Keep it or move on?

[SHVETTE98]

My wife has a 98 coupe that we've owned of about 2-1/2 years. We've logged 13,000 miles in that time and the mileage is just reaching 40,000. In that time, I've had the locked steering column problem, a problem with the A/C vent selector, and now the erratic fuel gage problem. My extended warranty with $100 deductible expires in December. It seems to me that the car is having too many problems and I'm thinking about getting rid of it and replacing it with a GT Mustang. Am I nuts?

 

[jedi]

I'm thinking about getting rid of it and replacing it with a GT Mustang. Am I nuts?

Yes!!!!

 

[AdvancedAutoCC]

You're not seriously considering this, right? :L Speaking as an independent shop owner, I can tell you Mustangs are not exactly the best quality rides out there....plus, their platform design goes all the way back to the '78 Fairmont (now THERE's a car for ya!)... not saying they're not capable of being made to go fast...the aftermarket support for them is phenomenal.
Put another way.... where would you want to eat, Outback Steakhouse, or McDonalds? Both serve food, albeit of very different quality, but you run the chance of bad service either way... It's quite possible you did get a "bad" Corvette (anything manmade is not perfect), but chances are you could trade for another one and be perfectly happy... From the sound of things, your problems are relatively minor, and if it's A/C problems you're trying to avoid...avoid ANY Ford product. I call most Ford cars "job security", especially when it comes to A/C (compressor failure...not a question of "if", but "when")...and bring your wallet when it happens! I'm not slamming Fords due to bias.. I work on most makes of rides, and Corvettes for the most part are one of the most troublefree cars there are (mostly due to diligent owners!), and there are a lot of them out there. Also...Corvettes are not the cars to "scrape into"....just like a Porsche or similar car.

But this is just my opinion

 

[jedi]

Call Extended Auto Warranty Corp 888-338-1218. My warranty goes to 100K. They come out look at your vette and exlude any exsisting problems. Well worth the money as it has paid for itself twice now. Cars have problems, and it sounds like in two years you have not had that much. Once you fix the problems then you have a reliable, really cool car. And not just any car, a Corvette! Not some piece of carp mustang.

Jedi

 

[SHVETTE98]

Thanks. I just don't want to get stuck with a money pit after my warranty is up so I'll check into getting it extended. But if I have any more problems, I am going to consider moving on - maybe a 350Z cus I had a 280Z umpteen years ago that I logged 165,000 miles on with no problems.

 

[Mart]

Honda's can be made to go fast as well.

But a Rustang....

Let's see the rustang take a corner like the vette!

And a 350Z, although I do like the new ones there is still no comparison to the vette, and if you think it's expensive to fix the Vette, ha wait till you get your first repair bill for a 350Z.

Just my .02 worth
Mart

 

[Tuna]

350Z - they are known to have transmission problems and front tire problems.

Basically, whatever car you pick, you're going to find a list of common problems with them. Some of them seem to have every common problem, some of them none.

I've owned a 98 coupe - it had a problem with the steering wheel position sensor and the ignition key assembly. Otherwise, it was a very good car. There is an 03 in the garage now and I've had one door control module and one fuel level unit replaced. It's 2 years old now and has 20k+ miles. All things considered, it's a very good car also.

Have a good one.

 

[Mart]

Just to back you up Tuna here is a RT article.


http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=1373&page_number=2

 

[1987Silvervette]

My vette has mustang GT's for a mid morning brunch. Next thing your gonna tell us is that you want to keep the vette, but you would like to acessorize with neons and some stickers and a massive aluminum spoiler!

DONT GET THE STANG

just my 2cents

 

[atmmac]

you could go for a Z28 or an SS. They are in the same price range as the mustang and i thinkt hey are much better cars. T/A or Formulas could also be options.

 

[Edmond]

Now is the perfect time to pick up a manual and some tools to learn how to work on the Vette' yourself. I always tell people that one of the greatest feelings of owning a Corvette is working on it yourself.

 

[C5Richard]

If you were to get the Cobra SVT SC you might be fairly happy. I would just work through the problems the vette has.

Richard.

 

[Tom]

I understand you feelings. I had a 99 Coupe that had a power window motor go out, steering column lock problem, and 'service vehicle soon' message come up on the DIC. That turned out to be, the steering wheel, was out of alighment with the steering box by more than 5 degrees. How did that happen, I don't know. I had an alignment, and that fixed the problem. All that with only 19,000 miles on it. I traded it in the next day on a 2004 Torch Red coupe. My wife has a 98 Mustang with 46,000 miles on it, the only problem is the trip odometer has quit working. My daughter has a Mustang Bullitt Gt with 19,000 miles on it, no problems at all. If the 2004 Corvette has problems, I will be replaced by a Mustang.

 

[kingman]

Not Problem Free!

If you look through the threads you will notice a host of problems but they really are minor and you must keep in mind that it is a GM.

When l first started looking for a used vette l read several pages of threads and was almost turned off by all of the problems posted. This was until l sat down and realized that the vette is an American sports car with all of the problems that go with it.

If your vette has problems, dump it, but not for a Mustang.

Alan

 

[kingman]

Selling a 96 C4 for a C5?????

Hi

Does this really make sense being that my 96 has not caused one minute of problems besides the normal.

Being realistic, the newest C5 l would buy is a 2000 with under 35,000miles.

My 96 has almost 48,000miles and is garaged, and used very seldom.

But again were you sorry for making that change besides Warren S as far as comfort and handling?

Thanks

Alan

 

[VETTEX2]

simply you are nuts :L

 

[chevyaddict]

My wife has a 98 coupe that we've owned of about 2-1/2 years. We've logged 13,000 miles in that time and the mileage is just reaching 40,000. In that time, I've had the locked steering column problem, a problem with the A/C vent selector, and now the erratic fuel gage problem. My extended warranty with $100 deductible expires in December. It seems to me that the car is having too many problems and I'm thinking about getting rid of it and replacing it with a GT Mustang. Am I nuts?

Only three little problems and your thinking of abandoning your vette? YOU ARE NUTS!

 

[invinceablevett]

changing you Vette for a mustang?.....now That's what I call a drastic change in category.You cannot realize it now because you own a Vette.If you decide to get the Mustang,in my opinion,you will be dissapointed.No matter how you slice it,you cannot get the same thrill in a Mustang because it's a Mustang......a whole different class.....I wouldn't......EVER !!!!!

 

[DRTH VTR]

The 350Z would beOK; it looks great. For what it is worth, I played with one one day and utterly ate it for lunch. http://corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54279

 

[ronman99vette]

Go with the Mustang.....

if you are selling them. I had one of my best friends try to talk me out of buying my vette. Oh yea, he sells Fords. He had no chance of changing my mind. All of my other friends thought he was crazy too. I still can't get it through his head that the stang, even an SVT, is not in the same class as a vette. OK, the SVT might have my stock vette in the 1/4 by a couple .10s but who cares. As the kid at my dry cleaners said the other day, "Ford has to have a supercharger to keep up with the vette". You are not going to get a second look in the stang. Isn't that one of the reasons we all bought vettes.

Just my .02