.
C8 repairs
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 11,905
Likes: 2,148
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
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.
Last edited by lt4obsesses; Jan 9, 2019 at 07:56 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
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.
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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,490
Likes: 716
From: Sausalito CA
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.
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.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 1,778
From: North Texas
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.
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.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 976
Likes: 1,080
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!
Last edited by vetteman41960; Jan 9, 2019 at 10:51 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
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.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 1,170
From: C&D 10 Best loop
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
/snark
Last edited by Zaro Tundov; Jan 9, 2019 at 12:24 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 1,170
From: C&D 10 Best loop
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.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 74
Likes: 43
From: Newberg, OR
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.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,044
Likes: 9,808
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
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
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 747
From: Keller Texas
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....
Last edited by tooold2race; Jan 9, 2019 at 01:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,711
Likes: 203
From: here
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!
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!