Low mileage issues?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
Low mileage issues?
I'd like to hear about c5's purchased at over 10 years old with very low mileage- under 30,000 or so.
I've heard a lot of opinions about potential problems, but I'd like to hear about actual experiences. Are there real issues?
Thanks!
I've heard a lot of opinions about potential problems, but I'd like to hear about actual experiences. Are there real issues?
Thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 807
Likes: 239
I bought a '01 Z51 A4 Coupe with 18K on it in Feb. Biggest issue to date; not enough time to drive it more.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 346
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
I bought a 10k mile car in September. It had been parked for a significant amount of time (obviously)
Driver's side rear axle seal started to leak before it even got home.
Battery lasted 3 weeks.
Tires were in desperate need of immediate replacement when I bought it.
I've replaced the wheels, tires, axle seal, and battery. Since then I have put 12k miles on the car, and 6 autoX events with no problems at all.
This is the third low mileage C5 I have bought used. The previous had 5300 miles and the one before 3500. This one is the only one of the three that had any issue that I can directly attribute to sitting, and even at that, it was minimal. It's also the one that had been sitting the longest - by far.
Driver's side rear axle seal started to leak before it even got home.
Battery lasted 3 weeks.
Tires were in desperate need of immediate replacement when I bought it.
I've replaced the wheels, tires, axle seal, and battery. Since then I have put 12k miles on the car, and 6 autoX events with no problems at all.
This is the third low mileage C5 I have bought used. The previous had 5300 miles and the one before 3500. This one is the only one of the three that had any issue that I can directly attribute to sitting, and even at that, it was minimal. It's also the one that had been sitting the longest - by far.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 76
From: Portland OR
When I test drove an '02 Z with 13k on it, the suspension squeaked so bad pulling out of the dealership. I took it for a short trip up Skyline and when we got back it was nice and quiet.
My main concerns were fluid changes and it had OE tires. They also wanted $25k and that was $10k over my budget.
I was told the previous owner lived in Texas and the car was in a climate controlled garaged parked on wrestling mats. Who knows, but knowing some Vette owners, it wouldn't shock me.
My main concerns were fluid changes and it had OE tires. They also wanted $25k and that was $10k over my budget.
I was told the previous owner lived in Texas and the car was in a climate controlled garaged parked on wrestling mats. Who knows, but knowing some Vette owners, it wouldn't shock me.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 500
From: West Seneca NY
I purchased my 2003 coupe in 2010 with 5300 miles, I currently have 7500 miles and have had no issues, other than the dealer replacing battery when I purchased it, and I replaced a broken center console latch.
Pro
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 666
Likes: 30
From: Milwaukee WI
I bought my c5 9 years and 10 months after production with 31k on it.
It is a bit seepy but doesn't leak anything when driven. Over winter I get a couple drips of coolant from the right side of the radiator, I assume its from the main hose, it burns off in the first couple days and I never smell it the rest of the spring/summer/fall level doesn't change. Power steering fluid from the short hose on that attaches to the cooler, also like 3 drips it still shows full when i check it.
I did have to pop the rear half shafts of the spindle and do the grease thing. As they were all rusted up.
Sway bar bushings have warn off all the "paint" so require regular greasing now.
I think the last 2 happen to all c5's driven or not.
Over all nothing major or unexpected. But i specifically was looking for a car with 30k or more so I wouldn't have to deal with too many rot issues.
It is a bit seepy but doesn't leak anything when driven. Over winter I get a couple drips of coolant from the right side of the radiator, I assume its from the main hose, it burns off in the first couple days and I never smell it the rest of the spring/summer/fall level doesn't change. Power steering fluid from the short hose on that attaches to the cooler, also like 3 drips it still shows full when i check it.
I did have to pop the rear half shafts of the spindle and do the grease thing. As they were all rusted up.
Sway bar bushings have warn off all the "paint" so require regular greasing now.
I think the last 2 happen to all c5's driven or not.
Over all nothing major or unexpected. But i specifically was looking for a car with 30k or more so I wouldn't have to deal with too many rot issues.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 277
Likes: 37
From: Central Mississippi
2001 W/18K bought January of this year. Original tires very hard, drivers side window grinding noise going up and down, sun visors warn and flopping. Other than that, no other issues so far. All belts and hoses look and feel very good after inspection. I did see some of the rubber on suspension parts looking dry and cracked, but no squeaking. Like others have said, all fluids need to be changed. Hope this helps you. Good luck.
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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I bought my '03 in Sep 2009 with 8500 miles on it - not one problem with it and I drove it home from NJ - about 1400 miles. The car is now 11 years old and has 19.5K miles on it and still not one issue with the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
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September 2012, I bought my '03 AE with 5k on the odometer. It was owned by a true Corvette guy who had three Vettes and he used each one regularly. I own three Vettes and I drive each one regularly. When I bought it, and I know when it's time to sell it, I don't expect any problems regarding low mileage. But to answer the OP, no issues- car runs flawlessly. 
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 666
Likes: 2
From: western springs illinois
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 136
Likes: 1
From: Farmington Maine
I bought my '02 from the original owner in 2012 with 15K on the odometer. It had a clean car fax with service and maintenance records. After a test drive and some old fashion "dickering" , I bought the Corvette and had it shipped from Maryland to Maine in the middle of the winter. The car has performed flawlessly.......no issues so far. I was looking for a car with less than 20K miles, no mods, one owner, clean car fax and in pristine condition with a 6 spd. transmission. I believe that I got that and more. This is my third Corvette.
Drifting
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 202
From: Mountain View California
Bought my 01 vert with 21400 on the clock last May. Changed out the OEM tires. It has 25,600 now and has been Auto-xing. No issues what so ever. 
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 175
Likes: 4
From: Merced CA
Purchased my 03' a few month ago with just under 22,000 miles. No major issues, but I did change all the fluids.
The hose and rubber bucket holding the pcv valve needed to be replaced due to cracking.
The radiator desperately needed to be blown out (meaning through the fins). For a car that has only averaged about 2200 miles a year, there was A LOT of debris in the fins (sand, straw, tiny rocks, etc). The upper corners seemed to contained the most.
In addition, the paint needed help. I believe it was pretty much garage kept and there are no water spots on it, but running the back of the fingers across the paint you could tell there was a lot of something (undefined) on the paint. I spent a couple hours on it with a clay bar and now it is smooth and looks a lot better in the sun light. Not as dull as it was.
Other than that, I changed out the valve springs, valve seals and plugs/wires, but that was more of a preventative maintenance thing that seems to z06 specific.
The hose and rubber bucket holding the pcv valve needed to be replaced due to cracking.
The radiator desperately needed to be blown out (meaning through the fins). For a car that has only averaged about 2200 miles a year, there was A LOT of debris in the fins (sand, straw, tiny rocks, etc). The upper corners seemed to contained the most.
In addition, the paint needed help. I believe it was pretty much garage kept and there are no water spots on it, but running the back of the fingers across the paint you could tell there was a lot of something (undefined) on the paint. I spent a couple hours on it with a clay bar and now it is smooth and looks a lot better in the sun light. Not as dull as it was.
Other than that, I changed out the valve springs, valve seals and plugs/wires, but that was more of a preventative maintenance thing that seems to z06 specific.