Which year?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 335
Likes: 7
Which year?
I was wondering....did all the C7 Corvettes come with bluetooth and backup camera and XM radio as standard equipment?
What was the first good year with least amount of problems,people always say don't buy the 1st year when a car is totally redone.
Thanks
What was the first good year with least amount of problems,people always say don't buy the 1st year when a car is totally redone.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2016
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From: 2019 CMG Z06
As far as C7s go, very few complaints from the first yr 2014 owners here. The features you listed are on all C7s. I had a 16 and now have a 19. My experience is the newer, the better, but that's not to say the older years are bad cars. Just over a product cycle, things get better
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From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
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Blue tooth & backup cameras were OEM in the 2014- XM radio was a freebie for a few months and then you had to subscribe. The 2014 MY was the exception to the rule of getting a first year model. Majorly solid car except for front cameras and PDR. Navtool took care of the missing front camera issue and Blackvue took care of the missing PDR.
Only the 2014 has the A6 and the 2015 up has the A8.
Elmer
Only the 2014 has the A6 and the 2015 up has the A8.
Elmer
Last edited by eboggs_jkvl; Jul 29, 2021 at 03:00 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Margate, FL
Yep all those things are standard features for all C7 models. In some respects the 2014s are better because of the A6 vs A8 transmission. And the 2014s have proven to be just as reliable as more recent models. Over the years there were improvements like the front cameras and power latching hatch... I wish my 2014 had that stuff. The engine and most major systems are the same, the changes (other then transmission) came in to the electronics, improved paint and lighter body panels.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Bonney Lake Washington
A rare exception
As far as C7s go, very few complaints from the first yr 2014 owners here. The features you listed are on all C7s. I had a 16 and now have a 19. My experience is the newer, the better, but that's not to say the older years are bad cars. Just over a product cycle, things get better
Roadster Madness. 😠
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From: Ventura Co Ca
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St. Jude Donor '13, '20-'21
Consumer Reports has the 2016 as the model with the least problems and is the first year with the front camera
The C7 is the exception to not buying the first year model. They all seem to be holding up well!
The only problem I see right now if you are buying a C7, is the price increase, since the chip and other shortages! The other "problem" you should look for is the tire wear, if you are looking at similar C7's. The tires on the Z51 and wider Vettes, seem to take longer to source. jmho
The C7 is the exception to not buying the first year model. They all seem to be holding up well!
The only problem I see right now if you are buying a C7, is the price increase, since the chip and other shortages! The other "problem" you should look for is the tire wear, if you are looking at similar C7's. The tires on the Z51 and wider Vettes, seem to take longer to source. jmho
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Santa Fe Tx
- Generally the first/second model years of any vehicle are sort out bug years? For the C6 the 2005 had electrical issues, through 2006 the C6 coupe had bad glue on the roof panel(mine blew off). The C7 maybe an exception to having early year issues? heck I had a 2013 Z06 that had a bad manual transmission? and it was put together with leftover ZR-1 parts.
- The issue with Corvettes is many folks buy them new and save them for the next owner, so very low miles and thus takes alot of time for GM to sort out real problems.
- I've heard the C-8 biggest issue is production- slow/lack of producing cars. There might be other issues?
- I'm sure there are other vehicles with similar patterns of bugs-
All of this is just my opinion/observation
- The issue with Corvettes is many folks buy them new and save them for the next owner, so very low miles and thus takes alot of time for GM to sort out real problems.
- I've heard the C-8 biggest issue is production- slow/lack of producing cars. There might be other issues?
- I'm sure there are other vehicles with similar patterns of bugs-
All of this is just my opinion/observation
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As has been mentioned, the 2014 has been a pretty reliable car, with a few exceptions in the electronics area. I have had mine for better than 2.5 years and the only problem I have had was with the infotainment screen (replaced under my extended warranty), a problem that was common with the '14. All years have had some problems - so whatever you decide on, just be sure to have the car thoroughly checked out by a good Vette tech.
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Since the development of CAD tools, the first year problem issues have long been put to bed. My 97 C5 was a problem-free car and many others were as well. In fact, the first three years were better than the last 5 as GM made some changes to reduce manufacturing costs which resulted in some unwanted oil canning sounds.
Any year C7 is a good car. However, each year seemed to bring a new desirable feature. 2014 didn't get the front camera, PDR or the smart phone app tie ins, 2015 got the PDR and the Z06 but didn't have the front camera or smart phone apps, 2016 got the front camera, pull down hatch lid on 2Lxx and above models and the smart phone apps. 2017 got the improvements to the Z06 SC, 2018 was the short year and 2019 was the long year both of them got some minor updates in the IP displays and the 2019 got a larger radiator for the Z06 A8 cars. Choosing a model year is based more on what do you want and what can you live without.
Bill
Any year C7 is a good car. However, each year seemed to bring a new desirable feature. 2014 didn't get the front camera, PDR or the smart phone app tie ins, 2015 got the PDR and the Z06 but didn't have the front camera or smart phone apps, 2016 got the front camera, pull down hatch lid on 2Lxx and above models and the smart phone apps. 2017 got the improvements to the Z06 SC, 2018 was the short year and 2019 was the long year both of them got some minor updates in the IP displays and the 2019 got a larger radiator for the Z06 A8 cars. Choosing a model year is based more on what do you want and what can you live without.
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Jul 30, 2021 at 03:02 PM.
All the best. 
