Consumer Reports
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Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 578
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From: Boiling Springs Pennsylvania
Oldtimer
Consumer Reports
Was browsing the magazine rack earlier today and picked up the CR for used cars. Went to Corvettes and expected them to kill us with negatives. Since I own an '04, went to that column and lo and behold, CR rates the '04 with a "much better than average" rating. The top rating for Vettes from '00 to '11. Now that adds $5000 to the value of the car 
BTW, the only Vette that was given the "kiss of Death" was the '06.
BTW, the only Vette that was given the "kiss of Death" was the '06.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
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Never really considered CR reviews as being very credible. For them, a car is just another appliance. However, it's the first time I hear that they gave a Corvette a good rating. I guess that is encouraging.
I still think that CR is a useless magazine, though.
I still think that CR is a useless magazine, though.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: San Diego CA
Those reliability ratings you see are based upon CR's annual questionnaire returns from their tens of thousands of subscribers. CR lists a separate rating that is based upon both the reliability data and CR's road test results. CR has always rated the Corvette's performance very highly; it's the reliability data that has prevented them from recommending the Corvette. Obviously, the 04 C5, being the last year for that generation, has improved as far as reliability is concerned.
Most likely, many failed components from 97-03 C5s have been replaced with improved versions from the 04 model (or eliminated in the case of our beloved column lock feature).
Most likely, many failed components from 97-03 C5s have been replaced with improved versions from the 04 model (or eliminated in the case of our beloved column lock feature).
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 578
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From: Boiling Springs Pennsylvania
Oldtimer
CR has always been BS in my book. Back in 1994, I bought a '94 SHO based on their "Recommended Buy" only to find the following year (1995) that their opinion had changed and it was now a used car to avoid at all costs. The CR magazine that I am referring to listed all categories including performance and Reliability. The average score at the end for the '04 was the full green circle listing 10 or 11 years of Vettes from '00. Finally, I own a vehicle that is over 8 model years old that CR rates as exceptional. 
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 578
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From: Boiling Springs Pennsylvania
Oldtimer
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 578
Likes: 1
From: Boiling Springs Pennsylvania
Oldtimer
The magazine articles create an interesting side note to our C5's which from those '00 and up faired reasonably in a rather foreign car biased magazine (CR).
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Menomonee Falls (near MKE) Wisconsin
Mikes1hog is absolutely right ... CR has an obvious bias against Ameerican cars.
I don't.
But I must say that the Toyota that I inherited from my mother has been as reliable as my '04 Corvette!
Tom
I don't.
But I must say that the Toyota that I inherited from my mother has been as reliable as my '04 Corvette!
Tom