Problems with low miles?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 236
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Problems with low miles?
Hey I was wondering what are some of the problems that you would run into with buying an older car with really low miles. Im looking to buy a C5 Z06 and of them ive seen only have about 7k miles on them. Ive heard that some gaskets can go back if they dont get oil every once in a while. Can only shed more light on this for me? Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,827
Likes: 5
From: Chino Hills CA
Hey I was wondering what are some of the problems that you would run into with buying an older car with really low miles. Im looking to buy a C5 Z06 and of them ive seen only have about 7k miles on them. Ive heard that some gaskets can go back if they dont get oil every once in a while. Can only shed more light on this for me? Thanks.
Personally, I would prefer buying a C5 with less than 10,000 miles than one with more miles. Check out www.westcoastcorvette.com, they specialize in low miles Coevettes.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
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From: San Diego CA
It all depends on the owner. If I found out that the 7 year-old car had the original oil, brake fluid, and maybe even coolant, I'd be hesitant to buy it. How often was it driven and for how long each time? If the gas sat in the tank for one year, that's not good - you see what I'm saying? It's all about the owner and his/her driving/maintenance habits.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
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It all depends on the owner. If I found out that the 7 year-old car had the original oil, brake fluid, and maybe even coolant, I'd be hesitant to buy it. How often was it driven and for how long each time? If the gas sat in the tank for one year, that's not good - you see what I'm saying? It's all about the owner and his/her driving/maintenance habits.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
If its just a couple years old I wouldnt worry about it. Change the fluids, turn the key and go.
Now an older meaning early C5, C4 or so yes issues can pop up from just sheer age even if the mileage is low.
Now an older meaning early C5, C4 or so yes issues can pop up from just sheer age even if the mileage is low.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 903
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From: Burbank CA
When I bought my car it had been stored for a year and had a little rough idle due to the gas. I put in two bottles of "Techron" and filled the tank up with fresh gas and after about 100 miles the car ran perfectly and has ever since.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
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From: San Diego CA
I've found that most people can be queried into revealing or inferring whether they did what they say they did. I can almost always tell whether the person selling the car is a car person or a sales person. You have to act like a detective and ask the right questions. Many people who don't do their own maintenance will either have receipts or are trying to make you think the work was done and that they just never saved anything. The latter is the one you should walk away from.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 236
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I've found that most people can be queried into revealing or inferring whether they did what they say they did. I can almost always tell whether the person selling the car is a car person or a sales person. You have to act like a detective and ask the right questions. Many people who don't do their own maintenance will either have receipts or are trying to make you think the work was done and that they just never saved anything. The latter is the one you should walk away from.
Thanks for the tip. So what are some of the "right" questions that i should ask that are specific to the Corvette?
