You don't seem surprised by that statement. I am.
As much as Corvettes squeak, Corvettes leak. Every Corvette press car I've had washed, has leaked. The C5 parked in my garage leaks when you take it through a car wash. It also leaks when it rains. And guess what, so did my 1994 TransAm, which did not have t-tops, as did The Brunette's 1998 Z-28, which did. Notice a trend?
They've all leaked in relatively the same spot too; along the trailing edge of both doors and up where the side windows meet the roof. I've always chalked it up to poor design of the door seals, poor assembly and poor fit and finish. So when I was given the Z06 to shake it down this weekend, I took it through a touchless car wash, just for kicks. And much to my surprise, it didn't leak.
Nice.
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 44,015 miles
v8vroom says:
07:40 PM, 03/16/10
Yeah right. The next thing you'll tell us is that you drove it in the rain and it didnt melt. ALL Corvettes melt in the rain.......
wrinklebump says:
08:15 PM, 03/16/10
Driving impressions?
kurt_ says:
08:19 PM, 03/16/10
@wrinklebump
Fast and vague.
wrinklebump says:
08:22 PM, 03/16/10
Most of those types forget to take their wedding bands off before going to the bar
bimmerjay says:
09:28 PM, 03/16/10
Hahaha... lowered expectations.
thedream21479 says:
12:53 AM, 03/17/10
Maybe the leaking rain would improve the horrific interior?
Eh, maybe not.
frank908 says:
05:41 AM, 03/17/10
I'm embarrassed to admit this,my first car, a 1986 Trans Am with T-tops, not only leaked, but when you accelerated, the water would shoot out of the corner and hit you in the face as well.
Luckily I only owned that car for 6 months before the head gaskets blew. I followed it up with a 1987 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo; a nightmare on a different level.
mcgs999 says:
06:42 AM, 03/17/10
I have to say that my 99 Camaro (with T-Tops) barely leaked at all, when young. It really only did once it started to get high in mileage and when under a high pressure wash. Then, it was a nice dribble along the window/t-top seal.
greenpony says:
07:12 AM, 03/17/10
Heh, my Mustang doesn't leak. Anywhere.
stingray454 says:
07:41 AM, 03/17/10
Mine doesn't leak either. I'm surprised the C5 you own leaks, as I haven't heard of widespread leaking problems on C5's. C4's and earlier are a different story. Same with the squeeking and rattling: none in my C5 Z06 @51k miles, but most of the Corvettes before the C5 were rattlers - there was something wrong with the car if it DIDN'T squeek and rattle - LOL.
stingray454 says:
07:46 AM, 03/17/10
I agree with wrinklebump though - where are the driving impressions? You've had this car for a few months now, and the only thing that has been written about it had been the pinging issue, and off-handed quality remarks. Whether you like Corvettes or not, this is an exciting car to drive, but not one comment about that experience. You might as well have written about the Prius the way this thread has been going. Yawn.
ptcdawg says:
08:11 AM, 03/17/10
I don't take my 10+ year old Lexus through an automatic carwash...
lmbvette says:
08:12 AM, 03/17/10
Agree with Stingray. I've never heard of anyone complain of leaking in any C5 Vettes. Earlier Vettes were an entirely different situation. LOL
So, where are the track times Edmunds? Sheesh!
thegrocer says:
08:28 AM, 03/17/10
I believe F-body windows were adjustable and could be toed in and out to fix that...however, that is endemic to all frameless GM coupe windows, G-bodies were notorious for leaking windows, too, and the solution was adjusting the windows and/or new seals...the other problem is people not paying attention and closing the door with glass, rather than using the door itself...which would cause window wobble and leaks...
jeepsrt says:
08:29 AM, 03/17/10
My '92 Vette C4 rarely has any water get in it, only if I spray right at the window seals and even then it is minimal, I have never had any leaks in any rain. As for rattles they are only there when it is cold out and that's with 60k miles.
gregnv says:
09:39 AM, 03/17/10
On March 10, Jason posted that the detonation problem was probably due to gross mishandling of the MAF sensor in the past. The post mentioned that the problem may be fixed and that it would be rigorously tested.
http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/03/2002-chevrolet-corvette-z06-back-in-action.html
Any follow up report? Is the problem fixed? Was the problem that someone or something smashed the MAF sensor senseless?
If it is fixed, how does it perform?
v8vroom says:
12:24 PM, 03/17/10
And regarding your leaking C5, the windows are adustable for the purpose of stopping leaks. Of course this requires removal of the door panel and fiddling with the adjustment screws. This is the only way to offer the car with frameless windows and a targa roof.
ed124c says:
02:19 PM, 03/17/10
I think nobody wants to drive the Vette because they have so many new longterm cars to play with.
slickersdrip says:
07:16 PM, 03/18/10
My first car, a [sarcasm]badass[/sarcasm] 1982 Camaro with a 305 V8 (represent!) had t-tops and leaked like a co-ed with one too many beers with even the slightest of rains. Had a host of other problems (like being equipped with an automatic), too, but the leaking was one of the contributing factors to why I was happy to see it go. My 1999 Camaro Z28 6M had a slick top and never leaked a single time, so I've always chalked it up to the t-tops and swore them off.
itm1221 says:
01:58 PM, 03/23/10
is anyone else sick of the Edmund's InsideLine not updating these blogs for days its very disappointing they used to update all the time, now it is rare to see an update even every three days apart (or more like every 2weeks) I WISH THEY WOULD UPDATE THEIR BLOGS MORE even if its about something simple like the exhaust smell or something i miss reading them every other day if not every day.