My EX 325Ci was the worst car I have ever owned in both performance and reliability yet CR gave it above average ratings

 

Because CR is basically right, that's why.

And I'm not saying that to put down Corvettes or because mine has had any problems. I'm saying it because you have to understand what's being said here.

If you compare the ride, the assembly quality, the reliability, the materials used with, for example, a Toyota Camry, then the Camry wins, hands down, every time. CR doesn't measure "fun" or looks or prestige or any of the intangibles that come from owning a Corvette. To them, it's just another car. If that's the way you look at a Corvette, then you should pay attention to CR.

On the other hand, if you look at value, performance per dollar (including repair costs and reliability compared with other sports cars), then you have another ball game entirely. Go check out what it costs to do a tuneup on a 911, then find out what it costs to do one on a C5.

It's all in what you're looking for.

 

Because CR is basically right, that's why.

And I'm not saying that to put down Corvettes or because mine has had any problems. I'm saying it because you have to understand what's being said here.

If you compare the ride, the assembly quality, the reliability, the materials used with, for example, a Toyota Camry, then the Camry wins, hands down, every time. CR doesn't measure "fun" or looks or prestige or any of the intangibles that come from owning a Corvette. To them, it's just another car. If that's the way you look at a Corvette, then you should pay attention to CR.

On the other hand, if you look at value, performance per dollar (including repair costs and reliability compared with other sports cars), then you have another ball game entirely. Go check out what it costs to do a tuneup on a 911, then find out what it costs to do one on a C5.

It's all in what you're looking for.

 

I had Toyota Pick-Ups, two of them....and they both had become rust-buckets within 3 years, the auto tranny truck I had developed transmission trouble within 12 months, and the interior seating surfaces were falling apart within 2 years.

The Honda Civic I owned, like the two Toyotas, rusted terribly in the the rear fenders. This at less than 80,000 miles. The fuel mileage was more than 25% below it's EPA and Honda advertised rating. The gas tank had to be replaced at 92,000 and the interior seating AGAIN had springs popping out of it and the seating material worn right through. The Civic went through brake pads unbelievably fast....and other issues.

The bottom line today is that "buying American" has been propagandized by foreign companies as being anti-cool. That only cool and hip people drive Toyotas, Hondas, Acuras, etc.

If you believe that patriotism and nationalism isn't a factor in buying cars you'd be wrong. And today, patriotism and love of country is denigrated throughout our society. Consequently....buying domestic brands is shunned.

I wouldn't hit a dog in the *** with a Toyota, Honda, Acura, Subaru, or any other rice-burner or foreign vehicle. But, then again, it seems like Americans may possibly elect one of the most left-wing, socialist politicians in our country....Hitlery Clinton. Society has moved to the left....and being and buying American means little to today's American citizen.

There was a time when I believed Consumer Reports was unbiased in their product evaluations. Then after having personal experience with many of their rated products, I came to believe they were basically full of crap. American vehicles I owned had performed well for me and had been rated poorly by C/R. While, foreign products I had owned were rated well, yet were poor performers for me.

Consumer Reports and Madison Avenue advertising firms have done well in the last 30 years pushing and advocating foreign owned/produced products. Americans have bought into it....Good-Bye America.

DG

 

Just remember, "buying American" isn't straight forward when it comes to cars. Which benefits American more, when you buy a Ford F150 built in Mexico, or a Toyota Tundra built in Texas? I know which one gives an American a job, so that's where my dollar would go. The stock market doesn't care squat if a single American is employed.

 

IMO..

First...READ OTHER ARTICLES ABOUT THE C5 CORVETTE, NOT JUST Consumer Reports.

If you are thinking of buying a sports car. BUY A C5 !!

NO other performance car out there will come close to the reliability, value , economy and fun you will get PER $$ that the C5 will give you, PERIOD !!

I have been into cars all my life. I am not impressed by almost all other "specialty" cars out there. I work with people who spend BIG $$$$$$$$$$ on their cars ( M.D.s ) and most are NOT HAPPY with their cars !?!?!? I had a Porsche and I put a ZZ4 Small Block Chevy in it !

I wouldnt expect a pre-C5 Corvette to even come close to what a C5 will do or to do it as long.

The SBC Chevy platform held its place for along time but couldnt meet the emission and performance requirements both necessary to bring it into the future.

The LS1 changed all that.

Buy a well cared for C5 and you will most likely continue to drive that vehicle for many miles without a problem.

Then, cancel the subscription to Consumer Reports.

IMO

Mike
Portland Oregon

 

I once read an article about corvette and consumer report. They rated the 83 corvette as a poor car overall, trouble is there was no 1983 corvette. Except for the one at the corvette museum. They also rated the 82 corvette manual trans car as "not very reliable". 82 corvettes only were available with an automatic.

 

Do you want to take the rating of a sports car by a testing group that calculates the force required to close a door or open a trunk? They do all kinds of testing that is meaningless.

They try and approach a car like a scientific study, but there's so much more to a car that can't be quantified. In short, CR are moron's for testing cars. Now, I'd maybe take a look if I wanted to buy a new vacuum, but never a car.

Nuff said.

 

First of all, Consumer Reports "reports" what is sent in by real people, like you and me. I am one of the people who do so. Let me tell you how "reliable" my car has been:

1) Pulsating brakes
2) Door lock module
3) Differential gasket leak
4) Column lock module - flat bed tow
5) Smog pump check valve (check engine light)
6) Creaky clutch pedal

What others right here on the forum have reported (in addition to my list):

7) Gas gauge malfunction
8) Sticking clutch
9) Electrical craziness caused by the door connectors
10) EBCM ($1200 at dealership)
11) Targa top crazing and film separation

Okay, I think you get the picture. So before you bash CR (especially those who have not had their C5 for more than a couple of years), read the posts in this forum. Believe me, I really enjoy my C5 and have had it for over 6 years. Before that, I owned a 68 for almost 22 years. I am a Corvette guy, but my wife's Lexus is now 2.5 years old and the worst thing that has happened to it was a slightly loose wheel cap.
Does this mean that no one should buy a Corvette? Of course not. Just don't kid yourself that they are more reliable than a Honda S2000 or a Mazda Miata.

 

The way I look at it is that people who are not fortunate to own a Corvette are natural born Corvette Haters. That jealousy runs really deep and they try to find fault that justify why they don't own a vette. The true Corvette enthusiest is true to their cars because there's simply nothing out there that can compare to the style, performance and it's ledgend.

 

Wow

For once I agree with every word Delta3-2 has said, great post.

We recently bought CR best buy Vacum cleaner, broke in two days. My wife returned it and bought the Dyson, worst rated, works great.

I have friends and neighbors that live by Consumer reports. I can't believe my wife subscibes to that rag of a magazine.

 

What does that have to do with reliability problems and CR's reporting of them?

 

Newsflash! CR is a NONPROFIT organization. They accept NO advertisement money, whatsoever.

 

CR members vote for the cars....so you have the same people voting for the same cars year in and year out. If you have Corvette quarterly members voting you might have a different outcome. Just in terms of American vs Imports, have a look at the newest dependability scores from JD Power. Personally think they are less biased than CR.

http://www.jdpower.com/press-release...spx?id=2007130

#1 Buick shared with Lexus
#2 Cadillac
#3 Mercury
#4 Honda

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings...bility-ratings

No surprise at the bottom...VW...Kia...Suzuki

So for anyone who says they buy Toyota for reliability...try Buick

 

Perhaps CR doesn't consider recalls in their evaluations and comparisons of cars and trucks?

I've had my share of both American and Japanese cars dating back to the 70's. American cars have had their issues, but Japanese cars have not been squeaky clean either. I've had Toyota 18RC 2000cc engines on 2 different vehicles that were recalled and needed valve jobs while the engines were still fairly new because the valves would stick and clatter at freeway speeds. I've had Corolla's that couldn't seem to keep their intake and exhaust manifolds from coming loose. My wife has a Honda Accord EX. I've had to change the alternator, put in a new circuit board for the climate control and replace 2 motor mounts (and I'm pretty sure she isn't launching the car). The car has less than 60K miles on it. My Toyota truck needed to have the evaporator replaced when the air conditioner stopped working with only 62K miles on it. I think the quality of our American vehicles has improved due to foreign competition, but I also think the quality of imports has diminished for the same reasons. As foreign manufacturers increase volume and provide more powerful vehicles with more options, it appears their quality has suffered.

Anyone remember this article from Business Week late last year?

 

I have a 2002 Z06 that is a great car! I added a Maggie and made it better. The only costs have been maintenance and mods. I also have an 89 Corvette that has been mostly trouble free (get in turn the key and go). All sports type cars get bad write ups compared to your ricers. They cost more. I will never own a ricer . My daily driver is a V12 CL600 Mercedes. German and American for me. The moral is if you like it -- buy it. Who cares how they rank it or what other people say!

 

Advice from San Diego: Cancel your subscription to "Consumer Reports" and use the money for a subscription to: "Road & Track", "Motor Trend", "Cigar Afficianado", or the "Limbaugh Letter" and then go out and wash your new C-5 whilst enjoying a fine distilled "adult beverage"!

 

I ordered/bought my C5 new and although the Forum hype has had me install a CLB and correct the two stage, double backflip center console hinge I have to admit my car has performed very well with just a fuel injector failure. But here's my feeling. How when buying a USED car of any brand, let alone a PERFORMANCE car not knowing who did what with the car could anyone grade such a line of cars with any accuracy? Let's face it folks when you buy a used car of any kind you buy a pig in a poke and hope for the best.

 

WHAT?? I can't believe you said that! CR members don't "vote for their cars". I'm not sure where you dug that up. You answer a series of questions about your own car, not cars that you hate! I was very honest when I filled out questionairs for the C5 and the Lexus. Guess what? The Lexus is rated as having a better than average reliability - right on!

JD Powers, on the other hand, is an initial quality survey. It has nothing to do with long-term quality. If you buy a new car every year, use the JD Powers ratings. If you keep your car for 5 years, use CR's ratings or don't complain when your oil sending unit fails.

 

That's easy: CR requires that you are the original owner of the car on which you are reporting. Of course, people can lie, but quite frankly, people who subscribe to CR are not hoodlums and low-lifes who hate Corvettes, believe me (cause I'm a CR subscriber!).