Creampuff or lemon?

[tlong]

I appreciate not being ridiculed by my giddy brag on the C4 you guys. Early on reading the Helms manual I got that sinking feeling gazing at the complexity of the systems. The performance capabilities had to carry the price of unreliability.

Can you imagine the the open-mouth stares on the assembly line in 1982? A spaceship on wheels! At first it failed, impossible.This leap by Chevy must have sent many to the bars in Bowling Green every night. But it pioneered the later designs and produced the best $45,000 you can spend on a car right now for the 6th Gen Vette. Hats off to all the owners that keep these beasts on the road, no matter what year you love!

Now go hug your vette.

 

[SSTibet]

Very well put tlong... Thanks for the excellent summary. Who ever buys new model of anything does that for two possible reasons: (a) to satisfy the hunger of his / her ego, and / or (b) expectation for improved performance. The latter one is always at risk since we engineers can not predict all outcomes of new stuff. There is always a risk to be born by the potential buyers; always...

I am a firm believer that Corvette is the best bang for the buck. Look at the market prices of other compatible cars with 300+Hp and compare them with Corvettes'... And yet Corvette is not only a powerful animal but also a fairly reliable, very nice looking and seductive sports car. I love my Corvette.

 

[WhalePirot]

we engineers can not predict all outcomes

One of the side effects of tearing the car totally apart and stuffing the beast-motor in is an appreciation for this. I have seen a string of heat issues, broken parts, no starts, etc. To have a world-class sports car that performs as it does, with the reliability and low cost of a daily driver is a testament to the Corvette engineers. I have played with them or many years and am nearly always looking for a bit more from my cars, but now, FINALLY, have a newfound respect for these engineers.

I complained about the dealers and GM with the best (worst) of us, but truly, they have doen quite a job, despite a sometimes-threatening corporate enironment.

We see the agony repeated, with Rich, Ken and now our Indy brothers, with others probably unstated, as we try to get even more performance from the car. Gradually we work through them, just as the prototype and test engineers do, if we get advice and can stay patient.

It truly is one hell of a car.

 

[tyrel]

Besides regular maintenance items such as brake pads or shocks on my 1989, here are the things I've replaced over the years:

Power brake booster
Master cylinder
Radiator
Water pump
U-joints
Air conditioning system
Antenna
Stereo
Radiator fan motor
Headlight bushings
Front spring
Air pump
Tensioner
Alternator

In retrospect it looks like a lot of stuff went bad, but no car in the world is going to be repair-free for 16 years.

 

[LlanoBill]

Well, let me think here, just having purchased a Polo Green LT4 in “excellent condition”. In six weeks, I’ve replaced tires, flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, distributor, every gasket on the lower end, plug wires, brakes and rotors (worn 1/8 inch on the inside of right front) and various missing small parts (exclusive of half the interior screws). :ugh To be fair, the car had been grossly mistreated by previous owner and I'm not sure the car is at fault. To put it in simple terms, I was “had” on this one. However, this is not my first C4 and the others were very solid cars and great transportation, when driven in a responsible manor.

 

[G Winter]

However, this is not my first C4 and the others were very solid cars and great transportation, when driven in a responsible manor.

A corvette is transportation???????? :duh WOW! did I buy mine for the wrong reasons!

 

[mike t]

Well, must be luck but the Blue 95 I picked up last year with 48k and now 60k has run without a problem except I think it runs hot. The previous owner must have kept it in his bedroom not a mark on the car. All I have done is put put Grand Sport chrome wheels on front and rear plus flares. Next Koni shocks and every blessed chance I get to drive it. Last year did Hilton Head to Boston and back in 4 days, best drive ever. First ever Corvette and I am hooked, great American Iron.

 

[LlanoBill]

A corvette is transportation???????? :duh WOW! did I buy mine for the wrong reasons!


This is number 25 for me and yes everyone after the C2's have been used for transportation. They are made to be driven you know! Gotta ask, for what reason did you buy yours?

 

[bossvette]

the more you drive them the better they treat you

 

[G Winter]

FUN, was the main reason. Just to have the worlds coolest car. But I did buy it to drive and I drive it often . I don't drive it to work much. I don't like it sitting outside all day in the sun. Also on the days I do drive it to work I find myself not wanting to stop at work and just keep driving. Makes it very hard to do the right thing. I feel calling it transportation is degrading. A corvette is so much more than that. Don't missunderstand what I am saying. Using it as transportation is great, just don't call it that.

 

[mike t]

You know,climbing into the cockpit of my C4 turn on that big V8, listen to the rumble of the the Borla exhaust and all I can think of is I must be going somewhere. It does not matter where, its the going that counts and if it takes all day to get there all the better. If you love to drive and I do, what better way than in a car thats fun to drive.

 

[ProEMTPFF]

She's a creampuff!

I have a '86E Coupe bought it from my father around 8+ months ago. He was the original owner and the car had ONLY 5600 miles on it. She now has 9100 miles. I've had to replace the usual tune up items, valve cover gaskets and the rack and pinion unit because of the seals leaking. Those items above are the items that had to be replaced because they were broken. Other than that she's been perfect. Now, I have replaced other items like the fan switch and thermostat to help her run much cooler, the "free" mods but thats about.