Wow- Why does Consumer Reports Rate the C5 Poorly?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 2
From: Houston Texas
Wow- Why does Consumer Reports Rate the C5 Poorly?
I am close to pulling the trigger on a nice 2002 Z06 - jst read consumers reports and they give that year (and most years) a big black ball for reliability.
What is up- is this true?
What is up- is this true?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 1
From: Newport News va
Most will tell you that it is untrue.
The C5 is one of the best corvetts built. Everything has been well thought out. It has less issues than the older corvetts. Just ask around and see how many miles people are putting on their cars..
It's a good sound vehicle.. Good Luck.. And welcome to the Fourm.
The C5 is one of the best corvetts built. Everything has been well thought out. It has less issues than the older corvetts. Just ask around and see how many miles people are putting on their cars..
It's a good sound vehicle.. Good Luck.. And welcome to the Fourm.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 540
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver British Columbia
I think the guy who does the reviews is a rice lover.... All the rice mobiles
rate high.... There are good and bad to all Cars. Nothing except Ferrari,
Lambo, Aston Martin etc... Come close to the sex appeal of the mighty Vette.... A true American Original
rate high.... There are good and bad to all Cars. Nothing except Ferrari,
Lambo, Aston Martin etc... Come close to the sex appeal of the mighty Vette.... A true American Original
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Most will tell you that it is untrue.
The C5 is one of the best corvetts built. Everything has been well thought out. It has less issues than the older corvetts. Just ask around and see how many miles people are putting on their cars..
It's a good sound vehicle.. Good Luck.. And welcome to the Fourm.
The C5 is one of the best corvetts built. Everything has been well thought out. It has less issues than the older corvetts. Just ask around and see how many miles people are putting on their cars..
It's a good sound vehicle.. Good Luck.. And welcome to the Fourm.
CR has gone from a respected consumer purchasing tool to a "bought product" (read lobbied) My Wife is a research fanatic and stopped using CR for just the same reason that you are experiencing right now. Sure C5s have some common to the generation failures, but you're already here (in the Forum) where you can get the knowledge and support you may or may not need in your Vette owning future. The C5 is hands down the very best Vette ever made to date (including the C6) It may not appreciate as well as some, but is still my choice as the best driver and owner friendly Vette I've owned yet.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 18,049
Likes: 53
From: long Island NY
Alot of their reports are also past history of the vehicle or vehicles they're testing.The previous vettes were not great fit and finish cars and overall quality wasn't there.C5's were a giant leap for quality and was to rebuild the name and it is a great car.P.S.consumer reports is very bias with cars.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Guess I will be the dissenter. I have a C5 which I haven't had long. So far no issues.
But a quick reading of the forum makes it plain, that compared to a Honda or Toyota it has issues, a good many of them. I don't know how CR does their reporting now days. But looks fairly likely C5's are not quite there with the better top quality Japanese brands.
Now on the other hand, none of those are a Corvette, not close, not kinda, just not even in the ball park. I don't think the C5 is so bad it isn't worth owning. But that so far is conjecture on my part.
I do know that if I have more than 3 repairs, it will be more trouble than a Honda, Acura and a Toyota truck have given me in the last 450,000 miles. Two of those three I am still driving. That isn't three repairs each, but three total for the three vehicles. Of course I hope I am very wrong, and drive the C5 a couple hundred thousand miles without issue.
But a quick reading of the forum makes it plain, that compared to a Honda or Toyota it has issues, a good many of them. I don't know how CR does their reporting now days. But looks fairly likely C5's are not quite there with the better top quality Japanese brands.
Now on the other hand, none of those are a Corvette, not close, not kinda, just not even in the ball park. I don't think the C5 is so bad it isn't worth owning. But that so far is conjecture on my part.
I do know that if I have more than 3 repairs, it will be more trouble than a Honda, Acura and a Toyota truck have given me in the last 450,000 miles. Two of those three I am still driving. That isn't three repairs each, but three total for the three vehicles. Of course I hope I am very wrong, and drive the C5 a couple hundred thousand miles without issue.
Last edited by 931410; Oct 1, 2007 at 08:33 PM. Reason: ridiculous politcal correctness
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37,329
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From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
CI-VI Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 14
From: Baltimore Md.
I have an '04 and an '02 and wouldn't want any other cars. I love the C5 and except for a leaking left rearend in each car(common but covered under warranty), no problems and they are great cars to go on vacation in too.They are great cars for racing, autocrossing or just cruising around town. Buy It!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Northridge CA
CR reports black ball the C5 for 04'?
We'll lets look at it from a comsumers point. Have a 04 Tahoe, in the shop 6 times plus a new battery sunday. 02 BMW 745i and wifes BMW 03' 325ci live in the BMW shop. Isusu Trooper 94' 105K miles brakes, starters, batteries about it. I won't even get into the S320 MBZ I had. My 04' Corvette convertable 30K on it and never been in the shop! but my cigarette lighter stop working a few months ago, guess I better take it to the stealership....
We'll lets look at it from a comsumers point. Have a 04 Tahoe, in the shop 6 times plus a new battery sunday. 02 BMW 745i and wifes BMW 03' 325ci live in the BMW shop. Isusu Trooper 94' 105K miles brakes, starters, batteries about it. I won't even get into the S320 MBZ I had. My 04' Corvette convertable 30K on it and never been in the shop! but my cigarette lighter stop working a few months ago, guess I better take it to the stealership....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 756
Likes: 1
From: Oakton Virginia
I know Honda built a lot of Accords and that they are basically good cars but a quick scan of the popular Honda Accord forum reveals one or two problems here and there. All cars have issues. Are Corvette issues disproportionately high?- It doesn't seem so to me.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,372
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
They do that because their researchers read C5 General and see all the pissing and moaning about every little problem with our C5s. The 95% or better folks who are extremely pleased with their C5s don't rise to the top.