C5 quality
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 346
Likes: 8
Only 3500 miles on my '04 CE and no problems. There is often an advantage of getting the last year of a model run rather then the 1st, as they do tend to work out bugs, make minor improvements, and/or offer more goodies over time to keep sales up.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 20
From: Carson City, NV
My Thoughts About Product Development Lifecycles
Having spent a career in engineering development, I can offer some insights into the GM product lifecycle:
Year #1 (1997) - Time to Market
In the beginning the focus is time to market and schedules are the drivers. Engineers scramble to pull it all together and basically over-design the car using more expensive parts, solutions, and procedures. Cost of materials and reliability suffer for schedule.
Year #2 (1998) - Fix Bugs to Improve reliability
After initial product offering, the next year is spent in a frantic reaction mode solving and fixing bugs. This is the driver to avoid costly and embarrassing recalls not to mention lawsuits.
Year #3 (1999) - Cost Reductions
During the 3rd year, the focus becomes cost reductions to improve margins. Cost reductions take a year or longer to develop, tool, document and phase into production.
Year #4 (2000 - 2004) Return on Investment
By the 4th year stability has been reached, reliability has improved and margins are coming under control. Now we begin to see a return on investment. A few teaser enhancements come out to keep the consumer's interest and revenues flowing. A percentage of this is put back in R & D to develop the next generation models which take several years to develop, test, plan the next product launch.
These are just my thoughts and opinions and probably worthless information to most, but I thought it might be interesting to a few of you.
John
Year #1 (1997) - Time to Market
In the beginning the focus is time to market and schedules are the drivers. Engineers scramble to pull it all together and basically over-design the car using more expensive parts, solutions, and procedures. Cost of materials and reliability suffer for schedule.
Year #2 (1998) - Fix Bugs to Improve reliability
After initial product offering, the next year is spent in a frantic reaction mode solving and fixing bugs. This is the driver to avoid costly and embarrassing recalls not to mention lawsuits.
Year #3 (1999) - Cost Reductions
During the 3rd year, the focus becomes cost reductions to improve margins. Cost reductions take a year or longer to develop, tool, document and phase into production.
Year #4 (2000 - 2004) Return on Investment
By the 4th year stability has been reached, reliability has improved and margins are coming under control. Now we begin to see a return on investment. A few teaser enhancements come out to keep the consumer's interest and revenues flowing. A percentage of this is put back in R & D to develop the next generation models which take several years to develop, test, plan the next product launch.
These are just my thoughts and opinions and probably worthless information to most, but I thought it might be interesting to a few of you.
John
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 55,394
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Cscokd
Year #4 (2000 - 2004) Return on Investment
By the 4th year stability has been reached, reliability has improved
By the 4th year stability has been reached, reliability has improved
yet column locks, diff leaks and fuel sendig units are still happening even in the 4th and later years. Probabaly because its too costly to put any effort into correcting the design flaw and much easier just to spit out replacement costs hoping those wont fail and if they do they will just replace another one. Of course if this known problem fails after the warranty, then you'll be scratching and clawing
And dont forget about new problems (when they start changing stuff) such as defective rings casing oil consumption
Last edited by GR8-LIFE; Jan 20, 2005 at 04:34 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,225
Likes: 0
From: Currently living in and loving... Chico, CA
Originally Posted by VETFVER
The build quality on our C5's are among the best. Better than Mercedes, BMW, and is a world class sports car. We get a lot of quality for the money not to mention the fun!
I love the car. It has to be one of the best built cars GM makes.
Dan
I love the car. It has to be one of the best built cars GM makes.
Dan
All my GM vehicles have been the best I've ever owned, by far and away. You should hear what my neighbor has to say about his BMW and Mercedes; not good. So much so that I couldn't post any of it here.And Toyleta, Camry or anything else, is no reliability champ, either. Don't ask me how I know that, but let's just say I've lived and I've learned.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 617
Likes: 0
Great improvements were made in C5 every year past 1997. I remember one car mag saying that the 1999 Corvette was so much improved over the 1997 version that owners of 97 and 98s should trade up even though it didn't look any different and it was true. I had a 1997 a 1998 and a 1999. I wold say the 1998 was so improved from the 97 that I would NEVER EVER buy a first year Corvette again. I would suggest if you can afford a 1999 or newer car start there. Remember you will always find glitches with every model year but I would say buying a C5 from 1999 on is safe excluding the 2001 model year for bad rings and internal oil leakage/use.
