Seemingly nobody will say this so as a c6 owner I’ll let it rip: a corvette should be your second car. I do not recommend daily driving a c6 for many reasons. Yes they are reliable. Yes they are as advertised. However, if you have a c6 as your weekend cruiser/ joy rider that’s the best way to get the most value out of the car. Garage it and drive it on Saturday’s.
Track tires are not needed unless you are going to track the car. You can buy a good set of Goodyear, Michelin, BFG tires and get them installed around $1100
Hello from Delaware. Thank you for sharing this type of information, it is very useful. I am late middle aged and a C6 is almost certainly in my immediate future. All around a great video, very well presented.
aftermarket air filters don't clog fuel injectors but what it does effect is the mass air flow sensor the oil on the filter coats the maf sensor and gives false readings and should be cleaned regularly with maf cleaner only
this is exactly correct. I bought a C6ZO6 about a month ago and it through w check engine light the same day I drove it off the lot. I took it back in and the mechanics at the dealership basic told me this is a problem with aftermarket air intakes (I have an Air Raider that was put on by the previous owner). from what I was told by the services department it's not an issue that will effect the driveability of the vehicle or performance in any way but the check engine light will continue to sporadically turn on and off until I either go back to a stock Air Filter/Intake or change it out with another aftermarket version thats oil on the filter itself doesn't coat the mass air flow sensor. thus far I've left it alone after having the sensor cleaned once. It is annoying but not the end of the world.
I've had an aftermarket cold air intake on my 96 Z28 for 20 years. Not a single issue with the MAF due to K & N oil. There was probably too much put on your filter.
Picking up an 08 base in 2 weeks. Velocity Yellow... Owned by an older man going into a retirement village and cant use the car anymore. Got it at a good price at 19k 59k miles 2 owner garage kept since purchased by the original owner ! Can't wait to be part of the club
The differential on the 2005 is easy to crack and it was redesigned on the 2006 to make the case stronger by adding ribs. Had to upgrade my 05 vert with a stage 2 (rated up to 600hp)diff from RPM and cost me 3k without the core exchange and another 1200 bucks for the dealer to install it. After that it was all good. Now I have an 07 Z06 and I don't miss my older vette except when it is sunny.
Thanks for the video. Just brought home a 2012 Grand Sport. Some really good information for folks. One thing I noticed though, the Corvette Transmission isn't in the normal location as you pointed out, which is where most cars have it; under the shifter. The Corvette Transmission is behind you. One of the ways they get the car to have 50/50 balance. That is where the Torque Tube is though. Very good video though! Very clear and understandable. Noticed you upgraded the radio head unit. That is one thing I want to do. I would like to get Apple CarPlay with a backup camera. Do you like the Kenwood?
Thank you for the comments and pointing out the transmission. That was an error in my talking points. I loved my radio head. If you do change the radio head make sure you get one with front connection points for accessaries. I do like the Kenwood but had to buy additional connections and run them to my console for my accessaries. I sure learned from installing the radio head and the making the video.
The front near the engine. When driving it sounded like it was coming from the center floor under the shifter. In the video, the sound comes from the front side closet to the engine. After talking with other corvette owners in the corvette club it is apparent torque tube bearing common problem with C6 Corvettes.
I got a 2008 C6 jet stream blue tintcoat paddle shift 6 speed auto 57k miles on it jjst added the ZR1 rear spoiler going to add the ZR1 rims on it this spring 20 in back 19s in front so it looks like the corvette museum blue devil the orginal zr1
Looking to buy one soon. Had a few Corvettes in the family over the years and the Corvette joins the ranks of Euro sports cars in performance but it also joins in one bad attribute which is cost of repair and parts. As domestic cars go, only my Cadillac came close to the cost of repairs. That being said, its not that easy to find a foreign sports car that will beat the value of a C6/ C7 Corvette in purchase price relative to performance. The new Zo6 and ZR1 have now reached the Porsche and others in price but the Stingray is still relatively affordable with that kind of performance output.
1.Afyermarket Cold Air aintakes DO NOT clog fuel injectors they may and it's a big MAY get residue of the oil inside of the MAF sensor if they are too heavily oiled 2.the different tire sizes front and rear has NOTHING to do with C6's having no spare it's because they use RUNTLAT tires 3.the transmission is near the BACK not the front of the car otherwise good review..
Craig, thank you for the input. True, the car has run flats but you must agree it would be difficult to have two spare tire (front and back). Air Intake was mentioned because many disagree and that is why I said for each person to decide. You are 100 percent correct on the transmission. Again, thank you for staying professional and the great input. We need more people like you who make constructive comments. It is all about helping others.
Well just FYI ALL Corvettes since 1993 have had different size tires front and back and the ZR-1 did from 90-95 and had a spare also the spare is just a donut and is designed for either front or back and not a fullsize tire and rim, also some 94-96 Base Corvettes had Runflat tires AND a spare, you could also get the runflats with a spare delete option, Chevy got rid of the spare completely with the C5..
Craig, Thanks for the comments. Sure wish I had a ZR-1. I am told Chevy may have a mid engine ZR-1 coming out soon. I am sure that will cost big bucks.
you probably are unaware of a change in performance or set any codes by a dirty maf especially in the older 3 wire maf until you take a look at your ltft o2 ect or you clean it and notice a change in engine and trans performance i remember reading a tsb from gm around the time your vehicle was being built about engine and trans complaints caused by the oil contaminating the maf even a brand new k&n filter gets oil residue on the inside of the intake track
What’s the most reliable Corvette engine? What’s the most reliable Corvette body? What year is the most comfortable Corvette suspension and seats? What’s the most fuel efficient year and engine? The 5.7’s?
Check the VIN sticker on the inside edge of the drivers' door. If it doesn't match the VIN under the windshield, the car was in an accident and the door was replaced. Also, it's not uncommon for someone to have a minor frontal crash in a Corvette. look for the VIN by the hinges in the nose. If there's distortion, it's been in an accident; no matter how good the repair was.
Pirelli & Michelin both have rear tires for my c6 GS (325/25/19) that are $570. The factory Goodyear F1 Supercar tires are garbage. The GS, Z06 & ZR1 are also set up from the factory for track purposes. You will need a realignment if you want mileage out of your tires. Go to a pfadt "street" setup, otherwise you'll have cord showing on the inside of the front tires at 8,000 - 12,000 miles.
I'd say look at the average mpg on the dash. I didn't buy one of the c6 corvettes I test drove because it was only averaging 6 mpg. It might have been burning lean and had a few codes.
If the "average" was 6mpg, you would know it as soon as you started it up. Lean conditions/codes would not account for that. My bet is the last person who drove it, maybe the owner showing it off for a possible buyer, did a couple burnouts along with the cruise, and pushed the reset button.
Thank you Trevor for the input. While it is challenging to please everyone I had to make the video for the novice not the expert. Again, thank you for your comments.
for the torque tube bearing. Isn't the transmission in the rear of the car? so wouldn't you want to check under the rear? or is it the side mounting to the motor?
+Nick Mahramus Nick, very good questions. Yes, and no. LOL The Torque Tube Bearing is on the end where it mounts to the motor. That is why one can hear the noise coming from the front of the car and under center console near the shifter. When sitting in the drivers seat, it sounds like a rattleing noise coming from below the console shifter during idling.
You all probably dont give a shit but does anyone know a trick to log back into an instagram account? I stupidly forgot my password. I love any tips you can give me
@Rudy Jacoby i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im in the hacking process now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
Russ, I am with you. The answer is yes in many parts. I replaced the muffler and brakes on mine. However, some of the computer analyses gets difficult. The nice this is RU-vid and internet provides lots of information.
My dad was a mechanic who could not explain things too me without screaming and beating, I left to go into Nursing that was 36 yrs ago.I had a Air force career also. My dad was so upset with me. I told him , you can't beat your students into understanding, Praise God I made the right choice. It's been yrs yet, and I still have a problem with forgiving with resolving it with him It's all been forgiven, He can do what he;s always done without beating others
+mosalaam You have that right. That is why I recommended to have the car looked at by a professional. Many cars like the Z06 have been raced on tracks and could have serious engine problems. It would be a wise investment before paying the money for a Z06 to have the engine checked out.
+TheWhatisright Hopcorvetteman you make a good point. Speaking of the z06's being tracked, many don't know of the oil starvation issue the 06-08 z06's had during over 1G sweeping left turns. How do you recommend discovering if a z06 had that issue?
+mosalaam I would get it inspected by a reliable mechanic. I know many do not want to go through all that trouble but a Z06 can be 40K - 60K if built in 2006-2008. The new Z06 cost around 100K. Also, many Corvettes have the magnetic drain plug for oil. I would ask the mechanic to look for any metal particles on the drain plug. I good mechanic will look at that and test the engine on the computer along with a compression check.
Bronze star good deal man 1-upped you with the soldiers medal (I don't think it should be placed as high as it is but that's obviously big Army's decision). Thanks for the tips 👍🏻
+David Martin Same here. I love my C6 Corvette. The video was designed to show what corvette people experience and what to look at for. I think when people buy any mechanical item there are things to look for and ways to make smart buys.
+oahuforfree Most people that I talked with felt the better value was the newer C6 with the LS3 engine. Plus, some new technology in the newer model. I even had one person tell me that he preferred the late model C6 (he had a 2012) over his new C7. For me, I love the new C7 but have to stay with the C6 a few more years due to the budget. I currently drive a 2011 C6 base model. One can get a 2011 or 2012 C6 (Base Model) for about $27K - 34K.
I wouldn't turn the rotors. They're cheap enough ($75 approx each from the web for OEMs Z06) to just replace when the pads are worn. These are supercars. They should always have fresh rotors, imo.
And get Michelin Pilot Super Sports. They're not directional. And a HUGE improvement over the OE Goodyear F1 EMTs. I carry a portable pump, pliers and plug kit in the rear cubby hold.
Did you ever fix the front bumper rising up issue,? If so, what was done to correct it? 5:55. As a new Vette owner, I am having the same problem. Thanks!
Not 100 percent but I did do a video on the hood alignment that helps a lot. I still have a small gap put have to live with it unless I want to risk paint cracks and all.
The problems you need to look for are way worse than the things you listed and mentioned. Almost everything you mentioned on this video is just cars in general when buying and are not really corvette specific issues.
Its not that much, No idea where this guy got that info from. You can get a set of michelin pilot sports for 1300. Which are one of the best tires you can buy for that car.
Is there an exhaust you would recommend if you don't want the loud hum while at stoplights? I test drove a 2008 c6 with a flowmaster exhaust and it sounded great at speed but was too loud to talk at standstill...i'm looking for an exhaust thats quiet enough to talk to the passenger but still mean when you rev up, thanks
I like Borla Exhaust because it has different version of exhaust systems depending on what you like. The ATAK, S-Type or Touring (see Borla link below). It is just a matter of taste. Make sure whatever system you decide on, get stainless steel. I have the S-Type Borla Exhaust system (mid range exhaust sound) in my C6 Corvette, talking with a passenger is no problem. Yet, when I kick it in, I can hear the exhaust system. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oz0e4FT-xZU.html There are also many other good systems out there like Flowmaster or Corsa.
My 2008 C6 has the factory "NPP" exhaust option which means the inner 2 exhaust tips open under full throttle and close otherwise and sounds stock quiet.. Nicest thing about this option is you can tune how closed the valves shut to find a happy medium of loud vs quiet! I love it. Also when i swapped to aftermarket headers (kept the factory NPP mufflers) it got higher pitched and more of a scream sound under wot.
+ali al-dujaili Ali, Except for the things I listed it is a very reliable car. The bearing hubs Wheel Sensors do go out sometimes which show up as an ABS error (Traction Control/Active Handling/ABS check light on the computers). Other than that it is a very reliable car for the most part. That is the information I received from owners and members of the local corvette clubs. Thank you for the question and taking the time to comment.
Hey CorvetteHop, is it wise to buy a corvette which is very very low miles but old? Say an 08 with 5k miles on it? What should I look for specifically?
I think that is based in what you can afford and what style car you like. The C6 corvettes are very affordable now. I had a 2011 C6 Corvette and loved it. Now I have a C7. You are correct, there are many C6 Corvette with low milage and a great price. That is one of the great things about a corvette. The C7 Corvette is also starting to get affordable for the 2014. However, I guess that really depends on what one considers affordable. The answer to your question is Yes. A C6 with only 5K may be a very wise purchase depending on what the price. The real bottom line is, if you love the car and price then it is a great deal for you. Corvette Hop.
CorvetteHop yes I think for a good price it can be a good idea. But should I be worried about any damage to the vehicle or mechanical components due to periods of very very minimal driving? Would a fluid flush and refill cure any of those problems?
Yes, I would check the maintenance records. Look at the torgue tube and check for any sounds like in the video. Check the transmission and all fluids. Also, check for the engine warning light. Check for any codes. Check all wether stripping around the doors and hatch. If allowed, take the car to a chevy dealership and have it checked out and compare records. Maybe even get a copy of the dealership maintenance records. Of course, check the common stuff like body, frame and tire. If you are lucky, you may find one with low millage and performance stuff installed. Run the VIN number for a history. Hope that helps.
+david constant David, I noticed some screws under the hood along the weather stripping (front of engine near head lights). I will remove those and see if I can align it.
+david constant David, I think I found our problem. The front clips need to be replaced. I found a short thread on the problem list at www.smokinvette.com/corvetteforum/2-c6-corvette-general-discussion/20555-c6-front-bumper-mis-alignment.html
I have a friend who wants one of these, he says either a grand sport or a z06. Hes only 19 and wants to use this as a daily driver and as his only car. Im trying to talk him out of it.. What should i say??
I have a C7 Corvette as a daily driver. My 1969 Corvette stays in the garage most of the time. In my view, it depend on the location in regard to weather. I live in a warm state so it is almost always good wether. Very difficult to drive a low profile car like the corvette in ice and snow. It is even difficult to drive in heavy rain. I would not recommend that. In addition, the Z06 and ZR1 uses a lot of gas and has terrible gas milage. Then again, almost all Corvette have terrible gas milage. LOL On the up side, it is one of the best sport cars for the money in the world. The Corvette is absolutely beautiful and difficult to maintain as a daily driver but can be done. I say this because of rocks/debris from the road damaging the paint. Of course, that is with every car. However, corvette owners tend to be extremely detailed on the condition of the vehicle. Performance wise, it is clearly possible to use the corvette as a daily driver.
CorvetteHop Darn!! I was supposed to talk him out of it and you made me want one now!! LOL Anyways, love your videos!! Also, we live in a very sunny area we live in a desert so we only have 2 seasons: Summer and colder summer.. XD Ill be sure to let him know and help him out!! He will be driving lots of miles in it so im sure he will enjoy it (he plans to put 200,000 miles on it) Thanks Man!!!
Pretty good video. Right up to the part when you referred to the transmission being near the front of the car. Hopefully by now you know that to be very wrong
James, you are correct. It was an error on my part. I mentioned it before in comments. I have a 1969 Corvette also and was thinking of that car when I made the comment. Clearly, the C6 Transmission is in the rear of the car. To be honest, I did not want to redo the video for that small error. The point is how to determine a bad torgue tube. In that case, the sound inside the car is the key. Thank you for the input.
No offense, BUT. Who buys a Corvette without having a reputable Mechanic crawl up the exhaust pipe with a microscope? 11:38 seconds that I'll never get back. Nice Vette though!
Sure that would work. My Corvette is my primary driving car. However, I live in a warm weather state so we never get ice or snow. Yearly weather condition may be something you should consider.
I am 20 and make decent money and am looking for a post 08 c6 corvette. It would obviously be my only vehicle so is it reliable enough to be used on a daily basis? I just don't want a car that breaks down as often as BMW seems to. My buddy has an M3 and he dumps thousands into it and it seems a waste to pay 40 thousand for a car that lives at the shops.
+Russell Russell, that is a very good question. I fully understand the need for a reliable car. To be honest many of my corvette friends only drive the C6 Corvette on Sunday. I however, drive my C6 Corvette everyday to work. So, Yes, It is a car that can be driven everyday. In fact, it is built to be driven everyday just many people baby it. I would not drive it in to cold weather locations that have ice and snow. My 1969 Corvette is the one that stays in the garage and driven to car shows.
Agree, also a problem among other things. I had to keep the video very brief. Maybe I can mentioned in other video. Thank you for the input corvette friend.
You want good tires, you WILL pay in that range. Pirelli & Michelin both have rears (325/25/19) for the c6 GS @ $570 for the top of the line track tires.
TheWhatisright Hopcorvetteman is it hard? Im not good with electrical stuff but i really want an aux cord so i can play my music thats on my phone. Im complettely dumb when it comes to audio and stereo stuff so idk what to buy or what will fit, those apple carplay stereos looked pretty neat i wonder if those fit in the c6..
Kev, I would do your research and see if you are capable of doing the work. You do not want to get in over your head. There are many Radio install video on RU-vid. If it is much then get someone to do it for you. Take it the shop if needed. Best Buy also does radio installs.
have a 2016 zo7 5k miles an need new tires have the radial pilot drag tires there not cheap luv the car an the 650hp but tires expensive only 2 choices pilot radial drags an contential makes a set not much to choose from , (
Glen, that is a very nice car you have. I hope someone has a real source for pilot radial because I sure have not found one for anything close to $150 each. I guess one can always put tires on that will not last but if you are driving a sports car, why take the risk? I would always recommend what the manufacture suggest or something very close.
russ carney jr he won't be able to apply heat to make that corner lay back correctly. the from clip on the c6 has a little notch that's been broken off, the front piece lock with the fenders that's why only one side is sticking up, its common on c6.
+Savage I do love my C6 Corvette. Some have faults like in the video. However, I have only had a few small problems with my C6. In time, I will upgrade to the C7 for sure.
+Savage My c6 with the ls2 has a vararam intake, z06 suspension and a z06 exhaust, raced a c7 and a tuned c5 z06 won from both cars, and a race with a c6 z06 from 80-170mph was VERY close...so if you can't afford a C7 just do what I did and you'll be a happy man
The car i found.. I really, really want.. Took to mechanic and torque tube bearings bad.. got a quote from a few places. Transmission place had best quote. $900 for labor. Question: Can I replace the bearings alone without replacing the torque tube?
Aaron, thank you for watching the video and sending a reply. Sounds like you learned something from it. Yes, almost everyone that has a bad torque tube bearing only replaces the bearing. However, it is lots of work. $900 sounds about right for the bearing work.
TheWhatisright Hopcorvetteman SWEETT!!! I found bearings online for 145.. You mean to tell me I can get this done for around a $1,000?????? man that is way better than $2,000
you probably are unaware of a change in performance or set any codes by a dirty maf especially in the older 3 wire maf until you take a look at your ltft o2 ect or you clean it and notice a change in engine and trans performance i remember reading a tsb from gm around the time your vehicle was being built about engine and trans complaints caused by the oil contaminating the maf even a brand new k&n filter gets oil residue on the inside of the intake track