I don't consider this saving it for the next guy. The 96 vert pictured in my avatar has red interior and 5K miles. Cars like that currently sell in the 35 range. If I had dogged it for about 70,000 miles it would be worth less than 20. After 11 years the car is still like new and as much fun to drive. I don't think I would enjoy driving it anymore if it had 70 on the clock and looked old and tired.

 

I can't speak for others, but I've been very fortunate in my life. My office is 2.5 miles from my house in the suburbs. So, if I drive it every day that will wind up being a grand total of 1,250 miles per year, assuming that I work 5 days every week. And when you add to that the fact that I own more than one car, you just don't get a lot of miles on any of them.

In the spring of 2006, at the time I sold my '96 CE that I'd had for almost 10 years, it had less than 50k on the odometer. I bought my first C6 in early March, drove it every day, and even took a 3,600 mile road trip in it last summer. When I sold it in December, it had less than 5k on it.

The coupe that I bought in early December that replaced that car, still has less than 2k on the odometer (and that includes the miles driving the car from the dealer in WI back to TX when I picked it up) and the vert that I bought in late February is almost past that 500 mile break-in barrier.

I guess some of us are just homebodies.

 

At the time of reading this, Kerbeck is selling a 2002 Montery Red Convertible with 9.5 K miles for $35.5K... why would anyone buy a 96 for the same price?

 

I've been raised a car guy my entire life. I lucked out and married a car woman. She's more fanatical about cars than I am and I own 7 (3 of which are MG's). I understand the mindset of caring for and protecting your possessions. I truly believe "to each his own." BUT, you also have to enjoy life.

I bought my Vette after a colleague at work suffered a stroke and heart attack at the age of 54. He was on top of his game. He was the acknowledged guru and nothing technical happened without his consent. He had saved for the future that would never come and was looking forward to a retirement that he will never see. About 3 weeks after his funeral, and several conversations with the wife, we both decided to bite the bullet and buy the Vette that we'd both always wanted. We traded our Mustang Cobra for the '07 and haven't regretted a minute of it.

I'm not saying that you need to spend your kids’ college fund, but you have to enjoy life while you're here. Buying a Vette new and putting 500 miles/year on it, while it might be your idea of enjoyment, is not mine. To me, this is merely taking care of it for the next owner. My idea of enjoyment is buying a Vette and putting 2300 miles on it in the first 6-weeks. But, as I stated above, to each his own.

As for those who claim that it's not practical to drive when you have kids, I ask this: how many trips do you make where it's either just you, or you and one other person?

 

There you go!!

 

Mine is an 02 with 10972 miles. I really enjoy it when I drive it, but it is one of two toy cars for me and I don't have that much time. So it has never been driven in the rain,(still has the new car smell) stays under it's cover when not being used etc. I would never drive it anywhere and leave it out of my sight, as too many people I know have had theirs jobbed, and I don't need the hastle. It's just a hobby for me along with my 33 plymouth.I'll drive it to a car show once in a while and collect a trophy. Someone is going to be the recipient of all that in a few months when I sell it to make room for a Z, but thats fine with me.(I wish I had room to store 3 toy cars so I could keep it). I only hope someone gets it that appeciates it and I don't expect my Z will be any different.

 

These threads always make it seem like the only way to enjoy your car is to drive it. I call on that.

I love to drive mine, but sometimes I enjoy modding it, detailing it, etc as much, if not more. Factor in that the road around here stink, the traffic, especially after 4:00 pm, is horrible, and sometimes a little cruise isn't so great.

I'm not near my car right now, but I'm still lovin' it!

 

Special model, low production with special one year only optional engine. Go to Roger's Corvettes in Orlando and look around and check the prices. He specializes in low mile mint cars because there is a market for them. This is just one example among many, low miles cars are desireable and command a premium.

 

My 05 (June 05) has 12,000 miles on it. It is a 3rd vechicle. My normal procedure is to put away for the winter late Nov (most years) and back out late April. I REFUSE to drive it after the Salt & Sand trucks have done their thing. I live in the mountains of NYS.
Granted the snow might be plowed away but the S&S remains.

In the better months we use it for trips & shows and general good times/places driving. I could drive it more but I do not,(my choice)

I will say thought when the time came to sell my 98 Vert I got top dollar for condition and milage.

 

People buy them for many different reasons. Some people plan on using them as a DD other see them as toy or collector’s item to be keep pristine. If everyone drove their cars until the wheels fell off we won’t have any classic cars. Sure the car become a used car after you own it; but if keep nice years down the road it can become a collector’s car and begin to increase in value once again.

 

After 3 years, my '03 only had 8700 miles on it when I traded for the triple black vert. Am retired, so my daily drives to 24 hr fitness and sbux (the only parking lots that the car's been in) encompass less than 5 miles round-trip. Prefer to fly, even if its to Austin or San Antonio which are short trips. Also have 2 other vehicles.

 

This is so true in many of my coworkers.

My Vettes a second car and is treated like a toy. When I get an opportunity and it's not raining (water or ash) I take it out whenever I can.

 

Ok. My 07 C6 was picked up last summer and now has 1800 miles on it. That is a lot by my car standards. It is a toy to me and joins others in my "toy box". Why do I have it? I can afford it, wanted it and there fore have it. Plain and simple. If I tire of it, it will go and someone else gets a good clean low mileage car out of it. I will have no regrets and many good memories.

Live is too short to worry how someone else feels about my choices!!!

Happy Motoring... However far you decide to run up the clock.

 

, flame on.

 

Have had my '06 for 11 + months and have 3800 miles on it. Hard winter here in CO, so the Jeep got most of the driving. Put miles on quickly last summer to break it in, but probably averaged once a week since Dec--and I'm only 28 miles roundtrip to work. Will drive it much more in nice weather, but we have 4 cars so it is always a pleasure choice, not necessity.

 

Cold outside!!!! In Texas!!!! Cold down there is two days in a row in the 80s...

 

To each his own I guess, I would never buy a 96 coupe for the price of an 02 vert but thats just me (although I would guess that most people would also rather get the 02)...

But, you know what, whatever makes you happy... I mean I would have rather driven the car as much as I could for all those years, thats ten years of driving enjoyment you missed out on, but since you seem happy with your decision to preserve the car, you made the right decision for yourself...


Cheers!!!

 

All of my Vets are driven, but only when it's nice out. Given that I live in Vermont the cars are in storage 6 months out of the year. I have four of them so no one car gets a lot of use. Combine the four ranging from an 82 Collectors Edition with 47k, 1996 Collectors Edition (Red Interior one of 85) 21K, 2002 Z06 18K and my 05 C6 Z51 Vert with 11k all tolled don't have a combine 100k on them. Love em all and keep the in great condition, it's an obsession these Vets. I'm in the process of having a 69 convertible put together for me, not restoring to original but more to be use a a daily driver, modern suspension, LT1 engine , modern A4 trans and all new wiring harnesses, lines, hoses and A/C, it will take the brunt of the miles when I get it.

 

It's a vert with the optional hardtop on it though, not a coupe.