Newt373

I have run through all kinds of threads looking at various aspects of Vette maintenance and learned a lot about a lot of things. Most threads I have sifted through take a microscopic view of a task. IE changing the oil, I done blowed up my engine, I built a ramp out of 2x4s and bubble gum, can I change my own brake fluid etc etc... So far, none of my searches have found threads addressing maintenance as a whole.

The question I pose is, in your experience, what are the average yearly maintenance costs associated with owning a C6Z?

My info for those who will inveriably ask: (and skip to the end if your thought was an answer without a questsion!)

- Dont count tires (I will HPDE the car 2-6 times per season and tires get their own budget IMO)

- Dont count oil changes (I can change the oil based on multiple DIYs throughout the CF, thanks for those BTW!)

- Dont count body damage (thats why I have seperate insurance for the track... until they tell me I cant use it... which I haven't, yet.)

- Dont count gas... (that would be silly! I dont expect to get great MPG by any stretch...)

- I will drive approx 10K miles per year (garage queen my a$$... I DD my STI because its fun in the snow!)

- I have some ability to perform maintenance (Helicopter mechanic in the Army, if its in the book and I have the tools, I can "probably" fix it... although I will NOT try to tear down the motor, x-msn or suspension bits)

- Im looking at 2006/2007 ZO6, stock and staying stock, will have about 15K miles on it or less... (If you know someone selling a LMB in Aug of 10, let me know )

I just want an IDEA of what I'm getting myself into... Im comfortable in my STI and its routine maintenance including a new engine under warranty, multiple sets of tires and rims, and 4 sets of brake pads in 40K miles. Am I jumping into a punji pit worse than the STI?

So, that being said... Be free and educate me!

Newt

tonypittman

I have had my 2007 for 3 years now, and aside from what you said to not count, I have spent exactly $0. I drive about 5k miles per year and I don't race it.

That's been my experience.

I have done oil changes every 3 months or so and put on a new set of tires.

Hatdude

General maintenance is going to be less than your STI. Especially if you're not counting tires (big $). It might be a supercar but in some respects still a Chevy.

kumar75150

blown motor - 5000 + labor
blown rear diff - 2000 + labor
blown clutch - 1800
tires and oil change - insignificant once you consider the above

ByByBMW

Given all your don't count this or that, my cost over the last 1.5 years has been $0.

Dreamin

Change Trans and Diff fluid every 4-6 track days, depending on how hard you drive and the temps. Trans+Diff Fluid Cost: $70 (online)

That leaves just brake pads...

Fhqwhgads

I've owned an Sti and currently still own an Evo and with everything you excluded, all you're left with are fluids for trans/diff/brakes/clutch. These should be directly inline with the Sti (if not less, since there's 2 less diffs - but if I remember correctly, the front diff, center diff and tranny all share the same fluid in the Sti). So the quantities aren't drastically different for those things and the price depends on the fluid. I will mention that the oil cost will be slightly more due to the higher volume (especially on the 09/10 models with the larger tank).

Brake pads will cost about the same. The air filter is probably the only thing that costs a bit too much from the factory (about $100 if I remember the posts correctly). But you can probably go aftermarket filter or CAI and not have to worry about that.

Hope that helps with any left over fears - just jump in, the water's fine

OldZR-1Guy

Using your criteria: Price of maintenance for one year= $0. Driving the Z06 for one year= Priceless.

Joe_Planet

i'm going to chime in and say its silly to not count tires, oil changes and the like
I agree with not counting gas, but everything else is very relevant. The tires are going to cost 2-3x a normal cars, and everything in general will be more expensive.

As far as maintenance
Tires probably yearly
Brake pads and rotors yearly
Oil changes if you track the car every 1-2 months with no more than 1 event/mo
Brake fluid is good to flush after every track event, its cheap
I dont bother with trans/diff fluid, how is it going to get dirty? Its sealed inside.

So if you add everything up you're probably looking at 2k-3k in maintenance costs
at least it would be good to budget that much

Gannet

Lessee...2009, 23k miles, no tracking. Other than tires and fluids ("other than tires" is leaving out a LOT) I've replaced a battery and both horns (?!?). Oh, and I have a leaky rear shock. All of which could have been covered by warranty, but I chose to pay it myself and have my tech do the work.

Tires are expensive. Very close to as much, per mile, as gas,

Newt373

I dont count tires because I use a seperate budget for them, about $3K per year. I count oil just like gas, you cant use the car without it.

However, I hadnt counted rotors... the wear on my rotors has been minimal, surprisingly. I will look into rotors.

-------- A motor, A rear diff and a clutch?! that, is a bad year! but, only 5000 for a blown motor? Thats not bad. The STI motor would have cost me close in on 11 grand, if it weren't warrantied.... Just an observation.

2-3 thousand per year isnt bad. (when you include all the stuff I mentioned... and more affordable if Im not tracking the STI, its not a happy camper when you track it too much!)

"In some respects its still a Chevy" true enough, but you know how you build an idea up in your head as a dream and then it starts to become a reality? I had to ask the question to see what kind of answers I would get. I've dreamt of owning a vette for the better part of 3 decades... I want to make sure I do it right. So far, everything is on track. (so to speak)

(yes the diffs and tranny share... its a freakin bulletproof system there!)

Thanks for your responses
Newt

Gannet

One thing to do "in prep" for Vette ownership is to find the tech you're going to use, and hopefully also a body and paint man. Even who you're going to use for tire installations, alignments, and tow service. All of this stuff is "special" for Vettes, if you want it done properly. The car is a strange combination of Ferrari technology at Chevy prices. You need specialists, just like you would for a Ferrari. They just cost less.

Ask for leads in the appropriate regional forum. Is this going to be while you're still over there, or after you come home? In either case, best of luck, and Thank You for your service!

P.S. The one mistake I made in Vette ownership was not doing it decades sooner. So don't hold back, you will love it.

P.P.S. Motors don't cost $5k. A new crate motor from GM was $12.5k last time I looked. $5k would be a typical repair cost for a blown motor that needs a new shortblock and maybe a few valves replaced. It assumes you reuse much of the engine, which is nearly always the case.

Dreamin

BTW, great avatar pic

Newt373

I will look up some Vette specialists in my area. I will wait till I get home to pick out a car. I'm fairly confident I can choose wisely but I will definitely have to see it in person and if not drive it, be taken for a ride... or something like that. I've learned quite a bit about maintenance on the STI and the skills will carry over.

I'm still not 100% used Z, the GS is calling me too. I wont wait any more. I have the opportunity now at a point where I can still be old enough to know better and young enough not to care. The wife is on board 100%, but still cant drive stick. It kills me, but she will have to learn on the STI or hopefully on a friends car!!! Fortunately, she is a fairly conservative driver, but who knows, DR Jekyl and Mr Hyde may strike when she gets that much power under her foot... (I doubt it though)

Silver05GTO

It's cost me $0 to own the Z06 this year. Bought it in April with 12K miles on it, it now has over 22K miles. One oil change and a diff fluid change....that's it.

How many 11 sec cars that are driven AVERAGE miles in a year cost nothing but fluid changes.....I'd guess not too many.

Newt just make sure your totally happy with the purchase, if you think you'll always want to have owned a Z06 in your lifetime, a GS just won't scratch that itch. Also if you mod the GS to make up the hp difference you'll blow a perfectly good warranty on a new car which IMO is a mistake.

A used low mileage under warranty Z06 would cover your desire for owning a bonafide budget supercar at less then the price of a new Grand Sport. Once you drive a Z06, you'll find a car with scary levels of stock HP with unique history, that handles on rails, and unless it's a 1LZ will be pretty well loaded up.

This weekend I had numerous people give me thumbs up, say WOW, and ask about the Z06.....it's a special car and I'm glad I made the move up....kinda funny the general public gives the Z06 the reaction I used to give it when I'd see one drive by, I'm lucky to get to expirience it behind the wheel

Newt373

The only arguement I come up with for going with a new GS over a used Z is the previous owner.

uuuh, yeah, I think I will probably choose the Z.

I wouldn't mod a GS or any other Vette with the concept of making it something else. IMO, a stock Vette is just about the coolest car out there and has been so for 56(?) years, body or engine... (Although Im not a big fan of the C4 in general.) There is just something about a stock Vette's styling that is the epitome of what a sports car should look like and for me, its just plain Hot!

So, the general concensus is that the maintenance is not all that bad. Or, not much worse than what I am experiencing now with the STI. Of course tires are expensive... lol, at least you wont see me posting a thread asking about how to buy tires for a ZO6 for under $1000 or something!

sqvvcd

It looks like you are looking into the right directions. Agree with everyone's comments here. However, keep an eye on symptoms of mod bugs. Very easily get bitten from it and extremely contagious and very costly.

sqvvcd

I was in the exact same position as you, brand new fully loaded coupe or a slightly used Z06. Z06 won hands down with no regrets. And yes you can find a set of tires that works well for under 1K from this forum.

Pistol Champ

I never looked at what it costs but someone had to ask.
3 years depreciation = $30,000
1300 gal. fuel = $4,000
2 set tires = $3,000
3 years insurance = $3,000
oil, alignments, filters, misc =$1,000

Total $31,000/19,000 miles = who cares it is all so much fun

The NNIAL8R

Your calculator needs a new battery...that adds up to $41K