I've owned my C5 for about a month. I've only driven it in the city. I'm planning on a day trip. It runs good and I don't think there are going to be any problems but, what would be a good list to check off prior to leaving town? What would you check?

 

Fluids and air pressure in the tires (assuming they are not outdated). Enjoy the ride. These are fantastic cars.

 

Treat it like any other car, fluids, tire pressure, gas and safety items such as lights and signals. I honestly don't even think about potential issues other than the items I would check in any of my vehicles.

 

Agree with the standard padded answer above of fluids, tires, etc. DEFINITELY make sure the car already has the Column Lock Bypass on it. If not, get one ordered and installed asap.

 

with all of the above. Enjoy your C5!

 

Make sure you have towing insurance, I had it with my car insurance.

Took road trip to L.A. (went to Catalina Island off California coast) with gf for my 40th birthday, from home in Arizona, put on new belts and idler and tensioner pullies for main belt and A/C belt before trip.

On way home the main belt tensioner failed and shot off belt on I10 east, in middle of nowhere, 40 - 50 miles west of Blythe California in the desert.

Took hours to get tow truck, CHP officer checked in on us as it was 100 degrees and saw hood up on Vette.

He asked if I had towing coverage and said good when I answered yes.

Said people break down out there very often and those with no towing insurance, usually pay $500.00-700.00 cash/debit credit card, to be towed into Blythe California.

With my insurance, it payed maximum 20 miles, I still payed about $200.00 on top of what my insurance paid, before Corvette was lowered off rollback in front of AutoZone.

Also gf had T mobile phone and it worked there, CHP officer said he was surprised we had signal out there as most cells don't work, so hopefully you have good cell reception.

Also bring water, I had a mini igloo cooler with cold water bottles, we were out there for almost 3 hours and we drank them all up, without them it would have been bad.

Towing insurance, good cell, water, and what others mentioned.

 

I have towing on all 3 of my vehicles, I think it's about $5.00 each car, every 6 month renewal with American Family insurance.

Tops $30.00 a year for all 3 vehicles, sitting out there waiting I was so glad I had it, ask what the maximum towing distance is or max they will pay and choose that.

Could also get AAA policy if your car insurance doesn't offer towing.

 

Well.. You being new to Corvette, and new to auto maintenance, don't trust anyone except an genuine Corvette fixer upper guy... Your new C5 car is way more intricate than you can imagine and you should not be trusted to doing Anything yourself... Trust me on this, please! You're not driving your dad's Honda here man.

 

What the hell is a "genuine Corvette fixer upper guy"? And yes they are as easy to work on as your dad's Honda

 

A factory trained wrench (auto mechanic) specialized in Corvette cars working for Chevy dealers.... but not every Chevy dealer has these specialized technicians.... You gotta trust someone sometimes... Especially when one is unsure and you ask questions like that.... That's OK, we were all new at some point.
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Check harmonic balancer for wobble (excessive).

 

Just what a Corvette Tech is supposed to be, and what they actually are, are 2 entirely different things. I found this out the hard way. I was "elated" to find a Stealer that had a guy who worked on nothing but Corvettes. Long story short, I got told everything that was wrong with it, which I already knew was wrong with it! I took it in because my dash lights weren't coming on with the headlights. They would work with the Twilight Sentinel, but not with the switch. $450.00 later, he told me I had a melted wire that he bypassed. I admit he fixed my dash lights, but now my Twilight Sentinel doesn't work!!! In my eyes, a $450.00 swap. Plus, he used a FRIGGIN SCOTCHLOCK, which WILL go bad, eventually. So I had to remove the proper pieces to get at the scotchlock, removed it, then fixed it correctly, with solder and shrink tubing!!!

 

Right on man, you covered all of my concerns, plus. having extra water when traveling through the desert is only smart, one never knows the future.

 

Check all the normal things - hoses, belts, fluids (oil and coolant), tire pressure. Be sure your cell phone is charged and I would have emergency road service on your insurance.