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Hello. Looking to buy my first Corvette. A 2014-2016 Stingray is in my price range. I want an automatic. I’ve heard there are a lot of issues with the A8 transmission so that would take me back to a 2014 with the A6. I’m good with that but want to make sure the 2014 LT-1 engine is reliable? I have read they had some failures early on (Car and Driver article I believe and a few others). I have always loved corvettes. Just don’t want to buy a problem. Thank you in advance for your feedback.
Hello. Looking to buy my first Corvette. A 2014-2016 Stingray is in my price range. I want an automatic. I’ve heard there are a lot of issues with the A8 transmission so that would take me back to a 2014 with the A6. I’m good with that but want to make sure the 2014 LT-1 engine is reliable? I have read they had some failures early on (Car and Driver article I believe and a few others). I have always loved corvettes. Just don’t want to buy a problem. Thank you in advance for your feedback.
'14s were pretty darn good. Mine has had 0 engine issues and the A6 works like a champ. I had the "Nutty fan" issue that the dealers couldn't figure out. I solved it by changing the OEM fan to the Z06 600W fan. No PDR, Apple Play, or front camera. I have a Blackview camera installed which is similar to the PDR but doesn't have the track stuff. I have Navtool and can run anything that I can play on my iPhone to appear on the NAV screen. Navtool also gives me a front camera that displays on the NAV screen, so that short coming is corrected.
Back to your original question, LT1? No issues here and not many at all on the LT1 engine for the 2014 cars.
^^^^^ Exactly what @eboggs_jkvl said.... I have had 2, 2014's... replaced fans on both with Z06 fans, did 2 stage paint protection and PPC on both... They really are great first year cars and the 6 speed auto is bullet proof..
2014 Coupe had 38,000 when I traded and I have 48,000 on this Vert
The 14' is what I specifically sought out and the car I found with 7K miles has been excellent. I have nearly doubled the mileage on the car in a year and half with most of those months sitting in winter storage. If you want simple and reliable a non- Z51 (unless you are headed to the track) with the A6 is solid with no worries. The fact that these cars will also have the most depreciation attached is another bonus as long as you don't mind giving up the couple of extra toys added. It's not uncommon to find some of these cars with extended warranties on them if you are patient and want some extra piece of mind.
I bought a 2014 with 32k on it and it's been trouble free with 36k now. Purchased a CPP warranty from Dennis Fincher in Montana, best price and service, only reason due to infotainment system. Traded C5 with 107k, motor and trans perfect same as C7
I got a used M7 with 37K on it in late 2018. It now has over 50K and zero problems. I have read about a few problems with the LT1, mostly related to lifter problems associated with switching from V8 to V4 mode, so if you do get one with an automatic you may want to get a range device to keep it in V8 and hopefully avoid any extra stress on the valve train components. Or switch to an M7 and don't use ever use eco!
And good luck in whatever you buy! I've had four generations of corvettes and they truly have all been great cars.
I bought a CPO 2014 in early 2016. It's been a very reliable car. There's no reason to pass on a 2014 C7 because of the year. If you're in doubt about any particular car, take the VIN # to a Chevy dealer and ask them to run the warranty record on that car. That will at least tell you about the first 5 years of the car's life as to any drivetrain issues the car had. While the A8 had issues, the new fluid seems to have quieted the number of complaints. If you decide to go newer than 2014, consider having the A8 triple flushed with the latest GM fluid. Good luck with your search.
At 33K in mileage my 2014 (M7) has been basically trouble free. I got the car used and doubled the original owners mileage in half the time since the car is a daily driver and track toy.
Below are the only repairs, which were all easy DIY fixes for me:
$29 - SiriusXM antenna
$25 - Cargo Net Retaining Hook Clip
$44 - Backup Lamp Switch
I just had the passenger side rear LED clearance marker fail (its at half brightness) so I am upgrading to a set of tinted Oracle replacements.
My HMI (radio touch screen interface) was acting flaky but it turned out to be a loose connection. If you search around here you'll find that infotainment and cooling fan issues are the most common. Next would be the 3LT leather dash pulling up which is avoided if you just get a 2LT package.
A used 2014 that has seen a few oil changes its likely way past the extremely rare problems some early dry sump (Z51) cars encountered regarding the LT1 engine. All the automatic transmission issues I've seen around here are related to the later models with the A8, so getting a 2014 with the A6 is the safe choice.
Look for a car that has the mag-ride suspension and performance exhaust, those two options are must haves in my book.
My 2014 has 104K miles on it. It is my daily driver. The engine has been flawless as has the A6. Mine was an early 2014 (October 2013 production) and the torque tube failed at 5K miles (bearing rattle) and was replaced under warranty. Mine is a 2LT and It has navigation and it also has the backup camera, but 2014's did not have any front camera or PDR options. Even though the 2014's did not have Android Auto or Apple Car Play, the Bluetooth link to the phone works and this includes the voice command.
I purchased a second hand base-model, 2/2016, 18,500K, A8 automatic with zero issues. (Chevrolet Dealership)
I have the flat bottom steering wheel, Apple play, motorized rear hatch, navigation, Z-51 rear spoiler, rear back up camera and NPP exhaust.
A 2014 Stingray is going to require additional time related service maintenance unlike a newer Stingray would: such as fluid changes, filters, new tires, brakes, etc...
*I would recommend you buy the newest Stingray you and your family can afford?*
A 2014 Stingray is going to require additional time related service maintenance unlike a newer Stingray would: such as fluid changes, filters, new tires, brakes, etc...
Except that maintenance is cheap. First time based maintenance required on my 14' was a coolant flush. Had the oil changed, coolant flushed, everything else checked by my dealer. The bill came to $165. This is not a Ferrari or a Lambo where time based services can run into the thousands of dollars. Vette maintenance is cheap compared to other sports cars even when the dealer does it.
The other problem with the "newer is better" approach is the A8 trans. How many of these transmissions have had multiple fluid flushes before they ever reached any significant mileage? What happens when all of these transmissions actually do have significant miles? Will another flush be all that they need?
*I would recommend you buy the newest Stingray you and your family can afford?*
I would revise that to: buy the lowest mileage C7 you can afford. However that is the great thing about the Corvette market: there are lots of low mileage garage queens to pick from. In my case I went with a 2014 because that allowed me to get a loaded Z51 vs a less equipped but newer base model car. The best reason to get a newer one is if the added features like PDR, CarPlay or the motorized latch are things you value. I wish my '14 had the hatch pull down for sure.
I would revise that to: buy the lowest mileage C7 you can afford. However that is the great thing about the Corvette market: there are lots of low mileage garage queens to pick from. In my case I went with a 2014 because that allowed me to get a loaded Z51 vs a less equipped but newer base model car. The best reason to get a newer one is if the added features like PDR, CarPlay or the motorized latch are things you value. I wish my '14 had the hatch pull down for sure.
I bought my base '14 just over a year ago with just over 19k miles. 3LT, Auto, Suede, and a few other extras. I have right at 26.5k now. It had new front tires because they found a nail in one the day before I test drove it. Still had/has new car smell. I did add the Nav-Tool and front camera (for Carplay), poverty splitter painted same as spoiler and range device (take it out before going to get smogged, hahah). I also bought GM extended warranty for 5yr/50k miles for just a few hundred extra. All in I paid a little over half of sticker for what was essentially a new car. The motor and trans work flawlessly. So much above the C6 Z-51 stick I traded for it. And given the abomination of a convertible the C8 is, this will likely be my last. haha Honestly, you cannot go wrong with a lightly used '14 IMHO.
2014 C7 reliability?
