Daily Driver bad idea!??!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 7,086
Likes: 0
From: Davison MI
Prior to getting the 2004 I had a '99 Coupe. It had over 50,000 on it when I got the new one. The '99 ws a great daily driver, even in the Michigan winters. The 2004 is going to be a daily driver too. I would recommend the extended warranty, though. The Corvette is a car, and cars are for driving, which is something your friend apparrently doesn't realize.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,562
Likes: 5
From: South East coast Florida
Its not a picture!!!!!
Originally Posted by KelBelle
I am about to buy my first vette. A 2001 automatic coupe with 25,000 miles on it. I am going to have this car as my daily driver, but a 'friend' of mine is trying his best to talk me out of it saying, "Corvettes are toys, not daily drivers." The car will come with a new 3 year - 36,000 GMAC factory warranty, so that makes me feel better.
I will admit I do not know anything about the maintenance of a vette, so his negativity scares me. Now I am beginning to think I will get into trouble buying & using a vette as a daily driver. Like somehow I will be pouring money into it later on. My work commute is 11 miles round trip.........
Any suggestions? I am financing the car, so obviously I don't have oodles of spare cash lying around to pay for car repairs. Is the engine maintenance just too costly and risky for me?
Kelly - Houston, TX
I will admit I do not know anything about the maintenance of a vette, so his negativity scares me. Now I am beginning to think I will get into trouble buying & using a vette as a daily driver. Like somehow I will be pouring money into it later on. My work commute is 11 miles round trip.........
Any suggestions? I am financing the car, so obviously I don't have oodles of spare cash lying around to pay for car repairs. Is the engine maintenance just too costly and risky for me?
Kelly - Houston, TX
The Vette was made to be driven and should be. Good luck on your decision. Let us know.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Grand Ledge MI
I bought my '00 convertible 6-speed in April with every intent of driving it often, and to work when I wanted. Like some one else, each day I ask mysef... do I drive the Cherokee or the Vette. You know the answer. The only problem is that I have to leave 30 minutes earlier to get one of the wide parking spots. I think some of the older vettes might be better to think of as a toy, but mostly because they have become so valuable. The also don't ride or handle like the C5. So my vote is to enjoy your daily driver.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,073
Likes: 1
From: Sarver Pennsylvania
"Like some one else, each day I ask mysef... do I drive the Cherokee or the Vette."
That "someone else" was "Cajun" - what else could you EVER want to know?!!
Go for it - drive it - enjoy it!!!!
That "someone else" was "Cajun" - what else could you EVER want to know?!!
Go for it - drive it - enjoy it!!!!
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: Memphis TN
That's the beauty of the Vette!!!!!! You get a world-class sports car that cand do sub 5-sec 0-60's and 170+ mph and it's great as a daily driver! I've had my since March 13th of this year and put 5,750 miles on it. It's a strong car and it's great as a daily driver.
Like my fellow Memphian unchained said... why make the payments and have it sit for that "perfect" day. Drive it!!!!!!
Like my fellow Memphian unchained said... why make the payments and have it sit for that "perfect" day. Drive it!!!!!!
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
My next door neighbor gave me hell yesterday because I keep my C5 parked outside instead of in the garage. My wife's car goes in there because she gets home first and I don't feel like shuffling the cars around every day. If I get home first (like yesterday) then I park inside instead though. I enjoy having it outside though, then the neighbors can see it, and I can look outside the window just before bed and see that shiny black paint gleaming in the night! 
PS-I just got my C5 one week ago and put 500 miles on it already!
PS-I just got my C5 one week ago and put 500 miles on it already!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
From: Alhambra Calismognazifornia, in the country everyone comes just to complain but won't go back home!
DO IT!
i bought my '02 with the sole intention of it being my "weekend toy"...my poor camaro sat unused in the garage for an entire year from the day i picked up my vette,
racking up 29000 miles on it in those twelve months. since then i've eased up a little, i've now had it for 2 years 9 months and it now has 59000 on the clock.
as someone else stated, most of the vettes "common" problems are electrical and more annoying than serious. in my almost three years i've had 1 headlight gear go bad, 1 headlight motor burn out, 1 fuel tank sending unit replaced because of faulty readings (took 2 trips to dealer to fix because GM requires dealerships to reflash PCM upon first complaint), and 1 wiper module burn out. for sure, all annoying problems that shouldn't happen but not serious and all covered under warranty...i'm now on my extended-extended warranty plan
now go get your vette 
i bought my '02 with the sole intention of it being my "weekend toy"...my poor camaro sat unused in the garage for an entire year from the day i picked up my vette,
racking up 29000 miles on it in those twelve months. since then i've eased up a little, i've now had it for 2 years 9 months and it now has 59000 on the clock. as someone else stated, most of the vettes "common" problems are electrical and more annoying than serious. in my almost three years i've had 1 headlight gear go bad, 1 headlight motor burn out, 1 fuel tank sending unit replaced because of faulty readings (took 2 trips to dealer to fix because GM requires dealerships to reflash PCM upon first complaint), and 1 wiper module burn out. for sure, all annoying problems that shouldn't happen but not serious and all covered under warranty...i'm now on my extended-extended warranty plan
now go get your vette
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Originally Posted by KelBelle
I am about to buy my first vette. A 2001 automatic coupe with 25,000 miles on it. I am going to have this car as my daily driver, but a 'friend' of mine is trying his best to talk me out of it saying, "Corvettes are toys, not daily drivers." The car will come with a new 3 year - 36,000 GMAC factory warranty, so that makes me feel better.
I will admit I do not know anything about the maintenance of a vette, so his negativity scares me. Now I am beginning to think I will get into trouble buying & using a vette as a daily driver. Like somehow I will be pouring money into it later on. My work commute is 11 miles round trip.........
Any suggestions? I am financing the car, so obviously I don't have oodles of spare cash lying around to pay for car repairs. Is the engine maintenance just too costly and risky for me?
Kelly - Houston, TX
I will admit I do not know anything about the maintenance of a vette, so his negativity scares me. Now I am beginning to think I will get into trouble buying & using a vette as a daily driver. Like somehow I will be pouring money into it later on. My work commute is 11 miles round trip.........
Any suggestions? I am financing the car, so obviously I don't have oodles of spare cash lying around to pay for car repairs. Is the engine maintenance just too costly and risky for me?
Kelly - Houston, TX
Welcome to the forum.
i bought my 00 coupe to drive not to sit in my garage. drive that puppy everyday 
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 55,394
Likes: 1
My C5 is definitely a toy, used to have fun on weekends, Roadcourses and periodically 2-3 times a month to work. One of the benefits you get from this is the Anticipation in Driving it. Personally, it makes me enjoy and appreciate life a bit more becasue I never get use to the same ride.
A far AS C5 issues, well, I'm going on 4 yrs on this forum. Sorry to say but the the C5 has had many issues. But like some else mentoned in this thread, you will get bias responses.
There is really only one way to answer to your question. With the warranty you have, I would definitely start using it as a daily driver. If things start to happen, you might want to go buy a mid-90's Toyota, Honda, or Nissan as a DD and keep the Vette for fun. In my opinon, those cars are the most reliable daily drivers. My co-worker just sold her 92 Camry with 138K miles for $1000!!!! I myself have had 7 Ricers since the mid 80's.
A far AS C5 issues, well, I'm going on 4 yrs on this forum. Sorry to say but the the C5 has had many issues. But like some else mentoned in this thread, you will get bias responses.
There is really only one way to answer to your question. With the warranty you have, I would definitely start using it as a daily driver. If things start to happen, you might want to go buy a mid-90's Toyota, Honda, or Nissan as a DD and keep the Vette for fun. In my opinon, those cars are the most reliable daily drivers. My co-worker just sold her 92 Camry with 138K miles for $1000!!!! I myself have had 7 Ricers since the mid 80's.
Last edited by GR8-LIFE; Aug 14, 2004 at 11:23 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Schertz Texas
DO IT!
You will not regret it.
I put a 90K on my 99, couple of problems, thats why there is a warranty.
I am on my 3rd one, an 04 delivered in Feb. I have about 10K on it. I will think of any excuse to drive it!
DO IT, AND DRIVE IT EVERY DAY. LIFE IS TOO SHORT!
You will not regret it.
I put a 90K on my 99, couple of problems, thats why there is a warranty.
I am on my 3rd one, an 04 delivered in Feb. I have about 10K on it. I will think of any excuse to drive it!
DO IT, AND DRIVE IT EVERY DAY. LIFE IS TOO SHORT!
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Acworth GA
Mine is a DD and I love it more than anything, going to get milk and eggs is fun, finding curvy mountain roads is killer. What gets me is a DD will look like a DD soon. The things you cant control, stones flying up at you, the little knicks and scratches that happen to a vette moreso then my old VW. I want to make my daily driver look perfect and you (I) have to let some of that go. 
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
I've already put 600 miles on my C5 since I got it a week ago by the way!
Had two successful Corvette waves in a row yesterday too! One from a red 80-82, the other from a white 91-96.
Had two successful Corvette waves in a row yesterday too! One from a red 80-82, the other from a white 91-96.
