RicardoFors68

How about the motor oil industry's take on high mileage? According to some manufacturers 80k is considered high. Valvoline had me recommend high mileage synthetic blend at 70k to customers. Just a thought.

92GA

What? You stuck in the 70s? Times have changed even if you haven't noticed.

bigcypress

''Also, consider that the youngest C5 is now over 17 years young''. i don't understand . we have a 2000 and 2004 and as i recall it is 2014 . i'm not good with figures but can't get 17 years from these .

nwolkonsky

When the car becomes unreliable due to the numerous factors which can cause that then mileage is irrelevant. Has the car been used as intended and with proper maintenance is more the question IMHO.

jjaaam

What are your expectations/plans for driving?

Last week I bought my first Vette. 2003 with 85K. I struggled with the mileage and sometimes still do even though it's sitting in my garage instead of the dealer I bought it from. No maintenance records available except for what was on the carfax. Showed a reasonable amount of maintenance done at various dealers.

I drove it 1250 miles home with no issues. Been in the garage and every time I take it out I look for leaks - none. Starts up and runs great. Clean interior. A few very minor chips here and there but what do you expect from a 12 year old car?

From what I have researched garage queens might have low miles but can possibly be prone to issues from not being driven as intended. On the flip side, the same goes for cars that have many miles on them. Are the components getting worn and ready to go?

Bottom line is that I went into a purchase knowing that the miles were higher than I really would have liked. That being said my expectations are where they need to be I think. I don't plan on driving the wheels off of it, and I plan on maintaining it as best I can even though I don't have a binder with a complete history of every time a mechanic sat in the seat.

Am I embarrassed when I tell people my "new" car has 85K? A little. But I take comfort in the info that I have gotten from this forum, and it's basically this: take care of it and it will last.

I look at it this way: I have 86K (after the trip) miles on a car that is 12 years old. That equates to 7166 miles a year. That's nothing. I could have very easily gotten one with 30K but I would have paid for the privilege. Price was about 1K higher than I would have liked, and I had about $500 in travel costs getting there...but I got the exact model and color I wanted. Nothing close to where I live in the six months I was seriously looking. And the $500 bought me a nice flight, a nice night on the road, and two days with just me and my wife for a beautiful drive through six states. And now my boy who is a senior has a cool car to drive to the homecoming dance and to prom.

It was worth it...especially when she told me yesterday out of the blue that "I wish we were going on our trip to get your car again"...

And now I have my dream car.

We have to look at WHY we bought it as well. For me? Not for any utility purpose. I already have a daily driver Grand Prix. I wanted something fun. Something that made me proud of the fact that I could finally get one after 30 years of desiring one.

Life's too short. Get one in your price range that is reasonable, have the right expectations, and enjoy...

ArtGle

Bought my '99 with 108K October last year. I've put approximately 13K on her despite storage from Nov 20th thru March 29th. So now approaching 121K.
The car overall is fantastic, Cosmetically, Electrically, Functionally.
But "JUST IN CASE", I bought a 2000 LS-1 that was on Craigslist locally with only 19K miles on it. For that "JUST IN CASE" scenario...
I did the GM PARTS HOUSE Suspension kit, shocks and stabilizer bars, and many wash, wax, and smiles.
Not unhappy with this beautiful machine at all.

rustyguns

found this C7 blog... I bet this is why they are blowing up! What were they thinking? Dang!

-----------------------------------------------------

What really causes Corvette C7 Stingray LT1 engine catastrophic failures?
The ******** cover story GM cooked up to cover up the disaster of LT1 engine obliteration on long term Car and Driver test car, with oil filter chunking out metal fragments is an insult to super low IQ four legged species (not to Corvette enthusiasts though).

So what really lies behind these multiplying engine failures, should someone discard the oil filter ********?

A review of the LT1 design leads to a very interesting observation: a thrust bearing that is literally half of LS engines design.

Here is a LS type of thrust bearing, a full circle design, characterized by sturdy design and plenty of thrust area to resist crankshaft play.

(picture of fully 360 degree flanged thrust bearing)

And interesting new LT1 thrust bearing design (on number 3), with thrust area only in the block area and very limited thrust resisting surface.


( picture of a 180 degree flanged thrust bearing)

Can this design be the real culprit of all EFFECTS resulting in LT1 engine failures, including bent connecting rods, failed main bearings and pistons?

This line of thinking certainly can be supported by existing evidence, including botched torque tube replacements.

With 180 degree bearing, the ability to resist excessive force is cut in at least half, anything formerly concerned minor in the past can become a fatal blow to this new turd called LT1. Thus, factors like improper torque tube alignment or force exerted by the torque tube converter due to heat related high pressure can cause enough force to literally obliterate the entire engine. Then of course, geniuses like Juechter blame oil filter or bad weather for destruction of the engine. This design looks right down stupid.

-----------------------------------------------------
wow!

Did the C7 blow up on the Nurburgring test day?

frsr06

Kinda like old age - you are only as old as you feel - and will likely feel better if not ridden hard and put away wet.

I personally am reaching the crossroad on by 2001 Vert with 90K. Do I invest $10K for new clutch/tranny and paint or do i bite the bullet and move to a C6 or C7. Still love the C5 and leaning that direction as I still will not be in the $75K range for a C7 leaving many $$ for many mods and contingency for repairs.

rustyguns

if i put ten grand in my C5 IT WOULD EAT C7'S FOR BREAKFAST!

Keep the C5, it is way under rated. The C5 is the largest paramount change in the Corvette line. You can get a new tranny and clutch done for $5,000, shop around! Then put the other $5,000 grand into Z06 heads and a mild street/race cam and tune. Can you say 420+ horsepower to the wheels !? Yeah Babay! LOL

FYI please do not buy a GM clutch! they all suck!

get an aluminum flywheel too. makes the engine feel like a 2 cycle engine! fricken winds up fast!

laurent_zo6

Nice writeup and congrats on the new purchase. Your son has a great dad.

wardamncorvette

Buckle up
Alabaster cops suck

wardamncorvette

Getting kinda worried everyone is saying 100k is high. Especially for a corvette.
I've driven a lot of cars that ran great with 175,000 plus


My 97 c5 should hit 100k by this weekend

nwolkonsky

I agree! I let the dealership maintain my vehicles and I sold (hubby made me get a newer car for his man ego) my 1993 suburban with 175000 miles on it and it ran great! Everything worked and the paint looked fantastic too. My 2004 x4wd has 129,000 looks and runs great. I thought the 100000 mile thing was for early model cars. Well, that's been my experience with vehicles. 3 cars in 21 years is not a spending spree on vehicles....and well I just bought my 2001 z06 a year ago and still rolling the truck. I'm rockin the chevy's! whoot!

road dog

200 k is the new high mileage point the ls1 will run strong way over 400k if it is maintained as required at 100k you just broke it in .think about it your first plug change is at 100k. oil . cooling and driving style determines how your car wares it all has to due with proper maintenance.

road dog

oil and additives and engineering of engine technology have greatly improved in the last 30 yrs hasn't anybody ever heard of North star or direct injection most engines fail due to the lack of lubrication or coolant

Hombre

Well put post, I like the way you are thinking. And man do I ever hope that you are 100% correct, time will tell...

RS

Kingman99

Hi

I just traded in my 2002 coupe A4 z-51 pristine cond because it past
23,000 miles.

My C6 will see miles for sure

Alan

vela21975

Dang! Does she ever see sunlight? lol ... That's awesome that you can keep such low mileage.

Kingman99

Hi
It is my third vehicle plus l ride my golf cart. Now l hope to pile the miles on.

I can always buy another one.

I am jealous of a person putting on 25,000 plus miles a yr.

ClipperFan

Look at it the other way, you're only averaging 6,7 thousands miles a year. My 1997 Corvette has 130,000 miles. As they say here, do the maintenance and