C5 Mileage
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Seabrook Texas
C5 Mileage
Why is it that many folks on the forum seem obsessed with the mileage on a used vette? When members are looking to purchase a used vette it seems like they think a '98 vette with 60K miles should be avoided.
IMO, the condition of the car is more important than the mileage.
Do you agree?
IMO, the condition of the car is more important than the mileage.
Do you agree?
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Monrovia MD
Originally Posted by Randy's C5
Why is it that many folks on the forum seem obsessed with the mileage on a used vette? When members are looking to purchase a used vette it seems like they think a '98 vette with 60K miles should be avoided.
IMO, the condition of the car is more important than the mileage.
Do you agree?
IMO, the condition of the car is more important than the mileage.
Do you agree?
i dont think they think that it should be avoided. It just seems that there are so many low milage ones around of the same year that the average buyer prefers to get the same thing with less milage. The average vette owner doesnt drive their car daily and therefore there are many low milage c5's for sale. Who wouldnt want a car with less miles on it.
Ben
Last edited by Bengeeee; Mar 17, 2005 at 04:54 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 0
From: Mesquite Texas
I got my 01 coupe last august, it had 38k on it. Also has every option from chevy except for selective ride. The car looks fantastic. I did not want a car that just sat in a garage all the time, did that before and had nothing but trouble. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
From: Erie County, Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by lvvette777
Mileage is a direct indication of wear in the long run. I don't care how well you keep up your car with high miles, it will always feel different than a low mileage car.
I'm planning on keeping my Blazer AND my FRC until they both fall off their frames. I hope they outlast me....I think they will.
Off course, given the choice between any two identical vehicles where one has more miles than the other and the prices are similar I'm taking the low-mileage car. It's only common sense.
Dan G.
Girard, PA USA
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,340
Likes: 24,781
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I agree that is may come down to the fact that there are so many low mileage cars out there, it just seems a better buy to get one. That being said, if the car has been well maintained, no reason to fear buying one with a few miles on it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Well if your like me and looking for your first Vette on a budget, a low mileage Vette is a safer investment. Low mileage will likely mean that the car was a weekend car that was likely taken care of and that it will have low wear and tear on items that might be rather costly to repair and would not be covered under an extended warranty.
My budget will allow for the car payment, insurance and general cost of ownership such as oil changes, gas and tires every few years, it doesn't allow for a $2500 repair 3 months after I buy the car. It will also be my daily driver and only car. I would have a hard time risking buying a vette (or any car) with 80K+ miles on it without knowing the previous owners driving and care habbits intimately under my circumstances. I need the car to be reliable and I think most others feel the same way.
B.
My budget will allow for the car payment, insurance and general cost of ownership such as oil changes, gas and tires every few years, it doesn't allow for a $2500 repair 3 months after I buy the car. It will also be my daily driver and only car. I would have a hard time risking buying a vette (or any car) with 80K+ miles on it without knowing the previous owners driving and care habbits intimately under my circumstances. I need the car to be reliable and I think most others feel the same way.
B.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,059
Likes: 12
From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
What if they were all put on 1/4 mile at a time and the supercharger, heads, cam,N02, and tires were all sold on CF so the stock stuff could be put back on? 
Honestly, reading the CF parts for sale section helped prod me into making my Vette purchase the first BN car or truck that I ever bought.
Honestly, reading the CF parts for sale section helped prod me into making my Vette purchase the first BN car or truck that I ever bought.
CF Enhanced Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 0
From: Section 326 Row A!! Finally. Go STARS!!
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by midnitewolf
My budget will allow for the car payment, insurance and general cost of ownership such as oil changes, gas and tires every few years, it doesn't allow for a $2500 repair 3 months after I buy the car. It will also be my daily driver and only car. B.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: Walker LA
I picked up my 1998 C5 with 60000 miles on it and it runs great and is in really good condition. Though I would have prefered a lower mileage car, I got a great deal. One thing a higher mileage vehicle can do for you is to allow you to purchase the vehicle at a lower price. I got a great deal on mine, and can guarantee I'm not alone. 
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Joe Diver
As a daily driver, depending on how much you drive and how you drive, you will need new tires much more often than you think.
B.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Just look around some more... do some more hunting online. Autotrader.com or Ebay...etc. You would be able to get a car with low miles and well kept for a decent price. Though 60K miles is not much on a Vette, but if you're really getting it cheap, go for it. Otherwise, you can get something with half the milage, well kept, and not even pay more than what you'd be paying on a car with 60K miles. I know this for a fact. I dedicated my day&night searching for my perfect Vette, in a good price........GOT it, 2 months later & 2700 miles away. But got it finally. Flew and drove it home.
Know what you want and work at it. Good luck.
P.S: Its not just hype, you WILL get what you want. Stick to ur plan.
Know what you want and work at it. Good luck.
P.S: Its not just hype, you WILL get what you want. Stick to ur plan.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
From: IN
Cruise-In VII Veteran
I disagree. I have a 98 that I bought with 17,000 miles now I have 56,000 miles. No major problems. Oil pressure sensor went out, and the display on the climate control went out. Both common problems. This engine should be good for 150,000 to 200,000.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Originally Posted by Delta3-2
I disagree with your statement that high mileage vehicles feel different than a low mileage vehicle. Are you indicating you think the high mileage vehicles "feel" better ? More "broken-in" so to speak ? I can't speak for my 2000 FRC as it has only 27k miles. But my 2000 ZR2 Blazer has 98k on it and it feels, steers, has no rattles or noises, and looks great. I take the best care of it possible for a daily driver. Today's vehicles are made to LAST. However you MUST spend the money to maintain them, as any other machine needs maintenance; both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance !
I'm planning on keeping my Blazer AND my FRC until they both fall off their frames. I hope they outlast me....I think they will.
Off course, given the choice between any two identical vehicles where one has more miles than the other and the prices are similar I'm taking the low-mileage car. It's only common sense.
Dan G.
Girard, PA USA
I'm planning on keeping my Blazer AND my FRC until they both fall off their frames. I hope they outlast me....I think they will.
Off course, given the choice between any two identical vehicles where one has more miles than the other and the prices are similar I'm taking the low-mileage car. It's only common sense.
Dan G.
Girard, PA USA
Well put. I agree that cars are made so much better these days compared to the '50's '60's '70's and so on. They test them extensively. The Corvette's LS1 was tested at full throttle for over 500 hours non-stop. This kind of testing has never been done before. 60k is just barely broken in. My .02
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Delta3-2
I disagree with your statement that high mileage vehicles feel different than a low mileage vehicle. Are you indicating you think the high mileage vehicles "feel" better ? More "broken-in" so to speak ? I can't speak for my 2000 FRC as it has only 27k miles. But my 2000 ZR2 Blazer has 98k on it and it feels, steers, has no rattles or noises, and looks great. I take the best care of it possible for a daily driver. Today's vehicles are made to LAST. However you MUST spend the money to maintain them, as any other machine needs maintenance; both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance !
I'm planning on keeping my Blazer AND my FRC until they both fall off their frames. I hope they outlast me....I think they will.
Off course, given the choice between any two identical vehicles where one has more miles than the other and the prices are similar I'm taking the low-mileage car. It's only common sense.
Dan G.
Girard, PA USA
I'm planning on keeping my Blazer AND my FRC until they both fall off their frames. I hope they outlast me....I think they will.
Off course, given the choice between any two identical vehicles where one has more miles than the other and the prices are similar I'm taking the low-mileage car. It's only common sense.
Dan G.
Girard, PA USA
Basically it boils down to how well the vehicle was/is maintained and the general quality and/or soundness of the individual components and parts that make up the whole!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 108
From: Ocala, Fl. State of Confusion
While there are many good high mileage cars out there, a low mileage car is always worth more. The reason? Wear and tear.
A low mileage car is worth more when you sell, also.
There are fewer headaches in a low mileage car.
Just as a check on this, put in the car you are looking at in the Kelly Blue Book site with 60,000 miles and see the value. Next, put it in with 10,000 miles and you will see my point.
These are the facts on used cars, not my opinion.
I always buy as low of mileage as possible. It works well financially and I have more confidence that the car is less likely to break.
Good luck.
A low mileage car is worth more when you sell, also.
There are fewer headaches in a low mileage car.
Just as a check on this, put in the car you are looking at in the Kelly Blue Book site with 60,000 miles and see the value. Next, put it in with 10,000 miles and you will see my point.
These are the facts on used cars, not my opinion.
I always buy as low of mileage as possible. It works well financially and I have more confidence that the car is less likely to break.
Good luck.