When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
After looking at the pictures on the "Money pit " thread of the high mileage ZR-1, I thought of making a thread on high mileage C4's. Who has the highest miles on their car on the board and what did it you do to keep it on the road? I watched this video a couple of times and I believe this car is a 1995 with 127k on it. Looks as if the car doesn't need too much to be mechanically perfect.
By no means do I have the highest mileage one out there, but I purchased my 88 that needed a bit of work (its constantly a work in progress, but no reliability issues or anything) with 107k miles on it last July. Living in Iowa it sat all winter but I still have been able to pile 10k miles on it so far, so currently sitting at 117k fresh off a 1851 mile 3 day road trip and its great. Since I have had it, its been basic stuff, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter, o2 sensor, replaced a U joint (previous owner did that, but forgot to grease one of them, so I had to redo that one) driver side caliper was shot and needed replaced, pads, rotors and SS brake lines, front shocks replaced, and turn signal module (one up behind the dash on passenger side). Next up for me is fixing the broken front air dam, switching out the 160 thermostat for a 180, and then suspension bushings and possibly front wheel bearings. I put more miles on the car in the first 2 months of ownership last summer than the previous owner did in 4 years, I knew at that rate things were going to need refreshed, but I do all my own work as a hobby so I was ok with that.
There have been several on this Forum with higher mileage than mine, so you may be surprised! I have only 240,000 on my '84 and the despised CrossFire EFI hasn't been touched! The adjustments are still welded as from the factory. (Bet you can't do that with a 4-barrel) It's a Chevy, but if you love the C4, you'll take good care of it so the fun will continue!!
I have ported the intake manifold, rebuilt long block with 993 heads, 4 bolt mains, .040 over bore, rebuilt trans. It's a good car, and starts, runs, stops, and drives excellent! I've owned it for 15 years. Love it!!
If you want to talk about a "money pit", go buy a new C7. How much did it cost you to drive it out of the dealer's parking lot? I'm Waaaay ahead!!
By no means do I have the highest mileage one out there, but I purchased my 88 that needed a bit of work (its constantly a work in progress, but no reliability issues or anything) with 107k miles on it last July. Living in Iowa it sat all winter but I still have been able to pile 10k miles on it so far, so currently sitting at 117k fresh off a 1851 mile 3 day road trip and its great. Since I have had it, its been basic stuff, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter, o2 sensor, replaced a U joint (previous owner did that, but forgot to grease one of them, so I had to redo that one) driver side caliper was shot and needed replaced, pads, rotors and SS brake lines, front shocks replaced, and turn signal module (one up behind the dash on passenger side). Next up for me is fixing the broken front air dam, switching out the 160 thermostat for a 180, and then suspension bushings and possibly front wheel bearings. I put more miles on the car in the first 2 months of ownership last summer than the previous owner did in 4 years, I knew at that rate things were going to need refreshed, but I do all my own work as a hobby so I was ok with that.
It’s awesome that you are driving and enjoying it.
There have been several on this Forum with higher mileage than mine, so you may be surprised! I have only 240,000 on my '84 and the despised CrossFire EFI hasn't been touched! The adjustments are still welded as from the factory. (Bet you can't do that with a 4-barrel) It's a Chevy, but if you love the C4, you'll take good care of it so the fun will continue!!
I have ported the intake manifold, rebuilt long block with 993 heads, 4 bolt mains, .040 over bore, rebuilt trans. It's a good car, and starts, runs, stops, and drives excellent! I've owned it for 15 years. Love it!!
If you want to talk about a "money pit", go buy a new C7. How much did it cost you to drive it out of the dealer's parking lot? I'm Waaaay ahead!!
i think the Cross Fire motors have an undeserving bad reputation. I believe I read somewhere that a Crossfire with a ported intake and headers picks up a huge amount of power.
Got my first 35th Anni in 2000 with ~90k miles on the clock.
After ~12yrs and 4 A4s later she had >210k miles (quite a few 1/4 mile at a time) when the #8 hole finally gave up the ghost.
Shortly after the rebuild she got hit hard by a damn local delivery van, resulting in a "totaled" rating.
I was constantly "tweaking" to get a bit lower ET; likely cost me double the purchase price but was lots of fun...
Since I had recently done a rebuild the perp's insurance came with enough compensation to cover the purchase of my current 35th Anni, with ~54k on the clock. This one needs most of the weather strip, the black bow repainted and some brake work...bit of a money-pit I guess.
Latest purchase of the '89 MN6 vert with 52k miles seems like a pretty good one. Little paint touchup, "frisbee" toss, brake flush and she is looking pretty good and a blast to drive a stick once again.
There have been several on this Forum with higher mileage than mine, so you may be surprised! I have only 240,000 on my '84 and the despised CrossFire EFI hasn't been touched! The adjustments are still welded as from the factory. (Bet you can't do that with a 4-barrel) It's a Chevy, but if you love the C4, you'll take good care of it so the fun will continue!!
I have ported the intake manifold, rebuilt long block with 993 heads, 4 bolt mains, .040 over bore, rebuilt trans. It's a good car, and starts, runs, stops, and drives excellent! I've owned it for 15 years. Love it!!
If you want to talk about a "money pit", go buy a new C7. How much did it cost you to drive it out of the dealer's parking lot? I'm Waaaay ahead!!
Now here is a guy who DRIVES his Vette... kudos sir. I am jealous you can put that many miles on in a year.
My 1987 with 175,000 miles on the clock. The pics are from '15, but it still looks the same today as it did then.
I believe any car can last as long or rack up as many miles as is imaginable...but it takes a serious commitment from the owner to properly maintain the car and a commitment to repair any problems as they occur...not let them accumulate until the car becomes a huge expense.
I put a lot of miles on two of mine when I was commuting 100 miles per day (all seasons in IL including snow). Both were pretty reliable and made the commute fun.
White '94 6M with 145k.
Repairs were rear wheel bearings, half shaft u-joints, mufflers (eliminators) and repairs from hitting things (a deer and a snow plow dropped a big chunk of ice)
Gray '88 A4 with 115k.
Repairs were an EGR valve, and mufflers.
1995 LT 1 MT - - 163.000 miles. Engine is perfect, however the manual transmission didn´t make it.
Did you fix it?
Originally Posted by Red86Z51
My 1987 with 175,000 miles on the clock. The pics are from '15, but it still looks the same today as it did then.
I believe any car can last as long or rack up as many miles as is imaginable...but it takes a serious commitment from the owner to properly maintain the car and a commitment to repair any problems as they occur...not let them accumulate until the car becomes a huge expense.
Your ar looks like it has 5k on the clock not 175k! That is beautiful.
Originally Posted by Joe K
This one has about 147k. I've only put a few thousand on it since buying in Nov of 18. Plan on thousands more.
Your car looks like a beast in this picture. If I had this I don't know if I would paint it. I think it looks cool the way it sits.
Originally Posted by QCVette
I put a lot of miles on two of mine when I was commuting 100 miles per day (all seasons in IL including snow). Both were pretty reliable and made the commute fun.
White '94 6M with 145k.
Repairs were rear wheel bearings, half shaft u-joints, mufflers (eliminators) and repairs from hitting things (a deer and a snow plow dropped a big chunk of ice)
Gray '88 A4 with 115k.
Repairs were an EGR valve, and mufflers.
Your cars look great. Do you use winter tires in the snow?
Originally Posted by JasonAndrew
SBC's do last.
Tell the dude narrating the video not to chew so loud. How annoying.
I watched that video a couple of times I never noticed the chewing.
Got my first 35th Anni in 2000 with ~90k miles on the clock.
After ~12yrs and 4 A4s later she had >210k miles (quite a few 1/4 mile at a time) when the #8 hole finally gave up the ghost.
Shortly after the rebuild she got hit hard by a damn local delivery van, resulting in a "totaled" rating.
I was constantly "tweaking" to get a bit lower ET; likely cost me double the purchase price but was lots of fun...
Since I had recently done a rebuild the perp's insurance came with enough compensation to cover the purchase of my current 35th Anni, with ~54k on the clock. This one needs most of the weather strip, the black bow repainted and some brake work...bit of a money-pit I guess.
Latest purchase of the '89 MN6 vert with 52k miles seems like a pretty good one. Little paint touchup, "frisbee" toss, brake flush and she is looking pretty good and a blast to drive a stick once again.
Your car looks like a beast in this picture. If I had this I don't know if I would paint it. I think it looks cool the way it sits.
Thanks! Believe it or not I get that a lot. Paint is last on the list if ever. Maybe some touch up and I'd like to get the hood painted a good hot rod black, just black primer now I think.
I like the Z06 wheels on a C4. Are those original or replica wheels?
Thanks! They are originals. When Everyday Driver featured the car on their show, they commented on the wheels too, noting how much more modern it made the car look.
05-20-2019, 11:33 AM
Highest mileage C4's
