Do you enjoy your car
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 4
From: Broward County Florida
Here is the reality of Corvette ownership as I see it after owning 11 or 12 of them, first one bought at 19 years of age in 1974. My 2000 Coupe has just turned 80K in the last few weeks. It has the typical little windshield pits, it has some scratches here and there, more than its share of rock chips, the glass top has delaminated down the passeger side, and has a 1 inch long split in the drivers seat. And yet, it still puts a smile on my face every time I get it it. Just as it did back in 1974 with my first one. It is a car. It won't melt, it won't care if you eat and drink in it, it will really like it if you run it through the gears getting on the interstate. Drive it, enjoy it. Use it for what it was meant to do and don't sweat the small stuff. And it is all small stuff.
Like poetry. Very well put, Ron!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,358
Likes: 1
From: Medford NJ
I would go as far as to say I not only enjoy it, but possibly have an addiction.
I am glad its my DD - I don't want to drive anything else. And if it ever snows in the winter, I'd rather push my Vette than drive something more "practical".
I have had a rule on my last two Vettes. I don't look at the mileage. I don't want to ever look at it and think I shouldn't drive it so much.
I am glad its my DD - I don't want to drive anything else. And if it ever snows in the winter, I'd rather push my Vette than drive something more "practical".I have had a rule on my last two Vettes. I don't look at the mileage. I don't want to ever look at it and think I shouldn't drive it so much.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 8
From: 972 and 405
I would go as far as to say I not only enjoy it, but possibly have an addiction. I am glad its my DD - I don't want to drive anything else. And if it ever snows in the winter, I'd rather push my Vette than drive something more "practical".
I have had a rule on my last two Vettes. I don't look at the mileage. I don't want to ever look at it and think I shouldn't drive it so much.
I am glad its my DD - I don't want to drive anything else. And if it ever snows in the winter, I'd rather push my Vette than drive something more "practical".I have had a rule on my last two Vettes. I don't look at the mileage. I don't want to ever look at it and think I shouldn't drive it so much.
-Alex
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Washington PA.
I've only had my 97 Nassau Blue for 3 weeks, it had 34100 miles on it when I bought it, I turned over 35000 yesterday, so I have been driving it. It has some blemishes on it but for the most part you can't notice them unless your looking for them. I love to open the door from my house to my garage and just look at it, I really love driving it.
I told my girl friend I was looking for Vette's a month ago and she said that Vette's didn't do anything for her, I said "I'm not buying one for you, I'm buying it for me". I picked her up at the airport coming home from a business trip the 1st day I had it, and let her drive it a week later, she's loved it ever since. Great car !!!
I told my girl friend I was looking for Vette's a month ago and she said that Vette's didn't do anything for her, I said "I'm not buying one for you, I'm buying it for me". I picked her up at the airport coming home from a business trip the 1st day I had it, and let her drive it a week later, she's loved it ever since. Great car !!!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 7
From: Providence Rhode Island
never had that problem but the oil pressure sensor. I like the reat of you love driving my car, I just wish I could see the good and not the bad all the time. I may just be to picky but I do it to other cars too always find the bad spots. the chips the scratches the worn out seat or the sunfaded interior.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 374
Likes: 18
From: Merrimack NH
Here is the reality of Corvette ownership as I see it after owning 11 or 12 of them, first one bought at 19 years of age in 1974. My 2000 Coupe has just turned 80K in the last few weeks. It has the typical little windshield pits, it has some scratches here and there, more than its share of rock chips, the glass top has delaminated down the passeger side, and has a 1 inch long split in the drivers seat. And yet, it still puts a smile on my face every time I get it it. Just as it did back in 1974 with my first one. It is a car. It won't melt, it won't care if you eat and drink in it, it will really like it if you run it through the gears getting on the interstate. Drive it, enjoy it. Use it for what it was meant to do and don't sweat the small stuff. And it is all small stuff.
never had that problem but the oil pressure sensor. I like the reat of you love driving my car, I just wish I could see the good and not the bad all the time. I may just be to picky but I do it to other cars too always find the bad spots. the chips the scratches the worn out seat or the sunfaded interior.
I recently realized that it's a car, a toy, a machine, with thousands of different parts assembled in an organized fashion
If i don't vacuum it every time i drive it, It's feelings won't get hurt. All it wants to do is put a smile on my face every time I look at it. Or run through the gears. Thats what make a car beautiful in my opinion
-paul
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 28,858
Likes: 819
From: Parrish FL
St. Jude Donor '06 thru '26
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,333
Likes: 1
From: VA
St. Jude Donor '03-'11
I'm one of those in a rut too. Let's see, at the moment, I have a noisy rear, small crack in the windshield, rattling windows (when i shut the door), soft top needs some care, leaky water pump, and a couple of things i need to finish with the stereo install.
I still appreciate the car when I drive it, but it's not longer my fastest car. Still, I'm keeping her. Rear end and water pump are getting fixed this month. Will pick off the rest as I go.
I still appreciate the car when I drive it, but it's not longer my fastest car. Still, I'm keeping her. Rear end and water pump are getting fixed this month. Will pick off the rest as I go.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
I enjoy my car, by driving it. The hood and front valance are pitted. The wind shield has two rock chips. At first I cared. Why waste my money painting the front? It would look good but hurt ten times worse when it gets a chip. Can't avoid it unless you garage queen it, but whats the fun in owning a car you can't drive?
My 98 has 105k on it and most of the paint still looks really amazing (almost no swirl marks, and very few scratches, shines as good as new) but the front end does have lots of little pit marks and stone chips on it from all the driving (especially since I drive it in winter so it gets blasted with road salt a lot) But I'd much rather drive the car and put up with it looking like this as opposed to keeping it perfect but not getting out there and driving it often. Besides, my paint still looks amazing from 10 feet away and that's where most people see it. Sure it doesn't look as great when I'm standing right in front of it (such as when the Corvette guys are all hanging out together for instance) but I figure in a couple more years I'll spend the $1000 to get the hood and nose repainted and that'll freshen things up for a while.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 4,291
Likes: 1,165
From: Green and Wet Western Oregon
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2018 C6 of Year Winner
never had that problem but the oil pressure sensor. I like the reat of you love driving my car, I just wish I could see the good and not the bad all the time. I may just be to picky but I do it to other cars too always find the bad spots. the chips the scratches the worn out seat or the sunfaded interior.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Ohhhh! i slightly- LOVE IT! 
all I need to say is @ 701 RWHP and 582 RWTQ on a A4 with 3.42 gears and a 3200 Stall
Keeps a smile on my face all the time - even when it sis Enjoyed a 200 mile round trip/driving day with my wife Saturday too
Thanks,Matt
all I need to say is @ 701 RWHP and 582 RWTQ on a A4 with 3.42 gears and a 3200 Stall
Keeps a smile on my face all the time - even when it sis
Enjoyed a 200 mile round trip/driving day with my wife Saturday too Thanks,Matt
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I understand where you are coming from, and I too will get into phases where the scratches or whatever bug me, but then I drive it and just relax and enjoy it and I forget about the imperfections.
Also, realize that for the average person, they probably don't even see the scratches that you do.
It's the ol saying of "glass half full or half empty"
Drive the car and the glass will be half full (water of course nothing else)
Also, realize that for the average person, they probably don't even see the scratches that you do.
It's the ol saying of "glass half full or half empty"
Drive the car and the glass will be half full (water of course nothing else
)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 7
From: Providence Rhode Island
I just had it painted last December. I would never put touch up paint on it. I will have things like that done by the pros.
