Okay. I just saw this one-liner:

"Reliability will not be boasted by any year!"

I'd like to know just how reliable or unreliable a Corvette really is. I'm getting a 91 so that would be the year I'm most interested in. Any info would be nice for the thread, though.

If there are common problems, what would they be? It would be nice for new and future Corvette owners to know what they should be putting away for...

 

Corvette's are pieces of junk. If you don't like cars immensly, I highly recommend getting a Honda.

 

Really? That blows. I don't want a Honda..

heh.

 

:lol: Pretty much the truth in my experience :yesnod: .

 

I wanted a car I could buy that kicked me in the rear, handled and had style. I got a vette. My father wanted a reliable car so he didn't have to fix anything. He now has a honda. The vette won't be on Consumer Reports most reliable list but it is a tough car and can take alot of abuse. Be prepared to always have that little something you gotta take care of however. Right now I need to fix my antenna, lumbar support, and replace the serpentine belt. Brakes are right around the corner and I just replaced a console light bulb and the window rubber. No rest for the weary.
92TripleBlack


:smash:

 

And you're loving every minute of it aren't you. :cheers:

 

As a general rule: If you want and get performance, you can kiss reliability goodbye. fitz

 

Reliability???? Why yes.........I rely on my factory warranty all the time. :D
Vettes aren't the most reliable car, that is for sure, but I'm not complaining.

 

Reliability?

Hrmm buy an '88 that sat for over 6 yrs and didn't appear too loved before then and talk to me about reliabilty... at this point I'm considering asking the bank to just foreclose on the loan and I'll toss in the new tires I put on it ;P

Today it blew it's head gaskets / head.

The A/C is shot, the radio is dead, windshield is busted, window trim is messed up, the brakes suck, already put a bunch of labor of mine into it, costs too much to own....
but for the short while she ran, I loved driving it.... but at this point I'm not sure what to do.... besides maybe shoot it or push it into a tree or drive it into one on the remainiing 7 cylinders, especially now that I repaired the seatbelt.

 

Your talking about reliability on a car that is 10 years old, You will have some problems maybe small problems but there will be something please dont think that just because its a "Corvette" there will be nothing wrong with it, They are a fun car and there for having fun, The last guy who posted is having problems with his car, They may have been there when he bought it, make sure you look the car over good or take it to a vette machanic and have him look it over, Your buying from out of state arent you???.....well all I can say is have fun with it if you rag on it and race it like some people do parts will break especially if the previous owner didnt do such things now your romping on a car that hasent been betten so be prepared for things to happen
just my thoughts enjoy the car do what you will take car of it and it will take car of you.:cheers:

 

I dont mind having a car thats buggy...I have alway loved building models as a kid...thats a sign of a Vette owner there....and it gives me an excuse to get away from the family and or not attend functions that would otherwise suck......"Oh hun Im sorry gotta pull the head digitizing unit from the lumbar support under the valve cover..." then she will leave you alone if that one liner dont work...mention the quantum spread excelerater under the passenger seat thats shorting the optical pick up in the cd player...and tell her it will play her Ricky Martin CD when fixed.

da daaa

 

I consider my Vette very reliable... I've limped her home once due to a bad wiring harness, but she's never left me stranded...

As compared to my girlfriend's Cavalier it's a piece of junk if you only count the number of times it's been in the shop compared to hers...

But here's the catch... It's a performance car, drive a Honda like you drive a high performance vehicle and see how long it lasts or how reliable it is... The Vettes are also electronically sophisticated compared to other cars of the same year... Just about everything my Vette has been in the shop for doesn't exist on my GF's Cavalier... She doesn't have electronic A/C, electronic suspension, traction control, or any of the other fancy things that the Vette has in it...

Other than A/C and the factory upgraded stereo, her car has an 2.2L engine and a 3spd automatic transmission... Not very much to break on that car...

I know Hondas and Toyotas, etc are very reliable cars and will run forever... But the ergonomics and styling of imports make me want to :U ... Nothing feels like performance, as an American muscle/sport car such as the Vette, Viper, Trans Am, and Z28, and yes even the Mustang does...

If you're looking for a car to get from point A to point B and have no interest in anything else, then buy a Honda...

If you're looking to get from point A to point B through way of point C or D, and maybe E if you have an extra 30 minutes to spare, then get the Vette... And you'll find yourself actually enjoying the drive rather than wondering "how much longer" before you get there...




[Modified by wake, 3:03 AM 9/8/2001]

 

I'd like to know just how reliable or unreliable a Corvette really is. I'm getting a 91 so that would be the year I'm most interested in. Any info would be nice for the thread, though.

No less reliable than any other 10 year old car IMHO. On the average I think vettes are cared for and maintained better than other cars so if you're going the used route you should be able to find a reliable one. Why not get an LT1 instead of a 91? :confused:

 

From the first time I drove to the day I bought my Vette, I always wanted the ulitmate American Muscle Car. Sure there are a few minor things to fix on the car and I'm waiting to get the service manual to do them but that is part of the joy of owning the car. I have a 96 Impala SS that I convince myself to drive over the Vette once in a while, just to keep some miles on the Impala. Both cars are fun to drive but the Vette just makes you want to take the long way home. :cheers:

 

Besides having to rebuild the trans and put brakes and an alternator my car has been very reliable I have put 25,xxx on it since I bought it less than 2 years ago. I had no worries of jumping in it this summer and driving to Dallas(1000 miles and 12 hours later) the only problem I had was my A** got sore. :D Nothing compares to Vett. :jester

 

Just Remember, There is no such thing as an ugly corvette :chevy

 

I guess you missed the e-bay auction vette that had the 20 inch wheels and bad tint job, with an even worse stereo.

 

I think my car is pretty reliable. I never had any problems that other normal 17 year old cars have (water pump, alternator, etc..) She has 104,000 miles and is still running strong. At least thats more reliable than those Ford vehicles that are spontaneously combusting!!! :lol:

 

Hi Sal,

The Corvette was designed on a shoestring. As a result, the interior fit and finish and typical serviceability is poor. Also, the car is bulky for it's interior crampness. The basic drivetrain and powertrain is solid, aside from a couple minor design defects that can be easily fixed. The best bang for the buck can be found in the first C4's with ABS and aluminum heads ('86-1/2 & up). They go for around $7K and up. Early LT1 cars are the next step up in technology and power ('92 & up). They start at around $12K. Many racers look for ZO7 and Z51 suspension options and FX-3 adjustable suspension. Also, bigger brakes are on certain '88 and up cars. Most owners feel they're sorely needed on the heavy Vette chassis. Nuisance problems plague the Vette's, just like your power laden Lincoln luxobarge. If you want a really solid & roomy sports car, consider a Porsche 944T too. Performance & cost is about equal & they have fewer plastic parts to fall off and power accessories to fail (climate control etc). Their seats and carpets last 250K miles instead of 100K. Lscman


[Modified by Rick93Z07, 9:39 AM 9/8/2001]

 

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I'm getting the 91 because I'm impatient. But, I don't intend on keeping the motor stock (or the same motor) whether I get the L98 or LT1 anyway. Mainly, I love the new bodystyle of the 91 and that's my main reason for choosing the 91.

I intend on driving my Corvette like a Honda. Right now I have a Cadillac ETC and I drive that like I'm 140 and can't see a thing. I enjoy driving slowly. I like knowing that when I need the power, it's there. I love my car but ever since I bought it ($20k last Summer) I've been eyeing up Vettes.

I miss having a sports car. Until a few years ago, I had Iroc-Z's and Trans Ams. Then, I bought a Lincoln Mark VII LSC (freaking loved the car) and from there went to the Cadillac ETC. I need a change. I want a car that I'm likely to keep for a LONG time. I think the Corvette will be the perfect car for me. It's nostalgic, classy, fast, and can be modified to make faster.

If my Cadillac weighed closer to 3000 pounds, I would modify IT and leave it at that. But, being it's close to 4000 pounds I feel to guilty to hit the gas...