Drawing a bad conclusion
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 586
Drawing a bad conclusion
After Owning a C3, C4, and now a C5, I am really second guessing myself. I have read a lot of posts on each forum and really feel like the C5 is a delicate creature. My C4 seemed to be built like a Chevy. Drive it, beat it, wash it, repeat. All I read about the C5s is making me uneasy about driving it. Columns locking, seats breaking, leather tearing, codes left and right, and all sorts of msc. problems. I am afraid to drive the dang car for fear some ultra expensive problem is going to pop up. I just didn't worry about my C4. It seemed pretty bullet proof. I hope many of you can post and convince me I am wrong. (please). I don't subscribe to the "if you wanna play you gotta pay" theory of Corvette ownership. I owned and played just fine historically without issue. Tell me some stories of really driving these cars and how well they have held up. Help me buy in to this car because it is beautiful, but I don't have disposable income to toss at it constantly.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 4,292
Likes: 1,165
From: Green and Wet Western Oregon
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2018 C6 of Year Winner
We just returned from the Corvette Caravan & 15th Anniversary at the NCM - 6600 miles in 16 days - no issues.
What you read here will be about the various problems that people encounter because they don't have questions when there are no problems!
1. Find out if your C5 already has a CLB. If not buy one and install it before the column lock issue happens.
2. Not all C5's have the rocking seat problem and it is relatively easy to fix DIY.
3. Early C5's experienced the leaking left rear axle seal, but GM has new redesigned seal that fixes that problem (most of the time).
Drive it and enjoy the car, these really are amazing cars!
What you read here will be about the various problems that people encounter because they don't have questions when there are no problems!
1. Find out if your C5 already has a CLB. If not buy one and install it before the column lock issue happens.
2. Not all C5's have the rocking seat problem and it is relatively easy to fix DIY.
3. Early C5's experienced the leaking left rear axle seal, but GM has new redesigned seal that fixes that problem (most of the time).
Drive it and enjoy the car, these really are amazing cars!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 647
Likes: 0
From: Minnetrista MN
The info here on the forum is fantastic, but it can also be overwhelming to read of the problems. It can almost make a person paranoid to read the sticky of common issues. I had 2 C5s ('03 coupe, '04z) and never experienced a single problem. My advice is drive the car and enjoy it. It is definitely not worth worrying about. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 2
From: Greenville SC
St. Jude Donor '10
The only downside I have found on this forum is the image that there can be a lot of problems with the C5 but in reality it just seems like that because people don't post to say.. "Hey nothing broke today". Most problems are minor and there are great fixes and lots of help to be found on here. Most cars have there certain problems the C5 being no exception but overall it's an amazing car and built very well. Drive the tires off it and take care of it and it will most likely turn out to be one of the better cars you have ever owned.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,466
Likes: 886
From: Fort Wayne IN
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C5 of the Year Finalist
2016 C5 of the Year Finalist
2015 C5 of the Year Finalist
Remember also that people are going to be more apt to post about problems they're experiencing than problems they're NOT experiencing.
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Sask.,
The only downside I have found on this forum is the image that there can be a lot of problems with the C5 but in reality it just seems like that because people don't post to say.. "Hey nothing broke today". Most problems are minor and there are great fixes and lots of help to be found on here. Most cars have there certain problems the C5 being no exception but overall it's an amazing car and built very well. Drive the tires off it and take care of it and it will most likely turn out to be one of the better cars you have ever owned.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 605
Likes: 11
From: Killarny MB
From my experience after a year of ownership is that my car has experienced lot of the common issues such as the rocking seat, oil pressure sending unit failed, gas gages will stop working intermittently, column lock issue. Thank goodness, that is about it so far, however, should my car experience anything else, there are awesome people on here that can inform you and me of fixed that seem to take more time than money. Sometimes I am disappointed in the C5 and the problems I am having, but I try to just enjoy it and not worry about the little things.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Punta Gorda FL
This C5 is my fourth Vette. Have had a C3 and two C4s. Had problems over the years with each of them. Each one is great in it's own way, and each has problems unique to those years. Could not say one was better or worse than the others. My C5 is 12 years old and the newest ones are already 5 years old. In all that time, things are going to happen. I will say that the C5 is probably the best to have as a daily driver.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Mine has been somewhat troublesome IMO.
2000 A4 Coupe with about 88,000 miles.
I have had it for almost five years and 40,000 miles.
Repetitive, intermittent airbag light issue - back again.
(I think it is a wire problem and not a component this time).
Oil pressure sensor recently went bad.
One Tire Pressure Sensor is out.
Other minor odd and ends.
I'm damn glad I have it and would not trade my great experiences of travel, friendship and camaraderie which the car has provided for much of anything.
2000 A4 Coupe with about 88,000 miles.
I have had it for almost five years and 40,000 miles.
Repetitive, intermittent airbag light issue - back again.
(I think it is a wire problem and not a component this time).
Oil pressure sensor recently went bad.
One Tire Pressure Sensor is out.
Other minor odd and ends.
I'm damn glad I have it and would not trade my great experiences of travel, friendship and camaraderie which the car has provided for much of anything.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 23
From: Joplin, MO, USA
To appreciated the C5, go to the C4 section, and read some of their problems that most of us will never see with a C4, and are impossible in a C5! I'm not bashing the C4s by saying this, because I've owned 2 of them, and they are great cars, too. Neither of my Corvettes have had any issues at all.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 0
From: Qualicum Beach British Columbia
After Owning a C3, C4, and now a C5, I am really second guessing myself. I have read a lot of posts on each forum and really feel like the C5 is a delicate creature. My C4 seemed to be built like a Chevy. Drive it, beat it, wash it, repeat. All I read about the C5s is making me uneasy about driving it. Columns locking, seats breaking, leather tearing, codes left and right, and all sorts of msc. problems. I am afraid to drive the dang car for fear some ultra expensive problem is going to pop up. I just didn't worry about my C4. It seemed pretty bullet proof. I hope many of you can post and convince me I am wrong. (please). I don't subscribe to the "if you wanna play you gotta pay" theory of Corvette ownership. I owned and played just fine historically without issue. Tell me some stories of really driving these cars and how well they have held up. Help me buy in to this car because it is beautiful, but I don't have disposable income to toss at it constantly.
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
As most have said, most people post only when there are problems. In the 6 years I have been on the forum you are the first person who I have seen say that a C5 is more problematic to a C4
I am just gonna laugh because you have no personal experience or personal facts to back it up..just what you have read on this forum. ....thats fine no harm no foul, just makes me chuckle.
My personal opinion of C4's... GARBAGE probably my least favorite vette. My uncle owned 2 and I drove them several times (when they were not in the shop) Always something broken on them, especially electrical problems. C4 was almost the death of the vette, most boring and least attractive design IMO... and I think most will agree C5 saved the corvette.
Now, I'll take a C3 or C2 any day of the week!! Beautiful cars!!
JMO to each his own
I am just gonna laugh because you have no personal experience or personal facts to back it up..just what you have read on this forum. ....thats fine no harm no foul, just makes me chuckle.My personal opinion of C4's... GARBAGE probably my least favorite vette. My uncle owned 2 and I drove them several times (when they were not in the shop
) Always something broken on them, especially electrical problems. C4 was almost the death of the vette, most boring and least attractive design IMO... and I think most will agree C5 saved the corvette.Now, I'll take a C3 or C2 any day of the week!! Beautiful cars!!
JMO to each his own
Last edited by FrankTank; Sep 15, 2009 at 10:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 586
This is actually part of my point. I have only had the car since mid July so true enough, all I know is what I have read. My concern is that I will experience the issues I have read about. I will say again, it just seems a more delicate car. I had a beautiful 95 C4 and I remember taking my wife out on a back road and teaching her how to do donuts and how to straighten out of a skid and just periodically abuse the car and I never had a worry that I was breaking something. For some reason this car makes me behave like it is made of glass and quite honestly, the fear of it breaking is preventing me from really enjoying it. Not that I want to go do donuts, but IF I did, I want to know that the next day I could still drive it to Bowling Green if I wanted. I appreciate the posts, both positive and negative about the experiences you all have had and will hopefully not have any negatives of my own. After I posted, I took the car out for a drive and tried to just drive it like it was any car. I'll get used to it, or over it and hopefully not much time under it.
Thanks again.
Last edited by Aerovette; Sep 15, 2009 at 11:19 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
Likes: 84
From: . New York
We have a very active community. What you see is what gets posted, so you see a disproportionately large number of problem posts.
If you read the newspaper, you get the same impression (death doom and destruction 24/7).
I only put about 6k a year on mine, but many drive em as daily drivers and there are a huge number of x,xxx,xxx milers here.
Read the problem posts, you will see they often relate to stuff that happens but few if any of the problems disable the car (aside from CLB).
I think they are fine in the dependability area, all the computer stuff can get a little annoying but it starts and runs.
If you read the newspaper, you get the same impression (death doom and destruction 24/7).
I only put about 6k a year on mine, but many drive em as daily drivers and there are a huge number of x,xxx,xxx milers here.
Read the problem posts, you will see they often relate to stuff that happens but few if any of the problems disable the car (aside from CLB).
I think they are fine in the dependability area, all the computer stuff can get a little annoying but it starts and runs.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Hempfield Pennsylvania
This is my first vette so I have nothing to compare it with. I've had it a little over a year now and I drive it like I believe it was made to be driven. Never a real problem at all. Did have the gas gauge issue but a bottle of Techtron cleared that right up. Compared to muscle cars I've had in the past it's hands down the best I ever had. I find that I clean it so much because there's nothing else to do to it. Had some older GMs and I swear I had to spend the week working on them just to cruise over the weekend. I refuse to baby it to the point of not enjoying it. If that were the case then maybe it's not the car for me. So far it is everything and more and I love the fact that I get in, turn the key and it starts. I would buy another one in a second if it wasn't for death by wife.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 956
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia pa
i had an 84 and it was a pain in the butt after awhile so as much as my C5 can sometimes have little things pop up I still think this is a better car. You couldn't give me a C4 at this point. I'd by a Saturn Sky first and drive the wheels off it...the Turbo is fun.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria Ca.
I've driven my 98 Coupe every day for the last 10 months,had 1 problem-the original starter went out in December.
Didn't have a column lock problem,but I installed a CLB anyway,because I didn't want a column lock problem.
I do have the "Rocking Seat" thing,(ok,2 problems)but I don't really care,because it's not that big of a deal,doesn't bother me,or lessen my enjoyment of the Vette one bit-I know the procedure to fix it,and maybe I'll get around to it someday,or maybe not.
I don't baby it,but I don't thrash the snot out of it either-I drive it like I think it should be driven,and it holds up just fine,- if I do break something,C5's are remarkably easy to work on(but patience is required)
I'd say they do pretty well,for a car that IS made of glass...
Didn't have a column lock problem,but I installed a CLB anyway,because I didn't want a column lock problem.
I do have the "Rocking Seat" thing,(ok,2 problems)but I don't really care,because it's not that big of a deal,doesn't bother me,or lessen my enjoyment of the Vette one bit-I know the procedure to fix it,and maybe I'll get around to it someday,or maybe not.
I don't baby it,but I don't thrash the snot out of it either-I drive it like I think it should be driven,and it holds up just fine,- if I do break something,C5's are remarkably easy to work on(but patience is required)
I'd say they do pretty well,for a car that IS made of glass...