Why do we...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 30,770
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From: Down the Shore New Jersey, Elev.3 feet
St. Jude Donor '17
Why do we...
Why do we act like the Corvette is so fragile? I have never in my life drained my brake fluid,and treated any other car like it would melt in the rain and fall apart if it got dirty. Trust me I love this car but is the paint sub quality from paint used on other cars? Sometimes it seems that to someone who does not have a vette ...if they read some of these threads they might say...who needs it. Again LOVE MY VETTE, just an observation here.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 177
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From: Arvada CO
With one exception. Why do other corvette owners act like the Corvette is so fragile. It's just a car.....legendary and awesome car, but still a car. I love mine and drive the hell out of it snow rain or shine. Just turned 78k. 
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 19,557
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From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
If you never changed brake fluid in any other car then you have learned something owning a Corvette. You should change brake fluid. How about clutch fluid? Or do have one of those A4 cars.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO
I have to agree wholeheartedly!! I have read several threads on here and they act like the car was painted differently than my 05 Silverado or any other car on the assembly line and therefore needs to be washed differently. I read one thread where the owner was confused as to how much oil to put in. Another thread spoke of cutting the roof off the car and converting it to a vert!! Why would you spend thousands on a car just to cut it up and convert it into something else?? 
Just treat it with respect and maintain it and it will provide years of service. Don't get me wrong, but I too love this car and I have owned lots of other cars before and I treat them all equally well. And the only reason I never drove my 1980 in the rain was because I would get a nice sprinkling inside the car even with new weatherstrips...
Just drive them and shut the H--- up....
Just treat it with respect and maintain it and it will provide years of service. Don't get me wrong, but I too love this car and I have owned lots of other cars before and I treat them all equally well. And the only reason I never drove my 1980 in the rain was because I would get a nice sprinkling inside the car even with new weatherstrips... Just drive them and shut the H--- up....
Moderator Emeritus
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From: Always living in a state of Confusion.
Gone, but not Forgotten
Cruise-In 5, 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09
My '98 has mostly been a garage queen until just recently. Now I'm driving it every day. Just turned over 40k miles. 
It wasn't making any money setting in the garage!
It wasn't making any money setting in the garage!
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Daily driver here. My only real concern is ground clearence here in Texas. My last truck was a lifted silverady with 8" total ground clearence and i'm still adjusting to crusing low.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
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From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
It's nice to have something so beautiful and keep it that way. I've had a ton of other cars that I treated the same as the 'Vette mechanically, but not as well on the visible side. That is, my Sable and Explorer and other previous cars all get the same drive train attention, but don't get waxed as often, and have their share of nose, door and bumper dings. The difference for me is that I can't recall getting together with a bunch of other Sable owners to swap tales of 1/4 mile efforts or trips down the twisties, then follow that up with a big Sable Show. I treat mine with "kid gloves" because I'd like it to look brand new as long as possible. I get a lot of kidding from my wife and friends about it, but they know as well it's a beautiful car and it wouldn't be as nice without the attention. I've also had a Corvette as a daily driver (my '86 and my '99) so I know what it's like to run 'em hard and put 'em away wet... But this time I'm going to have a "new" car every time I take her out. 
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,735
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From: Visalia CA
Because we love them and cherish them and don't want to see them dirty.
I don't think the majority of the people who own "garage queens" don't drive them becuase they think they are preserving them for a return on their investment. They just want to keep them nice looking all the time.
Mine's almost a daily driver, and I've owned it almost a year now, and never washed it once!
It gets wiped down before and after every drive. Some may think that's a little "****" but I don't give a rat's ***! 
It's a beautiful machine and I take pride in it always looking its best! 
I don't think the majority of the people who own "garage queens" don't drive them becuase they think they are preserving them for a return on their investment. They just want to keep them nice looking all the time.
Mine's almost a daily driver, and I've owned it almost a year now, and never washed it once!
It gets wiped down before and after every drive. Some may think that's a little "****" but I don't give a rat's ***! It's a beautiful machine and I take pride in it always looking its best!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 446
Likes: 13
From: Nine Mile Falls WA
. . . personal choice . . .
Why do some guys beat their wives, rob banks, pick their nose . . . ad infinitum. I personally agree with your philosophy and drive mine (LT4 'Vert) as much as possible. It will not appreciate during MY lifetime, so why save it? I don't think the guy who will own it after me deserves to put miles on it more than I do, so why not just drive it myself!
On the other hand, Corvettes look best when really clean, making all us Corvette owners look good (by association) when they are kept as clean as possible. When mine gets dirty I feel a bit of responsibility (and personal pleasure) in cleaning it up real good as soon as possible. Driving it in the rain definitely requires a cleaning before I am happy driving it again. I find myself getting lazy as I age. If I just leave it in the garage on rainy days I don't have to wash it as often, and the trade-off works for the most part.
My brother keeps his '04 'Vert garaged a lot (10k miles) - I drive my '96 a lot (60k miles). I don't think he's wrong and he understands my POV.
On the other hand, Corvettes look best when really clean, making all us Corvette owners look good (by association) when they are kept as clean as possible. When mine gets dirty I feel a bit of responsibility (and personal pleasure) in cleaning it up real good as soon as possible. Driving it in the rain definitely requires a cleaning before I am happy driving it again. I find myself getting lazy as I age. If I just leave it in the garage on rainy days I don't have to wash it as often, and the trade-off works for the most part.
My brother keeps his '04 'Vert garaged a lot (10k miles) - I drive my '96 a lot (60k miles). I don't think he's wrong and he understands my POV.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles Ca
I guess if you are in that crowd that wants the best return on your investment you will keep your Corvette locked up. Think about it this way, if you had a Babe Ruth baseball card would you stick it in your wallet and go around showing off to everyone, my guess is no, you probabley would keep it in a glass case or locked up so it will not get damaged in any way so when you do sell it, you can get the most money you can. As far as Corvettes go, you would probabley want the lowest miles as possible and try to keep it factory with no blemish at all, which means (locked up) not enjoying it like you should. Maybe you are in the crowd to where you just want it to last a lot longer than it would if you drove it everyday, the less you use something the longer it last. No matter what crowd you are in just enjoy your car to the fullest, which is different for everyone.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I don't drive mine everyday because I have something else to drive, that's equally nice. In fact in some respects, it's nicer. It has a better stereo, better headlights and is a lot easier to get into and out of (shorter doors).
You're all right - it is just a car, but to me it's my dream car and my pleasure vehicle. Since going to work is not a pleasure, I would prefer to reserve my pleasure vehicle for my pleasant times.
I keep it clean because it gives me pleasure to see it that way.
I'm not critical of those that drive their Corvettes every day - why do those that drive theirs everyday feel compelled to criticize those of us that chose to keep it in the garage and drive it weekends? Why do they care what I do with my car.....jealousy perhaps?
You're all right - it is just a car, but to me it's my dream car and my pleasure vehicle. Since going to work is not a pleasure, I would prefer to reserve my pleasure vehicle for my pleasant times.
I keep it clean because it gives me pleasure to see it that way.
I'm not critical of those that drive their Corvettes every day - why do those that drive theirs everyday feel compelled to criticize those of us that chose to keep it in the garage and drive it weekends? Why do they care what I do with my car.....jealousy perhaps?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
I cherish my car because well, its been a dream of mine to own my own corvette since i was 15. I'm now 26 and own my dream car and it was a $33,640 investment. It is my main vehicle. Monday-Friday I drive it to work and back. Believe me, I cant wait to wake up in the mornings to drive to work and I cant wait until its 5pm so I can get off and drive back home. I enjoy every second of it. From driving it to washing it. Its just an attachment a bond and to finally own something you've dreamt about is awesome.
I do know what you mean though. I had a friend with a vette and he was afraid to do 35 on a turn lol
I do know what you mean though. I had a friend with a vette and he was afraid to do 35 on a turn lol
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,423
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From: PaCnW
Obviously, the Corvette has always been a sports car of America, and nothing but..unlike other's that have been everything but a constant sports car each year of production...Treat yours as you wish, mine is "special" above the rest...
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 333
Likes: 1
From: Mendota Heights MN
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,333
Likes: 0
From: Athens OH
While I do treat mine differently as far as taking extra care of it, I drive it often. i have 2 other cars I could drive, but when it comes to choosing which to drive, the Vette just calls to me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 9
From: Eddy Texas
'04 with 33k miles here. I ain't skeered to drive it, rain or shine. Yes, it is an awesome car that looks like nothing else when it is clean and detailed. That's why I keep IT spotless, and my truck dirty. When the truck is clean, it looks like all the other 4 door trucks on the road. But, whether the Vette is clean or not, it is THE coolest car on the road!
So, if I'm going to own the coolest car on the road:
1: I'm gonna drive it every chance I get.
2: It's gonna be the cleanest car on the road.
If I owned a Ford Taurus and felt the same way about it, I would have the cleanest Ford on the road. As someone stated earlier, it's not going to appreciate in value in MY lifetime. If I'm going to put $35k in the garage, it would be to pay off the mortgage early. But I put $35k in a car, and I'm gonna drive the hell out of it!
So, if I'm going to own the coolest car on the road:
1: I'm gonna drive it every chance I get.
2: It's gonna be the cleanest car on the road.
If I owned a Ford Taurus and felt the same way about it, I would have the cleanest Ford on the road. As someone stated earlier, it's not going to appreciate in value in MY lifetime. If I'm going to put $35k in the garage, it would be to pay off the mortgage early. But I put $35k in a car, and I'm gonna drive the hell out of it!
