If your biggest concern is absolute reliability, then you can't beat the Japanese automakers. Within that context, you'll probably be very happy with something from Toyota, Honda, or Nissan. They can have their share of issues but, on the whole, are much less trouble prone than the Corvette has been or likely ever will be.

The C6, like any other generation of Corvettes, has had its share of problem areas. A few have been serious, most have been in the nuisance range. The most discussed issues have involved the earlier production years, with the car becoming more reliable as it evolves with time.

That said, there are few cars that can evoke the same level of visceral joy that the Corvette can. I've owned many sports cars over the span of my driving life, including some of the best German and Japanese products. I've enjoyed all of them. I'm probably not your typical "Corvette Guy" in that I came into this with neither any special allegiance to the brand nor any deep knowledge of Corvette history. My only previous Vette was a miserable late '70's vintage 350 auto, a thoroughly disagreeable excuse of a sports car.

I bought my 2005 because GM finally hit a styling nerve of mine with the new body. The tighter dimensions, the new LS2 motor, the improved handling, all said "buy me" ... so I did. My 2005 C6 never disappointed me ... it did everything well. In some areas it was certainly not world class, particularly the relatively numb steering, but in other areas it was virtually untouchable. In the area of reliability however, it was not nearly as solid as some of my other vehicles.

I did see my dealer often that first year...bad speakers, flakey radio, installation of a crank pulley bolt washer, and a bad hatch switch. In later years I had to bring it in for the roof recall and a wiring harness clip for the steering wheel. And, oh yes, I also had to have the computer reflashed for the dreaded DBS that was all too common in the 2005 model year. When all was said and done, my car actually became very reliable and rarely saw my dealer's service bay. I tolerated the first year problems because the car was so exceptional in so many other ways.

The 2008 and 2009 model years have, so far, exhibited few if any endemic problems. Current production is much more likely to be free of serious issues than any of the previous years. Personally, I had no reservations about ordering another C6 after recently selling my 2005 C6. Whatever issues the C6 may have had, or may still have, are overshadowed by its breathtaking performance and stunning good looks. While none of us look forward to service issues, if that's what it takes to own one of these cars, we'll live with it. Some C6's have had their share of problems, others have been totally problem free. The average C6, I would think, might have some minor issues over the years, but nothing too serious. If you have a good dealer who can provide an acceptable level of service, your experience will surely be a positive one, issues or no issues.

What you read here, or on any other car board, is skewed towards the posting of problems and their fixes. That's normal and just the way it is. Those posts, however, do provide a huge database of what to do if you do encounter a problem. In some ways it's like reading a medical textbook. Reading about the disease and the cure does not mean you'll ever experience that condition yourself.

There are some excellent, and reliable, Japanese sports cars out there right now. None, IMHO, can come close to providing the blend of high performance, handling, and style that you get with the C6. It's your money, so you must make your own decision based on what matters most to you. For me, I'm sold on the Corvette as the best all around sports car for under $75,000. An easy daily driver, a highly competent track car, a very competitive car on the drag strip, surprisingly economical on a road trip, gorgeous to look at, a reasonable price, and a five year warranty .. this is a very tough combination to beat.

Very few who buy a C6 are disappointed. Even Consumer Reports rates the C6 as having one of the highest satisfaction ratings ever recorded...over 90% of owners in their car surveys would buy another C6. Again, it's your money, but owning a C6 is an experience well worth whatever minor service issues you may, or may not, encounter along the way.

 

Thanks for taking the time to post this. It's nice to see academic confirmation of what common sense suggests. (For those who have any )

Dave

 

Then my only suggestion to you is: don't buy a Corvette. No kidding. You've found two of the only cars in the world that have no problems. Stick with them, or that make and you'll be fine.

I'm not in any way saying the Corvette is perfect, or near perfection. But we obviously disagree, and you will want to be happy with your purchase. It's a nice dream to own a Corvette, but for you, the reality may not match the dream. So, don't do it.

Edit based on new information: I just read the rest of the thread beyond my prior post. Not only is this excellent information, but you might like to read Stan's (StanNH) a couple times, print it out, read it a couple more times, take it to some friends and ask them to read and comment on it.

Yes, I think it's THAT GOOD.

Thank you, Stan!!!!

 

To the OP....Congrats o your new ride. Sorry you had an issue so early on but it will be fixed and you'll most likely have mnay troube free miles!
Mine is going on 4 months with no issues.

 

Its called mass production.They pump out these corvettes like theres no tomorrow.Do you know how many electronic parts are on this car? It just takes 1 little thing and thats it.I understand that people pay a nice chunk of change for these cars,but thats besides the fact.There are parts that are new and are faulty,just the way it is,just not for corvette either.

 

You're quite lucky because a few items have been fixed more than once on my '07!

 

I hope this is not an 09 early teething problem. We pick ours up on August 7th, with a 800 mile ride home.

 

 

Just a thought, but if you have to take pics and video of your car to protect yourself, you need a new dealership!

 

Sorry to hear about the problem with your new Vette. Hope it gets sorted out to your satisfactory

 

Here's the way I look at it....

Would I rather drive a Honda, Toyota, Nissan or other so called quality Japanese car, and most likely never ever have a problem, or would I rather drive a Vette when I know that on a rare occassion I may have an issue that most likely will be covered by warranty?

It's a no brainer..


And to the guy ( slojin) who stated that he owned a Honda trouble free.....go buy another Honda..plain and simple, and enjoy the driving experience you get from it!

 

...but the gentleman has a point that can't be dismissed. I had an S2000 for 5 years. How many times have I been in the shop to have something repaired/replaced? Not once. Nada. The big "0."

Having my 05 C6 (which I'm very much passionate about), I've been in the shop so many times that not only do they know me by name, but the local Starbucks (inside the dealership-very nice) can order my drink on site. True story. Unreal situation.

That being said, I love the C6 and can't see myself owning anything else....yet.

Red Cell.

 

OMG YOU BROKE THEM ALREADY?

Oh don't worry Mr GoodWrench (If he works at your Dealer) will only have to dismantle 1/2 the car to get the trans out and hopefully he wont have to many spare parts left when he gets it all back together..... Have the Dealer call the service zone Mgr. I would insist on a complete new transmission. Also make sure they give you a rental car and pay for it.

 

And if you hung out on the HondaAccordForum, you would have read of more problems that you would expect. You would be afraid to buy one. By reading threads from people who have problems, you are not getting a representative sample. There are hundreds who do NOT post about NOT having problems with their C6.

However, I do think you would be much happier with a Japanese car. I recommend the 350Z.

 

As complex as these Corvettes are, it is impossible to make a perfect car with 100 % perfect components everytime. Even with all the work that goes into the million dollar Indy cars, they often have failures, some small and some not so small. And that is from a base of only 33 cars. A very high majority of Corvettes do roll off the assembly line every day in perfect working order. My 2008 has 10,000 miles on it and I have not had one single issue. I am sure there are numerous other 08 owners on the Forum who have had the same experience.

Unfortunately, your Corvette experienced the failure of one small part. The diagnosis seemed simple and correct, with a straightforward solution. So, get that new part installed and get your brand new Corvette back on the road.

Congratulations, and enjoy your new ride...Gene...

 

great post

 

Excellent post.
You should have been here early in the C6 product cycle around the fall of '04 and '05. We had several teething problems popping up being repeatedly reported by forum members. e.g. DBS, the 'dreaded battery syndrome'. Then came the flying roofs. The obvious difference was the relative frequency of these reports, as opposed to the other random, idiot related or unusual glitches infrequently reported. And those are mostly today's complaints and reports.
So much can be learned here about the C6 problems, but you might have to stick around longer to get a better feel for their relative importance and frequency.

 

There's been two very good responces in this thread, both are worth reading again. Every make has issues and I agree that those issues seem to make headlines! To the OP, just do a quick walk around when you pick-up the car and enjoy the drive home.
My 08 is the forth Vette I've owned in the last 30 years and am looking forward to an even higher quality C7 in my future!

 

If you trust the dealer, you won't need to protect yourself with photos or videos of your car. It just would make it much simpler if there was damage after you pick it up and you can prove that it was perfect when you brought it in for service.

When I sold my Shelby GT500KR; I had my wife hold a dated newspaper while I video taped every inch of the car before the delivery service took it out west. It was the only proof that I had the paint and body was in perfect condition. The guy who purchased the car called me a few days later and asked me how the door ding got in the driver’s door? I told him it left here in perfect shape and sent him a copy of the video tape. He filed a claim with the delivery company.

Ben, OH