"Low Maintenance" Vette?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
you forgot failed ebcm's in the 90-91 car that ghost code and tell you something else is wrong when it's actually the ebcm. that and the mystery of broken u joints when the bushings in the rear are dry rotted to hell and back and or someone does not use spicer joints. trying to think if there is more but i think you covered most of it.
on the bright side the ZF6 is a nice transmission
c4's are almost give aways these days. this one just popped up in my area
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/3146527886.html
guy had it at 2300 earlier today, has some nice parts on it too. body work is a simple fix, throw in another engine and be in the car less than 4k
on the bright side the ZF6 is a nice transmission
c4's are almost give aways these days. this one just popped up in my area
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/3146527886.html
guy had it at 2300 earlier today, has some nice parts on it too. body work is a simple fix, throw in another engine and be in the car less than 4k
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
you forgot failed ebcm's in the 90-91 car that ghost code and tell you something else is wrong when it's actually the ebcm. that and the mystery of broken u joints when the bushings in the rear are dry rotted to hell and back and or someone does not use spicer joints. trying to think if there is more but i think you covered most of it.
on the bright side the ZF6 is a nice transmission
c4's are almost give aways these days. this one just popped up in my area
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/3146527886.html
guy had it at 2300 earlier today, has some nice parts on it too. body work is a simple fix, throw in another engine and be in the car less than 4k
on the bright side the ZF6 is a nice transmission
c4's are almost give aways these days. this one just popped up in my area
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/3146527886.html
guy had it at 2300 earlier today, has some nice parts on it too. body work is a simple fix, throw in another engine and be in the car less than 4k
If you took that list and posted it by itself with no mention of what car it was, would it be a C4 or a C5? They both have many of the same issues.And No, a C4 that has been cared for is not a giveaway.
Where do you people come up with this stuff?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 355
From: Rochester New York
you forgot failed ebcm's in the 90-91 car that ghost code and tell you something else is wrong when it's actually the ebcm. that and the mystery of broken u joints when the bushings in the rear are dry rotted to hell and back and or someone does not use spicer joints. trying to think if there is more but i think you covered most of it.
on the bright side the ZF6 is a nice transmission
c4's are almost give aways these days. this one just popped up in my area
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/3146527886.html
guy had it at 2300 earlier today, has some nice parts on it too. body work is a simple fix, throw in another engine and be in the car less than 4k
on the bright side the ZF6 is a nice transmission
c4's are almost give aways these days. this one just popped up in my area
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/3146527886.html
guy had it at 2300 earlier today, has some nice parts on it too. body work is a simple fix, throw in another engine and be in the car less than 4k
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
Concerning Maintenance ... I own a C2 as well as 3 C's a C4 and a C5... to be honest the C2 and C3's are a lot more problem free then either the C4 or C5 and those cars are not what I would call problematic.. the C2 and C3's are very simple cars mechanically
I'm 68 ..and to be frank I can wrench with the best of them but I'm lost on my C4 or C5 when it comes to the electronics..
Its funny but I own 64 72 and 98 Convertibles as well as a 76 79 and a 88 35th ANC Coupes ..all sticks except the 88 (getting old and needed an automatic) BUT if I could only own one of my Corvettes it would be my low HP L48 4 speed low optioned 76 HANDS DOWN...
Bob G
I'm 68 ..and to be frank I can wrench with the best of them but I'm lost on my C4 or C5 when it comes to the electronics..
Its funny but I own 64 72 and 98 Convertibles as well as a 76 79 and a 88 35th ANC Coupes ..all sticks except the 88 (getting old and needed an automatic) BUT if I could only own one of my Corvettes it would be my low HP L48 4 speed low optioned 76 HANDS DOWN...
Bob G
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Yep, like the C5 has never had an ebcm issue, If you took that list and posted it by itself with no mention of what car it was, would it be a C4 or a C5? They both have many of the same issues.
And No, a C4 that has been cared for is not a giveaway.
Where do you people come up with this stuff?
If you took that list and posted it by itself with no mention of what car it was, would it be a C4 or a C5? They both have many of the same issues.And No, a C4 that has been cared for is not a giveaway.
Where do you people come up with this stuff?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
Your friend who is a female asked you about which fun car to get 
Seriously? Are you a couple? just friends? Want to lose that female as a partner or friend; recommend a car! She goes and buys it and it sucks for whatever reason. Who does she blame? See where I'm going? Step back and out. Let her decide on her own. Just MHO.
Seriously? Are you a couple? just friends? Want to lose that female as a partner or friend; recommend a car! She goes and buys it and it sucks for whatever reason. Who does she blame? See where I'm going? Step back and out. Let her decide on her own. Just MHO.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
Ive always had great luck with third gen f-bodys. Ive had a 84 trans am for 11 years now that has always been my most dependable car, and two others from 96 and 97. The amount of 80's and 90's f-bodys on the road are a testament to their longevity. I do think the old gen-one Chevy small blocks are more dependable than the Lt1 engines.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 855
Likes: 36
From: Crystal Springs MS
- Coolant temp sensors - not bad, replaced w/water pump
- Oil Leaks - we have seepage and weeps, like a Harley
- but nothing I would classify as a leak- Squeaks and rattles - a few, so does C5 - but we have some rough-*** roads here, everybody's car squeaks and rattles
- opti-spark distributor failures - no failure, replaced w/water pump @ 140K
- HVAC control failures - the '96 has the C68, vacuum nipples in the programmer dried up - agreed, bitch to work on
- Weatherstrip leaks - showing wear, but no leaks - the '94 goes through a car wash at least once a week (my wife)
Maybe it was luck of the draw since both cars are Southern cars and just wasn't exposed to a snow/ice/salt type environment, plus they have been garaged. I just fixed the turn-signal issue in the 2000 and have the metal gears ordered for both headlight doors. Plastic gears didn't last for 24K miles...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
Miata is another good one. Audi TT too maybe. Boxster HELL NO. My buddy had one. I drove it and it handles beautifully and is an awesome car in its own way... but the parts are unbelievably expensive for that thing
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,765
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
I hate to say it, but the Mazda Miata is another one that always receives high recommendations as a used car for both dependability and owner satisfaction. It's been one of the top 5 used cars every year for many years running.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,765
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,602
Likes: 38
From: Westchester County, NY
Old cars become "parts magnets." End of discussion.
That said, the Corvette is unique in that it IS a special car, designed, engineered and built from the ground up to be what it is. Many "special" parts no doubt, but at the end of the day, it is a Chevrolet and can be serviced and repaired at most any Chevy dealership nation-wide.
C5 and C6 Corvettes have proven to be bullet-proof and amazingly defect free. Given normal care, it will last longer than you will probably want to drive it.
What a car !!
That said, the Corvette is unique in that it IS a special car, designed, engineered and built from the ground up to be what it is. Many "special" parts no doubt, but at the end of the day, it is a Chevrolet and can be serviced and repaired at most any Chevy dealership nation-wide.
C5 and C6 Corvettes have proven to be bullet-proof and amazingly defect free. Given normal care, it will last longer than you will probably want to drive it.
What a car !!
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Ione California
Not knowing her background or driving capabilities, a Miata might be a good suggestion. It's said to be a fun little sporty car to drive and you'll only get into "so much" trouble with it performance-wise.
Most people don't realize how much performance you're talking about with a Corvette.
For instance: I had a '94 C4 6-speed. My wife wanted to drive her, I said no. When she asked why I told her that my 'vette had more power then she was used to and I didn't think she could handle it. She said that since she had driven our 89 ford crown Victoria, that had a V8 in it, she knew how to handle a car with power...
Most people don't realize how much performance you're talking about with a Corvette.
For instance: I had a '94 C4 6-speed. My wife wanted to drive her, I said no. When she asked why I told her that my 'vette had more power then she was used to and I didn't think she could handle it. She said that since she had driven our 89 ford crown Victoria, that had a V8 in it, she knew how to handle a car with power...