[Z06] When does a Z06 lose its "Newness"
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 632
Likes: 2
From: Columbus Ohio
When does a Z06 lose its "Newness"
Hey all,
I have been looking for cars with under 15K miles as I want a car that still feels/acts new in every way. I really like some of the cars I have seen under 10,000 miles. It seems like cars over 25K miles are much cheaper however.
I know typically corvettes are garaged, and well taken care of but I know I would hesitate to buy an f-body after 25-40K miles as that is when it lost its newness and things started to need attention on my LT1 Firebird... by 60-70,000 it was a POS and needed all sorts of things and that car was HARD to work on- you had to stand on top of the engine to change the plugs. Wires took me all day- optispark- oh my. Sure I am older and more mechanically competent now (done engine swaps, headers from scratch, built rearends, heads, cam, intake, supercharger installs, etc) but for some reason I have lost the love of wrenching on cars.
I crave a car I can just get in, turn the key, run an errand while being thrilled doing it, get out and get on with my life. Maybe fixate on cleaning it or something tame like that.
I currently drive probably 10-20K miles a year and want at least 2-3 mostly trouble free years at a minimum.
Unrealistic expectations for a daily driven sub 15K mile car can I get away with a 25-40K mile car?
I have been looking for cars with under 15K miles as I want a car that still feels/acts new in every way. I really like some of the cars I have seen under 10,000 miles. It seems like cars over 25K miles are much cheaper however.
I know typically corvettes are garaged, and well taken care of but I know I would hesitate to buy an f-body after 25-40K miles as that is when it lost its newness and things started to need attention on my LT1 Firebird... by 60-70,000 it was a POS and needed all sorts of things and that car was HARD to work on- you had to stand on top of the engine to change the plugs. Wires took me all day- optispark- oh my. Sure I am older and more mechanically competent now (done engine swaps, headers from scratch, built rearends, heads, cam, intake, supercharger installs, etc) but for some reason I have lost the love of wrenching on cars.
I crave a car I can just get in, turn the key, run an errand while being thrilled doing it, get out and get on with my life. Maybe fixate on cleaning it or something tame like that.
I currently drive probably 10-20K miles a year and want at least 2-3 mostly trouble free years at a minimum.
Unrealistic expectations for a daily driven sub 15K mile car can I get away with a 25-40K mile car?
Last edited by hpfiend; Nov 9, 2007 at 09:58 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
It all depends on the car... if you hopped in mine you'd never know it has 79,000 miles on it and lots of HPDE use unless I told you and/or you brought up the mileage on the DIC.
It's all about how you care for the car. Does it have a "new car" smell? No... but after I detail it it smells awesome in it's own right.
I'm meticulous about my interior and find that I have a better driving experience when it's clean and new looking. I've had rhino liners in the floors since new so the carpet is perfectly clean, I wipe down the dash etc w/ tint safe glass cleaner often and treat it with Adam's VRT and the seats get Lexol. To finish it off I use my favorite sent of Febreeze.
If you looked inside my 80k car and my father's 15k '04 Z16 the only thing you'd see different is a few more creases in the leather.
That said... I'd get the lowest mileage car you can afford w/ in reason.
It's all about how you care for the car. Does it have a "new car" smell? No... but after I detail it it smells awesome in it's own right.
I'm meticulous about my interior and find that I have a better driving experience when it's clean and new looking. I've had rhino liners in the floors since new so the carpet is perfectly clean, I wipe down the dash etc w/ tint safe glass cleaner often and treat it with Adam's VRT and the seats get Lexol. To finish it off I use my favorite sent of Febreeze.
If you looked inside my 80k car and my father's 15k '04 Z16 the only thing you'd see different is a few more creases in the leather.
That said... I'd get the lowest mileage car you can afford w/ in reason.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
My '03 Z06 has 55,000 miles and to me it's still a new car. I like it even more than when I first got it. It's been very trouble-free and occasionally adding a new mod makes the "new" never wear off. It's been down the strip many times and has done several long distance trips, including a few to Bowling Green. People who aren't that familiar with Vettes, when complimenting my car, think it is much newer. I'm still planning to do more to it. Don't be afraid to buy one with some mileage. As long as the owner has taken decent care of it, these cars are really well made and you shouldn't have many problems. Basically, I only have to do routine maintenance on mine.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Hey all,
I have been looking for cars with under 15K miles as I want a car that still feels/acts new in every way. I really like some of the cars I have seen under 10,000 miles. It seems like cars over 25K miles are much cheaper however.
Unrealistic expectations for a daily driven sub 15K mile car can I get away with a 25-40K mile car?
I have been looking for cars with under 15K miles as I want a car that still feels/acts new in every way. I really like some of the cars I have seen under 10,000 miles. It seems like cars over 25K miles are much cheaper however.
Unrealistic expectations for a daily driven sub 15K mile car can I get away with a 25-40K mile car?
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 71
Likes: 6
From: Sugar Land Texas
Eyes of the beholder
I bought mine with 11k miles and it was like driving it off the showroom floor. New car smell and all. And I'm with the others - the more I drive it the more I love it. Only vehicle I've ever felt that way about.
If buying used I would ONLY buy a 1-owner car .... because there are plenty out there. I would also only buy under 18k miles with original rubber. If stock and plenty of miles on original rubber you can feel pretty good about it not being 'tracked'. That way I could also re-shoe it with my choice of rubber, not buy something with new tires I don't like.
If buying used I would ONLY buy a 1-owner car .... because there are plenty out there. I would also only buy under 18k miles with original rubber. If stock and plenty of miles on original rubber you can feel pretty good about it not being 'tracked'. That way I could also re-shoe it with my choice of rubber, not buy something with new tires I don't like.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 22,735
Likes: 943
Hey all,
I have been looking for cars with under 15K miles as I want a car that still feels/acts new in every way. I really like some of the cars I have seen under 10,000 miles. It seems like cars over 25K miles are much cheaper however.
I know typically corvettes are garaged, and well taken care of but I know I would hesitate to buy an f-body after 25-40K miles as that is when it lost its newness and things started to need attention on my LT1 Firebird... by 60-70,000 it was a POS and needed all sorts of things and that car was HARD to work on- you had to stand on top of the engine to change the plugs. Wires took me all day- optispark- oh my. Sure I am older and more mechanically competent now (done engine swaps, headers from scratch, built rearends, heads, cam, intake, supercharger installs, etc) but for some reason I have lost the love of wrenching on cars.
I crave a car I can just get in, turn the key, run an errand while being thrilled doing it, get out and get on with my life. Maybe fixate on cleaning it or something tame like that.
I currently drive probably 10-20K miles a year and want at least 2-3 mostly trouble free years at a minimum.
Unrealistic expectations for a daily driven sub 15K mile car can I get away with a 25-40K mile car?
I have been looking for cars with under 15K miles as I want a car that still feels/acts new in every way. I really like some of the cars I have seen under 10,000 miles. It seems like cars over 25K miles are much cheaper however.
I know typically corvettes are garaged, and well taken care of but I know I would hesitate to buy an f-body after 25-40K miles as that is when it lost its newness and things started to need attention on my LT1 Firebird... by 60-70,000 it was a POS and needed all sorts of things and that car was HARD to work on- you had to stand on top of the engine to change the plugs. Wires took me all day- optispark- oh my. Sure I am older and more mechanically competent now (done engine swaps, headers from scratch, built rearends, heads, cam, intake, supercharger installs, etc) but for some reason I have lost the love of wrenching on cars.
I crave a car I can just get in, turn the key, run an errand while being thrilled doing it, get out and get on with my life. Maybe fixate on cleaning it or something tame like that.
I currently drive probably 10-20K miles a year and want at least 2-3 mostly trouble free years at a minimum.
Unrealistic expectations for a daily driven sub 15K mile car can I get away with a 25-40K mile car?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,873
Likes: 5
From: Michigan
My 02 z has 108k on it now and i kid you not other than a slight whine from the rear end its as tight or tighter than my buddys 04 with 15k on it
But then again i have blisten sports and new tires all the way around
But then again i have blisten sports and new tires all the way around
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 0
From: TN
Did the shocks make a big difference in the way the car felt?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: MCHENRY ILLINOIS
new
New always , and will remain new forever , wish full thinking after stuff breaks and she starts squeiking and coughing and smoking and the steering wheel is not centered anymore ,and you hope it starts, and the clutch starts slipping , and she grinds going in gear, your guages stop working , and the air con. blows hot always ,and you paint is cracking wnen these things start happining lets face it its not new anymore but its still the best set of wheeles out there that can blow off 99% of the cars out there so dont worry about it not being new anymore just drive the snot out of it and keep it between the ditches its what she like best and thats to drive your new car not to think how new it is you only live once go out and enjoy the drive in your new z06 
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
The "newness" is gone after the first rock chip or door ding...or maybe after you drive your buddies C6/Z06 with wallet numbing modifications that cost him another $25,000...