I just picked up the consumer reports auto issue and they rate the 00-02 corvette as one of the worst used cars and to avoid them due to all sorts of issues. i like to know where the hell they get this info from.my 02 as been trouble free from the start!!!
Rock on

 

What!!! Maybe he didn't get the memo

 

I dont believe what they say about cars anyway, I avoid their stupidity..

 

All subscribers of CR get an annual auto survey, and those that reply are the basis of the statistics that say this model year of used cars is good in this area, bad in that area, etc.

Because you didn't fill out a survey saying it was all good, your experience doesn't get incorporated into their statistics.

 

Good thing I picked up an 03. I wouldn't want one of those 00-02 lemons.

 

I saw the same thing and it surprised me that they are rated that low. The drivetrain and the cooling system got the lowest ratings. I thought the drivetrain is pretty good in these cars? OK, who's the one complaining???

 

The ones that can't afford the cars!!

Other than the Column Lock (which I prevented from happening..CLB), I have had no problems except the oem battery leaking....which I also caught in time.

These problems were prevented because of the information available on this forum from the guys that actually own and drive the cars.

If CR doesn't like the 00-02 models based on consumer feedback, they should forward all the info to GM and any cars they may have used to me!!

 

I stopped taking seriously what CR says for years! If it isn't Japanese they hate it! Thank them for a large portion of US car sales lost. BTW, in my experience, the half dozen GM vehicles I have owned have been the most problematic. My '04 Corvette has been back to the dealer 4 times already, and as of yesterday, it looks like my battery is acting up. My sitting voltage is 11.5 volts, it started as my seat memory started acting up. My car has 32K on the clock. Has anyone here honestly gotten 5+ years on a stock AC Delco battery? No lie, every Ford I've owned has gotten 8+ years on it before failing gradually. I just changed the OEM battery in my '97 F-250, yep, 10 years old. Both my son's are running '00 Focuses with orginal batteries. If my battery is bad, guess what, it will have a Motorcraft replacement. I love my Corvette, it is a beautifully engineered vehicle, but what is it with the damn components, I think GM's parts outsourcing leaves alot to be desired. BTW, the leather upholstery/padding in my Mustang looks new compared to the Corvette, with the same miles, geesh!

John

 

Thats it I am selling my 01' that has had no problems Just because consumer reports says so!!

I only have 16,000 miles, but they have been flawless.

What are all the things they say are so bad????

 

Interesting timing reading this. Thursday night my daughters boyfriend's Focus had the battery catch fire in my driveway. Took out the airbox, maf, and basically all the wiring harness on the drivers side of the engine compartment.

I don't think you can draw accurate conclusions from anectodal evidence.

My original GM battery lasted four years and that was long enough to satisfy me. I've had aftermarket batteries last from between 6 months and 6 years. Just seems to be luck of the draw.

I find their conclusions on the corvette drivetrain being problematic baffling as I've heard very very few instances of problems and a quick search on this forum yields pretty few instances.

 

Both my 00 and 01 were oil burners.

 

Florida rob,
'00-01 Focuses had a recall concerning a battery cable routing problem, if it wasn't fixed, that would cause the fire you described.
Batterys typically don't blow-up and catch fire unless of course it is spark/venting problem. I'm not a typical GM buyer, I buy only vehicles that GM produces that isn't offered in Ford's line. For example I bought a '92 Pontiac Trans-port mini-van, beacause at the time Ford didn't make a FWD minivan. That car was a disaster, transmission going just out of warranty, doorhandles falling out, suspension issues. I dumped it like a hot potato. I bought a used K30 Silverado (because I couldn't find a Ford) and had tons of issues with that as well. Either I haven't hit a good one, or well, you know. Why wouldn't I expect a battery to last 8 years if I have had at least 6 Ford vehicles, including used,
that the batteries lasted that long? I was amazed when the Pontiac's battery died in three years, I thought my wife was crazy. And BTW, when I bought my 'Vette I was terrified when I read the sticky in the beginning entitled "known problems". If anyone from CR read that, that would be enough for a damning review.

Buy a Motorcraft battery and try it yourself if you don't believe it. I find that alot of GM folks are so brand loyal that they will tolerate the defects. I chuckled when my neighbor pulled into the driveway with a new Explorer after 3 lemon Blazer turn-ins. Each company has it's good models and bad, but in the vehicles I've owned, (over 70, yes I'm a car nut and need help) I've definitely had more issues with GM.

John

 

i'm a shop foreman at a ford dealership and I can tell you ford batteries are junk also. I bought a 2001 vette & have been thrilled with the way it performes & the improved engineering over ford products. After driving many new ford products including mustangs with drive by wire, I was shocked to see the diff in throttle response possible!!

 

I have a 00 'vert with 36,000 miles and the only problem I've had was the battery leak. My wife has an 06 Honda CRV (CR best pick) and with 8,000 miles the left headlight has already burned out. Hope her car does as well as mine after 36,000 miles.

 

 

Since the rise of internet accessibility, the influence of Condemner Reports is collapsing.

That pub has never been a fan of Corvettes. Year after year they report 'worse than average reliability' with 'higher than average satisfaction.' I think the resale markeplace speaks for itself; a well-kept Vette of any vintage ain't gonna be cheap.

 

along with road & track. if it ain't ***, they don't like it

 

yeah they started that hate american love japanese crap back in the eighties. thE same editor must still be with them.

i have owned over 60 cars and trucks from many countires and since around 2000 american cars are right up there with any import. it is just all that bad press from the last 20 years. kinda sux !

in the desert no bodies battery lasts pAST 3 SUMMERS...ITS 120 IN THE SHADE HERE BABY!

 

most foreign automakers produce and sell the car model locally 2 years before exporting it, getting all the bugs out before we get it. consumer reports needs to go overseas and get some real info!

then imports would be scary to buy! hahahaha

 

Maybe the editor got on this forum and read all the complaints about "runcraps", "Blose stereo", leaking seals, windows sticking, oil pressure senders going out, fuel gauge not working, a/c display going out, turn signal stalk going out, hazard flasher causing turn signals not to work, wobbling balancers, squealing belt tensioners, heater/ac vents not moving, headlights grinding, grounds corroding, modules going out, seats rocking, cheap leather seats, cheap plastic interior, roofs crazing, trunk won't pop up, column locking up, pull key wait 10 seconds, parking brake won't hold and dozens more I can't even think of and thought it happened to all of them. I've had a 98 and an 03, so fortunately I haven't seen any of those. Like somebody else said, they only asked certain people and the ones who had no problems probably didn't respond. I try not to pay any attention to those polls unless they can ask everyone who owns the models in question.