When Does It Show??
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY.
When Does It Show??
My 96' coupe which had 12,800 miles when I bought it now has 14k miles. At what mileage point do the C4s start to show age? As far as seats, shocks, and general wear issues? Also is 50k miles a good time to sell a vette and move into something newer or with less miles before one has to start putting a lot of money into their vette? I paid a good price for mine and would like to get most of that back in the future.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,242
Likes: 0
From: Aledo/Waco Tx
generally in my opinion, anything lower than about 40,000 miles is 'low miles' and worth a premium. however in terms of your question on wear, it all has to do with how well it is taken care of. I've seen some with 100K+ with interiors that look like a garage queen car, and some with 50K miles that look like crap. Paint can look great for a long time if it is taken care of and stays in a garage. shocks are probably good for around 50K miles, but again, that depends on driving conditions.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
<gasp> oh, dude, your killing me... C4 values are falling faster then Kerry's selfesteem.
Drive the damned thing, enjoy it, and don't worry about resale value. It's already fallen a couple grand since you bought it yesterday.
The only way you will see a good return on your investment is to sell it in about 20 years, but first, store it in a seal chamber so it does not age a bit.
As for serious preservation....
1) use Lexol to treat the leather. Do this a lot. monthly. It will keep it soft and clean. scotch guard the carpets.
2) Is your vette red? If so, you are in good shape... Resale red rocks.
3) Good wax. Zaino is great if the paint is fresh and in good shape.
4) is it an LT4? That will help a lot. Automatics from 96 are way common, and the LT4/6spd combo is the way to go for future value. Grand Sports are automatic money makers.
5) Vettes start to age at about 75k miles. Selling at 50k is a good move, cause the new owner will have time to get ready for the impending reaming.
I hope this helps!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,987
Likes: 26
From: Kerrville, Texas USA Hook 'em Horns!
CentralTX Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
My 96 has about 67K miles on it. Runs like a top. Very reliable. Looks new inside and out.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY.
Thanks bogus,
I take excellent care of my 96. It is red, the vette is looks brand new with only 14k. Its red and an automatic with black interior. Ive probably conditioned the seats 4 times with Meguiars and waxed it twice. The vette will look like new when Im ready to sell. I was just wondering at what mileage point would I have to start putting a lot of money into this Vette. So maybe at the 50k mark I will sell it and get into some other vette with low miles. I paid 16,500 for what is really a new 1996.
I hope to get close to that price in a few years if I decide to sell.
I saw one just like it that sold at Bloomingto Gold this year for 24k.
Until then I will drive it every weekend all summer..
I take excellent care of my 96. It is red, the vette is looks brand new with only 14k. Its red and an automatic with black interior. Ive probably conditioned the seats 4 times with Meguiars and waxed it twice. The vette will look like new when Im ready to sell. I was just wondering at what mileage point would I have to start putting a lot of money into this Vette. So maybe at the 50k mark I will sell it and get into some other vette with low miles. I paid 16,500 for what is really a new 1996.
I hope to get close to that price in a few years if I decide to sell.
I saw one just like it that sold at Bloomingto Gold this year for 24k.
Until then I will drive it every weekend all summer..
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
DV - the only way you will get any profit from this car is to caccoon it now, and never drive it.
Wait for a good Vette auction, and pray for a bidding war.
That vette at Bloomington is the exception, not the rule.
I highly recommend Lexol leather treatment. Best stuff around.
Wait for a good Vette auction, and pray for a bidding war.
That vette at Bloomington is the exception, not the rule.
I highly recommend Lexol leather treatment. Best stuff around.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
A car dealer friend of my son says that the break points on price occur at 60k & 90k miles, though I'm not sure if it holds for Vettes as well.
I would think that 40-50k would still bring a good price if in great condition. It's really all about the visuals, if it looks great it will sell.
I would think that 40-50k would still bring a good price if in great condition. It's really all about the visuals, if it looks great it will sell.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by Darth Vader
I was just wondering at what mileage point would I have to start putting a lot of money into this Vette. So maybe at the 50k mark I will sell it and get into some other vette with low miles. ..
Seriously....who knows when the first real repairs will start? It may not be until 100K miles...depending on the care it receives. You will (probably) NEVER 'make money' on the car. Even if it starts to escalate in the next 20 years, inflation will prevent any real profit.
Drive it, enjoy it, don't worry about the cost per mile. If this is a big issue, you are in the wrong hobby.
Larry
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 551
Likes: 23
From: Wills Point Texas
I agree with most here. I have seen (mine) with 150,000 miles on them and look very good and sadly I've seen some with 30,000 that look like a rat's made it's home in them. 
I maintain mine very well and all the mechanicals are original and doing great. Again I see some that have very low miles and have literally fallen apart. The key is... maintenance...maintenance....maintenance .....maintenance!
Just like a good woman, take care of her and love her and she will love you back.
If you don't treat her well she will leave you stranded.
I would gladly buy a well treated and maintained Corvette with lots of miles on her rather a low mileage car that's been neglected.
Last edited by Smokeysvette; Nov 4, 2004 at 10:30 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,907
Likes: 731
From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Like I said when I first got my 94, "it appears that 'Vettes are at two extremes of condition. They have been extremely well cared for or they are torn all to Hell, there seems to be very little middle ground" I test drove a 96 with 70K that was a POS. 
The 94 I bought had 97K but was so well maintained I didn't think twice about giving more for it than what they wanted for the 96. 
I think you should stop worrying about it and just drive and maintain it the way she deserves.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
From: Hurricane Alley FLorida
Originally Posted by bogus
<gasp> oh, dude, your killing me... C4 values are falling faster then Kerry's selfesteem.
Drive the damned thing, enjoy it, and don't worry about resale value. It's already fallen a couple grand since you bought it yesterday.
The only way you will see a good return on your investment is to sell it in about 20 years, but first, store it in a seal chamber so it does not age a bit.
As for serious preservation....
1) use Lexol to treat the leather. Do this a lot. monthly. It will keep it soft and clean. scotch guard the carpets.
2) Is your vette red? If so, you are in good shape... Resale red rocks.
3) Good wax. Zaino is great if the paint is fresh and in good shape.
4) is it an LT4? That will help a lot. Automatics from 96 are way common, and the LT4/6spd combo is the way to go for future value. Grand Sports are automatic money makers.
5) Vettes start to age at about 75k miles. Selling at 50k is a good move, cause the new owner will have time to get ready for the impending reaming.
I hope this helps!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Strongsville Ohio
I found that when you don't drive your car alot things go wrong. If you store your car in winter I would do the following:
1. Fill your Gas tank to the top & use stabil gas treatment.
2. Park your car on carpet pads under the tires. ( This keeps water under the tires from freezin & keeps the rubber off the cold garage floor.)
3. I would start the car every other week or so and let run for 10 to 15 min.
Old gas is the #1 killer of your injectors fule pump.
But most important Dude.." DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT " Baby.
1. Fill your Gas tank to the top & use stabil gas treatment.
2. Park your car on carpet pads under the tires. ( This keeps water under the tires from freezin & keeps the rubber off the cold garage floor.)
3. I would start the car every other week or so and let run for 10 to 15 min.
Old gas is the #1 killer of your injectors fule pump.
But most important Dude.." DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT " Baby.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Listen up! You just got a low milage Vette and are already thinking about when you sell it? Just take good care of it and enjoy it!! The more you drive them the more $$ you will put into it to keep 'em in top notch shape. So, how much driving can you afford? Folks, has anyone ever told you that aint nothing in life for free?? You wanna own this Vette for a few years and enjoy it and expect it NOT to cost you.Then get your money back when you sell it? JUST enjoy it!! Drive it as much as you can afford it, and keep it as nice as you can! If you sell it, get what you can for it and NO amount of money can take the years of pleasure and joy of the good times you had in your Vette. You can't buy great memories.
I've had my '93 since Nov. '93 and have put @ 64K miles on it. It has been mostly a weekend car, but I do drive it. If I drove it daily, It would have cost me more over the years and would have a ton more miles. I probably wouldn't have kept it 11 almost 12 years. I modded it (ooohhhh!! it will hurt resale value) because I wanted to keep it interesting after so many years with her. I've put thousands into it over time and will never see that money back. BUT I still enjoy MY Vette. So Enjoy yours!!
I've had my '93 since Nov. '93 and have put @ 64K miles on it. It has been mostly a weekend car, but I do drive it. If I drove it daily, It would have cost me more over the years and would have a ton more miles. I probably wouldn't have kept it 11 almost 12 years. I modded it (ooohhhh!! it will hurt resale value) because I wanted to keep it interesting after so many years with her. I've put thousands into it over time and will never see that money back. BUT I still enjoy MY Vette. So Enjoy yours!!