new corvette

Texas Proud said:
My ECU went out and it cost me some... but I do not think as much as yours...

My intake manifold gasket went out twice... my auto trans mount broke three times... radiator sprung a leak... alternator went out twice... both of the light lift motors lost their gear and you could not just replace that gear... paint was crap and had to have it painted... had to have the shocks (or struts, cannot remember what it had) replaced as the originals wore different and the car started to lean... I had the big whale wing and it cracked and started to rust underneath (but I never fixed this)...

For maintenance, the brakes lasted 25 to 30 K... also the same with the tires...


Also, I found out that the underside is connected in a way that if you lift it incorrectly you can bend the body panels... found out because when I was getting new tires they screwed up my front end qtr panel and I had to have that replaced... at least at their expense...

All of this and more... I just cannot remember the other things... and I had it 95K miles...

Sure, it was a fun car to drive and it felt like it was faster than my TL, even though the clock says otherwise... but my TL never broke a thing... only maintenance... and it was just as much fun to drive as the Bird... heck, in a way it was better as it was a 6 speed... and the brakes were MUCH better on the TL...
Click to expand...


Wow, you triggered some memories of my GTA repairs. None really expensive except the ECU. The guy who did the ECU was a fellow church member and I thought I had the inside track to a good deal. He knew his stuff, but he was expensive. Charged a lot for diagnosis. And he left my beautiful GTA baking in the hot sun for like a week while he got around to it. He had a lift in his own garage at his house! Anyway, he fixed it up like new. It would start but ran horribly, before the new ECU.

Your intake manifold gasket twice? Wow.


My trans mount is OK so far. I do have a trans fluid drip, though. It drips for about an hour after it is parked, then stops. Don't care, not gonna mess with it.


Radiator still OK! I know, amazing. I change the antifreeze every 5 years or so. I did need a new waterpump, now that I think of it. I do my own labor on the basic stuff, so water pump only cost me $29 or so.


Had to put in a new alternator. I got a good one even though it cost more, (only $85 I think at Autozone) so it would possibly last longer. Easy job.

Air conditioning died one week after I bought it. Never fixed it. Don't care.

MAF sensor light came on right after I bought it, so dealer gave me a brand new MAF for free! I was shocked.

MAF sensor light is on again, off again, now, but passes inspection somehow, probably since I drive it less than 5K per year.


The motors for the flip up headlights!! Yes, I had to fix both headlights. Youtubed it, and took it slow, spent weeks, an hour a day or so, taking them apart, dabbing on some Liquid Wrench and waiting, loosening all the old fasteners one by one. The only cost was $7 per headlight, for some new soft plastic bushings (little cylinders) that got destroyed with age and wear. I really enjoyed beating the Stealership on this one. They wanted something like $400 per headlight!! They wanted to just put a brand new motor assembly in. No way, Jose.



I think my car had brand new paint on it when I got it, because I think the dealer bought it from an auction as a wrecked car, for nothing, and had it repaired and painted. They were asking $3,800 for it. I saw it sitting on the lot for months so I went in snagged it for $2,500. Had 112K on the odo. Paint still looks OK since it has a garage.

It has the whale wing. Cracked and rusting. Don't care. I never drive it in the rain. Stays in the garage when I'm not driving it.


Brakes! Yes, I failed inspection once when the mechanic said it pulled sharply to the right when braking. I hadn't noticed. So I replaced the 2 front calipers and put new pads in. Problem solved.

My struts/shocks are probably worn out. The mechanic who inspects it always complains that it is hard to get the lift foot under the right spot due to sagging in front.

Spark plugs are a major PITA to get at. I had a mech change them. He ended up not charging me for the job since he accidentally hit my car with his truck. Argghhhh... His insurance paid for the repair.

I have the enormous tires on her and they are not cheap.

Hadn't heard about the qtr panel bending problem. Unibody frame, I think, right?

Oh yeah, the headliner is coming down somewhat, so I have a few strategically placed pushpins holding it up.

Oh my God, I've written a whole book here! Sorry about that. :greetings10:
 
John Galt III said:
Wow, you triggered some memories of my GTA repairs. None really expensive except the ECU. The guy who did the ECU was a fellow church member and I thought I had the inside track to a good deal. He knew his stuff, but he was expensive. Charged a lot for diagnosis. And he left my beautiful GTA baking in the hot sun for like a week while he got around to it. He had a lift in his own garage at his house! Anyway, he fixed it up like new. It would start but ran horribly, before the new ECU.

Your intake manifold gasket twice? Wow.


My trans mount is OK so far. I do have a trans fluid drip, though. It drips for about an hour after it is parked, then stops. Don't care, not gonna mess with it.


Radiator still OK! I know, amazing. I change the antifreeze every 5 years or so. I did need a new waterpump, now that I think of it. I do my own labor on the basic stuff, so water pump only cost me $29 or so.


Had to put in a new alternator. I got a good one even though it cost more, (only $85 I think at Autozone) so it would possibly last longer. Easy job.

Air conditioning died one week after I bought it. Never fixed it. Don't care.

MAF sensor light came on right after I bought it, so dealer gave me a brand new MAF for free! I was shocked.

MAF sensor light is on again, off again, now, but passes inspection somehow, probably since I drive it less than 5K per year.


The motors for the flip up headlights!! Yes, I had to fix both headlights. Youtubed it, and took it slow, spent weeks, an hour a day or so, taking them apart, dabbing on some Liquid Wrench and waiting, loosening all the old fasteners one by one. The only cost was $7 per headlight, for some new soft plastic bushings (little cylinders) that got destroyed with age and wear. I really enjoyed beating the Stealership on this one. They wanted something like $400 per headlight!! They wanted to just put a brand new motor assembly in. No way, Jose.



I think my car had brand new paint on it when I got it, because I think the dealer bought it from an auction as a wrecked car, for nothing, and had it repaired and painted. They were asking $3,800 for it. I saw it sitting on the lot for months so I went in snagged it for $2,500. Had 112K on the odo. Paint still looks OK since it has a garage.

It has the whale wing. Cracked and rusting. Don't care. I never drive it in the rain. Stays in the garage when I'm not driving it.


Brakes! Yes, I failed inspection once when the mechanic said it pulled sharply to the right when braking. I hadn't noticed. So I replaced the 2 front calipers and put new pads in. Problem solved.

My struts/shocks are probably worn out. The mechanic who inspects it always complains that it is hard to get the lift foot under the right spot due to sagging in front.

Spark plugs are a major PITA to get at. I had a mech change them. He ended up not charging me for the job since he accidentally hit my car with his truck. Argghhhh... His insurance paid for the repair.

I have the enormous tires on her and they are not cheap.

Hadn't heard about the qtr panel bending problem. Unibody frame, I think, right?

Oh yeah, the headliner is coming down somewhat, so I have a few strategically placed pushpins holding it up.

Oh my God, I've written a whole book here! Sorry about that. :greetings10:
Click to expand...


LOL... I forgot about the headliner!!! I had the pins, but eventually paid to get a new one... also forgot about the AC going out... but going without is not an option here.. and I am sure there are more I do not remember...


The qtr panel bent because the guy tried to open the door when it was on the lift... the panel was deformed a bit because he did not use a wood block when he lifted it up... the door caught the qtr panel and he bent it in big time... luckily I opened the passenger door when they brought the car out and it would not open.... if I had gotten in and drove away like I normally do I would have had to pay the bill...

Soooo, I do not look back at my Firebird as a good experience... sure, it was fun to drive.... but it was a lemon....
 
Go for it. I built a 63 corvette a few years ago. It was so nice and expensive, i was afraid to track it, so I sold it. Then bought a 69 Camaro that is in the middle of a complete rebuild. I also bought a 2006 Z06 that I take to work once in a while as well as the track a few times a year. I keep looking at the new vettes and will likely get one within the next couple years. Go out and get yourself a fun car!
 
So, i bought a 16 model. It had everything I wanted--2LT, exhaust, wheels....
I could have paid cash but my stock funds are earning money again and the interest rate is 1.9%, for less than $1000 in interest paid out for 48 months. My buying price was less than dealer invoice and they gave me $20k on my trade ($17k top retail according to edmunds.com). I thought I would miss my miata, but not yet :)
 

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Congratulations kitesurfer2! Beautiful car.
 
Kitesurfer2, I never liked the white until the C7 body. The exterior black accents break up all the "ice cream truck" white. I actually thought about the white but stuck with my first choice "crystal red". Good luck and have fun with your ride!
 
kitesurfer2 said:
So, i bought a 16 model. It had everything I wanted--2LT, exhaust, wheels....
Click to expand...
If you are a first time Vette owner, you may not know, but it's considered proper etiquette by many Vette owners to wave :greetings10: when you see "any other" Vette coming your way. Many don't these days but those who are enthusiastic Vette owners still seem to do so... (Similar to the motorcycle riders waves)

I never had a white one but I'll admit the color looks good on the C7's.
 
Last edited:
And if you were going to Corvettes At Carlisle this weekend, you'd get lots of practice waving :greetings10:
 
I like it in white too, congrats and wishing you many happy drives.
 
take it to cars and coffee!

just don't do this when you leave

 
Congrats!!! It's Beautiful!!


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum
 
kitesurfer2 said:
So, i bought a 16 model. It had everything I wanted--2LT, exhaust, wheels....

I could have paid cash but my stock funds are earning money again and the interest rate is 1.9%, for less than $1000 in interest paid out for 48 months. My buying price was less than dealer invoice and they gave me $20k on my trade ($17k top retail according to edmunds.com). I thought I would miss my miata, but not yet :)
Click to expand...


Latest vettes are the first ones since the 70s fiberglass stingrays that i can stand looking at.


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum
 
For the best of old and new:
 
jimbee said:
Too many tail lights. :)
Click to expand...

I believe Bob Wingate had the 3 lights per side that were custom ordered from the factory. He was a big dealer back in the day.
 
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