First year C7
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 147
From: dalton ma
First year C7
I am a C5 person thinking about moving up. My question is: are there multiply problems with the first year C7's ? I remember 1963's and 1968's had tough teething pains as first year models. 84's and 97's were no walk in the park either.
I figure after a couple three years most of the built in problems have been worked out, am I smoking the wrong stuff or is that mostly true ? Thanks, Bob
:
I figure after a couple three years most of the built in problems have been worked out, am I smoking the wrong stuff or is that mostly true ? Thanks, Bob
:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
Likes: 1,471
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
wouldn't you think that if there were any problems with a '14 all those concerns would've been addressed under warranty by the previous owner(s) by now? No major problems plagued the '14s, they are bulletproof.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 39,064
Likes: 17,931
From: DFW Area TX
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,042
Likes: 4,610
Nothing like the disasters of the 1st year C4 & C5. Those were admitted fails from General Motors themselves. Anyone who tells you different, doesn't know their Corvette history.
.By the time the C6 was released, I was so uninterested in the Corvette brand I could not have cared less about what they were building.
. The C7 is a complete and total departure in every way from any previous Corvette.
.I'd be uninterested in buying any C7 out of 3/36 factory warranty, or, any C7 with more than 15K miles on it. Many repairs will be costly on C7s.
Better be prepared for that beforehand.
.
.By the time the C6 was released, I was so uninterested in the Corvette brand I could not have cared less about what they were building.
. The C7 is a complete and total departure in every way from any previous Corvette.
.I'd be uninterested in buying any C7 out of 3/36 factory warranty, or, any C7 with more than 15K miles on it. Many repairs will be costly on C7s.
Better be prepared for that beforehand.
.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 284
From: Ten Mile TN
My 2014 only had one warranty issue, that was an alignment. Other than that it was trouble free for the 4 years and 2.5 months I owned it. It was a M7 car, 3LT, Z51 with mag ride and NPP.
My 18 Grand Sport is also a 3LT, M7 car. In the 8.5 months I have had it, it has had two warranty repairs, leaking top which was gasket installed wrong at factory. Then the head liner coming loose.
My 18 Grand Sport is also a 3LT, M7 car. In the 8.5 months I have had it, it has had two warranty repairs, leaking top which was gasket installed wrong at factory. Then the head liner coming loose.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,323
Likes: 2,077
From: Guelph, Ontario
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,340
Likes: 2,084
From: Lehigh Valley PA
- I bought a 2014 Z51 / 3LT and I have never been happier. I had an 02 C5 Vert and thought I could never love a car more...well drive a C7 and your opinion will change like mine did. The car has been bulletproof. Only thing I can offer as a "watch-out" is that a few folks have posted over heating issues. Some say its the fans that go bad, others have stated minor coolant leaks. Something to look for when your test drive it. Make sure you drive it for more than 10 or 15 min - really test drive it. Now that doesn't mean drag race it - cause the over heat problem occurred mostly during normal / easy driving conditions but you need to give it time for the car to warm up.Best of Luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,884
Likes: 2,884
From: Toronto
I've kept up to speed on most of the C7 threads over the past few years and can say the MY14 is solid. Plus it has the A6 which has been bullet proof. My recommendation...pull the trigger.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
You're the one that has no clue Joe. The C5 didn't suffer from first year problems at all like the C4 did. How would you even have a clue about anything C4, C5 or C6 related anyhow? You have only owned a C3 and a C7, and both for a very brief period of time. So you really aren't experienced enough in the Corvette world to provide any useful information of any kind.
Sometimes Joe might consider letting people think him a fool,, rather than making posts that prove it.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 329
Likes: 101
From: Chiggerbranch, MS
My 2014 C7 is magnificent. Best car I have ever owned and drive it every chance I get. Being 69 years old and 43 years in military/civilian service, it takes a lot to make me go wheee. Except when I get in the Corvette.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 2,055
From: Margate, FL
I looked at it another way: any 2014 problems have already been identified and documented around here.
Problems with an '17 or '18 might not show up for another year.
So far only three small issues with mine:
• Cargo clip broke - could have been user error, I sourced a bag of three clips on eBay for $25
• XM antenna failed - very rare, fixed for $20 with an aftermarket unit
• Lumbar and side bolsters on driver's seat don't hold pressure - a few random reports about it, the part is under $200 but labor is difficult
My C7 was used and currently has 21K on it. I have no idea if the previous owner had any issues but maintenance records showed nothing noteworthy.
Problems with an '17 or '18 might not show up for another year.
So far only three small issues with mine:
• Cargo clip broke - could have been user error, I sourced a bag of three clips on eBay for $25
• XM antenna failed - very rare, fixed for $20 with an aftermarket unit
• Lumbar and side bolsters on driver's seat don't hold pressure - a few random reports about it, the part is under $200 but labor is difficult
My C7 was used and currently has 21K on it. I have no idea if the previous owner had any issues but maintenance records showed nothing noteworthy.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 2,106
From: Left Coast, San Diego
Skid Marks Joe proves he's a fool EVERY time he posts about a previous generation Corvette. Very consistant....
Last edited by Vet Interested; Dec 11, 2018 at 06:28 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,442
Likes: 2,535
From: New Jersey