Gm suckered C6 owners!

[motorman]

Your right we knew it was going to surface as soon as the C6 came out but did you think it would be this soon?

Alan

the new rules the C-6R will race under made all this happen because the new C-6R must be closer to the C-6 in design than the C-5R was to the C-5

 

[abc]

Todays cars are more difficult to fix things that we could do ourselves before

Yeah, but you have to admit, all cars these days are computerized and they're all expensive to fix. Some are less so than others.

As for driving around with the windows down and the radio off...hell, I drive my Corvette with the windows down and the radio off. Not because I can't hear the radio when I turn it on, but because the sound of the engine and exhaust is too glorious to spoil with garbage from a radio.

Computers & high tech cars...

A good example of this is the HID headlights on a 2005 C-6 Corvette. If the low beams go out on you you must take it to a dealer. On my 72 454 auto I changed all 4 headlights by myself at a low cost for the lamps or use the more expensive lights in that day CIBIE.
Now I have a brand new C-6 now with only 300 miles on it not even broken in yet and one of the daytime running lights are out. The turn signal part of it works still. I saw that it is accessible through the fender but once I get to see what is there I see some type of screws or fastner that makes it more difficult for me to do it myself.
I programed the car to not flicker the headlights, horn or any lights when I lock and unlock it. I even turned off the twilight feature so I save the lights every time I enter and exit the Corvette and now what happens the very first thing I tried to prevent the bulb goes out and this should be a very simple thing to change so I call up Chevrolet for the bulb with part number per 2005 C-6 owners manual. They tell me they don't stock the bulb because it is a new model and that it would be a warranty repair so I need to bring it in and have the problem diagnosed first then they will order the bulb for me.:eyerole So now what was or should have been as easy fix has become so complex. Difficult to replace bulb and difficult to get bulb.
First of all bulb should have never gone out, The car isn't even broken in yet at 300 miles and I always had the lights off anyway.
Second it should be easy enough for me to get so I could change it myself per service manual but it is too difficult in any event the bulb has to be ordered from the FACTORY.
So now they make these Corvettes so complex that for any little thing you have to send it in and for what could have been something easy I could have done myself back then but now now because you have to have a PHD in automotive electronics.:ugh
I Guess that is the price we have to pay but as you know everytime you send these new Corvettes to a dealership it will cost at least $400 plus if not a small fortune to fix. ad
Maybe I should have bought a 69 427 to a 454 70 - 72 automatic coupe instead:confused
Even better perhaps a older C-2 Vette or a 68 327 with little or no options (SMALL BLOCK) then you know everything is simple and accessible.
Don't get me wrong I love My C-6 with 300 miles on it and the way it rides and how it can outperform any of the old Corvettes in every performance category but at what cost?
Tires will cost more because they are speed rated on new Corvettes where old Corvettes don't require such tires. I know it is technology but as Tech gets better is should cost less on repairs with less repairs and less maintenance to begin with because the new corvette is ALL computers and electronics where the old Corvette is mechanical in nature prone to more maintenance.
But come on I should be able to change something as simple as a bulb..

 

[motorman]

Computers & high tech cars...

A good example of this is the HID headlights on a 2005 C-6 Corvette. If the low beams go out on you you must take it to a dealer. On my 72 454 auto I changed all 4 headlights by myself at a low cost for the lamps or use the more expensive lights in that day CIBIE.
Now I have a brand new C-6 now with only 300 miles on it not even broken in yet and one of the daytime running lights are out. The turn signal part of it works still. I saw that it is accessible through the fender but once I get to see what is there I see some type of screws or fastner that makes it more difficult for me to do it myself.
I programed the car to not flicker the headlights, horn or any lights when I lock and unlock it. I even turned off the twilight feature so I save the lights every time I enter and exit the Corvette and now what happens the very first thing I tried to prevent the bulb goes out and this should be a very simple thing to change so I call up Chevrolet for the bulb with part number per 2005 C-6 owners manual. They tell me they don't stock the bulb because it is a new model and that it would be a warranty repair so I need to bring it in and have the problem diagnosed first then they will order the bulb for me.:eyerole So now what was or should have been as easy fix has become so complex. Difficult to replace bulb and difficult to get bulb.
First of all bulb should have never gone out, The car isn't even broken in yet at 300 miles and I always had the lights off anyway.
Second it should be easy enough for me to get so I could change it myself per service manual but it is too difficult in any event the bulb has to be ordered from the FACTORY.
So now they make these Corvettes so complex that for any little thing you have to send it in and for what could have been something easy I could have done myself back then but now now because you have to have a PHD in automotive electronics.:ugh
I Guess that is the price we have to pay but as you know everytime you send these new Corvettes to a dealership it will cost at least $400 plus if not a small fortune to fix. ad
Maybe I should have bought a 69 427 to a 454 70 - 72 automatic coupe instead:confused
Even better perhaps a older C-2 Vette or a 68 327 with little or no options (SMALL BLOCK) then you know everything is simple and accessible.
Don't get me wrong I love My C-6 with 300 miles on it and the way it rides and how it can outperform any of the old Corvettes in every performance category but at what cost?
Tires will cost more because they are speed rated on new Corvettes where old Corvettes don't require such tires. I know it is technology but as Tech gets better is should cost less on repairs with less repairs and less maintenance to begin with because the new corvette is ALL computers and electronics where the old Corvette is mechanical in nature prone to more maintenance.
But come on I should be able to change something as simple as a bulb..

you bought the wrong car because GM uses corvette to try things because it is better for them to have 30,000 cars with a problem than have 3,000,000 with a problem. that is why corvettes are different. look how many people on this website complained about the poor lighting on the C-5 so GM corrects that and now people complain that it is too expensive. the dealers make more profit on doing warranty work on the cars they sell than they do selling it to you so they would like for you to bring it back

 

[kingman]

The end of the home mechanic?

It's almost at that point right now that you have to have very expensive tech in order to work on the newer vehicles. This is intentional to force out the ma and pa garages and home mechanics.

Today we are forced to go to the dealersip for certain problems because of the equipment used to calib and diag certain problems. And this is also because the tolerances are getting smaller and smaller.

Sooo sad!

Alan

 

[Edmond]

If I had the money, I would definitely get the C6 Z06.

As technology advances, it's bound to get more expensive. We want more, we get more and we have to pay the price to want/get more. Even something like tires, they're getting so advances in their handling ability, wear and heat dissipation. They're expensive and if your fronts aren't the same size as your rears, you can't rotate. We ask for performance and we'll get it but we'll pay.

Fortunately, even if GM doesn't totally satisfy everyone (no company ever will), there is always the aftermarket. You get the exhaust that you want. In my opinion, it would be awesome if GM would offer an exhaust option. The C5 stock exhaust was pretty wimpy but we have to remember who the target market to the car was. Even the C4 stock exhaust was very wimpy.

 

[abc]

Very valid point makes sense to me and $$dollars$$ to them

you bought the wrong car because GM uses corvette to try things because it is better for them to have 30,000 cars with a problem than have 3,000,000 with a problem. that is why corvettes are different. look how many people on this website complained about the poor lighting on the C-5 so GM corrects that and now people complain that it is too expensive. the dealers make more profit on doing warranty work on the cars they sell than they do selling it to you so they would like for you to bring it back

Well the old Corvettes of 68 - 72 had or less gizmos, less electronics in them and no computers and not over 200 sensors in the car. I wish I still had mine.
You could still get a car with little or no options to where you could have SPACE to work on it. A clean engine block under the hood.
Didn't need a scanner as a diagnostic tool but they didn't have them back then as I recall. :L
You are correct as on my other car at 46,000 miles to 49,000 miles just before the basic warranty ran out short of 1,000 miles the dealership did a shortblock, replaced 3.08 rear end with a 3.55 rear (fine with me) replaced the clutch since they have all the parts out now they said they can save me on labor....Clutch wasn't giving me any problems that I know of but of course I don't know what it is like to have a clutch go out as it never happened to me AND they replaced the water pump 3 times before they got that one right on another visit.
They kept the car for one week not including the journeys back and forth on the waterpump.

So here it goes:
Before all of this happened all I wanted to do is have the dealership check out my car before the warranty expired, change the rear end fluid and investigate the one drop of oil that leaked that they couldn't remedy and a few trips back and forth to them until they got the waterpump fixed. They replaced the drop of oil leak with a shortblock where it didn't drip anymore and when I had them change or check the fluid in the rear end they put a 3.55 in it (Excellent! better than them 3.08's:L) BUT they forgot or didn't calibrate the speedo for the change.
Now through all of this the car ran excellent you wouldn't even think of any of the above items needed to be REPLACED but it was done under the basic warranty back in 1991.
Now I hope this isn't going to be another journey of warranty repairs and the above happened just after one visit to the dealership and that car only had one computer in it.:cry

 

[abc]

Some things we should be able to do ourselves per service manual.

It's almost at that point right now that you have to have very expensive tech in order to work on the newer vehicles. This is intentional to force out the ma and pa garages and home mechanics.

Today we are forced to go to the dealersip for certain problems because of the equipment used to calib and diag certain problems. And this is also because the tolerances are getting smaller and smaller.

Sooo sad!

Alan

I concur with you 100% on this.
Especially changing a light bulb or anything that is so simple where I would rather do it myself costing little or no money but more IMPORTANTLY SAVING TIME. It really frazzles my day when I have to take the TIME to take car in drop it off and pick it up for something that can be so easily done by myself and find transportation because my car is in the shop. ad

Now if it needed a new engine or had a electrical short that is different and beyond what I can do. I'm just refering to the minor maintenance a owner can do that is usually suggested and explained in the owners manual. :confused
At least we can still pump the gas in our cars.

i.e. oil changes I would rather do it myself in my own garage rather than having to leave it someplace all day when I am not there then having to go back and pick it up at their conveinence. Sounds like a conspiracy to me if not a government job full of red tape and bureaucyad ...

 

[OLDGOAT]

abc....in Oregon we have NO self service gas. We cannot pump our own. We also have VERY bad grade of gas. My vehicles, in perfect condition, are supposed to run on regular and knock on "premium".

 

[kingman]

The good old days!

I used to have a mechanic that was able to tune my 68 vette with his ear buried into the engine compartment.
The only electronic thing he had was a portable radio.

Today they make everything that must be done through a digital gizmo that costs probably more then the car.

You really cannot even change your own oil because if you do and avoid dealerships your service record will never show anything. This impacts your car-fax when you decide to sell your car and the car-fax says nothing.

At least if you have the dealer change your oil, the odometer reading will be noted and will appear on a car-fax. So what are you really saving? I change my oil once a year or every 3000 miles but l don't drive it 3000 miles a year.

When you are driving a vehicle without a warranty it's like playing Russian Roulette.

Alan

 

[OLDGOAT]

hey kingman, the way to do it with a performance car is to use the warranty as the "break in period" with the accent on "break". If I end up with a C6 in my garage it will be driven very hard the first year. If anything breaks let them fix it under warranty. I may have to replace the clutch or brakes since they are not covered but the rest is the general's responsibility. Heck, I'm only going out to get groceries. I just like to get there fast. Keep all the warranty service up to date at the dealer and then they can't void the warranty because you were three days late on an oil change. I'll bet lots of those newZ06's will be broken in nicely...as in " how did you snap that axle shaft? " hmmmmmmmmmm og

 

[abc]

So in other words you are locked in?

I used to have a mechanic that was able to tune my 68 vette with his ear buried into the engine compartment.
The only electronic thing he had was a portable radio.

Today they make everything that must be done through a digital gizmo that costs probably more then the car.

You really cannot even change your own oil because if you do and avoid dealerships your service record will never show anything. This impacts your car-fax when you decide to sell your car and the car-fax says nothing.

At least if you have the dealer change your oil, the odometer reading will be noted and will appear on a car-fax. So what are you really saving? I change my oil once a year or every 3000 miles but l don't drive it 3000 miles a year.

When you are driving a vehicle without a warranty it's like playing Russian Roulette.

Alan

So if you don't follow the Maintenance Schedule Page 6-5 by having it serviced by a ceritified mechanic or Chevrolet dealership doesn't SIGN OFF on these services provided they can void the warranty even though you did it yourself?ad
Same goes for "ADDITIONAL REQUIRED SERVICES" on page 6-6 in your 2005 service manual as these services are required at certain mileages?
As you know every service visit to a dealership no matter how MINOR is $400.00 and sometimes they do nothing just inspect and any one of us can do that....for problems $800.00 per visit.

 

[motorman]

So if you don't follow the Maintenance Schedule Page 6-5 by having it serviced by a ceritified mechanic or Chevrolet dealership doesn't SIGN OFF on these services provided they can void the warranty even though you did it yourself?ad
Same goes for "ADDITIONAL REQUIRED SERVICES" on page 6-6 in your 2005 service manual as these services are required at certain mileages?
As you know every service visit to a dealership no matter how MINOR is $400.00 and sometimes they do nothing just inspect and any one of us can do that....for problems $800.00 per visit.

if you change your oil and filter make sure you keep the receipts for the stuff. that is why i buy my corvettes from the same dealer for 45 years because i have no problems with any warranty work even if i do my own service work.

 

[Edmond]

When you are driving a vehicle without a warranty it's like playing Russian Roulette.

It sure is. That's why when someone here posts if it's a good thing to get the extended warranty, almost everyone says go for it. If something in the computer system like a sensor goes south, that is hundreds of dollars right there.

 

[abc]

I have already thought of this but will do that thanks

if you change your oil and filter make sure you keep the receipts for the stuff. that is why i buy my corvettes from the same dealer for 45 years because i have no problems with any warranty work even if i do my own service work.

I also have a mustang that is 16 years old no warranty but I can do alot of the stuff myself including the tune-up.

 

[abc]

On the 2005 C-6 I have

I used to have a mechanic that was able to tune my 68 vette with his ear buried into the engine compartment.
The only electronic thing he had was a portable radio.

Today they make everything that must be done through a digital gizmo that costs probably more then the car.

You really cannot even change your own oil because if you do and avoid dealerships your service record will never show anything. This impacts your car-fax when you decide to sell your car and the car-fax says nothing.

At least if you have the dealer change your oil, the odometer reading will be noted and will appear on a car-fax. So what are you really saving? I change my oil once a year or every 3000 miles but l don't drive it 3000 miles a year.

When you are driving a vehicle without a warranty it's like playing Russian Roulette.

Alan

It tells you the percent of good oil you have like mine is currently 95% good it went down from 98% and most of this is just idling in the garage to make sure the battery doesn't go dead.

 

[c5vetter]

OLDGOAT - I'm with you on the break-in! When I bought my 2001 Z06, I was on the drag strip the next day, with only 19 miles on the odometer! Now, that was a FUN break-in period!

 

[vettepilot]

.... If you think the guys that bought the first C6s got suckered... think about the guys who bought the 1953 or 1954 Corvettes, :duh ... sheeze, if I had waited until 1955, I could have had a V-8.

making a purchase decision on new cars today is a matter of deciding what technology is avaible TODAY, not what's coming tomorrrow. Otherwise, one can try to second guess his/her purchase until the cows come home.

vettepilot

 

[motorman]

.... If you think the guys that bought the first C6s got suckered... think about the guys who bought the 1953 or 1954 Corvettes, :duh ... sheeze, if I had waited until 1955, I could have had a V-8.

making a purchase decision on new cars today is a matter of deciding what technology is avaible TODAY, not what's coming tomorrrow. Otherwise, one can try to second guess his/her purchase until the cows come home.

vettepilot

if you guys had waited till the latest and best had come out with computers you would still not be on line

 

[67HEAVEN]

Otherwise, one can try to second guess his/her purchase until the cows come home.

vettepilot

By the way, when will those cows get home?

 

[vettepilot]

if you guys had waited till the latest and best had come out with computers you would still not be on line

Exactly! Buy the latest and greatest computer technology today, and in 90 days it is superceded by another level in technology. Discoveries in technology are advancing so rapidly today that it's nearly impossible to keep abreast of the latest for more than a couple of months. So the best thing to do is decide what is available and what is needed by the purchaser, then decide how much to get at the purchase time. If you try to look back and think that if you had waited you could have had x amount more of technology, one could go broke just attempting to keep up. There are those who always have to have the newest, largest, latest thing to hit the market, but they can never be satistfied for long.
The same goes for vehicles, look at the guys who purchased the 01 Z06. If they had waited they could have had the 02 and the accompanying upgrades. But what if they had waited until 02, and then thought, well they upgraded the 02 from the 01, maybe they will upgrade again in 03 or 04... using that logic, they would not have a Z06 yet.:L

vettepilot