Maintenance costs per year - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Treadstone71 · 12-21-2007

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!

Thanks for your input. --Brian

cuisinartvette · 12-21-2007

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

Less maintenance than any other car I own.

12-21-2007

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 · 12-21-2007

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 · 12-21-2007

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 · 12-21-2007

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.

Jason

Lowflight · 12-21-2007

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 · 12-22-2007

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

tomtom72 · 12-24-2007

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...

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!

gingle bells

Tom

Z Factor · 12-24-2007

Hello Brian and welcome to the forum.

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.

12-21-2007	#1
Treadstone71 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2	Maintenance costs per year 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! Thanks for your input. --Brian

12-21-2007	#2
cuisinartvette Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Fernando Valley, CA. Posts: 896	Re: Maintenance costs per year Registration Insurance One oil change/yr One fuel filter change/yr. Less maintenance than any other car I own. __________________ 1990 ZR1, 142,000 miles-Black on black 4.09's Haibeck chip, 3"exh, K&N, meth inj.

12-21-2007	#3
Jeffvette Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Maintenance costs per year 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.

12-21-2007	#4
Jagdpanzer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,661	Re: Maintenance costs per year 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.

12-21-2007	#5
HIZNHRZ Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 738	Re: Maintenance costs per year Insurance, a few oil changes, a few vacuum leaks and other fluid changes, and a set of injectors over the last 12 years.

12-21-2007	#6
Jason 91 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 124	Re: Maintenance costs per year 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. Jason __________________ 1991 Quasar Blue ZR-1

12-21-2007	#7
Lowflight Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 201	Re: Maintenance costs per year 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.

12-22-2007	#8
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,155	Re: Maintenance costs per year Maint?? Very low. Modding Very high. Brakes, Tires and oil pretty normal stuff.

12-24-2007	#9
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: Maintenance costs per year 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... 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! gingle bells Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member Last edited by tomtom72; 12-25-2007 at 10:08 AM.

12-24-2007	#10
Z Factor Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: S. Florida Posts: 2,667	Re: Maintenance costs per year Hello Brian and welcome to the forum. 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.