Average life?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
I've owned several Fieros, starting with the 86 coupe I bought new. I'm down to one now.....just bought an 86 GT with 22K original miles. Car looks the part too....drives and looks like new. Found it at a dealer in SoCal a couple months ago. I absolutely love this one....
C4's and Fieros are much the same....80's design GM. You can keep them running as long as you want. Very little can pop up that copious amounts of cash and time won't solve.
C4's and Fieros are much the same....80's design GM. You can keep them running as long as you want. Very little can pop up that copious amounts of cash and time won't solve.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 951
Likes: 3
From: Placerville CA
What is the average life of a C4? Aka average miles they make it to before dying.
If you have the disposable income for such indulgences, of course, there is no problem and you can farkle and fix to your heart's content. But I'm not sure anyone on a tight family budget can justify owning an aging Corvette at all. It's a pricey hobby.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
Likes: 49
From: Houston Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 27
From: Monroe Twp, NJ
My personal belief is most Corvettes are rebuilt. They are not usually taken to the scrap yard and the owner given $100.00 for scrap like most other American or Foreign cars. Reguardless of the year most Corvettes Even basket case cars are sold for parts. As far as the engines going before they need a rebuild I would say 200,000 miles or better.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 169
Likes: 7
From: Pittsburgh PA
you are dead wrong.
The life of a corvette ends generally when the cost of repairing exceeds the value of the car. 250k miles, 25 years are generally the averages. But as stated above, you could keep it going indefinately. Say you have a 96 vette in good condition but 180k miles. It could easily go another 100k or 10 years. Now make that an 86 vette, odds arent so good if used regularly. Most people tend to look at mechanical things as the limits, but cosmetics (paint and interior) probably kills most of them eventually.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 913
Likes: 17
From: Chatsworth, Ga.
life
My 1992 went to 296,000 miles before the cam rounded out and I replaced the engine. Mobile one oil and changed it every 3000 - 4000 miles. I now have a rebuilt 383 with a 7 year and 70,000 warranty.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 161
Likes: 17
From: NW CT
The life of a corvette ends generally when the cost of repairing exceeds the value of the car. 250k miles, 25 years are generally the averages. But as stated above, you could keep it going indefinately. Say you have a 96 vette in good condition but 180k miles. It could easily go another 100k or 10 years. Now make that an 86 vette, odds arent so good if used regularly. Most people tend to look at mechanical things as the limits, but cosmetics (paint and interior) probably kills most of them eventually.
The l98 is just a gen 1 350.. You can still get brand new engines from GM and everyone and their mother sells 350 "crate" engines.
The trans is just a 700r4.
TPI stuff isn't rare or expensive.
A C4 would "die" when the owner decides that the cost to repair is more then the value that they think the car is worth.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
The cost differential between rebuilding (not maintaining) a 80's C4 and a 90'sC4 is nearly identical, the major cost is labor. Generally speaking an AVERAGE 96 corvette is in a lot better shape than an AVERAGE 86, mainly because it's 10 years newer (ever wonder why most of the players in the NFL are under 30?). None of the people here who are (rightly) proud of their 80's vettes mention that their cars are NOT average. An average 80's C4 has bad paint, bad interior, bad tires, undeterminal mileage, and mechanical issues that have forced it to sit under a tree for the past 6 or so years. I've seen 90's C5's that would fit that discription too.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,768
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
The cost differential between rebuilding (not maintaining) a 80's C4 and a 90'sC4 is nearly identical, the major cost is labor. Generally speaking an AVERAGE 96 corvette is in a lot better shape than an AVERAGE 86, mainly because it's 10 years newer (ever wonder why most of the players in the NFL are under 30?). None of the people here who are (rightly) proud of their 80's vettes mention that their cars are NOT average. An average 80's C4 has bad paint, bad interior, bad tires, undeterminal mileage, and mechanical issues that have forced it to sit under a tree for the past 6 or so years. I've seen 90's C5's that would fit that discription too.
People who frequent any Corvette forum probably isn't your "average" owner.
There are lots of Corvettes out there, that are neglected.
Members need to keep in mind, that not every Corvette owner is a member of this or any other Corvette forum.
To some owners, the car is just transportation. And at the first sign of trouble they park it and let sit, and it goes downhill from there.
Hard for some of us to comprehend that, but it happens all the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Still got the 79 280ZX Datson
(330,000 miles) and 79 Blazer. The Datson is now one of my "run around and pick up stuff" cars or leave at the airport for a trip.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 1
From: Wildwood Crest New Jersey
I've owned several Fieros, starting with the 86 coupe I bought new. I'm down to one now.....just bought an 86 GT with 22K original miles. Car looks the part too....drives and looks like new. Found it at a dealer in SoCal a couple months ago. I absolutely love this one....
C4's and Fieros are much the same....80's design GM. You can keep them running as long as you want. Very little can pop up that copious amounts of cash and time won't solve.
C4's and Fieros are much the same....80's design GM. You can keep them running as long as you want. Very little can pop up that copious amounts of cash and time won't solve.
