Need your opinion. I'm looking at a 2015 C7, 3LT, not a Z51, convertible with manual transmission, 2 owners, clean Carfax, Leguna Blue. Asking $41k. My only only concern is the mileage which is 40k. Is that amount of miles something to be concerned about? Thanks in advance!

 

Depends on how well the car has been maintained and driven. The LT1 is a pretty robust engine and if things were done right and the car wasn’t abused, 40K miles is just getting broken in. The key is being able to know how the prior owner(s) took care of the car.

One thing is for sure, have the car thoroughly checked out by a certified Corvette mechanic.

 

Thank you!

 

I just purchased a C7 with 95,000 miles last month You would never know it by looking at the car. When I went for an inspection they said “don’t you mean 95 hundred miles?”.
It’s all about how well the car was taken care of. I didn’t hesitate since all maintenance was done religiously. These engines are built well and will last a long time if you maintain them.
40k miles is nothing. Good luck!

 

40k mileage is nothing to be concerned about, go & inspect the car in person before you buy

 

Mechanically speaking, 40k is fine, especially as it's an M7. That doesn't mean it's bulletproof ... anything related to the drivetrain will be expensive, double the typical cost (i.e. a new diff is $6k, a clutch is $4k, etc).

Just be aware of the overabundance of 'garage queens' in the C7 market which drives down the prices of C7's as the miles creep up. That means the main concern is likely going to be what you pay for it and what the resale will be down the road.

You should be more concerned about the dash than the drivetrain.

 

The mileage thing is a mental issue for buyers- It may sound good to find a 2015 used Corvette in 2024 with only 10000 miles, but it only means it sat for very long periods of time doing nothing. Cars that are driven gives the owner a chance to identify issues which need fixing back when it was under warranty. I personally think garage queens is one reason it is hard for GM to find problems? the damn cars are not driven. Don't get me wrong I like finding a 2 year old vette with 15k miles, however I also plan on driving it and so 15k is a very temporary mileage.
I hope your 40k garage queen will be driven not sit alone in the dark by herself

 

No, no reason to be concerned about a used C7 Corvette with "40K miles" on it. Sounds like a definite go being a non-Z51, Laguna Blue, M7 trans, and a 3LT.

I wouldn't buy one with that high of mileage, but that's no reason why you shouldn't.

 

I'm a longtime member of a diesel-engined based automotive forum. It becomes bragging rights the more miles your diesel has on it. In fact, the consensus is that the more miles it has on it, the more dirt cheap it can be bought for used. That, is always the case, regardless.
It's uniformly also true that the higher the mileage, the greater cost for ongoing parts and service it needs too. Versus a low mileage vehicle.


A 2015 C7 with "10K miles" would be exactly the used Corvette I'd be interested in buying. 30K less miles will be a premium in cost, but not that much. There is no proof that a car 9-years old, is always a car that has "just sat." The fact of the matter is, that a 2015 C7 with 40K miles car, will need more dollars sunk into it sooner than a like Corvette with a healthy 10K miles.

 

History, history, documentation??? A significant part of the equation when considering used performance vehicles. As noted, abuse or lack there of and assiduous maintenance make all the difference. All the best.

 

I'd spend a little more. I just picked up 2016 Vert, Z51, 2LT, 16K miles from a retiree for $46.5k. Tires are old and no Magentic Ride. It checked all the boxes for me except magentic ride. Go for the 2016 up for various reasons, front cameras, car play / android auto. Market seems to be dropping. I feel that I paid market, but the car was stock and maintained except for the tires.

 

Before i purchased my corvette, i watched the market in my area (GA) for a very long time. i also work at a dealership myself, so im able to look up MMR, wholesale, auction and trade in value for any car i want. the asking price for the one your considering honestly isnt bad (considering the dealership you go to doesn't tack on 3k in add ons), but you also have to factor in how much your going to pay in taxes, doc fees and registration and such. although its listed at 41, youll most likely be spending roughly around 45-46.

I purchased my 2014 3LT Z51 Manual with 20k miles for exactly 42k OTD. I also have a friend that purchased a 2014 Lime green z51 3LT manual with 98k miles for 32k otd. all in all, from all the different years, specs, and trims i have put together a little list on how much you SHOULD spend for a car depending on its trims in order for it to be considered a "great" deal. when deciding these, you also have to look at the return you'll make when reselling or trading in, so keep that in mind too.

C7 that is base model with no add ons - 31k-35k
C7 Z51 1LT - 34k-35k
C7 Z51 3LT - 36k-42k

these value i put together are not contingent on year or miles. id say you shouldn't really care for the year as they didn't change much throughout the years for these cars, and honestly any year will put a smile on your face. as far as miles, lower is always better of course but if you're buying in at high miles, make sure the car doesnt have any accidents and has a good report of maintenance on the carfax. I'm unsure that transmission makes a big difference in the value, but they are harder to come across so its always worth spending a little more. i hope this helps.

Happy hunting

 

Can I share this with you? You do not need MSRC, if you've got a Z51 equipped C7 Corvette. I've got MSRC on my base Stingray 2017, and I DON'T need it. Oh sure, if you're race car guy on the streets, maybe, but even then. Just another thing to cost $$$ when it goes down.

 

There are needs and there are wants. Yeah, the non magnetic really is not an issue. I can get rough on the Michigan freeways during road construction season.

 

I don't see a problem with the miles unless you plan to resell it soon. Just check the leather dash for bubbles. A 3LT vert is about as loaded as you can get. I paid $48k for my 15 2LT Vert with 7000 miles last August. I like garage queens. My C6 was a Z51 and the better gearing was nice off the light but I don't miss it at all. It was a bit too firm for me.

 

MSRC won't improve the ride quality in road construction zones. Well, unless you're racing, but a softer/smoother ride? I wouldn't miss it one bit.

 

Agreed, I would not want to replace the mags. Stayed aways from the 3LT due to issues. I think may spec is the way to go. Solid.

 

I respectfully disagree about that. My '16 Z-51 convertible with 18K miles doesn't have magride and it's a very rough ride compared to the '19 SR base I had. I can feel every little imperfection on a road (I do have run flats with about 15K on them) but it's been thar way since the tires were new. It does handle like a slot car though

 

I traded in a 2-year old Cadillac with 93K on my new Corvette. The 33K showing on the odometer wasn't even questioned. I was given FULL NADA Dealer Retail for the car. It looked as if it had 3,300 miles on it....

 

Disagree.
You've got a totally different car..... Mine handles "like a slot car" too, in Touring.....imagine that....😊