What States should I avoid
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 309
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From: new zealand
What States should I avoid
Hi, I am looking at buying a C4 from the good old US to replace my 77 which I have just sold.
What I want to know is what US states should I avoid re having salt and chemicals on their roads over winter.
I know a lot of UK cars are stuffed by rust after driving on salty roads over winter and want to avoid importing a "rust bucket" to New Zealand.
(And no, New Zealand is not a scam Eastern Eurpore or Afrcan nation)
but we are nuclear free which is a plus !!
What I want to know is what US states should I avoid re having salt and chemicals on their roads over winter.
I know a lot of UK cars are stuffed by rust after driving on salty roads over winter and want to avoid importing a "rust bucket" to New Zealand.
(And no, New Zealand is not a scam Eastern Eurpore or Afrcan nation)
but we are nuclear free which is a plus !!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,107
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From: RI
If you draw an imaginary line across the bottom of Virginia to the bottom of Utah and shoot it up towards northern California, these are the states that will see snowfall in the winter. More severe to the north. There have been instances where snowfall was reported in the lower 48 states as well but I would imagine that most people ( I say most but I'm sure that there are those who still drive it in the winter) do not drive their car during the winter. I am sure that if you are to buy, the seller will post some pictures of the undercarraige.
good luck
good luck
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I don't think you will have a problem with most Corvettes from the "rustbelt" states. Most of us park our baby before the snow flys and don't take them out until the following spring. I usually wait to take mine out of storage until after the first rain storm of April. This means that any salt that is still on the road has been washed away.
If the car is low mileage then you can be quite sure that it has not been driven in the winter.
Your best bet is to find the car you want and then have a Forum member go look at it for you.
If you find one in Michigan I will be glad to do this.
Here is a nice site that lists Corvettes by their state: www.corvettetrader.com
If the car is low mileage then you can be quite sure that it has not been driven in the winter.
Your best bet is to find the car you want and then have a Forum member go look at it for you.
If you find one in Michigan I will be glad to do this.
Here is a nice site that lists Corvettes by their state: www.corvettetrader.com
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
A car that was near an ocean and or parked outside most of it's life, can be just as oxidized as a northern car, sometimes more....need to look, I think a good one can be found in any state, as most guys have other vehicles, garages etc. and it really depends on WHO owned and took care of it.
All states can have issues if left outside quite a bit, while arizona is a good choice for no rot, vinyl, plastic, and leather will take a beating if left in the sun all of the time (southern cars can heve similar issues).
I still believe the snow belt can offer some excellent ex., as most that own em up here park em as soon as it gets cold, have other rides etc. Again it all goes back to the owner who just has one, or has it well kept. MO
All states can have issues if left outside quite a bit, while arizona is a good choice for no rot, vinyl, plastic, and leather will take a beating if left in the sun all of the time (southern cars can heve similar issues).
I still believe the snow belt can offer some excellent ex., as most that own em up here park em as soon as it gets cold, have other rides etc. Again it all goes back to the owner who just has one, or has it well kept. MO
Last edited by mseven; Sep 28, 2005 at 11:16 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Slidell Louisiana
As others have stated the farther into the rust belt you go the better off you probably are since most Vette drivers don't get their cars wet or icy. This means that the more miserable the weather the shorter the driving season the more pampered the car becomes! Mine never get wet 
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
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From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Look in Southern California autotrader zip code 90041.
Northern Cal. 95018 Central Cal 93727.
Arizona is a good place to look also Nevada.
Northern Oregon is not great, rust.
South Western Texas is good.
Avoid the rust belt.
Northern Cal. 95018 Central Cal 93727.
Arizona is a good place to look also Nevada.
Northern Oregon is not great, rust.
South Western Texas is good.
Avoid the rust belt.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,299
Likes: 207
From: Sussex,Wi
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Originally Posted by ZumZum
be extra, extra careful of any cars from the Texas, Louisiana area as they may have spent a week or 2 submerged underwater.
Plenty of warnings being circulated throughout the states to watch for cars being sold by unscrupulous persons.
Louisiana doesn't make dealers mark the titles of vehicles that have been "TOTALED". So some car that has been wiped out by the storms can be refurbished and sold as a "clean" vehicle.
I can recommend Wisconsin as a good place to buy, according to GM, because in their latest recall for brake problems, we're not in the rust belt; gloomed from the Milwaukee Urinal-Sentinal;
"But even though Wisconsin uses generous amounts of salt to clear its wintry roads, General Motors doesn't consider the Badger state part of the "salt belt" and did not include it in the recall for about 804,000 vehicles. Models involved are 1999-2002 model years Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Tahoe, and GMC Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL."
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,786
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From: Minneapolis MN
Originally Posted by aboatguy
As others have stated the farther into the rust belt you go the better off you probably are since most Vette drivers don't get their cars wet or icy. This means that the more miserable the weather the shorter the driving season the more pampered the car becomes! Mine never get wet
With aboatguy eaven though he is in the minority he dose drive in **** weather. Another thing to consider is nearly all the northern cars see no driving for 3 or 4 months of the year this as a average equates to lower mileage cars check this out I purchased both of my vetts from privet party's from here. www.carsoup.com Rite now is a good time to get a vette in the north winter is coming if you do find something of of interest I would be certain some one here on the forum would be glad to check it out for you if you ask. Good luck
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,726
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From: Bergen County, NJ
Originally Posted by RocketSapp
Pull a carFax if you can as well. I bought mine in Texas but found out with the CarFax that it was orgnally bought in New Jersey. It was there for about 4 years then came to Texas.
Run a carfax, see where the car was owned, how many owners and the average miles per year.
If the milage indicates it was a daily driver, please avoid any car from New Jersey, everything is stop & go & potholes here.
Also, I'd avoid any car that had too many owners, because one of them may have beat the crap out of it and never changed the oil.
Always buy someones 'baby'.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 19,149
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From: First to Sign Grumpy's Hat Only 53 miles from Hell
St. Jude Donor '06-'09-'10-'11
Originally Posted by corvetteronw
I don't think you will have a problem with most Corvettes from the "rustbelt" states. Most of us park our baby before the snow flys and don't take them out until the following spring. I usually wait to take mine out of storage until after the first rain storm of April. This means that any salt that is still on the road has been washed away.
If the car is low mileage then you can be quite sure that it has not been driven in the winter.
Your best bet is to find the car you want and then have a Forum member go look at it for you.
If the car is low mileage then you can be quite sure that it has not been driven in the winter.
Your best bet is to find the car you want and then have a Forum member go look at it for you.
I live in Michigan and she has never seen snow as you can see by this pic.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 632
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From: Harrisburg, PA 86 Vert w/ 89 wheels
just have one of us check it out, if you can. If you locate a Vette in central Pennsylvania, I can go check it out and take pictures for you too. I'm sure there are others who would do the same, this forum is full of good guys. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 6
From: NS
I wouldn't avoid any States. I think the majority of Vette owners wouldn't drive their cars on salty or snow covered roads. Some do of course but I don't think they are the majority.
Consider the plus side of buying one from a State that has real winters....more than likely they are stored 4 - 6 months of the year so they will probably have less miles on them on average. My '95 is stored 6 months of the year, only 44k miles.
Consider the plus side of buying one from a State that has real winters....more than likely they are stored 4 - 6 months of the year so they will probably have less miles on them on average. My '95 is stored 6 months of the year, only 44k miles.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 1
From: It's Bad Ass in Black! Cape Coral, Florida
This is the 3rd thread from the Great Lakes State of Michigan. Mine never sees rain, sleet, or snow either, I agree with the above statements. Stay away from more than 3 owners, do a carfax, and stay away from Louisiana and Texas. Too bad about that, I am sure there are and use to be some great cars down there! But how can you take the chance of buying something that could have been sitting in water for a period of time. Anyhow, if you see one around Metro Detroit, I too would be happy to help you!