I'm looking to join the Corvette family over the summer. I've seen a lot of high mileage C5s for sale on here with over 100k on them. Can I expect mine to last that long with propper maintenance? I'm looking for something with under 60k on it, and would prefer around 30k. What are some of the major things that need to be inspected/replaced over 30,000 miles? Thanks a lot guys. Nice forum you have here, I hope to be able to contribute once I get my C5.

 

The Corvette LSx engines were designed to go 200K miles with Mobil 1 when the DIC says 0% engine life (10-12K miles)

Just like any car... normal maintenance

 

Yep, that's what I've heard also...mine is running very strong @ 75K..

 

Lower mileage cars can actually bring problems. Seals dry out, critters build homes, tires and other rubber dry out.

Well maintained, you'll find people who do significant mods to cars with over 100k miles on them. I've got a 2002 convertible with 33k miles on it, which works out to about 5500 miles a year. Much less might encourage things to age out. The '69 GT500 in my avatar has about 140k miles on it, but is averaging about 200 miles per year (car shows, and that's all), and needs more attention than the Vette. Condensation forms in motor oil that isn't ever gotten hot enough to evaporate it out (same for transmission). On the Shelby, it gets transmission seals about every five years - that's about 1000 miles. If it were being used, it would probably go a lot further.

Condition is more important than extremely low mileage. Look under the car, for indications it's been driven hard. The crash bars will always have a little scraping on them, but if they're significantly bent, it raises questions. Same for the little "skid" on the front of the K member. Rocker panels get cracked if the person jacking the car isn't aware of the need to add spacers to the jacking points.

A good inspection by a competent mechanic, solid maintenance records, and miles in the 5k-10k per year range is probably best. That means a 1998 car should have 50k to 100k miles, and a little more isn't terrible.

Cars are a lot better than they were when I was a kid. I still have my Dad's '57 Chevy, and you figured at 100k miles it was shot. You also figured on an annual tune-up, brakes every 10k miles (or less), pack the wheel bearings with the brake jobs, oil changes in the 2-3k mile range (Dad used 1500 miles).

I've got a 1994 GMC T15 Jimmy. The little critter with the sawed off 350. It's at 140k miles, and starts and runs great. No oil use, no smoking, good gas mileage. Regular maintenance was all it took.

Hope that helps. These cars (C5s) are incredibly durable with normal use and good maintenance, and anything can be made to fall apart with abuse.

I posted a couple of weeks ago about a guy showing off in his new CLK Mercedes AMG car. Massive burnout with the big ol' Michelin Pilot Sports, wind it all the way out, and hit an on-ramp hard. We had a good laugh - no plates on the car yet, and he wasn't aware that the local cop shop was right next to his on-ramp. My daughter laughed at him, then nodded when I talked about how foolish it is to abuse a new car. It was made for hard driving, but not in the first few hundred miles.

No way to know for sure whether the car you're looking at has been treated well. But if you're buying private party and talk to the owner, it will give you some indication. Carfax shows a notable price increase for verifiable one-owner sports and performance cars, and I believe it. The records, and (did I mention) getting an inspection, will tell the tale fairly accurately.

Good luck, and welcome aboard!

 

When mine "dies" I will jack her up and drive another one under her,,,but this one is mine till I die! They can easily go 200K with good care!

 

 

With the entire family of vette owners out there, even if you should come to the point where your engine life runs out, you still have a car that is highly valued do not only to it's collector car status, but you could always upgrade the power train from stock to track racing capabilities. Blow a motor, save some bucks, drop in a new one and off you go again. The beauty about GM is that parts are easy to come by and most (not all) vette owners treat each other with dignity and respect when it comes to thier cars and buying parts. Have no fear, enter the family and the rewards are limitless!!

 

I just traded in my 02 with 70k miles on it for an 07 new vette. Only reason was the 0%. But thats besides the point. I kid you not even at 70k it rode as if it was new. And at 70k believe me all the confidence was there at the light when it was ready to put the pedal to the metal. It has not let me down lets put it that way. Even 100k + benzes were tought a lesson. These cars are strong. Very strong.

 

When she dies, if she dies (mod fever landed me a new motor last yr), I'll have another motor built as long as the rest of her is in worthy condition.

 

It will last as long as you want to replace parts. Perform the proper maintenance and you will have a car that will last you a long time.

 

Have you seen this thread?

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...00%2C000+miles

 

i think 200,000 miles is the minumim to expect out of a gm motor, i also have an 89 park ave with the 3.8 with 300,008 miles and a 92 le saber 3.8 with 267,000 miles neither had any motor work at all, both are still running like new, with no smoke. i don't see why the 5.7 won't get the same life span.. go gm!

 

Wow I didn't know I could expect that much out of a corvette. A friend of mine's father works on Corvettes so I'll definitely bring him along to inspect the car if I can find one local. Thanks guys. Now the hunt for the perfect deal begins. Let me know if you know anyone in FL looking to sell theirs.