ojm

Will the ME car require more expensive service compared to the C7 after the warranty is over? Since not sold just wondering about ballpark views, thanks

WICKEDFRC

It's a Chevy. Labor rates should be the same regardless of model.

tooold2race

It's part of the overall 'cost of ownership' and I, for one, really don't care.....

Perf n Restore

Really?

sunsalem

Huh?
No one can possibly know what the cost of repairs will be 6 or 7 years in advance .

lt4obsesses

It all depends upon the cost of the actual parts, the complexity of the systems, and the time involved to complete the job. Of course there is no way to estimate any of this on a car that doesn't "exist", at least yet.

AORoads

I agree w. sun and lt4 above---right now, it's a little too hard to guess at how much it will cost AFTER warranty is over. There is no question the complexity of cars and their newer systems and options is increasing with every generation and even model. But, along with that, clever engineers are making whole components that get analyzed at a time, and even replaced vs. taken apart and repaired. Much of the current thinking has determined that it isn't the cost of the parts (even if they were still commonly available) but the labor hours needed to "repair" something, one at a time. Think of a starter motors, alternators, power steering pumps, etc. Whole dashboard components get replaced, too.

As said above, the labor rate at a dealer or indie shop will be the same in the future whether it's an FE C7 or ME C8 (and up from what it is now), but the number of hours to diagnose, or cost to replace---that's up in the air. No one knows that now.

Kenny94945

Sure, more expensive as mid engines are harder to work on.
Water pump/ belts..depends if there will be an access panel behind the seats.
Exhaust manfolds, spark plugs...depends maybe fender liners will need to be removed.
It is just harder laying across the top of the engine bay for repairs...as example first generation Acura NSX.
General engine repairs...depends maybe eng. assembly will be easily, but added labor, removed as
a sub frame assembly such as a Ferrari 355.
So yes, more labor time for repairs can be expected IMO.
I'd still want a C8.

vndkshn

Many common jobs (maintenance especially) are often easier done from under the car, even FE cars. Example, if you have a lift, pre-C4 the easiest and fastest way to change the plugs was from under the car. I think LS cars are similar but I got out of business about the times those were coming out.

The list of jobs where it is just easier and faster (if you have the tools and a lift) to drop the subframe is pretty long already, it could get longer with a ME car.

Keep in mind, Chevy is NOT thinking about Tim The Tool Man doing his own work on his car at home in his garage or driveway. They are thinking about the car being worked on at a dealership and they know what the dealership will have in terms of tools.

vetteman41960

If you have to be concerned about repair cost on a new vehicle that has warranty coverage for at least 3 year and 36k miles then you cannot afford that car to start with.

Then there always the option to purchase an extended warranty if your the type who would lose sleep over potential repair bill 4 year down the road.

I don't get guys who purchase a high performance sports car and then worry about potential repair cost that may or may not ever happen.

I will give you something else to worry about. This car will require premium fuel. Which will add at least a few bucks more per fill up over the life time of the car.

This poor guy may never sleep after factoring in the cost of premium fuel vs regular.

P.S the good new is I am sure it will have room for 2 golf bags and but your out of luck on the round taillamp. Oh boy something else trivial to worry about!

Foosh

Cost of repair is a function of the volume of production. Vehicles produced in small quantities are always more expensive to repair than mass-produced model. How this model is priced will play a role. Parts are more expensive and harder to come by on low production vehicles. If it ends up being a more expensive car, it won't be produced in traditional Corvette quantities, and it will be more expensive to repair.

Zaro Tundov

My mole inside GM Powertrain reports that on the ZO6 they'll need to drop the engine every three years for a coolant flush and refill. Once a year for track rats.

/snark

Foosh

While the above may sound like a big deal, it doesn't have to be if the car is designed to make that process relatively simple.

Zaro Tundov

I was just kidding. It would be highly uncharacteristic of GM to make a car that needs Ferrari-type servicing. Even though the C8 is a special car, the engineers behind it are used to engineering mass-produced cars that require relatively quick and easy service to minimize GM's warranty repair costs.

Foosh

Yes, I would hope so.

Randy Miller

It will all come down to packaging. If everything is tight and parts are harder to reach then it will be more expensive. If everything is relatively easy to reach then everything will remain relatively cheap. Until we see the final product it is impossible to say for sure. Being mid engine does not mean that it has to be more expensive to work on, but on average they do tend to be more expensive due to packaging.

Bill Dearborn

The thing is that most modern cars don't need a lot of yearly maintenance work. Spark plugs last 100K miles, oil changes are down to one or two per year from four, etc. Coolant changes have gone from once every two years to once every 5 years. Belts last longer, cooling system hoses last much longer, exhaust systems last much longer. AC units last longer if used on a regular basis (a true use it or lose it system). Shocks last longer, bushings last longer. For somebody who purchases a new car it is highly likely the only thing they will do during their 3 to 5 year period of ownership is change the oil/filter, maybe an air filter or two and put gas in the tank/charge the battery.

Bill

ShagVette

Hell yes. There have been issues with each generation, and C8 will be even more so.

tooold2race

I've owned a brand new 'first year' 1968, 1984, 1997, 2005 and 2014 among others. The '68 and '84 were both pieces of crap.

The C5, C6 and C7 were TOTALLY PROBLEM FREE. I wouldn't think twice about buying a new 'first year' Corvette. I'm sure while I'll be driving mine, many of you will be sitting on the porch waiting for something to fall off. Just in case something does, I'm sure it will be covered by the warranty. The 'fun factor' of ownership will far exceed the inconvenience, if any....

ojm

My question was focused after warranty. Why would we be worried during warranty.