Are Corvettes Reliable? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Lordblood · 03-07-2010, 09:17 PM

OK, I'll admit it...I'm completely ignorant about Corvettes. The world of Top Gear has corrupted my mind and I see them as American plastic.

HOWEVER, I'm willing to let that go and open my mind. I've come around to thinking about what car I want next, my Boxster will stay another couple of years (hopefully

) and then it's time for something new. Two cars I've wanted to really see are the Lotus Elise and the Corvette, say 2000-2005 yearish. Since I've seen amazing handling already, I think it's time for some amazing grunt.

Is anyone here a Corvette owner or has been in the past? How was your experience? Pros/cons? Same goes for Elises.

Brucelee · 03-08-2010, 03:50 AM

The C5 version is extemely reliable in my experience. I have owned 4 all told.

Be sure to shop carefully and get the car inspected from the bottom up. Because they are so fast, one can find serious abuse if not careful.

mts · 03-08-2010, 04:15 AM

Reliability is relative, but C5 or C6 are reliable cars and pretty cheap to fix when they do break. Before the C5 it's a bit more of a crapshoot. A lot of car for the money though, that's for sure.

blinkwatt · 03-08-2010, 06:24 AM

C5+ are very very reliable cars. I've spent a lot of time on Corvette forums.

If you don't mind plastic were there should be leather,then you'd love them!

They are so darn easy to tune-up and upgrade new generation parts onto older models. New C6 Zo6 shocks & springs can be put on a c5 chassis for $1.1k installed....

VRsyncro · 03-08-2010, 06:38 AM

C5 Z06's are really great cars and affordable. (Cost vs. Power vs. Reliability)

One of the local mechanics is running a C5 Z06 with a stroker kit and the things sounds ferocious!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwOtyJnyVws&feature=related

Personally, I'm still holding out a few more years for a 997 Turbo.

Quickurt · 03-08-2010, 07:16 AM

A good buddy trades in high line used cars. He's brought over several C5's and C6's for me to drive. Compared to the 987, they seem really big and heavy. I'd kill for the grunt in my Boxster, but I can't see myself enjoying the Vette the way I do my Box.
Personal Opinion.
I do know I would sleep waayyyyyy better at night owning a C5 or 6 out of warranty..................

landrovered · 03-08-2010, 07:22 AM

Parts from NAPA for your sports car...that is a new concept!

The corvettes have done an amazing job of transforming themselves from an American street car to a real Le Mans competitor. They may be heavy but man they have torque for days and I love the sound of them as they turn laps on a road course.

Adam · 03-08-2010, 08:33 AM

C5 Z06 is an awesome value and reliable as well. A regular C5 is still very very good. They feel like a much bigger car than the Boxster and the steering doesn't have the best feedback, but ultimately they are quicker everywhere once you get familiar with them. C5's have some minor glitches in the reliability dept, but they are solid on the things that really matter.

landrovered · 03-08-2010, 08:59 AM

Put it this way, if it was not a Corvette then I would drive one in a heartbeat, oops that was kind of fruedian.

vipola · 03-11-2010, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quickurt

I do know I would sleep waayyyyyy better at night owning a C5 or 6 out of warranty..................

lol =)

greg9ball · 03-11-2010, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lordblood

OK, I'll admit it...I'm completely ignorant about Corvettes. The world of Top Gear has corrupted my mind and I see them as American plastic.

HOWEVER, I'm willing to let that go and open my mind. I've come around to thinking about what car I want next, my Boxster will stay another couple of years (hopefully

) and then it's time for something new. Two cars I've wanted to really see are the Lotus Elise and the Corvette, say 2000-2005 yearish. Since I've seen amazing handling already, I think it's time for some amazing grunt.

Is anyone here a Corvette owner or has been in the past? How was your experience? Pros/cons? Same goes for Elises.

My 02 C5 was perfectly reliable. I owned it for two years and never did anything but oil changes. My first DE event at VIR was in the C5 and it was a blast.

It was much faster than my Boxster S and the low end torque was simply wonderful. I really liked that car, but I love my Boxster S. You get so much more feedback from the Boxster. All and all, the Vette and the Boxster are both wonderful machines; however, they are completely different experiences.

I would not rule out owning another Vette. It was a very positive experience.

Hal@Ricor · 03-21-2010, 01:34 PM

2005 yearish. Since I've seen amazing handling already, I think it's time for some amazing grunt.

Is anyone here a Corvette owner or has been in the past? How was your experience? Pros/cons? Same goes for Elises.[/QUOTE]

Previously owned a C4 and a 2000 C5 Corvette. Currently a 2002 Boxer S. The C4 was not that great in my opinion. I called it my slip and slide. It was fun as I think all Corvettes are fun. My C5 was pretty bullet proof only issue I had was a minor AC issue with the control that directed the flow to the cabin. It somehow was blowing hot air on the passenger side. Six speed trans, very fast, but did not handle nearly as well as the Boxer S, or perhaps better said I could not drive it as well perhaps. This is my first Porsche and I call it my starter Porsche and plan on another probably this year. Great find, 27k on it when I bought it about 34K now. Daily driver with the Tip trans and while I was not looking for that at first this one was too good of a deal to turn down and I will get another Tip or the PDK if I find a decent deal on a 09. I really like the fact you can just drive it in auto and when you want to play the tranny is very responsive. First gear starts are a hoot, probably quicker out of the shute than a Vett for the first 100+ feet or so anyway.
Very different cars and I enjoyed the C5 a lot.. great on trips, fast, great ride ( I did replace the stock shocks with Edlebrooks however which really reduced the plastic rattle in the cabin especially when I ran over those damn road botts) and I thought it was a comfortable car to take on trips. The Boxer is obviously a lot tighter in the cabin but the seats keep you planted and long trips don't present a problem.. just no space for much of anything in the cabin area.
Not saying I will never own a Vett again now that I have discovered Porsche but when I replace this one it will be with another. Probably the Cayman S as I rarely seem to take the top down.. however it is nice on warm Las Vegas evenings. I think you will miss your Boxer if you sell it for a Vett, at first anyway.. but once you get used to your Vett it will grow on you also.. Both are fun cars, Boxer/Porsche repair issues worry me some...more probably due to reading some horror stories on this forum. Like any other forum however there a lot more owners out there who are not even aware of forums.
Good luck on your decision.. don't think you can go wrong with either.
Hal@Ricor