"No Rain Miles"
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Great Falls Virginia
"No Rain Miles"
Newbie question.
I see a lot of Corvettes with low mileage, some of which are advertised as "no rain miles," meaning, I guess, that the owner keeps it garaged when it rains. Why? Does the car have rust issues? Electrical issues that short the car out in the rain? Also, why do these cars have so few miles - are they so hard to keep running that they stay at the mechanic?
I see a lot of Corvettes with low mileage, some of which are advertised as "no rain miles," meaning, I guess, that the owner keeps it garaged when it rains. Why? Does the car have rust issues? Electrical issues that short the car out in the rain? Also, why do these cars have so few miles - are they so hard to keep running that they stay at the mechanic?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
C5s have no issues with rain.......only some of their owners. 
Mine is in the rain all the time.......hard not to be in Oregon.
Be happy that so many owners rarely drive their cars.......it leaves us so many low mile Vettes to pick from
Mine is in the rain all the time.......hard not to be in Oregon.
Be happy that so many owners rarely drive their cars.......it leaves us so many low mile Vettes to pick from
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 5
From: Grafton WI
I have had mine since 2003 and it hasn't been driven in the rain since. It is partly by luck, it just hasn't rained when I have had it out. I usually (99% of the time) drive it with the top down, and those are usually pretty nice days.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 4,289
Likes: 1,163
From: Green and Wet Western Oregon
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2018 C6 of Year Winner
Most Corvette owners with "no rain miles" are more concerned with cleanup after the car is driven in rain or other weather conditions. There are no issues with C5's driven in the rain other than cleanup. Keeping their C5 clean and showing it are their hobbies, they don't need to drive it in the rain if they don't want to. No big deal.
It's really a win-win for you. You can buy a C5 you know has been pampered with low miles.
It's really a win-win for you. You can buy a C5 you know has been pampered with low miles.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,742
Likes: 43
From: Color my life with the chaos of trouble.
1.) I drive mine in the rain all the time
2.) There are so many with low miles because so many people either use them as a "weekend" car, or think they are collectible. I drive mine constantly and love every minute of it.
2.) There are so many with low miles because so many people either use them as a "weekend" car, or think they are collectible. I drive mine constantly and love every minute of it.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,390
Likes: 24,790
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
No issues from rain that I know of other than making it harder to keep clean. No reason not to drive it in the rain.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Now this is a funny thread, No issues with the rain, Only some owners have issues with rain, I drive mine everyday rain or shine, Some owners think if it gets wet it will melt....
I could understand no rain if it was an exotic car or a 100.000$ car....
I could understand no rain if it was an exotic car or a 100.000$ car....
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,007
Likes: 3,340
From: Omaha NE
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
This would be music to the ears of a C3 buyer. We have major frame rot problems in certain spots mainly caused by plugged drain holes...
Mine hasn't seen any "rain miles" since the Fall of '85...........
Mine hasn't seen any "rain miles" since the Fall of '85.........
..
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 675
Likes: 2
From: Indy Indiana
I bought my 02 used last March and it was a low miles garage queen as well. The car was spotless in places that would be difficult to clean well had it been driven in the rain much so I am pretty sure the previous owner didn't bring it out when t was wet. I don't like driving mine in the rain for a couple reasons. The biggest one being that I really like to keep it spotless and for me to be happy with how clean it is, it would take a few hours to wash, wax and detail it properly after getting caught out in the rain. The second reason is that for some reason, people around here drive like idiots anyway when it is nice. It may sound kind of dumb, but I don't like the added risk of some jackhole sliding into me or something if they are out tooling around in the rain.
I actually got caught out in the rain twice last week (5% chance of rain both times). One was on my way to get some pictures at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (not a cloud in the sky) and the second was hurrying home from Pinks All Out. (I was parked in the grass and it would have gotten ugly if I had not got out of there before the rain came) I had just spent all after noon washing, waxing and detailing the car and the unexpected rain basically wiped all of that time and effort out the window. I was not a happy camper.
I actually got caught out in the rain twice last week (5% chance of rain both times). One was on my way to get some pictures at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (not a cloud in the sky) and the second was hurrying home from Pinks All Out. (I was parked in the grass and it would have gotten ugly if I had not got out of there before the rain came) I had just spent all after noon washing, waxing and detailing the car and the unexpected rain basically wiped all of that time and effort out the window. I was not a happy camper.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
Likes: 7
From: LaPine Oregon
Show room condition.........
I have vehicles for daily drivers and work issues and I have collectable cars that I want to keep as clean as the day they were 'born'. Example is this rare '79 Trans Am convertible I bought new that has never seen the rain .[IMG]
[/IMG]
It not that there are any issues but the particular outlook that owners have.
[/IMG]It not that there are any issues but the particular outlook that owners have.
