Miles vs age
07-21-2013, 12:02 AM
#43
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Both cars are over priced, look for a 2008 or 2009 with less than 20,000
Miles. Search all the car sites with fairly wide scope not just local. They are out there! Certified cars have great rates on them now and warranty.
Miles. Search all the car sites with fairly wide scope not just local. They are out there! Certified cars have great rates on them now and warranty.
07-22-2013, 01:25 AM
#44
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For similarly optioned cars I got the following results on AutoTrader.
18 or so M6 2005s w/ 1sb and Z51 and less than 50k miles.
Average price $30,123.
Low: $25,995
High: $32,995
5 or so 2008+ w/ more than 60k miles, ignored options due to low sample size.
Average price $29,119
Low: $27,000
High: $30,621
Based on this the asking price of both cars seems reasonable.
07-22-2013, 03:35 AM
#45
Drifting
Just ran this exercise.
For similarly optioned cars I got the following results on AutoTrader.
18 or so M6 2005s w/ 1sb and Z51 and less than 50k miles.
Average price $30,123.
Low: $25,995
High: $32,995
5 or so 2008+ w/ more than 60k miles, ignored options due to low sample size.
Average price $29,119
Low: $27,000
High: $30,621
Based on this the asking price of both cars seems reasonable.
For similarly optioned cars I got the following results on AutoTrader.
18 or so M6 2005s w/ 1sb and Z51 and less than 50k miles.
Average price $30,123.
Low: $25,995
High: $32,995
5 or so 2008+ w/ more than 60k miles, ignored options due to low sample size.
Average price $29,119
Low: $27,000
High: $30,621
Based on this the asking price of both cars seems reasonable.
I started my 2002 almost $4000 more than I ended up selling for. Using that info, the statistics would raise the average price when running a comparison like this, although as I have mentioned, my car went for quite a bit less.
07-22-2013, 09:26 AM
#46
Drifting
One more time: You want a good idea of market value, check completed sales listings on Ebay.
That will tell you what buyers are willing to pay.
Not what sellers are willing to ask.
07-22-2013, 03:38 PM
#47
I would always go for the newer car. The least straightforward failure modes to correct tend to be those that progress with age more than with travel. An older car may be more likely to experience:
-Embrittlement, creep and fatigue of elastomeric components (e.g. leaking seals, hoses & weather strips, loose powertrain mounts, etc.)
-Creep/cracking of plastic parts...plastics inherently age poorly and the effects are accelerated with things like UV exposure and thermal cycling. As an anecdote, a friend's ultra-low mileage early C6 has far more squeaks, creaks and rattles than my 2011 car does.
-Corrosion, which can reduce heat exchanger efficiency, result in poor conductivity at electrical contacts and make fasteners difficult to remove for maintenance
Corvettes contain a staggering number of components that will deteriorate with age regardless of mileage. The components that do wear with usage tend to be a) fairly robust (thinking of the moving parts in the power train and driveline) and b) straightforward to replace (running gear, switch gear, etc.). I bet that even the driveline is more likely to require service because of a leak than due to a mechanical failure.
Regardless of the mid-cycle improvements, I would go for the newer car. Especially because of those improvements, I would go for the newer car. Good luck and let us know what you decide.
-Embrittlement, creep and fatigue of elastomeric components (e.g. leaking seals, hoses & weather strips, loose powertrain mounts, etc.)
-Creep/cracking of plastic parts...plastics inherently age poorly and the effects are accelerated with things like UV exposure and thermal cycling. As an anecdote, a friend's ultra-low mileage early C6 has far more squeaks, creaks and rattles than my 2011 car does.
-Corrosion, which can reduce heat exchanger efficiency, result in poor conductivity at electrical contacts and make fasteners difficult to remove for maintenance
Corvettes contain a staggering number of components that will deteriorate with age regardless of mileage. The components that do wear with usage tend to be a) fairly robust (thinking of the moving parts in the power train and driveline) and b) straightforward to replace (running gear, switch gear, etc.). I bet that even the driveline is more likely to require service because of a leak than due to a mechanical failure.
Regardless of the mid-cycle improvements, I would go for the newer car. Especially because of those improvements, I would go for the newer car. Good luck and let us know what you decide.
Last edited by jrob56; 07-22-2013 at 03:40 PM.
07-22-2013, 06:07 PM
#48
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St. Jude Donor '13
We had a 2006 and now a 2009, comparable to what the OP is looking at.
The 2006 is a good car.
The 2009 is a GREAT car.
The 2006 is a good car.
The 2009 is a GREAT car.
07-22-2013, 06:34 PM
#49
Melting Slicks
IMO, I would go with the one "Least used". In this case the older/less milage car.
If you put 25K miles on it you will have a very limited pool of buyers when you go to sell it with over a 100K on the odo. Older car with low miles will always command interest.
....after all you're considering one.
In the end, it's a mechanical thing and the one with the least wear is your best bet.
If you put 25K miles on it you will have a very limited pool of buyers when you go to sell it with over a 100K on the odo. Older car with low miles will always command interest.
....after all you're considering one.In the end, it's a mechanical thing and the one with the least wear is your best bet.
Last edited by JKbride; 07-22-2013 at 06:38 PM.
07-22-2013, 07:12 PM
#50
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Cruise-In I Veteran
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IMO, I would go with the one "Least used". In this case the older/less milage car.
If you put 25K miles on it you will have a very limited pool of buyers when you go to sell it with over a 100K on the odo. Older car with low miles will always command interest.....after all you're considering one.
In the end, it's a mechanical thing and the one with the least wear is your best bet.
If you put 25K miles on it you will have a very limited pool of buyers when you go to sell it with over a 100K on the odo. Older car with low miles will always command interest.
....after all you're considering one.In the end, it's a mechanical thing and the one with the least wear is your best bet.
07-22-2013, 08:38 PM
#51
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St. Jude Donor '13
IMO, I would go with the one "Least used". In this case the older/less milage car.
If you put 25K miles on it you will have a very limited pool of buyers when you go to sell it with over a 100K on the odo. Older car with low miles will always command interest.....after all you're considering one.
In the end, it's a mechanical thing and the one with the least wear is your best bet.
If you put 25K miles on it you will have a very limited pool of buyers when you go to sell it with over a 100K on the odo. Older car with low miles will always command interest.
....after all you're considering one.In the end, it's a mechanical thing and the one with the least wear is your best bet.
As mentioned in post #48 (more Full Disclosure), we have owned two Corvettes very similar to the two that OP is considering. Our current 2009 has 61k miles, and I'd take it in a heartbeat over anything before 2008 regardless of miles. There is that much difference between the years.
Not to say that you can't have fun with a 2005, but ...
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; 07-22-2013 at 08:41 PM.
07-22-2013, 10:11 PM
#52
Melting Slicks
In the interest of Full Disclosure, we must note that JKbride's profile says that he has a 2005. Whiteboy has a 2006.
As mentioned in post #48 (more Full Disclosure), we have owned two Corvettes very similar to the two that OP is considering. Our current 2009 has 61k miles, and I'd take it in a heartbeat over anything before 2008 regardless of miles. There is that much difference between the years.
Not to say that you can't have fun with a 2005, but ...
As mentioned in post #48 (more Full Disclosure), we have owned two Corvettes very similar to the two that OP is considering. Our current 2009 has 61k miles, and I'd take it in a heartbeat over anything before 2008 regardless of miles. There is that much difference between the years.
Not to say that you can't have fun with a 2005, but ...
As a owner who knows how my car was driven and maintained I would have no issue with having lots of miles ( in fact they are meant to be driven), but unless I knew the owner and car, I would pass on one with 75K miles, LS3 or not.
.....and yes, I have fun in my trouble free 2005 that I purchased 2 years ago with 20,100 on the odo
And appreciate the previous owner kept the miles down till I came along. When mine comes up for sale it will likely have 100k miles 
07-24-2013, 01:23 AM
#55
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If it adds any credibility, I am a reliability engineer--the guy who conducts endurance tests, analyzes field failure statistics, redesigns components for reliability growth and sets/validates likelihood of surviving warranty periods...
Last edited by RestoRoc89; 07-24-2013 at 01:26 AM.