Buying for future use
Racer
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 361
Likes: 254
From: Carrollton, VA
Pro
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 719
Likes: 642
From: Northern Ohio
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
This is a similar question I brought up on a post not to long ago. The $ you spend for a new vette is wasted unless you want to be the first kid on the block to have one. They will never hold a resale value like that of an older (C3,2, or 1) since the electronic parts will be obsolete and unavailable down the road. Their value will continue to decrease as years pass for parts availability issues. That's why it's best to find the one you want that's been cared for and buy it at a much cheaper price a year or two latter. The first buyer will always take the biggest hit on any car. Enjoy it until the parts you need are non existent and move on. Don't let anyone tell you that you will always get the parts, because in time, you won't. Engines can be worked with, but not chassis electronics and accessories. Even the junk yards will run out sooner or later and those parts will always be a crap shoot for reliability. Buy their parts to get your car running and then sell it.The high tech stuff is great but they are always a time bomb waiting to go bang. If manufacturers made replacements then it would be a moot issue. But they won't. They want to sell cars not parts. It sucks, but that's the way it is. I love my car and she needs nothing. But one day it will and I'll decide then what to do. I'd give up the high tech today for a new vette with good old mechanical parts that can be fixed or made. Don't need the gizmos, just want to enjoy the car.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 719
Likes: 642
From: Northern Ohio
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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If you plan on keeping your Corvette for quite some time then your idea sounds like a good one. Especially the problematic electrical parts.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 255
Likes: 85
From: N.Y.
All my daily drivers are new. So are my wife's. I lease them for three years and then turn them in for another. This way I avoid the gizmo brake downs and the cars are always fixed under manufacturers dime. The C5 and soon to be C3 are my toys. You are right though, I will never BUY a new vehicle. They just are not made to last for years anymore IMO. Why finance a car for 3-4 or 5 years and then all the high tech parts start to fail and get stuck with high dollar repairs and in 10 or 11 years the parts are no longer available? It's nice to see 40-50 or older cars at shows today that look good and run great. How many 2019 cars will be there in decades to come? Not many I bet.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 457
Likes: 54
From: Dallas, Oregon
I understand your concern and, though I laughed at some of the replies already posted, I've considered your plan myself.
I think pretty much everything wears out with time; rust, dust, air pollution, animals, mishandling (dropping), temperature, and many more factors are involved. BUT, I'd concentrate on items that are exclusive (or almost so) to the Corvette. Headlight motors/gears; ECBMs, PCM's, etc.; switches (window, seats, etc.); things that are subject to heavier wear than your license plates. But if you're thinking about electronic parts, why not add in the other parts (radiators, transmissions, differentials, turn signal/headlight/wiper/multifunction siwtches), door handles, etc.)? I'm new to my C5, but in respect to things wearing our or giving out, there are lots of parts that will go away and parts off a Chevelle or Pinto won't fit the hole, carry the load, do the job. Just my thoughts................................ ...OregonDan
I think pretty much everything wears out with time; rust, dust, air pollution, animals, mishandling (dropping), temperature, and many more factors are involved. BUT, I'd concentrate on items that are exclusive (or almost so) to the Corvette. Headlight motors/gears; ECBMs, PCM's, etc.; switches (window, seats, etc.); things that are subject to heavier wear than your license plates. But if you're thinking about electronic parts, why not add in the other parts (radiators, transmissions, differentials, turn signal/headlight/wiper/multifunction siwtches), door handles, etc.)? I'm new to my C5, but in respect to things wearing our or giving out, there are lots of parts that will go away and parts off a Chevelle or Pinto won't fit the hole, carry the load, do the job. Just my thoughts................................ ...OregonDan
Last edited by OregonDan; Dec 10, 2019 at 11:39 AM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 262
Likes: 52
From: Dover PA
St. Jude Donor '17
With parts such as alternators and starters, you'll be ok storing them as long as you keep them in a reasonably climate controlled area. Avoid big temperature swings which make condensation on the parts more likely. I'd apply the same procedures on all other parts. Keep the storage temperature and humidity as constant as possible. That said, like others have mentioned, major parts will be continuously (re)manufactured and should be available.
Last edited by t1fudd; Dec 11, 2019 at 09:03 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 275
From: Wichita Falls Texas
I'm old and over the years I've learned to not worry to much about predicting the future. Especially cars.
My 03 vert is a toy and not needed on a daily basis so I will worry about it when something breaks.
If it was a daily driver and I needed it I might think about buying some things. Probably not though..
My question would be if buying something used how would you test it? Install it on a good running car?
Same thing with something new because I have taken new stuff back because it was bad.Quality just isn't there a lot of times.
I think I will wait until it breaks and fix it at that time.
Just do what you think you need to do if it gives you peace of mind!
Good luck!
My 03 vert is a toy and not needed on a daily basis so I will worry about it when something breaks.
If it was a daily driver and I needed it I might think about buying some things. Probably not though..
My question would be if buying something used how would you test it? Install it on a good running car?
Same thing with something new because I have taken new stuff back because it was bad.Quality just isn't there a lot of times.
I think I will wait until it breaks and fix it at that time.
Just do what you think you need to do if it gives you peace of mind!
Good luck!
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