Formuhawk99

Looking to buy my first Corvette. Would like to get an LS3 car but they are right at the upper edge of my price range. I'm trying to get a feel for how important miles are on the resale value of a Corvette. Am I better off getting a higher mileage LS3 car 30K range or a low mileage LS2 car (12-15K miles). I only drive my "toy" about 2K per year. Opinions??? Thanks.

turbod

Another tough question. I personally was looking for a garage queen with extremely low miles but I also wanted the LS3.

If I was forced to choose, I'd probably take the LS3 with higher mileage to get the updated block and technical goodies. Just my opinion...

In the end, I was too impatient and went brand new. Ouch, that cost.

6spdC6

Normally a lower mile car will command better prices that an identical car with more miles.

With that said the overall condition of the car is more important than the mileage... It also depends on who put on the miles and how they drove a car.

A car that went through a submerging (flood) with 5,000 is worth a lot less that an identical car that has 30,000 miles on it.

Look around carefully, ask the right questions and hopefully have a trusted friend that understands that model car check it out!

laconiajack

If you are only going to put about 2,000 miles a year on it a higher mileage LS3 makes more sense than a low milage LS2 if you enjoy a bit more power, impoved steering and shifting, and fewer problems. In five years your LS3 will still only have about 40,000 miles on it which works out to about 5,000 miles per year --- still a low mileage car.

Formuhawk99

Thats kind of the direction I am leaning. That logic seems to make sense.
Thanks for the replies.

HOXXOH

My plan is nearly the opposite. My '08 has 70K now, so in 3 more years I'll sell it and take the high mileage (est. 150K) hit and buy a garage queen '08 to start over again. It's kinda like a complete rebuild of the whole car for maybe $5-8K.

EuroRod

I would prefer a car that has a reasonable number of miles on it over a garage queen. Gremlins seem to always appear on cars that are never exercised. A 5 year old C6 with 50k on the clock would not cause concern, at least for me. Of course, the car must have been taken car of, but, with proper maintenance and mature driving practices, I would think the engines are good for 300+k mile, clutches at 100k and the rest of the drive train also 300k. Ball joints, bushings, brakes, rotors, etc. are probably dependent on how the car was driven and the road conditions on which it was driven.

VettinFan

Being that your a low mileage driver anyway, the higher mileage LS3, in my opinion, is the better of the two. Good Luck.

Formuhawk99

Great advice. Helps a lot. Thanks all.

QUAKEJAKE

Keep it a few years and yours will become a low/mid mileage Vette.

'06 Quicksilver Z06

If you are putting that few miles on it, I'd get the LS3.

dvilin

Gearhead Jim

I was hoping you would keep going as the "fleet leader", let the rest of us know what to expect as the miles accumulate.

besz28

why spend 40,000 for 2000 miles a year?

JERGENSEN LS3

coolcat

Specifically you'll get the Z06's cylinder head design and fuel injectors.

HOXXOH

Actually at 70K I'm already beyond what most original owners will ever see. I know there's a couple others with more miles than mine and none of us has experienced any real issues. I even race mine and have bolt-on mods and a tune, so that should relieve some minds who have fears of total destruction immediately after changing brands of oil.

schmegeggie

We're in the same boat. I've been looking for months and to me, mileage is more important, low miles sells(when you're going to sell). I can't seem to find the LS3 with the color and option package I want. I've found a nice 07 LS2 fully optioned car and am on the fence about getting it. The only thing holding me back is the fact that the day after I buy it, an LS3 will show up! After looking for months now, the options and mileage have moved to the top of the list for me.

Astronomer

I have 86,000 miles on my C6. Runs great still. If you want the 3Lt - I say go for it from a driver who is running high miles with no problems.

Astronomer

86,000 and counting. Hope to hit 200,000 before I sell/trade her.