I think reliability will depend on how well you check out the car before you buy. Since it's 10yrs old, get one with low mileage and in great condition; check out the mechanicals thoroughly. Or you can go low budget, higher mileage and get a project car.

I've put several thousand $$ into my 13yr old Vette so far on maintenance but wouldn't get rid of it. The cost of ownership may be higher than a snail-mobile but the level of pleasure and pride is much higher.

 

If you're planning to rip out the engine, pick up my '88 from me ;P

My big issue right now is I just took on a new job and am going to be working 50 - 60hr+ weeks and I honestly don't have time right now for this car, and with commissions I frankly could buy a new one by mid next year hehe.

Right now I'm debating between 1 of 2 things doing to this car:
1. storage - put it a way till I have the cash in hand to fix it....
2. drop in another 350 to get it running and sell it and lick my wounds
3. drop in a newer engine or a higher performance 350 and keep it

I'm thinking of not keeping it mainly because it's more work then I want to put into it right now and I have no time to play with it hehe.

 

60 hours a week must be nice im just bustin your ***** I work no less than 60 hours a week that dosent include duties and possibly working on weekend and I dont get no overtime im a marine 24/7 there is always time you have to make time fit it in dont get rid of the car because of work...just a thought

 

I concur, being a helicopter mechanic can get pretty hectic at times.

"An aircraft on the ground is an aircraft not doing its job."

 

The only time my '87 stranded me was when the starter went out. The only time my '70 stranded me was when the starter died. Notice a pattern? :D Chevy small blocks are pretty much bullet proof if well mantained. Now a car that's been abused and neglected might have more issues with it... it's all in the maintenance. :yesnod:

 

Good luck :lol: :lol: :lol:

A week after you own it you'll be WOT, then there are the MODS to test
:lol:

Then you'll want it to go faster yet, and toss in rear gears, then the fun just begins.......... :yesnod:

 

Most cars are reliable when taken care of and driven
like grandpa drives... Slowwwww just like me :lol: :lol: :yesnod:
Also, alot of people do forget lots of our Corvettes are in the 5+ years
old and take more use than a honda or toyota would get.

I've had friends that drive hondas/toyotas/nissans and they (cars) don't
hold up because they aren't made to be driven like Corvettes. Pretty soon
they are changing out tires/shocks/brake disks, and have oil leaks
etc.. cause their cars can't take the high speed driving and deteriorate
at a much faster rate. I feel Corvettes are well built cars and
people that experience alot of problems with them either got a lemon or
it was not well serviced by previous owners. Good luck :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:

 

I just bought my vette about a week ago (Had an 82, was very nice and no problems), decided I wanted more horsepower and a convertible (I keep my cars basically stock w/ exception of exhaust and maybe a couple other things), so I bought a 93 Convertible. I hate this topic... it is scaring me :eek: .
I do know this much- Regardless of what year corvette you buy, the power antenna will ALWAYS go out

If you want reliability, you can buy my 1973 Ford Gran Torino Sport. It almost has 200k miles, and 100% stock, and still starts perfectly. THAT is quality, plus you don't have to support Japanese products. Buy a Taurus or something before sending your money to the emporer.

Corvettes were MADE for performance, so they were made to be used... and used fast. Hondas were made to be ladies cars who thinks they are "cute", or for kids who put a fat muffler on, and some stickers.

Stick with American, and stick with muscle.

 

It's a Conspiracy!!!!

Face it, Its like anything else.......You got to pay in order to play :cheers:

 

if you want a vette, be ready to fix the little stuff... so far - knocking on wood - my vette has been as reliable, as a day-to-day car, as my honda was.

I have put 40k miles on mine since I got it last June. It starts right up, but does throw a code!!!! I get about 20 on my commute to work and nearly 27 when driving long distance - got 26.x when driving to Fla last march. Went to Cleveland back in June, got 25.x... that was whilst driving on the PA Turnpike!!!

Sure... I need to do the intake... and the brakes are getting queer. I suspect the clutch will need replaced by next summer (but who's gonna gripe about getting 100k+ miles out of a clutch!). And bearings and u-joints.

not a killer list, really...

 

I personally drove my 88 Z51, Coupe for more than 125K miles from 1989 through 2000. It was towed once for an internal open in a DieHard battery. It was in the shop for an AC rebuild because the Japanese Compressor failed; ;ocked up and split the housing. Everything else was a failed by use item, brakes, clutch master and slave and vacumn, seat covers, carpets and several bulbs and the dash display.

Now for a daily driver with this type of millage, that is not bad or unreliable. At 12 years old the car drove like a charm and would exceed 140 MPH on demand. Long trips of 500-600 miles were a pleasure to make and mountain roads a thrill a minute. Even this old car always attracted attention on the road and in the parking lot; it was red, red, red. Definately not your standard "Soccer Moms' vehicle.

So if you buy a car; know what you are buying and what you are getting. When you look at a car; open your eves and get into the analysis mode.

I bought a 1996 Coupe in February 2000 and it had 32K miles on the odometer. Did I check it out before I wrote the check; you betcha. I also bought it with an extended warranty. Has anything failed since I bought it and drove it regularly? Yes, a minor leak at the waterpump, fixed under warranty. And I replaced the battery, it was the original. Otherwise I expect to drive this Corvette untill the state no longer issues me an operators permit.

Corvettes are the same as any motor vehicle; a lot depends on the owner and operator.

 

I have been using my vette as a daily driver for the last seven years. It has 65K miles on it. The opti spark has been the main problem/headache I have had. The power brake booster fell apart early. The opti is only a problem on the LT1. My 94 has been the most reliable GM car I have ever owned. Overall its been a good car.

The quality of the C4 was improved over the life of the platform. I hope I don't step on some toes but here is what I have read:

84-87 - these models have the biggest quality problems. Get a mid amercia or ecklers catalog and note all of the replacement parts available for those cars. I have heard that GM was engineering cars in the early to mid 80s to last 2 years which explains the quality issues.

88-93 - much improved over the earlier years. 89 is the first year for the ZF 6 speed which is much better than the 4+3 speed. The 700R4 auto is better than previous years.

94 - supposed to have 200+ quality improvements over earlier years. I think most of this was in the interior. First year to get new freon replacement.

95 - 96 more improvements over earlier years. The standard 96 lost the power steering cooler ???? :confused:

I think the C4 was a quality learning process for GM. The C5 appears to have much better engineering right from the start.

Vettes are more complex than your average Honda so they will have more problems. Hondas are also engineered better so that is a factor as well.

Get a Mid America and/or Ecklers catalog and take a look at all the replacement (not upgrade) parts available for each set of model years.

[Modified by AquaMetallic94LT1, 12:20 AM 9/10/2001]


[Modified by AquaMetallic94LT1, 12:26 AM 9/10/2001]