User 020415

Being a guy that never own any of my toys more then a few years, countless of number of motorcycle and 11th cars later, think I finally set a new record for keeping a car for over 5 years! WTH?

Yes, Corvette have always been a dream car of mine since I was a kid, but the stigma of a playboy image kept from buying one for years.
Until that C5 body style came out, Damn it! WOW! Love at first site!
Looking back, as I was signing the paper work at the dealer, once again I thought to myself, for sure I would only keep it for 2-3 years tops, specially I find the car to be royal pain in the butt to get in and out of, (Okay fine, it's a sports car, I got that)
Honestly, even up to date, I still think this is one of the sexiest car around, very reason it's very hard to part with.

But time have come with 97,000 + miles, little things starting to going, dash lights going out, little squeaks here and there, I have a friends tell me.. "These cars are not made for long term, time to move on to next car buddy"...humm?

Question:
How long should I keep this car before it really start to takes me to the poor house of "on going repairs?"

flaagan

Dash lights? Just the bulbs? That's repairable if you're up to doing a bit of elbow grease. Squeaks? Also fixable, and to be expected on most any car after nearly 100k miles.

I'm up to just over 120k miles, supercharged the car at 90k, it's my daily driver, and will be til something disasterous happens. There are plenty of owners on here with well over 100k miles on their C5's. If anything, I consider that many miles a good excuse as any to start doing mods you wouldn't normally dare with a "new" car.

The only expensive repairs you should be worried about is anything major breaking, and even then most stuff should be handled with normal preventative maintenance.

If "high miles" really are a concern, clean it up and sell it, turn around and get some garage queen C5 from another forum member so you can start anew.

Amixamse

I heard they were built for 250k, think I read that here.. Gm's 350 is a legend, my friend that is a carpenter has an express 3500 van with right at 500k.. ORIGINAL motor and trans.. Hauling around tools and Mexicans averaging 300+ miles a day.. He's going to write gm at 500k. I think hes at 490k..

But if you maintain a vette and kept the oil changed it will go forever, there's a video on YouTube of a guy hitting 150mph in a c5 as he turns 240,000 miles lol

Tom/99

I bought both my 99 and my 04 new. I sold the 99 with 19,000 miles on it. The 04 has just over 27,000 miles on it at this time. It shoud have gone away at 20,000 miles. It's the poster car for why you shouldn't buy a Corvette, or any GM product.

pewter99

OP...

lots of folks in high triple digits....my 99 is a daily driver at 125K...her 02 is a daily driver 143K....my 07Z06 already has 78K.....garage queens typically end up costing more for the next owner....


do a search we have forum members well into the 200's, 300's and more....

like anything over time you have maintenance costs but 99% of the time those are far less than monthly new car payments

do you think those guys with C1,2,3,4's who have had them since new haven't put money into them? ANY car you keep long term will require an influx of cash at some point.


as someone said....you can always start over.

Vetteman Jack

I've found the C5 to be pretty darn reliable and there are many members here that have driven the heck out of their C5s and reported very good luck with them. As with anything mechanical, issues will crop up if you keep it long enough, but good maintenance practices will help with the car's longevity.

Evil-Twin

I have many members who PM me from time to time telling of their 400,000 mile C5. Seems like the ones who keep them fairly stock have the most reliability. The car requires very little maintenance.. Big ticket items are motor and trans and differential. Keep that classic design, take care of it. It will serve you well.. A testament to GM engineering. This one was well done. There are hundreds of members here with over 300K, thousands and thousands with 200K. The car is very easy to maintain... We put most of the money into the engine and trans and differential. So the next time you bitch about the quality of the seats consider replacing the leather is 1000 dollars on your 300,000 C5. Buy a new Corvette?? Spend 60,000 dollars. All you have to do is look at some of the photographs of some of these C5 with over 100K and you will see a classically designed automobile. No wonder that many of us are asked if it is New when in fact these cars have been around for 15 years. There is not a day that goes by when I take my car out that someone doesn't have something nice to say.. No matter where I park, I get compliments. Many here will tell you the same thing happens to them...

INaband

To me the look is timeless and modern. No reason to sell it in my view, no matter the miles.

black match box

OK. WHAT DID YOU BUY? CHRYSLER OR FORD I HOPE.

$$$frumnuttin'

Easiest car in the world to work on, wash, and otherwise maintain....and she don't look too shabby either.

MSG C5

I am beginning to test drive new daily driver business sedans and as a result I have a whole new appreciation for the simplicity and beautiful design of the C5 interior. Automotive technology has come a long way since 1997 and although I appreciate the technology advancements and creature comforts in today's vehicles, the C5 is simply designed for driving enjoyment. Even with my modified double din bezel/NAV system, the C5 cockpit is not overrun with buttons and gadgets. The car is simply designed to be driven and I really think the C5 will be the last Corvette generation to enjoy this type of design.

knewblewkorvette

Lifespan? I'm hoping a very long time. I get quite attached to my cars, especially to the cars I purchased new. Since I purchased my 02 Corvette new and have stuck gobs of $ into her, I plan on keeping her till the day I die.

Vettmann17

I've been driving Vettes since I was 19. My first was an 87 Black coupe and I've been driving them ever since. I would usually lease them for about 3-4 years at a time and get into a new one when the lease was up. What I found was the cars I was giving up for new ones were still just as "new feeling" as the new ones. So the one I'm in now is a 2002Vert and the only one I bought new outright and it's the best thing I ever did. 11 years and 94K later the car runs great and is my daily driver as long as there is no snow. I have maintained the car by the book and then some and use only 93 octane and always driven it with respect (most of the time). The folks who tell you maintenence is the key are saying the truth. You take good care of these cars and they will last a very long time and always look good as the design does not look old, most including myself like the design better than the C6's which made my decision to keep it long term that much easier. Repairs and maintanance are far more affordable than new car payments as long as the car was well kept from the start. If I were you I would keep it and not even give it a second thought. Good luck!

JaxEagle

momo20

hope you have your flame suit on...you have no ideal what your talking about at all do you?

James2002z06

Not today or 15 years from now would I consider getting rid of the car .....
It's ten going on 11 years old and like the previous owner that had it its still taken very good care of .... The Beauty In me traveling for a leaving is that I'm not around the car that much , In two months I've put less than 100 miles on it ..... I could be wrong but I believe it has around 35,000 on it now , it's had a complete top end done ( performance ) along with a stroker kit , while this as all going on the timing chain was upgraded , oil pump upgrade , fuel pump upgraded , injectors , heads , cam , headers
You name it and it has been done
My point is that my car is almost brand new ...... And I still have a ton more to go with her .
Most of you'll see or drive your cars daily , I don't have that privilege at this point in my career ... So in closing I'm pretty sure if it gets its proper maintaince it will last me for ever ....
Now reading what I have this morning a car with over let's say 100,000 miles surely at some point shocks and a front end rebuild would be coming up pretty soon those things just wear out with time ...

damilleniumboy

It all depends on the owner and how he treats his things in general, not just vehicles. It's almost like asking how much will $100 dollars last in your purse.

BlackY2KCorvette

when i go to a club vette show, people comment......nice car man....i respectfully thank them and respond...........not too bad for 202,000 miles

renegad44

Is this another one of those "Baretta" post from yesterday....

User 020415

Okay, something to be said about buying a new car or a car with low miles, knowing is going to be maintenance free for "a while", but triple digits miles, replacing motor and trans and differential, that's getting close to rebuilding the car, and some of you saying drive it till you die? That's love!
Yes, new car payment vs worrying about what's next need to be fix, regardless of my preventative reg. up keep, will my car spend more time in the shop then me driving it? Can I trust my car enough to take it for a long road trip with out being stranded somewhere, those are the main concerns.
Being the car has such a timeless look, and if I'm not sick of it by now, BTW, thanks for everyone comments and pointers, I most likely gonna head over to 100,000 mark here shortly and see how things goes.