How many years will it take GM to get the C8 right?
05-13-2018, 05:30 PM
#81
I agree with you completely. I took delivery of my C7 Oct 3rd of 13 & loved the experience of having the 1st of a new model in town. I'm in line to get the 1st ME in town (if the price is not much over $100,000) and looking forward to the new model experience all over again. As far as 1st year problems, I've had it into the dealer to have the touch screen replaced & several times to have the oil changed. 
Small price to pay for the last 4 plus years of driving it.
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PobreWey (05-13-2018)
05-13-2018, 10:17 PM
#83
Safety Car
It is factual that the best of a generation is the last year of it. That is true of the Corvette and all other vehicles.
05-13-2018, 10:45 PM
#84
Sorry to have to ask these questions but I don't have much faith that the C8 will be affordable or start as a great car.
I expect GM to play the market game and drag us along with the next best option. example c7, GS, Z06, ZR1.
Do you expect the C8 to start as a better car than any of the C7 models?
How long will it take for a C8 mid-engine to out perform the C7 ZR1?
I expect GM to play the market game and drag us along with the next best option. example c7, GS, Z06, ZR1.
Do you expect the C8 to start as a better car than any of the C7 models?
How long will it take for a C8 mid-engine to out perform the C7 ZR1?
05-13-2018, 10:49 PM
#85
Every company that designs hardware wants a first pass design. In a competitive environment you can't afford not to hit the nail on the head with your first shot. The automated design tools and testing processes they have now make it more likely they will get that first pass design. Just like the pilot that jumps into the first version of a brand new aircraft and takes it off the ground for the first time you have to have faith the people who built it knew what they were doing. The better the job done on the first model the lower the costs are for warranty repair and development of the next iteration.
GM pretty much did that with the C5 Corvette. The 97s were probably the best built of the series. The design tools are 20 years better now than they were then so I am pretty sure GM will have a very trouble free car right out of the box.
Bill
GM pretty much did that with the C5 Corvette. The 97s were probably the best built of the series. The design tools are 20 years better now than they were then so I am pretty sure GM will have a very trouble free car right out of the box.
Bill
Everyone will have their own version of "the car isn't right" some problems will not bother some and others will be pissed if ANYTHING goes wrong. LIKE ME
05-13-2018, 10:51 PM
#86
I'm hoping the quality problems will be minor, or fixed with recall.
I think the paint will be much better.
The mid-engine car will not be as fast as the C7 ZR1. Hopefully faster than a base C7. Then, over time, they will introduce the DOHC and twin turbo versions. By that time, they will make the fastest Corvette in history.
Actually, I would prefer the lighter weight of a V6 twin turbo. You can get a lot of power out of those.
I just hope they keep making the front-engine car at an affordable price.
I think the paint will be much better.
The mid-engine car will not be as fast as the C7 ZR1. Hopefully faster than a base C7. Then, over time, they will introduce the DOHC and twin turbo versions. By that time, they will make the fastest Corvette in history.
Actually, I would prefer the lighter weight of a V6 twin turbo. You can get a lot of power out of those.
I just hope they keep making the front-engine car at an affordable price.
I'd like to see it like it was when the built the 63-67. You can order any engine . They should do that with any model
05-13-2018, 10:57 PM
#87
I would like to buy an early one if it can be had with a pushrod V8 and a stick.
My 2014 Z51 has 49K miles... leaking injector when new (prior owner) and passenger seat got stuck. Since I've owned it the water pump and belt tensioner have been replaced.
interior is very quiet for a 50K mile car with sriffer non-mag Z51 springs. My wife's 2012 Mercedes ML350'is my quality benchmark and the interior of the C7 has less noises.
The paint is really poor (knew that going in) but I wanted white and wanted to be sub $40K so it hides the flaws. Compared to my 4 prior C5s the C7s lower density SMC has more defects and waviness, there are more paint defects, and the orange peel on vertical surfaces is bad... but it's hard to see on a white car! The worst is the panel gap inconsistencies... it's all over the place. I've had to adjust the whole car to get it on par with my C5s.
Heres the kicker.... the 2019s are no better as far as panel fit. They all have the doors in slightly different spots, the hood to fender gaps vary widely, roof halo to hatch to targa panel varies and headlight fit is all over... BUT!!!! The paint and panels themselves are WAY better. They robot wet sand all the panels now to take the waviness out before they go through an all new paint process.
I just wish GM paid more attention to panel gaps... they market that they do, but they don't... the C7 is harder to assemble given the way the roof halo and hatch are designed, there's more variance in how you can position the quarters and fenders and you can't get to he hood hing to frame bolts once the bumper is on... all makes for more variation.
Hoping the C8 is rad... want silver with red interior this time.
My 2014 Z51 has 49K miles... leaking injector when new (prior owner) and passenger seat got stuck. Since I've owned it the water pump and belt tensioner have been replaced.
interior is very quiet for a 50K mile car with sriffer non-mag Z51 springs. My wife's 2012 Mercedes ML350'is my quality benchmark and the interior of the C7 has less noises.
The paint is really poor (knew that going in) but I wanted white and wanted to be sub $40K so it hides the flaws. Compared to my 4 prior C5s the C7s lower density SMC has more defects and waviness, there are more paint defects, and the orange peel on vertical surfaces is bad... but it's hard to see on a white car! The worst is the panel gap inconsistencies... it's all over the place. I've had to adjust the whole car to get it on par with my C5s.
Heres the kicker.... the 2019s are no better as far as panel fit. They all have the doors in slightly different spots, the hood to fender gaps vary widely, roof halo to hatch to targa panel varies and headlight fit is all over... BUT!!!! The paint and panels themselves are WAY better. They robot wet sand all the panels now to take the waviness out before they go through an all new paint process.
I just wish GM paid more attention to panel gaps... they market that they do, but they don't... the C7 is harder to assemble given the way the roof halo and hatch are designed, there's more variance in how you can position the quarters and fenders and you can't get to he hood hing to frame bolts once the bumper is on... all makes for more variation.
Hoping the C8 is rad... want silver with red interior this time.
05-16-2018, 08:35 AM
#88
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '15
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05-16-2018, 01:04 PM
#90
Safety Car
The design parameter for the C6 was 5mm panel gaps; for the C7 is was/is 3mm. The GM team has heard from thousands of Corvette owners for decades, including hundreds of C7 owners, that paint and panel gaps were the two things that still needed impropvement. They listened on the paint shop, but more than listening, they then committed $435M to fix the paint, and consequently, we are seeing and hearing repeat reports about how much better the 2019 paint is. Mike Furman has received hundreds and hundreds of new 2019, and in his personal inspection of each one, he has shared that the 2019 paint is a major improvement, of much better quality.
We hope that GM has done more than listening in the area of panel gaps as our Corvette heads forward, that the ME pioneers reduced-width panel gaps. Perhaps, as the ME is a ground up new design — though again it starts from the aluminum chassis and the aperature panel, that they have figured out different attaching methods, better clips, “inside” flanges on adjoining gaps with nuts/screws to suck and hold the two panels together, or some other means to improve this on the ME!
If we are truly going to compete with the exotics, panel gap improvement is an area that needs further improvement.
We hope that GM has done more than listening in the area of panel gaps as our Corvette heads forward, that the ME pioneers reduced-width panel gaps. Perhaps, as the ME is a ground up new design — though again it starts from the aluminum chassis and the aperature panel, that they have figured out different attaching methods, better clips, “inside” flanges on adjoining gaps with nuts/screws to suck and hold the two panels together, or some other means to improve this on the ME!
If we are truly going to compete with the exotics, panel gap improvement is an area that needs further improvement.
Last edited by elegant; 05-16-2018 at 01:26 PM.
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RapidC84B (05-16-2018)
05-16-2018, 04:09 PM
#91
The new paint and panel quality is awesome. The consistency with which the cars are put together still stinks worse than my C5s. Still love my C7 though. It's not he gap width, but the consistency... the gaps are all over, vary side to side of the car, and often expand or contract... the hoods are really bad.
Last edited by RapidC84B; 05-16-2018 at 04:10 PM.
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Red Rochester (10-10-2019)
10-09-2019, 11:26 PM
#92
Instructor
Those saying there will be no first year issues forget about all the problems with the A8. My local Chevy dealer’s head mechanic said they were working out issues and changing components on the A8 until 2017. My own experience: myriad minor issues with 2000 C5 ; 2015 C7 repurchased by GM due to bad A8: 2019 C7 required new struts and differential at 1800 miles. Bottom line: I’ll wait at least two years before considering a C8.
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Walt White Coupe (10-10-2019)
10-09-2019, 11:49 PM
#93
Banned Scam/Spammer
The first 2 years of C7 had the best auto tranny.. also the best color yellow..
You get a full warranty and as in all things there will be a small % of crap breaking.. If you need that as an excuse instead of "I cant afford it" then so be it. I get it.. Im on the edge also.
The difference is my family is pissing me off and life sucks and I'm gonna break . It makes no sense for me to buy this car other then I want it. Maybe my wife will take it from me but at least it will take a year before the judge gives it to her. Also, I'm making it yellow with a big wing so she may just say F it and let me keep it... see how smart I am... planning for the future!
You get a full warranty and as in all things there will be a small % of crap breaking.. If you need that as an excuse instead of "I cant afford it" then so be it. I get it.. Im on the edge also.
The difference is my family is pissing me off and life sucks and I'm gonna break . It makes no sense for me to buy this car other then I want it. Maybe my wife will take it from me but at least it will take a year before the judge gives it to her. Also, I'm making it yellow with a big wing so she may just say F it and let me keep it... see how smart I am... planning for the future!
10-10-2019, 01:43 AM
#95
Burning Brakes
Those saying there will be no first year issues forget about all the problems with the A8. My local Chevy dealer’s head mechanic said they were working out issues and changing components on the A8 until 2017. My own experience: myriad minor issues with 2000 C5 ; 2015 C7 repurchased by GM due to bad A8: 2019 C7 required new struts and differential at 1800 miles. Bottom line: I’ll wait at least two years before considering a C8.
In contrast, the Tremec M7 manual transmission has, on the other hand, been very reliable and provided good performance in every C7 it has been installed in. The rest of the C7 including the LT1, LT4 and LT5 has been remarkably reliable since it’s introduction in the Fall of 2013.
My MY2014 has been flawless, but I have never abused it. If you treat your car like a NASCAR stocker or a NHRA dragster, you will have issues. That is the price of the adrenaline rush.
The gestation of the C8 has been longer than the C7 or the C6. GM has had years to iron out its bugs.
The Tremec 9080 DCT is built like a tank transmission. It weighs 50% more than a Porsche PDK. Chances are good that it will be as reliable as the M7 - they have a lot riding on its success, because their manual transmission business is going the way of the Do-Do bird. Tremec bought much of the DCT controller technology Porsche used for their highly thought of PDK.
The C8 chassis is essentially the same construction as the C7, so that risk is small. The same for nearly all of its component systems, including their processing hardware and software.
I plan to buy a first year C8, and I have no fears about its reliability.
10-10-2019, 02:00 AM
#96
Burning Brakes
The C8 will likely be both the first and last mid-engine Corvette. Enjoy it while it’s here.
10-10-2019, 04:56 AM
#97
Race Director
The car has a warranty and it's not my daily driver and I sold my other sports cars a couple of years ago. The C8 is the only car that gives me that "I Have to Have It" feeling so I'll take a chance... Nothing compares...
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ClothSeats (10-10-2019)
10-10-2019, 06:48 AM
#98
Safety Car
10-10-2019, 08:09 AM
#99
Drifting
I have had a 1982,2004,2008,2013,2015 and a 2017. Zero problems, period.
10-10-2019, 08:17 AM
#100
My wife had a very early 1997 C5 and it was pretty darn reliable. She put 180k miles on it until spinning a rod bearing at an autox. That was related to the early LS-1 blocks not having adequate venting in the crank case.
Later she had a 2008 C6 Z which was fine until it started randomly dying at stop lights. Like complete electrical failure.
Now she has a 2012 C6 Z 100AE which has been perfect.