1999 - 2001 Corvette = Reliable?

[BullyCanadian]

Another thread by me asking about cars. I previously had my mind set on getting a Toyota (either a Lexus IS300 or a Toyota Highlander) but have been really impressed by Corvettes as of late. I currently drive a 1992 Saturn and a corvette would be a nice healthy upgrade.

How good are the 1999 - 2001 models? I would be using it as a daily driver and expecting to put around 40k (km's) a year. Also are they very turbo friendly if i chose to go down that path later on??

 

[iamwiz82]

It would be awful in the snow, and judging my your name, that will probably be a good portion of the year.

 

[chuckywang]

A 'vette as a daily driver? Baller, man.

 

[DeadByDawn]

corvette would not be a good daily driver. And it'd make you look like a toolbox.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It would be awful in the snow, and judging my your name, that will probably be a good portion of the year.

Im not too worried about snow. I would be putting very good snow tires on them during the winter any hoo and using summers for the rest of the year. (Never use all season tires) so that should take care of the snow handling issue.

 

[thedarkwolf]

The drivetrain is pretty well proven so I wouldn't worry to much about that.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It would be awful in the snow, and judging my your name, that will probably be a good portion of the year.

Im not too worried about snow. I would be putting very good snow tires on them during the winter any hoo and using summers for the rest of the year. (Never use all season tires) so that should take care of the snow handling issue.

Apparently snow tires will also cut the power down from 350hp?

 

[K1052]

Ground clearance will quickly become a problem as well.

They are good cars but not practical for climates that see much snow in the winter as a dd.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
corvette would not be a good daily driver. And it'd make you look like a toolbox.

And you think a Vette would be a bad daily driver for what reason?

PM Marlin1975, he can tell you about a vette as a daily driver. I don't remember what year it is, but it gets 24MPG average with probly about a 20 min one-way highway/stop & go work commute (automatic tranny).

The stock suspension is very comfy and the car itself is also rather well equipped on the interior. Do realize though that aside from normal engine maintenance, maintenance costs will be higher than most cars. Especially the electronics in the Vette, for instance if it came with the Heads-Up Display. Brakes and suspension pieces will probably be also some what more expensive, but still not bad.

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It would be awful in the snow, and judging my your name, that will probably be a good portion of the year.

Im not too worried about snow. I would be putting very good snow tires on them during the winter any hoo and using summers for the rest of the year. (Never use all season tires) so that should take care of the snow handling issue.

Apparently snow tires will also cut the power down from 350hp?

Well since he's referring to the '99 - '01 models that wouldn't be the case here.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: K1052
Ground clearance will quickly become a problem as well.

They are good cars but not practical for climates that see much snow in the winter as a dd.

Ground clearance is about average for a sports car. Not much lower than my GTO and it isn't a problem anywhere.

 

[DougK62]

They are very reliable. Around here (Indiana) many people that have a C5/C6 Corvette use it as a daily driver.

 

[radioouman]

A '92 Saturn to a Corvette????

Are you going to run tire chains on those winter tires on your 'vette too?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It would be awful in the snow, and judging my your name, that will probably be a good portion of the year.

Im not too worried about snow. I would be putting very good snow tires on them during the winter any hoo and using summers for the rest of the year. (Never use all season tires) so that should take care of the snow handling issue.

Apparently snow tires will also cut the power down from 350hp?

Well since he's referring to the '99 - '01 models that wouldn't be the case here.

99-2000 had 345hp and 2001 had 350hp.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It would be awful in the snow, and judging my your name, that will probably be a good portion of the year.

Im not too worried about snow. I would be putting very good snow tires on them during the winter any hoo and using summers for the rest of the year. (Never use all season tires) so that should take care of the snow handling issue.

Apparently snow tires will also cut the power down from 350hp?

I highly doubt that...
Also for people worried about snow here cause I'm in Canada, we have snow plows when it snows the roads are essentially clear 95% of the time (except for inner streets) and it basically only snows from Mid November-ish to about March.

 

[Vic]

Shouldn't be any problems with reliability, but it'd be like having a Miata as a daily driver -- very impractical.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: radioouman
A '92 Saturn to a Corvette????

Are you going to run tire chains on those winter tires on your 'vette too?

LOL ok I'm going to stop responding to people talking about snow and the car now.

OK so it sounds like it is pretty reliable then ? And yes a '92 saturn to a corvette, Ive been working and saving to buy me something nice. Although I'm sure insurance is going to double (from my current $200 a month to like $400 a month) I think it might be worth it.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Vic
Shouldn't be any problems with reliability, but it'd be like having a Miata as a daily driver -- very impractical.

Again why do you think that? OK trunk space, no +2 people of course. Comfy suspension, plenty of driver room. They really AREN'T that small or uncomfortable to use. And you can get pretty good gas mileage with them.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It would be awful in the snow, and judging my your name, that will probably be a good portion of the year.

Im not too worried about snow. I would be putting very good snow tires on them during the winter any hoo and using summers for the rest of the year. (Never use all season tires) so that should take care of the snow handling issue.

Apparently snow tires will also cut the power down from 350hp?

No, but snow tires have less than ideal traction compared to regular tires in non-snow conditions. Not what you want in a car with a lot of torque.

IMO you won't even need snow tires OP. Corvettes are very well-behaved in the snow, especially 95+ with the addition of ASR. The only things to keep in mind are throttle (gotta make sure you don't start peeling out) and ground clearance. Because the car sits so low to the ground, you've got to make sure you don't get hung up on snow drifts. It's no worse than a lowered car though.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian
OK so it sounds like it is pretty reliable then ? And yes a '92 saturn to a corvette, Ive been working and saving to buy me something nice. Although I'm sure insurance is going to double (from my current $200 a month to like $400 a month) I think it might be worth it.

The drivetrain is bulletproof, but like I said above electronics or more complicated repairs will be pricey. I take it you don't do your own auto maintenance?

And you'd be surprised how little insurance will go up, assuming you have a decent company. The major dictating factor in insurance cost IMO is the value of the vehicle. The car is pretty safe and as long as its probability of theft/breaking-in isn't too bad, since the value of the car is relatively low it won't cost much to insure.

Scenario:
23, nothing on record, use State Farm
One car only - 97 Subaru Legacy wagon - $75/month
Two cars - 97 Subaru Legacy wagon & 2006 GTO - $160/month
Both prices are with $1M uninsured/underinsured coverage

Not bad if you ask me

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: TerryMathews
No, but snow tires have less than ideal traction compared to regular tires in non-snow conditions. Not what you want in a car with a lot of torque.

IMO you won't even need snow tires OP. Corvettes are very well-behaved in the snow, especially 95+ with the addition of ASR. The only things to keep in mind are throttle (gotta make sure you don't start peeling out) and ground clearance. Because the car sits so low to the ground, you've got to make sure you don't get hung up on snow drifts. It's no worse than a lowered car though.

The car has a lot of torque but it is more spread out through the RPM range than older Chevy small blocks. Just be light on the throttle and it won't be as much of a problem. I can only speak for heavy rain, I don't plan on driving my GTO in the snow, but my car also makes a decent amount more power than those Vette's. And at the same time my car is a lot heavier (3700lb vs ~3200lb).

Maybe Marlin can comment on driving a Vette in the snow?

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: radioouman
A '92 Saturn to a Corvette????

Are you going to run tire chains on those winter tires on your 'vette too?

LOL ok I'm going to stop responding to people talking about snow and the car now.

OK so it sounds like it is pretty reliable then ? And yes a '92 saturn to a corvette, Ive been working and saving to buy me something nice. Although I'm sure insurance is going to double (from my current $200 a month to like $400 a month) I think it might be worth it.

I realize that you're talking about Canadian $...but $400 seems outrageous.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: radioouman
A '92 Saturn to a Corvette????

Are you going to run tire chains on those winter tires on your 'vette too?

LOL ok I'm going to stop responding to people talking about snow and the car now.

OK so it sounds like it is pretty reliable then ? And yes a '92 saturn to a corvette, Ive been working and saving to buy me something nice. Although I'm sure insurance is going to double (from my current $200 a month to like $400 a month) I think it might be worth it.

I realize that you're talking about Canadian $...but $400 seems outrageous.

It is, but thats insurance in Ontario for you. Ever since car insurance was privatized in Ontario the prices have been ridiculous and have been raising year after year

 

[Squisher]

Do they even make a snow tire in those sizes???


Mileage would be fine, but too many other issues. Like tire wear. Have you ever seen the tread depth on a vette? I'd think you'd be swapping out tires every 30K mi.

 

[AdamK47]

Originally posted by: TerryMathews

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
It would be awful in the snow, and judging my your name, that will probably be a good portion of the year.

Im not too worried about snow. I would be putting very good snow tires on them during the winter any hoo and using summers for the rest of the year. (Never use all season tires) so that should take care of the snow handling issue.

Apparently snow tires will also cut the power down from 350hp?

No, but snow tires have less than ideal traction compared to regular tires in non-snow conditions. Not what you want in a car with a lot of torque.

IMO you won't even need snow tires OP. Corvettes are very well-behaved in the snow, especially 95+ with the addition of ASR. The only things to keep in mind are throttle (gotta make sure you don't start peeling out) and ground clearance. Because the car sits so low to the ground, you've got to make sure you don't get hung up on snow drifts. It's no worse than a lowered car though.

My 94 has ASR.