Will I be able to afford to keep this thing?

[Skant]

I bought my LT4 CE with 40k on it about 3-4 months ago. The car seemed to be in perfect shape. Very fast and strong.

Within the last month the power steering started making noise and the pump had to be replaced. Half the functions on the power seats stopped working and had to be fixed. The radiator started leaking from a crack in the right side tank and had to be replaced. And now Corvette Connection has inspected the whole car and found that everything looks good except that the front monoleaf spring is delaminating and needs to be replaced.

So thats...

$700 Power Steering Pump, fixed power seats, door alignments
$740 Replace radiator, radiator hoses, and pressure wash
$900 Replace front spring

Total pain = $2340


At the moment I'm feeling disillusioned. I can afford the bills right now, but if it keeps costing this much every three months, that's gonna be excessive.

It was not my impression that the vette was one of those cars that lives in the shop. I'm hoping that my current experience will not be typical of owning this car. That it will just be the one time 'new used car shakedown' and be reasonably smooth sailing from here on.

I mean... when you buy a used car, you expect to need to drop some money into fixing things up. And really... the price I got this car for... the apparent overall condition... plus the cost of initial repairs here... it's still a good deal.

But at this moment I'm feeling dread that I traded my old utterly reliable/indestructable K-5 Blazer for a money pit.

But damn it... I _LOVE_ this car. The K-5 was fun to drive. But the vette just wisks you off to another world where you don't remember the stress from your job for a while...

*sigh*

If I had time to do the repairs myself or something, I could save some money. And I could low ball it, but I think having a good specialty shop like Corvette Connection doing this work right will ultimately cost me less than having a cheap shop do it wrong.

I'm just worried it's going to keep costing like mad.


Incidentally, Corvette Connection tells me they've never seen a spring delaminating on a car this new before. They say they usually only see that on really old vettes. My car was lowered by the previous owner... seemingly done correctly... it handles really well... but they are theorizing that the spring may have been damaged during the lowering process, and it started the process of delaminating.

I'm so unlucky.

- Skant

 

[Robertwav1]

It's really a shame you can't find the time to do some of the work yourself. That's half the fun of owning a vette. The radiator shouldn't be a big job...reduce your cost and do what you can. About the spring...it would pay to check that out yourself...at least make sure it coming apart. Wish you luck!

 

[Daryllawman]

Hang in there.........It will get better..........Oh by the way, you left off the fuel pump and the sending unit as a whole, plus the tow bill......dealer item.......933.00 dollars after tax.......Great car.........head turner for sure in more than one way........

 

[Moonunit 451]

Sounds like you almost home for a while . I had to do a bunch of stuff I didn't expect early on when I got my car last summer. Coolant leaks, followed shortly later by the radiator, then the alternator and some various other small stuff. It was trying, but fortunately it was all stuff I could do myself so it didn't hurt quite as much on the wallet, but still expenses I wasn't prepared for one on top of the other.

I gotta say that I'm really quite surprised to see so many problems being discussed on these later C-4's. My power steering pump is growling now and I just recently went through the VATS thing. If had hadn't been patient, desperate, and somewhat capable of working on my own stuff, the VATS alone probly could hav e cost me $1,000 or so what I temorarily fixed for thee bucks thanks to the good people here at .

I gotta say I'd really have to agree with Robertwav1. Doing what you can will ease the $ pain to some extent and you might even find you enjoy it if you don't push youself to hard. I have a tendancy to get frustrated quickly, as NOTHING is ever easy or as straight forward as it should be for me, but I always get through it:bash Hang in there and good luck

 

[Skant]

I got my car back this morning. They wanted to show me the spring, I didn't have to ask them. Oh yeah... it's not like it's just seperating a little. It's seperating into a bundle of strands along the entire length of the spring (but mostly on the left side). Nearly a quarter of the spring's thickness has been compomised this way.

I'm really surprised I hadn't noticed it myself while I was changing the oil last time. It's pretty obvious!


As far as working on the car myself.. there are two things in the way of that. One is that I don't have much free time. Two is that it's my only car, and it's my daily driver. I've worked on cars before... I think they're fun to work on... unless the car you're working on is your only way to get to work tomorrow, and therefore that bolt that's refusing to come off is really increasing your stress level because if you can't get it to work... and soon... you're screwed.

My concern isn't really so much about the cost of a repair as it is about how often it's going to need to be repaired. I'm feeling worried now that it's going to need significant repairs every few months. Like I bought a Jaguar or something. Spends more time in the shop than on the road.

I mean... I don't expect this car to be as indestructable as my K-5 Blazer was... I expect to need repairs and maintainence more often. But now I'm feeling worried that it requires _dramatically_ more repairs and maintainence. Like I bought a Ford or something (FORD = Fix Or Repair Daily).

My worries are probably unrealistic. I'm just suffering shock right now.

- Skant

 

[CKA_Racing]

I feel your pain. Actually I've been worse off than you. In the last five yrs, my vettes have been my only mode of transpo.
Been there done that, having the car in pieces for repairs and stressing out on that bolt that snaps but yet it needs to be back together by the a.m. for work. Better yet, not having the money to fix it and being force to drive it as is knowing you are causing more damage to some other part. Such is the life of vette owners like us who can't afford a second car or repairs. I just bought a second car a few months ago. Boy, it makes a big difference. Well, I still have problems though. I lost my job, don't have money for french fries let alone two rear tires for the vette so that I can pass inspection. So, it just sits in my garage, not inspectated with two bald rear tires. BTW, count on your water pump going out in the next 30,000 miles or sooner. Rear wheel bearings also. So, the spending will never be over with neither will the repairs.

Through all my problems though, there is nothing else I would rather drive. I suggest you get a second vehicle, something cheap would work.

 

[Edmond]

Skant,

You could always donate the car to charity---------Me!:L

But those items that you replaced are meant to last quite a while. Who knows how well the previous owner took care of the car?

One thing you do know from now on is how well you take care of it and you'll get an idea of how things wear out on the vehicle.

 

[tyrel]

Although the springs are very durable and are designed to last the life of the car, they are surprisingly delicate if mistreated in the slightest. I highly suspect that the person who lowered your car somehow damaged the spring in the process, making it a human error and not a factory one.

Unlike the 70s, radiator leaks are almost uncommon these days unless you run over a tree or something, so you had some rotten luck there. We all know that seemingly indestrucible parts can sometimes fail. Who would ever think that an air pump would go out, well mine did three years ago. I replaced my radiator two years ago for $150, not because it leaked but because I just wanted a new radiator and was too lazy to straighten all the bent fins on the old one. Then I sold the old one on Ebay for $50 so it cost me only $100.

As for the other things, you can really save a ton of money if you buy the service manual (often found on Ebay) and do some of the work yourself. I'm practically an idiot, but I have saved thousands of dollars on car repairs by doing a lot of the work myself. Brakes, for instance, are laughably easy to service.

So the car could cost you a lot of money if you let it, but if you're willing to do some of the work yourself you can save a lot of money. The great people in this forum are so knowledgable they'll tell you just how to fix it too.

 

[CKA_Racing]

Tyrel,
Just FYI. These radiators break on the upper passenger side often enough. Mine cracked there also. In the past four years i've seen plenty of folks that had it happen also. Guess what. Same spot. I would not call that bad luck. :J :Silly :gap :L

 

[EDDYVETTER]

WOW!!!! 740.00 dollars for a radiator & hoses .I just did mine on my 85 put new modine radiator (cost 135.00) new hoses took me about hour and half. total cost was 160.00 + hour and half of my time. :cool

 

[B17Crew]

Skant, all I can say is hang in there.

I too use my LT4 as a daily driver. When I purchased mine in ‘98 (used with 15,500 miles), I had a hit list of things that I had to take care of. Fortunately it was covered under the factory warranty, but that’s beside the fact. I think when you acquire a used car, there are going to be things that will have to be addressed.

It sounds like your spring problem was caused when it was lowered. I’ve never seen or heard anything like that in my 12 years of being around C4’s.

On my ‘96, I had to repair/replace an O2 sensor, the Exhaust Recirculation Valve (EGR valve), the intake manifold gasket, the water pump, the Delco/Bose radio/CD unit, power motor for drivers seat, and the B pillar weather stripping. Since then, believe it or not, I have not had one iota of trouble with my car. I have not had it in for anything other than four wheel alignments and an oil change here and there in the winter when it’s just too cold in my garage to do it myself.

I have owned three other C4’s, an ‘86, a ‘93, and a ‘94. The ‘96 is truly the best built, smoothest riding, rattle free (except for very cold mornings, and even then the rattles are minor compared to the ‘93 I had) most reliable C4 I have ever owned.

Our LT4’s are going on seven years old now, they are no longer spring chickens when it comes to the automobile world. But I’ll tell you what, a driven Corvette is a reliable Corvette. I wish you many happy miles with your LT4.

B17Crew -- 44,300 miles on LT4 coupe and I have no plans to unload it anytime soon!


P.S. I forgot that my right headlamp went out in ‘99.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

You just had a run of bad luck. My 90 with a modified L98 just turned over 105,000.Mi. with out a single major problem. I have had my share of aggravating little problems but nothing that stopped me from driving the car.

You have to compare apples to apples. Yes the Corvette requires more attention than your vanilla wrapper sedan, but if you compare the maintenance of the Vette to that of a Porsche Carrera or BMW M series or any of the Italian crap you will discover how cheep the Vette really is to own.

I bought a new BMW 850 in 93. In the first 6 months the car spent more nights in the shop than it did in my garage. A frigging sparkplug for this thing cost $50. For everybody with Opti problems, the Bumer had 12 coils, one on top of each plug, $350. each and easy to damage when you changed plugs, which needed to be done every 10,000Mi. I tried to sell it for more than a year; the best offer was less than 40% of what I paid.

The Vette is my daily driver, but it would be impossible for me to have it as my only car. I have to go places where you have to jump the curb to park and the guy behind you will push your car forward with his bumper to get in or out. My beater cost $500. We patch up the rust enough for the inspection sticker and run re-cap tires. When I rip the sidewall out on a curb who cares.

 

[RubyDropTop]

I understand where you are coming from. Within the first year of ownership, I had to put money into my car that I really never expected to have to do. The Opti-Spark and water pump failed at 25,000 miles. The Opti, water pump, plugs and wires cost me $1,200.00. I was not happy about that at all, but could not drive the car without these repairs.

It's funny that you mention your front spring delaminating. I have recently noticed that my rear spring is just beginning to show the signs of delamination as well. The car only has 26,000 miles on it.

My front main seal is weeping, and so is the intake manifold. I have come to understand that this is actually typical for an LT-1. When the weeping turns into leaking I will have it fixed.

In a sense (much like you) I am disappointed with what I feel are premature failures, so I understand what you are saying.

I also feel that once you have worked out the "bugs" of the car, you will have a strong, reliable car - one that gives you a feeling that no other car can match. The LT4 is known for being a sound motor, don't give up on the car yet.

Once you have established yourself with it, you will know exactly what you have. If possible, getting a secondary car would also help you out as far as down time with the Vette.

Hang in there, it sounds like your car is in very good hands and you will get through this, as frustrating as it may be right now.

 

[Edmond]

Those things that you mentioned will fail and they should last many more years because they're new and you're taking care of them.

Don't forget that the most reliable parts for Vette's, the tranny and motor are the most expensive as well so it's not that bad.

Like the others said before, if you did the work yourself, you'd probably save half of what you spent.

 

[sumoboy]

With 40k for a 96 it sounds as if it sat for a long time, maybe the owner never ran it around once in awhile. Didn't take extra care like you will so look ahead now at what you own. Wasn't this on your mind when you got it?
Ever get a carfax on your car? Might be worth it.

(QUOTE)I'm so unlucky.

- Skant
BTW unlucky ones are the ones without vettes

 

[Bonnell]

I had to immediately spend about $1,000 on my 1988 when I purchased it in November. I still need to find out why the a/c won't hold a charge.

With the help of this forum, I have changed the windshield washer motor (without help here I would never have figured that simple task out ) , Replaced the spring latch in my console, replaced the latch for the top, and I intend to do the next tuneup myself (saving a couple of hundred dollars).

I gave my son my two door Camry so this is my daily driver also. The Camry had to have its 90K mile work done and a battry/cable replacement. This cost me $1,000.

I lost $2,000 on a down payment to Ideal Corvette in Indianapolis. I am sueing now (along with more than 20 others).

I have spent a lot of cash getting into this Vette. My last Vette was a 1973 which I owned when I was in the Marines in the late 70s.

My point here is that I find driving a Vette worth the problems. I now must hope that my Vette holds up, as for the next 12 months, I really can't afford any more $1,000 bills.

I completely agree with one of the statements made in one of your other replies:

My fear is not in dying but in not living.

I intend to live while I can and driving a Vette is truely living.

 

[leericardo]

anticipatory anxiety

Stay calm, take a deep breath, and stay in the moment...just don't click your heels three times, or you'll end up in Kansas!
Good stuff on this subject...I agree with Edmond...Vettes are basically durable and dependable when treated well. My '86 looks and runs great...because I know every inch of it and when I go after something, I replace things around it that might need it soon. My '92 came from a poor home (he said he was a good parent, but when I heard him say it was just a car, I knew) but the engine, body and interior are nice so its worth the effort on the brakes, bearings, shocks, u-joints, etc....when I get done, it will be all that it appears to be. Having just the one car makes it difficult to "baby" the Vette. Mine never leave the garage unless the sun is shining and I'm headed for fun...otherwise, yes, I use my Blazer. Good luck, they're worth it....and I'll never grow old as long as I have a Vette to drive.