.

Also, if you want to talk about 50 year old engine design -- try my Z06 at 405 hp out of the box (without a turbo or nox). How's that for 50 years!

Vettes rule! :cheers:

 

My vettes have been very reliable.

Any of the repairs I've made usually gave me a warning and not left me stranded.

 

3 of 4 very broken Mustangs are why I'm driving a Corvette today. I traded my broken motor 2001 Bullitt for the '95 C4 I'm in now. Has it had something break a couple of times from me pounding it ? Yes, but its all been easily fixable. Am I sorry I traded the Mustangs? Nope ! I'm only sorry I wasted several years of time and money on them when I could have had the ultimate ride by now.
Porsche and Mercedes ? Have you ever tried pricing parts for on of THEM ? And how about working on one? Ok, time to change the sparkplugs on a new Boxter. Step 1, locate motor. Step 2 (days later), take it to dealer, pay $375. Step 3, shoot self in head. You don't often here these guys talk about ongoing mechanical challenges because; A, their too embarrased and B, they don't care, they have the money to get someone else to fix it right away.
250 hp ? Try 350 with a few simple mods.
Spoof roof ? I've never had any trouble taking my roof panel off, or getting it back on.
The C4 design isn't archaic, it WAS exotic for its time and is still high tech compared to most other cars. Even so, its basic design is straight forward, tried and true, and easy for most of us to understand, and consequentially, fairly easy to work on. Not to mention a wide range of affordable and easily accessable OEM and aftermarket parts.

Not to mention the MOST IMPORTANT PART:
A bunch of guys like us who will support eachother with experience and an endless database of reference knowledge.


BTW: I got my car for $15,250 with 48k miles, aftermarket rims and several bolt-ons. The only street encounter I have ever lost was to another Corvette.

:chevy

 

My Friends,
Thank you for all the comments. As I think about some of the things I have read here I'm beginning to feel I was mistaken in my opinion. Perhaps vettes, like any other car, if properly maintained and not "hot rodded" will last as long as any other car. There continue to be issues such as the concern about breaking the roof panel when installing or removing that nag me. But then again, perhaps a little visit with a local chevy mechanic who would show someone like myself how to do this procedure is all that's needed. I know I can't afford a late 90's vette, and I don't want one with the opti-spakr system. So, what's the general opinion about late 80's or early 90's vettes? Is there any real difference besides the dashboard?
Glen

 

I have owned corvettes and own one now. And i have owned mersedes. And own one now. And believe me, the benz cost alot more to repair and not anymore reliable. I think what you show do is trade your vet in for a Honda Civic. Then you wont need the repairs And you can get a big muffler put on it. And cruize with the teenagers Friday nite. Problem solved. :chevy :)

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lolg:

 

Well, the 91 was the last year for the L98 and the first year for the ZR-1 style front and rear fascia (rectangular tail lights and wrap-around front running/turn signal/fog lights) as well as sawblade rims. The 90 had the later style interior (which I believe had minor changes a few years later) but the older style front and rear fascia. I'm really not certain about the mechanicals but here's a link that should give you some good info on the year to year changes:
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/4310/vetfacts.htm

Good luck and come on in, the water's fine!

 

I do alot of R&R on my vette, just because I love too. Add on's are fun. The overall enjoyment of just getting my vette "My Way".
Otherwise I guess I could have just left it alone.
OH! The fun of it. A little here, a little there.
Good Luck
tony
:flag

 

One of the true enjoyments I have had these past two summers is refurbishing and upgrading my coupe. Each new project has been a challenge and a joy to accomplish. The more I learn about my corvette the more I realize I don't know. I would say that it has been as reliable as any other car of that age and mileage I have owned. And that's been a few! :yesnod: