Reliability Concern
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 86
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From: Rochester Hills MI
Reliability Concern
I'm searching for my First Corvette. I'm focused on '01 version since they are in my price range. However - I 've come across Several Forum articles that mention "piston slap" and "excessive (1 qt. in <1k miles !) oil consumption."
I have an Eldorado that I "babied" - fully "dealer maintained" - oil changes very 3-4,000 miles - only to go through the "bad rings" nightmare and end up with an GM "oil burner." (Gm mechanic says - "It's very expensive to fix. Just put oil in it.") I Certainly don't want to go through that again with a Corvette that I've waited half my life to own.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
I have an Eldorado that I "babied" - fully "dealer maintained" - oil changes very 3-4,000 miles - only to go through the "bad rings" nightmare and end up with an GM "oil burner." (Gm mechanic says - "It's very expensive to fix. Just put oil in it.") I Certainly don't want to go through that again with a Corvette that I've waited half my life to own.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,762
Likes: 2
From: Murphy TX
Honestly - go with an '02.
Used car value is a function of model year and mileage, location, how bad someone wants to sell etc. I think you can probably locate a car without those issues in your price range.
Good luck!
Used car value is a function of model year and mileage, location, how bad someone wants to sell etc. I think you can probably locate a car without those issues in your price range.
Good luck!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Originally Posted by Corvector
I'm searching for my First Corvette. I'm focused on '01 version since they are in my price range. However - I 've come across Several Forum articles that mention "piston slap" and "excessive (1 qt. in <1k miles !) oil consumption." ......
I would cast my net over a wider range of years.
Find out what you can via CARFAX, service records, etc. Does the car have extensive engine mods or is it stock? May be a sign that the car was abused.
My 2003 has been pretty much trouble free. I use it as a daily driver and it has 34K miles since I purchased it new two years ago. Car is stock, I just drive and enjoy. When you read about or see "problem" Corvettes check if the problem is GM's or the problem source is "improvements" the owner has made to the car.
If you are buying from an individual, do they have service/maintenance receipts? If they do their own work (other than oil changes, etc), do they own a Service Manual? Why buy a car Bubba has experimented on?
When you find a car that you are interested in, pay for an evaluation by a Corvette mechanic you can trust. If the owner won't let you have the car evaluated, walk away.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 836
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs, Colo., USA
Originally Posted by yellow01
Honestly - go with an '02.
Used car value is a function of model year and mileage, location, how bad someone wants to sell etc. I think you can probably locate a car without those issues in your price range.
Good luck!
Used car value is a function of model year and mileage, location, how bad someone wants to sell etc. I think you can probably locate a car without those issues in your price range.
Good luck!
Good advice. I studied for quite some time before trading my C4 for a C5. I made the same decision; a 2002 or a 2003 from the first half of the model run was what I wanted. Found an '02, perfectly equipped with 8,000 miles.
Take your time but be prepared to move fast for the car you want.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Take a look at the C5 General Sticky to give you an idea of what to look for when you're shopping for a C5. Not all cars have the probs in the Sticky, but you might as well try to find a perfect Vette if you can. The first things I'd do is look under the battery, even if it has a gel battery.
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Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
I agree that you should cast a wider net.
I'd be looking for low mileage and the right options, regardless of year. My 98 has been trouble free and it's not like it never has to work either. Believe it or not, some of the later years had more problems than some of the earlier ones. There were oil leakage problems on some of the 2000+ models that never showed up on the 1997-1999's.
If it were me, I'd be looking for a low-mileage car with active handling (introduced mid-98), HUD, sport seats and Z51 suspension. If you go for an A4, make sure it has the performance ratio differential (mandatory with the Z51 suspension).
I'd be looking for low mileage and the right options, regardless of year. My 98 has been trouble free and it's not like it never has to work either. Believe it or not, some of the later years had more problems than some of the earlier ones. There were oil leakage problems on some of the 2000+ models that never showed up on the 1997-1999's.
If it were me, I'd be looking for a low-mileage car with active handling (introduced mid-98), HUD, sport seats and Z51 suspension. If you go for an A4, make sure it has the performance ratio differential (mandatory with the Z51 suspension).
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 55,394
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Fastguy
I have 150,000 on my 98 and beat it like it owes me money, no oil burning.
"Hey GM, if its not broken, please dont fix it!"
