Maintenance costs per year

[Treadstone71]

Hi, everybody--
Today at a used supercar lot I saw a 1999 C5 for $19k sitting next to a '90 ZR-1 for $23k and I had to admit I've finally decided that the ZR-1 is the Corvette I want. There's a lot I like about both models but the ZR-1 seems to employ them both.

Right now I'm running numbers and figuring how a ZR-1 will fit my budget (I'm maybe a year from buying). Would it be unrealistic to set aside $2000 a year for regular maintenance?

Some joker at work said I'd need the $2k just for tires! :D

Thanks for your input. --Brian

[cuisinartvette]

Registration
Insurance
One oil change/yr
One fuel filter change/yr.

Less maintenance than any other car I own.

[Jeffvette]

It can be cheap if you buy the right car and you don't beat the snot out of it. But things can get expensive.

This past year:
Fuel
Insurance

Were my only expenses. The race car got most of my attention. I think I may have put 3k on the ZR-1 this year.

[Jagdpanzer]

True maintenance costs for my Z are peanuts.
Its the itch to mod (headers, SS exhaust, porting, powder coat, 4.10 gears, new tires, Hurst shifter, brakes, chip) that cost.

[HIZNHRZ]

Insurance, a few oil changes, a few vacuum leaks and other fluid changes, and a set of injectors over the last 12 years.

[Jason 91]

I've spent some money this past year, but nowhere near 2k and I'm including some repairs that needed to be made. If you have that much to set aside, then you should have plenty left over for modifications. :mrgreen:

Jason

[Lowflight]

About $1000 not including oil and insurance etc...they have always cost me more than I want to spend. That is why I don't mod too much, I have never been too lucky with Zs. Sorry, but its true for me.

[GOLDCYLON]

Maint?? Very low. Modding Very high. Brakes, Tires and oil pretty normal stuff.

[tomtom72]

I may have a minority opinion here, and it may be solely my luck with vettes in general, but I offer this for you to consider in your quest for info.

I bought a semi-garage queen. It was not run around town, but it took long distance trips mostly. So I buy it and start using it alot, I have 28 & high change on it now from about 7400 +/- in 12/04. This is a snap shot of my first yr of ownership:
Tires right away, it still had the OEM tires.
Injectors went. I used RC's. There was also a vac issue in the 2* system.
std radio issues.
battery questionable.
trans & gear oil & brake & clutch & P/S fluids were all OEM.
plugs, A/F, PCV's, gas filter, wires, coils & T-stat were all OEM.
Coolant & oil changes were the only things done religiously by OO. Soooo all of the above was dunn by me at some point during my first year. Just the tires and the injectors in the first yr are 2K in parts alone. Add to that ins costs + sales tx & registration & transport of the car and my car cost me almost 30K the first yr., that's including the purchase price.

Since the first yr was over the following big issues have cropped up, ECM took a dump, SIR system needs a DERM, clutch hydraulics quit and oil lines (it's a 90) took a dump. Oh yea I just bought two new rear tires... :o due to punctures.

I'm not including all the spare parts I glomed away since 12/05 in any of this. I've done one elective mod in those 5 yrs, minor brake up-grade. No P & P or refinish on top end, no headers, no tune.

Moral to my boring write up & the point of all this BS ? If you really want a Z to use & enjoy...alot, but not as a DD....go find one that an involved owner is selling. If you want to do the NCRS/show thing, then buy one like I bought.

You can see what stuff is annual & what stuff is every two yrs...and what stuff was due maybe to lack of use.....but I still would not buy any other used vette if I had it to do over....except that I would have bought a modded one from an involved owner instead of my GQ....but I still love her anyway!:mrgreen:

gingle bells
:cheers:
Tom

[Z Factor]

Hello Brian and welcome to the forum. :handshak:

As others have said, routine maintenance costs are very small, but you do want to buy a ZR-1 that is in good condition. The most costly thing some have unexpectedly encountered is replacing faulty fuel injectors. While not maintenance, it is something you might encounter if they are original injectors, especially a early year model.

Sure oil changes cost a little more considering the extra oil capacity and high quality, but for such a spectacular engine, you only want to use the best anyway. So go and buy yourself the best ZR-1 you can afford, and you will not regret it. :thumbsup:

:cheers:

[Treadstone71]

Thanks for all the input, guys. --Brian

[Jason 91]

Brian, we are here to help. :handshak:

The one thing that I really didn't consider in my estimates was what I would have to pay in labor to have someone else work on my car given the fact that I'm not a very good mechanic and don't have a good garage. Now, I've been fortunate with this car and have done the minor things (i.e., brakes, oil changes, etc.) myself, but I've still had to shell out roughly 1k in labor for things that have come up over the past couple of years.

I'm not sure of your skills, but thought it should be a consideration for someone considering one of these cars.

Thanks,

Jason

[kenthompson]

Oh yea I just bought two new rear tires... :o due to punctures.


Sure....Sure....Sure;)

We know it is far more likely due to liberal aplication of calf muscle pressure.

[tomtom72]

Sure....Sure....Sure;)

We know it is far more likely due to liberal aplication of calf muscle pressure.

:sign10: ......no, no, it's ture....punctures, I swear! The building I live in is doing some major facade brick work and I keep finding all the screws that they drop with my rear tires:mad: .......although I was wondering why the rears seemed to be wearing 2x as fast as the front tires:confused:

:mrgreen:

[HIZNHRZ]

I also bought a low mileage years ago. It also cost me a small bundle to get the car where I wanted it as far as maintenance. Sorry but I did not include these "start up costs in my earlier post as I did not think these applied to my "maintenance costs per year". I was thinking these start-up costs were more a part of my acquisition cost...