Daily Driver?
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 73
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From: Snohomish WA
Daily Driver?
Okay here is te deal - I have been looking at a 2004 C5 with 26000 on the clock for about (out the door $28,000) seems like a good deal but:
1. I have never owned a Corvette can it be a daily driver
2. Does this deal seem okay (the car is 8 years old)
3. How do I justify to the wife - I am not rich but not poor by any means
I know these are basic qusetions but - hey I have to ask
This car has been on lot for about 30 days (but we have had snow so)
Any way
Thanks for any advice
Jim Sawyer
1. I have never owned a Corvette can it be a daily driver
2. Does this deal seem okay (the car is 8 years old)
3. How do I justify to the wife - I am not rich but not poor by any means
I know these are basic qusetions but - hey I have to ask
This car has been on lot for about 30 days (but we have had snow so)
Any way
Thanks for any advice
Jim Sawyer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,194
Likes: 146
From: Houston Republic of Texas
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14, '16
Yes it can be daily driver, bought my '03 w/ 24,000 on it 6yrs ago. Now it has over 116,000 and LOVE every bit of those miles. Now the price seems a little high to me, check out the prices on this forum to gauge what one similar is going for. Now to your wife, just take her for a ride and she will be hooked. The hard part to justify to her is when you get the mod fever, and believe me, you will get it. Good luck with your choice, let us know. L8R THE FLASH
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 12
From: NOLA
It can be daily driven just be mindful of how low the car is and how the roads are in the area. I am from south of New Orleans and where I drive around home isn't bad. If I brought my car to Mobile where I go to school I would have some real problems driving around.
It may be a decent deal but you can most likely find a better deal my dad has good luck looking at cars on Ebay.
I don't have any advice for with the wife
Good Luck
Rob
It may be a decent deal but you can most likely find a better deal my dad has good luck looking at cars on Ebay.
I don't have any advice for with the wife
Good Luck
Rob
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 19
From: Northern CA
St. Jude Donor '10-'12, '25
Mine's a daily driver....when it's not raining!
Yes, check the price as $28k seems too high!
With the wife...flowers, chocolate, shoes, and a new purse should be on order!
Yes, check the price as $28k seems too high!
With the wife...flowers, chocolate, shoes, and a new purse should be on order!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
I daily drive mine when the weather co-operates. It is great
the price does seem a bit high but it will go up when the snow goes away if your dealers are anything like ours
good luck with the purchase
the price does seem a bit high but it will go up when the snow goes away if your dealers are anything like oursgood luck with the purchase
Pro
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 636
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From: Hightstown NJ
I bought a 2004 c5 z06 with 25,000 miles on it at the end of December 2010
I have daily driven it since, rain or shine and even the occasional flurry...I am at 33,000 miles now and all I have done since buying it is Amsoil oil, trans fluid, and rear diff fluid.
The car is great everyday, it still turns heads, it makes the trip fun every day, and I enjoy driving 90 minutes to work which I used to dread
I have daily driven it since, rain or shine and even the occasional flurry...I am at 33,000 miles now and all I have done since buying it is Amsoil oil, trans fluid, and rear diff fluid.
The car is great everyday, it still turns heads, it makes the trip fun every day, and I enjoy driving 90 minutes to work which I used to dread
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Mine was a DD for 4 years. Driven sensibly its not a gas guzzler and the maintenance is easy and cheap. The car is easy to work on and many of the routine problems have fixes documented here. The load capacity of a coupe is good so its viable as an only car.
The only down for you is your local weather which is similar to us here in UK. The car is fine in the wet although the back end can be squirrelly" if driven hard in the wet. You'd do well to fit all season tires and the Michelin AS ZPs are a good choice. The big problem is snow. Some members drive in the snow and I guess you'd get used to it. I just find the combination of high HP and rear wheel drive uncomfortable. My A4 is a nightmare in the snow.
If you can live with that go for it
The only down for you is your local weather which is similar to us here in UK. The car is fine in the wet although the back end can be squirrelly" if driven hard in the wet. You'd do well to fit all season tires and the Michelin AS ZPs are a good choice. The big problem is snow. Some members drive in the snow and I guess you'd get used to it. I just find the combination of high HP and rear wheel drive uncomfortable. My A4 is a nightmare in the snow.
If you can live with that go for it
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The C5 is a great car for a daily driver - good gas mileage, comfortable and a blast to drive. It does sit low as mentioned above, so you do have to take care where you drive it.
The $28K price seems quite high - if you can't negotiate the price down a lot, then perhaps keep looking.
The $28K price seems quite high - if you can't negotiate the price down a lot, then perhaps keep looking.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Some years ago, I purchased a 1996 Vette and drove it for eight years and 50 miles a day, seven days a week.....a great daily driver.
Also purchased a 2000 Vette and it is also a great daily driver.
Also purchased a 2000 Vette and it is also a great daily driver.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
From: Chantilly VA
Wow $28k! That's way high IMHO. There should be lots of corvettes out there for that much money. Get that price down by about $5k. I think someone is taking advantage that spring will soon be here. You got to know they paid way less, if it is a dealer.
Great DD but only two seats. At my house, if the wife and I want to take the grandkids out, it takes two cars (she has T-Bird). Gas milage, fun factor, add to the DD. You may want to think about that one of the hidden expense of vettes, is a second car for winter time, or 3 or more folks to go somewhere. But you may not drive it much.
Let the wife get something she wants, first. Then you should have it made. That should give you time to find a good vette a bit cheaper. Or get that price way down and say "see honey, I got it on sale!"
Good luck
Great DD but only two seats. At my house, if the wife and I want to take the grandkids out, it takes two cars (she has T-Bird). Gas milage, fun factor, add to the DD. You may want to think about that one of the hidden expense of vettes, is a second car for winter time, or 3 or more folks to go somewhere. But you may not drive it much.
Let the wife get something she wants, first. Then you should have it made. That should give you time to find a good vette a bit cheaper. Or get that price way down and say "see honey, I got it on sale!"
Good luck
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 125
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From: Guilford, CT
I would peg the FMV around $20k, or at maybe in the low 20's, but 28k seems high. Check craigslist and autotrader for similar cars to gauge FMV. Especially this time of year, you should be able to find a deal.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 351
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From: Laurel Maryland
St. Jude Donor '11
For a comparison, There is a 04 vert, auto, with 21000 miles at $28,000 at the chevy dealer, I found my 02 coupe with 43000 miles for $15,000. Best not to buy from a dealer. There are plenty of private owners wanting to sell their Vette, and willing to make a great deal.
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
It will wear down faster.
Bought mine with 43k, and parked it for 2 years once it hit 68k daily driving.
I know that if I kept up the same level of driving during the 2 years I was doing the engine project, it would have needed a decent amount of $$$ for maintenance, the least of which are tires at about $1000 per set.
Bought mine with 43k, and parked it for 2 years once it hit 68k daily driving.
I know that if I kept up the same level of driving during the 2 years I was doing the engine project, it would have needed a decent amount of $$$ for maintenance, the least of which are tires at about $1000 per set.