Corvette for commuting
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Corvette for commuting
I have long admired vets and am at a point where I am considering buying one. Question is, is a vet a good car for daily commuting to work?
Being new to the forum, I have read many different posts. It seems to me that most vet owners in the forums fall into one of two categories:
1. Buy a vet and drive it very little, then sell it in a few years.
2. Buy a vet and spend thousands of dollars on mods.
I don't see much talk from vet owners who actually buy the vet to drive on a regular basis. This makes me wonder if there is some characteristic about vets that does not lend itself to regular, daily driving.
Opinions from experienced vet owners would be a big help. Thanks.
Being new to the forum, I have read many different posts. It seems to me that most vet owners in the forums fall into one of two categories:
1. Buy a vet and drive it very little, then sell it in a few years.
2. Buy a vet and spend thousands of dollars on mods.
I don't see much talk from vet owners who actually buy the vet to drive on a regular basis. This makes me wonder if there is some characteristic about vets that does not lend itself to regular, daily driving.
Opinions from experienced vet owners would be a big help. Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 346
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
There are a lot of guys here that drive theirs daily. 
My '04 commutes every day here in Seattle. Rain or shine. I've even posted pictures of it's unplanned commute in the snow. Gets decent fuel mileage running back and forth across I-90 and is more comfortable than anything else I'd care to drive.
My '04 commutes every day here in Seattle. Rain or shine. I've even posted pictures of it's unplanned commute in the snow. Gets decent fuel mileage running back and forth across I-90 and is more comfortable than anything else I'd care to drive.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee Wi
I daily drive mine rain or shine but not in the snow. I used to drive it about 40 miles each way when I was in GA. Now I'm only 5 miles from work. I take the short route to work and the 15 mile long route on the way home. I get great mileage on the freeway.
It is very comfortable, I've driven it on a couple of 1000 mile each way trips with no complaints.
Ricky
It is very comfortable, I've driven it on a couple of 1000 mile each way trips with no complaints.
Ricky
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,978
Likes: 280
From: Tulsa OK
I either drive my C4 or my C5 every day. I used to have an Explorer for a DD and just drove my C5 on weekends and to work a couple of times a month. I decided that driving a Corvette every day would be more fun. I bought the C4 and sold the Explorer a year ago. It was a great decision! Corvettes make great daily drivers!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lauderdale Florida
I drive it every day, rain or shine. Best part of my day, & the envy of my co-workers.
The boss drives an $80K Beemer, and a couple of guys have $40K+ trucks. Nobody asks them about their vehicles, but not a day goes by that someone does not ask about the vette.
Then i get to drive it home. Every day. Even the traffic seems more pleasant.
The boss drives an $80K Beemer, and a couple of guys have $40K+ trucks. Nobody asks them about their vehicles, but not a day goes by that someone does not ask about the vette.
Then i get to drive it home. Every day. Even the traffic seems more pleasant.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Hurst TX
Live in Dallas and work in Houston. It's been the daily driver for the past 3-years... and it's been hit by everything from rock chips to a Kenworth. Very comfortable and 27-MPG (when behaving myself) can't be beat.
Figure it's either pristine or I get the NADA book price when I trade.
Bought it to drive.
Figure it's either pristine or I get the NADA book price when I trade.
Bought it to drive.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Riverview FL
Vette is my only vehicle right now and my daily driver. It is a very good commuter. Very comfortable, very nice ride, and I love just cruising in it ... especially with the top down.
Only 7k miles right now. If I get a junker to drive on nasty days I may never get rid of the vette.
Only 7k miles right now. If I get a junker to drive on nasty days I may never get rid of the vette.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,448
Likes: 4
From: Sarasota Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
There are lots and lots of Vettes out there that are used as "regular cars" by their owners. It's just that those owners are exactly the type to not come on CF.
I live in an apartment complex. There are 3 or 4 other Vettes here. All appear to be bone stock and just driven as regular cars. There are 3 or so others I see regularly at work. They, too, are all stockers and just driven.
There are many reports on CF of C5s with well over 200k miles on them. There are also many reports of people doing major power adders at over 100k miles. Point is, these cars are tough!
Beyond all that, they get great mileage.
Mine is my only car and it sees about 25k miles a year. The only downside for a daily driver is that you sit low in traffic. That's it.
I live in an apartment complex. There are 3 or 4 other Vettes here. All appear to be bone stock and just driven as regular cars. There are 3 or so others I see regularly at work. They, too, are all stockers and just driven.
There are many reports on CF of C5s with well over 200k miles on them. There are also many reports of people doing major power adders at over 100k miles. Point is, these cars are tough!
Beyond all that, they get great mileage.
Mine is my only car and it sees about 25k miles a year. The only downside for a daily driver is that you sit low in traffic. That's it.
A bunch of guys drive theirs daily, including me, and would rather not drive anything else 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,788
Likes: 6
From: Winchester TN
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'11
Hi rmscadd -
In a nutshell, no, there is no engineering, mechanical, or liveability issue that would prevent using the car for a daily driver in climates without snow.
I find the cars to have above average fuel mileage, and the ride is comfortable, the air works well -
Most Corvette owners - not all - have other cars or trucks to fill the mundane daily driver roles; possibly to spare the Vette harsh days in sweltering heat, or rain etc.
The irony here is that the Vette would transform the mundane daily drive into a fun trip in most cases.
So if you can live with a two seater, and have no physical liability that would make getting in and out of the car a problem, then a C5 is just fine for a DD.
best regards -
mqqn
In a nutshell, no, there is no engineering, mechanical, or liveability issue that would prevent using the car for a daily driver in climates without snow.
I find the cars to have above average fuel mileage, and the ride is comfortable, the air works well -
Most Corvette owners - not all - have other cars or trucks to fill the mundane daily driver roles; possibly to spare the Vette harsh days in sweltering heat, or rain etc.
The irony here is that the Vette would transform the mundane daily drive into a fun trip in most cases.
So if you can live with a two seater, and have no physical liability that would make getting in and out of the car a problem, then a C5 is just fine for a DD.
best regards -
mqqn
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 3
From: tampa florida
My car is a daily driver as well, rain and shine. The vette drives great, lots of room. I even been on a few road trips before driving for a few hours and i have no problem when i comes to siting in the car.
