Also my first V8. I'm looking into getting a vette now because I've wanted one since I was...well since I can remember ever really wanting a specific car. I just took a break from fast cars with a 05 Jeep Wrangler (4 banger) and I'm really getting tired of not having something with a bit of power behind it. It's also KILLING me that my friends all drive 15 second "quick" cars (mkiv vr6, is300, 4.0 stang...etc) and think they are fast, and compared to my Jeep they are, but my old car had 2 seconds on them at the track and I miss it!

I know what to look for in general when buying a car, but I want some corvette specifics I should look for. One major question I have is how do higher mileage corvettes run? I usually wouldn't consider something with over 45k miles on the clock but I found one vette that really sparks my interest and I've purchased a car from the dealership it is at before (Porsche of Orlando). The vette in question is a 2000 vert with 72,700 miles. It seems to be in great shape from the pictures but I havn't actually gone to look at the car yet, but I will be tomorrow afternoon.

Pictures:






From basic reasoning I can see that the rotors are pristine so the car was either driven lightly, or they have been replaced. The seats and buttons are not heavily worn which suggusts the driver was at least somewhat meticulous. Car appears to be stock. There is no apparent wheel curb marks or body scrapes so the driver must have driven it decent.

Now what else should I look for?
Is it safe to buy a high mileage vette?
What defines "high mileage" in the vette world?
Will it be safe to mod at track a vette with this many miles?

Oh by the way, here's what I've came from:
1.) 2000 Grand Prix GTP (never tracked, intake and exhaust)


2.) 2007 GTI APR Stage 1 13.531@100.06, Apr Stage 2 13.601@104.6 (only did 1 run stage 2)


3.) 2005 Jeep Wrangler Stock 20.1@66.3 haha


Thanks alot for your help guys!
Damon

 

The vette in the picture seems like a good looking car...ask anyone on the forum and everyone will tell you that if you treat and care for a vette it will last for a lifetime. I would recommend a FRC or a Z06, but if you have your heart set on a convertible than more power to you. You are making a great decision if you choose to purchase a C5...just don't start modding it, because it won't STOP!!!

 

I looked at some z06s but this seems to be a steal. $18,893 from a dealership that will do anything to get non-porsches off their lot. I got my GTI for $4k less than advertised and it was months old.

 

I bought mine on Ebay..

2000 Yella vert
68K miles or so
Same condition as what you described
stock

$!7.5K

See if you can talk him down a little..

 

Thats a goodlooking GTI, my friends son has one and did some mods and the car is a little rocket and fun to drive

 

Autocheck came out pretty good on that one. 4 registered owners, started out as a lease vehicle.

 

Looks like a nice car and that number of miles are not all that bad - just be sure to have a competent mechanic look it over for you. The LS1 engine is really very reliable and with proper maintenance, you should get a lot more miles out of it.

I have a few Word files that may help you. If you want a copy, just PM me with your e-mail address.

 

I've got a 99 with 82k on the clock, and it's been the most trouble free car I've owned.
A little track action shouldn't bother it. The motor's practically unbreakable.
You'll probably get other nitpick things like oil pressure sensor, sticky fuel gauge, dim climate control display, etc.
The steering column lock problem is probably the most notorious. Have the dealer do the GM fix on this before you buy. Or have him check the history to see if it's already been done. Have him give you the complete maint. history while he's at it.

 

I drove it today. It's spotless. Better yet, it made my 13 second GTI feel like a civic. It was more than I expected even with traction control and active handling on. Soooo much fun! I took the top off and went for a cruise, tried out the skip shift and got on it.

The car only has 1 problem, but it's possible it was user error. It popped out of 1st gear twice while I was sitting stopped about to go or moving slowly. Syncro my be messed up or I just didn't stick in all the way in gear. Either way no big deal.

I'm hopefully going to purchase it!

 

I wouldn't worry about the miles. If you look you will see em for sale with well over 100k miles. Now, I am not saying to buy one with that many, but it shows that the cars have no problem going over 100k easy.

 

It took me a while to learn you have to almost forcefully put it in first or it will pop out. Nothing to worry about.