for the two times.
Corvette reliability
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 450
From: Texarkana Texas
I've had 10. I don't like them at all. Spend way too much money on them...lol. I've spent $0 on my 2006 Z06 except for gas, oil changes once a year, and tires in the last 3 years.
Last edited by LMB-Z; Mar 11, 2017 at 11:10 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
Reliable in regards to a HP sports car, would give a thumbs up as way better than an older Porsche or Ferrari.
As for comparing any GM to a Honda, not even in the same ball park (even if you are talking older NSX as well).
Really, what you get with a Vet, is best bang for the buck in a HP sports car, even through you still get hit heavily with corvette tax when it comes time to have it serviced or repaired.
Simply, if you have the means, then you want to have one that still have a factory warranty to it. This way, if something goes wrong, the shop is picking the the repair charge.
As for comparing any GM to a Honda, not even in the same ball park (even if you are talking older NSX as well).
Really, what you get with a Vet, is best bang for the buck in a HP sports car, even through you still get hit heavily with corvette tax when it comes time to have it serviced or repaired.
Simply, if you have the means, then you want to have one that still have a factory warranty to it. This way, if something goes wrong, the shop is picking the the repair charge.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 293
Likes: 55
From: Dallas-Ft Worth Texas
Like all ranking systems, they're probably skewed one way or another, but several web articles refer to the early-mid 2000s C5s and C6s as being the most affordable and reliable among used sports cars. Likely because the cost of new Vettes limits a large number of their original owners to retired, upper middle class men who keep em in the garage, barely drive, and baby the hell out of them.
As for me, I'd like to shake every damn one of their hands. I always thought a Vette would be forever out of my price range and never even considered used Vettes until my motorcycle wreck two weeks ago after which the wife said "no more bikes". I found mine local - 2006 6-speed manual, Z51 suspension, Billy Boat Bullet exhaust, Eagle Eye LED tail lights, a really nice after market stereo, and maybe one or two other goodies with only 61,000 miles for $18,500.
As for me, I'd like to shake every damn one of their hands. I always thought a Vette would be forever out of my price range and never even considered used Vettes until my motorcycle wreck two weeks ago after which the wife said "no more bikes". I found mine local - 2006 6-speed manual, Z51 suspension, Billy Boat Bullet exhaust, Eagle Eye LED tail lights, a really nice after market stereo, and maybe one or two other goodies with only 61,000 miles for $18,500.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Many people here are quite happy about the reliability of their Corvette. We are not.
We've owned three new ones- 2001, 2006, now 2009. We drive them 10k-15k miles per year, some DD use and some long vacations, no racing.
These have been the three most unreliable cars we've ever owned, and each new one has been worse than the previous. Each of them has left us stuck somewhere on vacation getting repairs, the current one has done it twice including just last week with a "Service Active Handling" warning that kept recurring. Two visits to the dealer, not sure if it's really fixed.
If you want the ugly details, Advanced Search under my name for "One Year Report Card", "Two Year...", etc.
We have always purchased the GM extended warranty and always "made money" on it, I simply wouldn't own a Corvette that wasn't under a good warranty.
I really wish we were getting good reliability, but it just isn't happening to us.
We've owned three new ones- 2001, 2006, now 2009. We drive them 10k-15k miles per year, some DD use and some long vacations, no racing.
These have been the three most unreliable cars we've ever owned, and each new one has been worse than the previous. Each of them has left us stuck somewhere on vacation getting repairs, the current one has done it twice including just last week with a "Service Active Handling" warning that kept recurring. Two visits to the dealer, not sure if it's really fixed.
If you want the ugly details, Advanced Search under my name for "One Year Report Card", "Two Year...", etc.
We have always purchased the GM extended warranty and always "made money" on it, I simply wouldn't own a Corvette that wasn't under a good warranty.
I really wish we were getting good reliability, but it just isn't happening to us.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 166
12K miles and I got a P2138, "reduced engine power", code but disappeared after i parked it. Loose gas cap code is on, second time this happened. Passenger air bag light comes on if I use the exit option. I guess these are some of the common/known problems/issues that comes with owning a vette? Other than that, I love my vette. No car is perfect but the feeling my vette gives me is priceless.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
My 07 has been on par with any other car I have owned, and better than most. Personally have had more problems with my wifes Mazda and Kia Soul than my C6.
Have their been problems? Yes but most have been minor ones that I could easily fix. Sway bar end links, diff chatter and a bad alt. Some needed GMs help, fuel pump and diff seals. Not bad for 181,500 miles in 9 years.
I would still trust my C6 to take me anywhere I want to go.
Have their been problems? Yes but most have been minor ones that I could easily fix. Sway bar end links, diff chatter and a bad alt. Some needed GMs help, fuel pump and diff seals. Not bad for 181,500 miles in 9 years.
I would still trust my C6 to take me anywhere I want to go.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 647
Likes: 135
From: Big Canoe Georgia
Consumer reports just included the '07 - '08 model years in their best used car list (April 2017 pg.50).
That said I happen to have an '07 for sale.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lt-z51-m6.html
That said I happen to have an '07 for sale.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lt-z51-m6.html
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CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 14,120
Likes: 7,414
From: Pittsburgh
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Rear axle chatter, water pump leak, oil pan seepage, harmonic balancer replacement, shift lever stuck in park, fuel tank leak, power top getting stuck or not operating, numerous squeaks and rattles and sway bar end links replacement. All those problems have been reported by others on this forum.
I would hardly call the car reliable or problem free.
I would hardly call the car reliable or problem free.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,153
Likes: 296
From: Hill Country, Texas
I have had my 08 for 3 years. Other than replacing a battery and brake pads, I have had to clean the electrical contacts in the passenger door outside handle/opening mechanism when it started to become difficult to open. That was a 15 minute job and cost nothing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 873
Having an 05 M6 keeps you honest about launching the car hard. Other than that worry , its been rock solid for me. I've only spent money on it to get a sunshade, a mgw shifter and general maintenance (fluid changes). I have a Camaro built for drag/road course which fills that itch while the vette gives me a powerful but refined feel.
I've had 2 vettes and trusted them on a 8k mile trip, tail of the dragon, around a track, random 300 mile trips to visit parents etc.
There will always be good cars and bad cars and true lemons. I think a C5-C7 are more in GM's good territory for reliability than bad.
I've had 2 vettes and trusted them on a 8k mile trip, tail of the dragon, around a track, random 300 mile trips to visit parents etc.
There will always be good cars and bad cars and true lemons. I think a C5-C7 are more in GM's good territory for reliability than bad.
Last edited by SladeX; Mar 12, 2017 at 09:21 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 31
From: Richmond Texas
Had a c5 for 5 years and 60k miles and broke the transmission twice racing it. Put a short throw in and no more problems. C6 I've had since 08 and has 98k miles on it and had the gas tank leak and one of the computers go out in it but that's it thus far. Neither has left me stranded at any point to date. Doesn't leak or burn oil, it's got a small squeak when I close the door but what doesn't after this many miles, fires up and drives great. It's my daily so I need it reliable. Nothing more than basic maintenance such as oil and air filter changes.
Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 245
Likes: 41
From: Crystal River Florida
1. Small block Chevy reliability, a 5000 hour engine.
2. Making essentially the same car with a few improvements over several years is another reason for reliability.
3. As for practical experience, my '05 200K Vert came with complete carfax and was maintained at a Chevy dealer it's whole life, with the only repair other than maint, was harmonic balancer at 175K.
4. Due to the nature of this forum, you hear about all the problems, as people write in for help. There are issues, but you won't find any world class performance car with less issues.
2. Making essentially the same car with a few improvements over several years is another reason for reliability.
3. As for practical experience, my '05 200K Vert came with complete carfax and was maintained at a Chevy dealer it's whole life, with the only repair other than maint, was harmonic balancer at 175K.
4. Due to the nature of this forum, you hear about all the problems, as people write in for help. There are issues, but you won't find any world class performance car with less issues.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 25,236
Likes: 451
From: Sun Coast of Florida
St. Jude Donor '03-'26
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Rear axle chatter, water pump leak, oil pan seepage, harmonic balancer replacement, shift lever stuck in park, fuel tank leak, power top getting stuck or not operating, numerous squeaks and rattles and sway bar end links replacement. All those problems have been reported by others on this forum.
I would hardly call the car reliable or problem free.
I would hardly call the car reliable or problem free.
Most of these problems were fixed during the production run. Some were not, shame on GM.
Some could be a mix of cheap parts and driver error. I feel the shift linkage problem fits this category. GM using cheap parts and drivers not recognising problematic driving habits. Example would be coming to a stop and shifting to park on a slight incline and keeping your foot on the brake. If you try to shift back into drive there will be a lot of resistance and more force needed to shift. If you release the built up tension by taking your foot off the brake then back on to shift there will be no binding. Think about when you park in your garage. You stop, turn car off and release the brake. Has the car ever moved forward due to unreleased energy?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 901
Likes: 45
From: Winter Haven FL
My 2011GS is my DD. I have 53k on it. Water pump started leaking at 38K. Car was out of standard warranty but the pump was covered under the 5 year/100k power train warranty. Replaced the battery 5 years and 1 month after car mfg date. Other than that...no problems. great car to own.
Last edited by BROCKYJACK; Mar 12, 2017 at 11:44 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 817
From: Melbourne FL
Same with my 2008. I also replaced the clutch master cylinder with the new version, just because the original version could potentially fail.
My 1996 was very good, but had a couple of common problems (water pump, A/C controller). My 1999 was practically haunted - many electrical gremlins.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 2,694
From: New Mexico
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
Rear axle chatter, water pump leak, oil pan seepage, harmonic balancer replacement, shift lever stuck in park, fuel tank leak, power top getting stuck or not operating, numerous squeaks and rattles and sway bar end links replacement. All those problems have been reported by others on this forum.
I would hardly call the car reliable or problem free.
I would hardly call the car reliable or problem free.
