100,000+ miles?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: just South of the Zoo Michigan
100,000+ miles?
so how does 100,000 miles affect a corvette? Dependability, I am not worried about cost of purchase, but cost of driving. Will it be one repair after another, or basic transportation? Is it worth buying or should I pass? Looking at a couple of them.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 321
Likes: 1
From: Princeton New Jersey
Depends. How they were maintained or were they garage kept. What years are you looking at? Big issues on all of them would be weather seals around front windshield and targa top.
Bottom line even with a low mileage car, over a 20 year period they have done a lot of sitting.
Bottom line even with a low mileage car, over a 20 year period they have done a lot of sitting.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,564
Likes: 110
From: Austin Texas
Depends. How they were maintained or were they garage kept. What years are you looking at? Big issues on all of them would be weather seals around front windshield and targa top.
Bottom line even with a low mileage car, over a 20 year period they have done a lot of sitting.
Bottom line even with a low mileage car, over a 20 year period they have done a lot of sitting.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 800
Likes: 2
My old 86 vette had 150k when it was totaled. I know who owned it since new, I know how it was maintained and I got it with 90k on it and never put more than basic maintenance into it.
My current 93 has 105k on it now, I got it with 100,285. I have had to put a good bit into it. It wasn't maintained as well as my old one but the problems are down to a manageable list now.
My current 93 has 105k on it now, I got it with 100,285. I have had to put a good bit into it. It wasn't maintained as well as my old one but the problems are down to a manageable list now.
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Maryville Tn
CI 5 thru 12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '23
NCM Sinkhole Donor
My '93 has a little over 98,000 miles on it. It was maintaned by the previous owner and I'm meticulous about maintenance. It all comes down to how the car was taken care of. I'd drive mine across country without blinking. 
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 87
Likes: 1
From: cleveland tn
My 1st vette was an 87 I bought in 06. it had 165k on it when I got it. drove it with minimal problems till 213k when the head gasket blew, but I used it as daily driver approx. 40mi daily with no major issues. Drove from here to cocoa beach and back averaging 30mpg.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Any well cared for C4 is a very reliable vehicle but, many are not. You can get a sense of how the vehicle was taken care of by just listening to the owner. I can tell if they're clueless and just blowing smoke or if they've really cared for the vehicle.
Don't buy a C4 with broken interior parts or rough running engine. You'll know a nice C4 when you see it!
Good luck with your search!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,531
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From: Lecanto Florida
I have a little over 160,000 right now. It's not a DD but I would jump into it and drive cross country without even thinking about reliability because I know it's been taken care of. Went on the Hot Rod Power Tour of over 3,000 miles without doing anything except adding gas.
If it's been taken care of, not to worry. Ask/look for papers of maintenance. Those of us that take care of our cars, keep a record of what's been done.
If it's been taken care of, not to worry. Ask/look for papers of maintenance. Those of us that take care of our cars, keep a record of what's been done.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
No owner would ever consider his/her Corvette to be basic transportation.
As far as 100K miles.....it's a Chevy. Parts are no different than any other Chevy. Except they cost more.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: just South of the Zoo Michigan
"I can tell you are not a Corvette owner yet.
No owner would ever consider his/her Corvette to be basic transportation." I am not far from retiring and this will be my summer car. Have a Dodge Magnum for winters here.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
I've owned my daily driven 91 for the past 10 years.
I bought it with 55k and have 140k on it now. Over the years I've replaced regular wear items such as the starter, battery, water pump, radiator at 120k, radiator hoses, fuel pump, tires, brake pads, plugs, wires and weather strips.
I always use Synthetic fluids in the Engine, Transmission and rear Differential.
100k on a well maintained Vette is an Awesome Vette!... 100k on a Neglected Vette will be a Money Pit!...
.
I bought it with 55k and have 140k on it now. Over the years I've replaced regular wear items such as the starter, battery, water pump, radiator at 120k, radiator hoses, fuel pump, tires, brake pads, plugs, wires and weather strips.
I always use Synthetic fluids in the Engine, Transmission and rear Differential.
100k on a well maintained Vette is an Awesome Vette!... 100k on a Neglected Vette will be a Money Pit!...
.
Last edited by GKK; Feb 21, 2014 at 04:00 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
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From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
I have a little over 160,000 right now. It's not a DD but I would jump into it and drive cross country without even thinking about reliability because I know it's been taken care of.
Went on the Hot Rod Power Tour of over 3,000 miles without doing anything except adding gas.
If it's been taken care of, not to worry. Ask/look for papers of maintenance. Those of us that take care of our cars, keep a record of what's been done.
Went on the Hot Rod Power Tour of over 3,000 miles without doing anything except adding gas.
If it's been taken care of, not to worry. Ask/look for papers of maintenance. Those of us that take care of our cars, keep a record of what's been done.
Just over 120,000 on my '96 now.
Doing the "Long Haul" on Power Tour will chalk up the miles in a hurry.
But Carey, you have to stop and let the smoke out of your tires every once in awhile on Power Tour.
I wouldn't be anymore afraid of driving it across country today than I would the '11 Camaro.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
Exactly. But one thing to remember is that ALL generations of Corvettes, old and new, have a few owners who neglect or "beat" them. If you only read this C4 section of the forum, you may get the idea that only C4's get beat up. Those opinions come from people who never venture outside of C4's. Trust me, there are some badly abused newer Vettes out there too. As you stated: "just like any other car".
Last edited by FOURSPEEDVETTE; Feb 23, 2014 at 08:56 AM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 373
Likes: 31
From: Albion, Indiana
My '85 has just over 150,000 miles, I have driven it nearly every day over the past 2 driving seasons with only one problem, original fuel pump relay. Car is stock, original engine rebuilt by previous owner a few years ago.
A car with a combination of solid maintenance, properly performed repairs/upgrades, and some good luck thrown in for good measure, the miles become somewhat a non-issue. Look over anything you may be considering with a fine tooth comb!
I see new cars costing upwards of $75K with but a few thousand miles fail for one reason or another.
A car with a combination of solid maintenance, properly performed repairs/upgrades, and some good luck thrown in for good measure, the miles become somewhat a non-issue. Look over anything you may be considering with a fine tooth comb!
I see new cars costing upwards of $75K with but a few thousand miles fail for one reason or another.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 196
Likes: 4
From: Keego Harbor MI
My 86' has 165,000...was not taken care of at all. I have been bringing it back from the brink of disaster. I would drive it anywhere now, as I know what has been gone through and it is good to go!
Get one that is well documented, or plan on doing a lot of work yourself! That was my plan, buy cheap and restore myself...then I know what's been done.
Get one that is well documented, or plan on doing a lot of work yourself! That was my plan, buy cheap and restore myself...then I know what's been done.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
My 86 didn't appear well taken care of in its last few years before I bought it at 117K in 2001, but by the time it was totaled in 2011, I had basically replaced everything but the PS pump and the blower motor in the engine bay.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 321
Likes: 1
From: Princeton New Jersey
Pay a fee and have your local Corvette shop inspect it.
Not your local mechanic. Someone who only works on Corvettes. Pick one that specializes in C4's in particular. In NJ its Corvette Paramedics.
Not your local mechanic. Someone who only works on Corvettes. Pick one that specializes in C4's in particular. In NJ its Corvette Paramedics.