C5 annual maintenance?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 27,567
Likes: 99
From: San Diego
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 347
From: SC
Advanced
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Here's some advice - get a Civic or some other beater, drive it for a a few years, then get a Vette as a secondary driver. You're not going to want to daily drive a Corvette anyway in the weather - it's no fun.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,475
Likes: 10
From: Wake Forest NC
I've put 42,000 on my daily driver '04 in 5 years = 8400 miles a year.
During that time, I spent $930 a year on maintenance, including a battery, two belts, alignments, front & rear brakes with two rotors, and two tire changes (Mich PS AS/ZP and just recently, Nitto NT555.)
Oh, and my State Farm insurance is about $37 a month, (although I'm significantly older than 17.)
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During that time, I spent $930 a year on maintenance, including a battery, two belts, alignments, front & rear brakes with two rotors, and two tire changes (Mich PS AS/ZP and just recently, Nitto NT555.)
Oh, and my State Farm insurance is about $37 a month, (although I'm significantly older than 17.)
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Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Endicott New York
Oldtimer
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,951
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From: The heartbreaking shame of pink stars Kentucky
1. You're too young for anything more powerful than a malaise-era Vette.
(sorry, it used to chap my *** to hear this, too.)
2. Two oil changes, rotate & balance, alignment, in a "normal" year: $300 +/-. Then every second or third year, tires; maybe brakes.
3. It ain't the planned annual cost that hurts, it's the unplanned stuff that'll getcha.
$4000/yr for insurance? I never paid that much for the car until I was 25! (sorry, senior moment there
)
(sorry, it used to chap my *** to hear this, too.)
2. Two oil changes, rotate & balance, alignment, in a "normal" year: $300 +/-. Then every second or third year, tires; maybe brakes.
3. It ain't the planned annual cost that hurts, it's the unplanned stuff that'll getcha.
$4000/yr for insurance? I never paid that much for the car until I was 25! (sorry, senior moment there
)
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
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From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Ahhh..:.yep. 17 with a Vette. 
someone needs a reality check. Sorry.... Just the way it is IMHO. I don't think there are too many 17 year olds out there with the experience and maturity to handle a Vette. Sorry....but do yourself a favor and give it some time.
someone needs a reality check. Sorry.... Just the way it is IMHO. I don't think there are too many 17 year olds out there with the experience and maturity to handle a Vette. Sorry....but do yourself a favor and give it some time.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis Indiana
I know you don't want to hear what everyone is saying but its true. Take it from me, I'm 22 and just recently got a c5 and can tell you it wouldn't have worked if I had at 17. I assume you plan on going to college and I can tell you it will be extremely time consuming trying to keep it nice while living on campus. Having a cheap beater car is a great thing but the kicker is you won't really appreciate one until you have something really nice.
As far as the driving school goes, its a good start but there is no substitute for a couple of years driving on the roads and seeing how crazy others will drive around you. Somehow in a bright red vette, I've had more people almost run into me than any other car I've driven.
As far as the driving school goes, its a good start but there is no substitute for a couple of years driving on the roads and seeing how crazy others will drive around you. Somehow in a bright red vette, I've had more people almost run into me than any other car I've driven.
Last edited by 8ers; Oct 15, 2012 at 08:07 PM.
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 737
Likes: 3
From: Pennington NJ
I just want to pitch in my .02 here......I got my 1974 4 speed L-82 when I was 15. From then until now I have enjoyed fully restoring it one part at a time and driving it.
Now I realize that the C5 is in every way better than my car, but it is also a new car. Fuel injection, actually has weather stripping and interior insulation, has AC, modern everything. ALL of my friends have a pre 1990 vehicle. In my friend group - 1974 Monte Carlo, 1972 550 HP 5 speed Nova, 1984 C30 454, 1968 Road runner 383 4 speed, plus many more. All of these are old vehicles, and we treat them with respect and well know their limits. We have had no incidents, even though trust me we use our cars....
Personally, I'd say the C5 is the SAFER bet, and not at all a hard car to handle if you arent a complete Jacka$$.
I say go for it and get yourself a Corvette! Never will you have a better car.
Will
Now I realize that the C5 is in every way better than my car, but it is also a new car. Fuel injection, actually has weather stripping and interior insulation, has AC, modern everything. ALL of my friends have a pre 1990 vehicle. In my friend group - 1974 Monte Carlo, 1972 550 HP 5 speed Nova, 1984 C30 454, 1968 Road runner 383 4 speed, plus many more. All of these are old vehicles, and we treat them with respect and well know their limits. We have had no incidents, even though trust me we use our cars....
Personally, I'd say the C5 is the SAFER bet, and not at all a hard car to handle if you arent a complete Jacka$$.
I say go for it and get yourself a Corvette! Never will you have a better car.
Will
Pro
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta GA
I bought my car this year. I have spent about 2600 total on maintenance. 1800 of that came from getting the clutch and hydraulics replaced. I am a stickler for maintenance, and I don't trust the previous owners unless I have receipts.
The other 800 includes:
All fluid changes (clutch/brake/diff/transmission/oil/coolant)
New Filters
New Plugs and wires
New Belts
AC fix
Common issue fixes (rocking seat, column lock bypass, etc)
Alignment
Tire patch
That being said, the 800 that I spent on the vette costs almost 3k to get my M3 up to date completely on maintenance. I am still glad that I had the money available. I was way ahead of my budget until the clutch started going out.
BTW, I'm 24. Your insurance will go down significantly between your age and mine. I pay 80/month for full coverage with a good driving record. FWIW, I am glad I didn't start out with a vette. I probably wouldn't be here still. I went from a station wagon->Eclipse->m3->corvette. I used to drive like a bat out of hell. The corvette is way too strong for that, especially starting unexperienced.
The other 800 includes:
All fluid changes (clutch/brake/diff/transmission/oil/coolant)
New Filters
New Plugs and wires
New Belts
AC fix
Common issue fixes (rocking seat, column lock bypass, etc)
Alignment
Tire patch
That being said, the 800 that I spent on the vette costs almost 3k to get my M3 up to date completely on maintenance. I am still glad that I had the money available. I was way ahead of my budget until the clutch started going out.
BTW, I'm 24. Your insurance will go down significantly between your age and mine. I pay 80/month for full coverage with a good driving record. FWIW, I am glad I didn't start out with a vette. I probably wouldn't be here still. I went from a station wagon->Eclipse->m3->corvette. I used to drive like a bat out of hell. The corvette is way too strong for that, especially starting unexperienced.
Last edited by Raiku898; Oct 16, 2012 at 03:39 PM.