miles
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Joined: Sep 2005
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miles
How many is too many miles to buy a used corvette?
I know it depends on the way the car has been taken car of but from a preformance and matience stand point. The average miles where a car that has been taken standered care of, not above care or below, just good solid care. Where do the C4 start needing thingsm, even little things like switches window motors water pumps?
Is there any year that is known being better or worse then another or all they about the same?
I know it depends on the way the car has been taken car of but from a preformance and matience stand point. The average miles where a car that has been taken standered care of, not above care or below, just good solid care. Where do the C4 start needing thingsm, even little things like switches window motors water pumps?
Is there any year that is known being better or worse then another or all they about the same?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
I think around 90k-100k miles is a major maintenance time.
There have been improvements and changes thoughout the run of the C4. Your best bet would to pick up a copy of the "Corvette Black Book" before going Corvette hunting.
There have been improvements and changes thoughout the run of the C4. Your best bet would to pick up a copy of the "Corvette Black Book" before going Corvette hunting.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
Depends partly on how you're going to use it. A lot of guys with vettes seem to just drive them on weekends around town in the summer. If that's the case it probably doesn't matter much. If you're going to rack up a lot of miles, a lower miler car would be better, though a lot of things seem to wear out over time whether it's driven or not.
These days, cars seem to go 200k or so pretty frequently without major problems if they're kept up and not abused. I'd use that number as a rough guide to how many miles are left in a car and decide how many miles you want to get out of it. The down side is always the more miles that are on it, the more often you'll have to be dinking around with little problems. The plus side is the more miles that are on it, the cheeper it is to purchase. Always a balancing act. jmo
These days, cars seem to go 200k or so pretty frequently without major problems if they're kept up and not abused. I'd use that number as a rough guide to how many miles are left in a car and decide how many miles you want to get out of it. The down side is always the more miles that are on it, the more often you'll have to be dinking around with little problems. The plus side is the more miles that are on it, the cheeper it is to purchase. Always a balancing act. jmo
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 1
From: atlanta Georgia
Originally Posted by 65Z01
I think around 90k-100k miles is a major maintenance time.
There have been improvements and changes thoughout the run of the C4. Your best bet would to pick up a copy of the "Corvette Black Book" before going Corvette hunting.
There have been improvements and changes thoughout the run of the C4. Your best bet would to pick up a copy of the "Corvette Black Book" before going Corvette hunting.
i agree.. there is usually alot of stuff around 100k u need to do.
but just because something has 90k-100k on it dont mean its a bad car i fact i drove about 5 vettes b4 i got mine. the one i got had 79k on it and was the highest milage vette i drove. its all about how they feel!
it felt and drove great! still havent had a problem with it(other than not having enough $ to make it as fast as i want it)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
You need to find one with excellent maintenance records. Like Mobil 1 oil change every 3000 miles and ALL other maintenance covered (brakes, rotors, brake fluid, radiator flush, hoses, belts, plugs and wires, and everything else. My 1996 has 99350 miles and runs great.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
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From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
It also depends on how those miles were accumulated. A car with 90k miles of mostly highway driving is probably in pretty good shape if the maintenance schedule was followed. A car with most of its mileage racked up in 1/4 increments might not be the best candidate for a daily driver.
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: charlotte nc
My experience is probably typical. When I bought my 86 Z51 coupe A4 it had 98k on the clock and was very stock. It ran very well and had not been abused. Here are some of the things that I did that are to be expected on a car that old with around 100k. Dash cluster repaired, new plugs, wires, cleaned and flowed injectors , valve seals( puffed blue smoke on start-up), new starter, rebuilt the alternator, new o2 sensor, new IAc solenoid, several temp sensors for fans, new shocks, new front brakes Pads and rotors, flushed and filled all fluids w/ synthetic( brake, differential , tranny, power steering). Sounds like a lot but it was not all at once and I did all my own work( except dash cluster). Needless to say , the car runs great and very reliable. Now I'm into seat recovering
( bummer!!!)
( bummer!!!)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 914
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From: Redding Ca
I bought my well cared for 1988 with 700R with about 96,000. It now has 175,000 (daily driver) and is running just fine, however worn valve seals are creating a bit of blue smoke on starting. The only major items have been replacing coolant seals (once I started driving it regularly, they softened and huge leaks) and both headlight motors the first year. The valve worn seals is not a bad thing as it gives me the excuse I need to put in a 12-second replacement engine (hoo hoo, haa haa, hee hee) 
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From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
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Originally Posted by treeska
How many is too many miles to buy a used corvette?
I know it depends on the way the car has been taken car of but from a preformance and matience stand point. The average miles where a car that has been taken standered care of, not above care or below, just good solid care. Where do the C4 start needing thingsm, even little things like switches window motors water pumps?
Is there any year that is known being better or worse then another or all they about the same?
I know it depends on the way the car has been taken car of but from a preformance and matience stand point. The average miles where a car that has been taken standered care of, not above care or below, just good solid care. Where do the C4 start needing thingsm, even little things like switches window motors water pumps?
Is there any year that is known being better or worse then another or all they about the same?
130,000 miles, garage kept, weekend driver, lots of maintenance, but not lots of money
Too answer your question is really difficult! I am at 130,000 and everything I have done is pretty much additive or preventive.
I have had wheel bearings "go bad", but ball joints are still good. I have gone through some brake pads, but what the heck! I replace my shocks every 25,000 miles but that's by choice, not by necessity
Maintenance is everything! These are great cars but if they are left outside all the time and jacklegs work on them, then you can have problems.
The sun kills the paint, the weather stripping the interior seats, dash etc
Again they are wonderfull cars! And not overly fraught with problems! But if you want to keep enjoying the "thrill" and not the frustration, they have too be maintained
sorry to take so long, but I was disatisfied with the condition of my driver seat to the point that I actually thought of getting rid od the car!
Instead I got new seats and the romance started all over again!
I may get flamed out, but the C4 is the best Vette! It will out handle the C5 and all the preceeding models. The clam shell hood is a thing of enduring and classic beauty
Sorry to gush! but I love my C 4
seeya
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 429
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From: Plains Ga.
Miles ???
My wife and I bought a '96 Coupe LT1 w/4L60E trans. with 147K miles on it and it was in VG condition. It had all of the maintance records and was taken care of. A good indication of how a vehicle has been taken care of is : Has the interior been been repair or replaced as needed; Has the exterior been well maintained; What does the engine bay look like, clean (detailed) or 1/2 a$$ cleaned; What condition are the tires in; Does the engine consume oil (blue exhaust smoke at start up and/or driving it); What does the under side of the Vette look like (clean or neglected) . That's my 2 cents!
JTHVETTE
JTHVETTE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,818
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From: Alive and well in Burlington NC
Bought my 91 in june of 2001 with 38,500 on the clock. It now has ~ 97,000 with no major issues. Just the typical maintenance stuff.
For a little perspective, I bought my 1986 Chevy Silverado new in 86. Still running strong 19 years later with 198,000 miles with just regular maintenance. It's had a hard life and always used as a truck. Just a little puff of smoke at start up every now and then. Gotta love these SBCs.
For a little perspective, I bought my 1986 Chevy Silverado new in 86. Still running strong 19 years later with 198,000 miles with just regular maintenance. It's had a hard life and always used as a truck. Just a little puff of smoke at start up every now and then. Gotta love these SBCs.