Garage Queen or Road Warrior
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 306
Likes: 5
From: New Orleans Louisiana
Garage Queen or Road Warrior
I have a friend who thinks I'm crazy to put as many miles as I do on my 2001 Vert. He believes Corvette owners should keep the miles on the vehicle to a minimum.
I love road trips and in fact I'll be leaving New Orleans next Wednesday (10-18) for Chicago and then working my way through the mountains of the Virginias, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina to do the Fall color viewing thing again this year. I'll probably add an additional 2500 miles to the odometer before making it back home and it doesn't bother me one bit. I bought the car to drive it. When it wears out I'll sell it and buy another one.
I love road trips and in fact I'll be leaving New Orleans next Wednesday (10-18) for Chicago and then working my way through the mountains of the Virginias, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina to do the Fall color viewing thing again this year. I'll probably add an additional 2500 miles to the odometer before making it back home and it doesn't bother me one bit. I bought the car to drive it. When it wears out I'll sell it and buy another one.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
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From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
I bought mine to drive it. I have no interest in ever selling it and if the engine decides to quit, I'll just put in another. There is no reason not to drive it unless you want to sell it later.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
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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
I do about 10,000 miles of pleasure driving per year. I bought it new 2 1/2 years ago and hope to own it for the rest of my life.(I'm 43 now) It should have at least 1/2 million miles on it if I live to old age. I look at it as $$ per mile. The less you drive, the more it costs per mile. Resale? Forget it. It's a damn Chevy and there are plenty of shrink wrapped C5s owned by nutcases out there. Go look on ebay and see what a near no mile 25th Vette is bringing. Maybe it's original MSRP? Add 25 years insurance, storage, and minimal maintainance and I see nothing but a huge loss, not to mention the pain of only looking at it for all those years. To each their own, but I've had 31,000 miles of pure pleasure with mine.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
30,000 miles of smiles 
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Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
I'm sure a lot of Corvette owners would cringe if they saw what I put my C5 through! 
I drive mine every single day, even in the winter time up here. And I also love to drag race it, I visit the track about 6 or 7 times a year. These cars were meant to be driven, not parked.
I drive mine every single day, even in the winter time up here. And I also love to drag race it, I visit the track about 6 or 7 times a year. These cars were meant to be driven, not parked.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Garage Queen? Bullsh**!
Granted, the C5 is gorgeous to look at. I never intended to buy a Corvette. Untill I drove one. It took about one block to realize what it had to offer. My only regret was that I hadn't purchased a C5 years earlier. Mine is extremely well cared for, but I drive it alot. If I wanted a garage queen, I would have bought a nude statue. Still nice to look at, but much less maintenance.
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I only put about 3K miles a year on mine anymore, but not a thing wrong with getting the car out and driving it as much as you like. The car was made to drive and sounds like you are really enjoying it.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 91
Likes: 1
From: Auburn WA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
I like all the comments, I have 94K on mine, bought it with about 8k on it. I drive mine everyday, it’s my pickup, I go all over the state to construction sites (safety) and carry in my hidden truck all I need. I took the front spoilers off as they were always coming off in the rough parking lots ;-) Drives my 24 year old son nuts, as he's seeing his future car being abused. Like all the others, I'm not saving mine for anyone they are way to much fun!!! I had a 1979 also, did the same thing with it!!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 143
From: Goodyear Az
I drive mine as much as possible (DD) but whatever makes you happy. Some people get freaked by pebbles hitting their car, people parking too closely, etc. For them, driving would be a source of stress rather than enjoyment. I understand it, but don't relate to it, but I say whatever makes you happy in Vette ownership is O.K. by me
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
I like to *think* mine is a garage queen but I voted warrior.
She sits in the garage until my weekend comes around, then its Vette time. We usually take the Vette on road trips.
I average about 1000 miles / month. So be it if I get caught in the rain.
She sits in the garage until my weekend comes around, then its Vette time. We usually take the Vette on road trips.
I average about 1000 miles / month. So be it if I get caught in the rain.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 306
Likes: 5
From: New Orleans Louisiana
I should probably use my Montero Sport for daily errand use and save the Vette for weekends and road trips too, but I get much better gas mileage in the Corvette and it's so much more fun to drive.
Stickman--I would definitely consider you to be a "Road Warrior".
Stickman--I would definitely consider you to be a "Road Warrior".
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,118
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From: Chesterfield MO
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10,'13-'14
Originally Posted by NolaVette94
Hey C.J.,
Love that color scheme. Looks familiar!! Does it have a tan top also?
Love that color scheme. Looks familiar!! Does it have a tan top also?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,383
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From: The real question is; When you turn your car on, does it return the favor..
Cruise-In VIII & IX Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
When it's nice out me and my wife bring both of them out of the garage. Drive on and save the wave....