Used Vette mileage ????

[kingman]

Hi

When looking at 94-96 vette's, when should you draw the line with mileage. l am quite aware that condition and maintenance is as important as mileage.

On e-bay, a low mileage vettes in the above years is approx 50,000 miles. They are also peddling them upwards of 150,000 miles.

l wouldn't hold on to a Mercedes after 36,000miles.

Thanks

p.s. As a third car, l would drive it approx 5,000 miles a year.

 

[Eagle85C4]

Go look in the "Poll Forum" I believe there is one on "How many miles do you have..." You will be surprised that the most are over 100,000......

 

[kingman]

Hi Eagle

That is fine, when you had the vette at say 45,000 miles and drove it for another 50,000 miles. Then at least you know what you put into it.

But buy a vette with anything over 50,000 miles, buyer beware.

Remember, we are talking about a 94-96. And if the vette has this kind of mileage then it's a daily driver.

That is fine, but not for my needs.

 

[Eagle85C4]

I bought my 85Z-51 off of ebay...it had 132,000 when I bought it 2 years ago it has 147,000 now with not the first bit of real trouble. Yes you have to replace the usual stuff...but the car remains "Like a Rock..."

 

[vigman]

Kingman

Ya get what ya pay for....

The point eagle was trying to make is a well maintained Vette can go a LONG distance 200K+. Like all cars the garage queens with 25K will be higher then a 75K daily driver.

So you are the only person who can decide what YOU feel comfortable with... but low milage doesn't ALWAYS equal trouble free.


In all things mechanical... the longer it sits the harder it is to get it back... seals harden.. gaskets seep...leaks develop.. things rust into place... so it's a tradeoff.

My 88 was a beater daily driver
( mechanically).. and I got it for a "DEAL" but I have had to put $$$$ into it. So it all comes out in the wash.

I personally ( since I have the ability to wrench on the car myself... for most things) would rather fix it up... then buy a cherry.. the education is invaulable.



Vig!

 

[sothpaw]

50,000 is no guarantee

I bought my '93 when it was 5 years old and the heater core
was bad. I think the antifreeze was old and killed it.

Also, the rear end will need some work soon (I'm now at 75k)
because the first owner never serviced it.

So, even with a low miles car, it depends on the use and maint.

A 1994 is a 9 yr old car so if it has 54k that's 6k a year. I'd disagree that anything over 50k was a daily driver.

I'd guess that daily driver begin at 8k per year.

 

[JRMaroon]

I agree with the posts here that mention mileage being no guarantee. I purchased my '94 in November of 2001 with 6,600 miles. The car was about as close to new condition as it could have been. In October of 2002 at 10,500 miles, the Opti-Spark went bad.

This isn't necessarily a maintenance issue but an act of carelessness. I have never washed the engine with water but the previous owner probably did.

If you look at a car with a spotless engine, I would ask the owner how they kept it clean. Soaking the front of the engine will damage the Opti in most cases.

If I ever buy another LT1 I will inquire about the Opti-Spark. Has it been replaced and do you have the documentation.

To get back to the topic, I was looking for a very low mileage car and I was able to find one that I liked. I can put 5000 miles/year on this one for 5 years and still sell it with low miles. My depreciation hit will be much less when I turn this car.

Just some things to think about. Good Luck!

Jeff

 

[resto75]

I bought my 94 with 80,000 on it but all the usual problem areas had been already deal with. New opti spark. new water pump, new radiator,all hoses replaced,rebuilt tranny,new rearend gears and bearings. All had been replaced 400 miles prior to purchase with receipts on all. It also had recently replaced brakes all the way around.

This I would say is a better deal then the 50,000 mile car with nothing done to it.

 

[kingman]

Hi
Yes, l agree what most of you said about mileage, but with mileage comes more wear and tear on the interior.

The seats alone can set you back over $1000.

 

[bradfordsvettes]

I AGREE WITH VIGMAM STEVE

 

[rrubel]

Nice thing about high-mileage cars, as someone else said, is that the depreciation has already hit. Most Vettes never fall below a certain price (usually $8-$10k) regardless of year and mileage (yes, there are exceptions). I got my 86 with 132k for $5000 because it needed some work; I put about 3k into it (doing more than needed) and could probably sell it next year (with 10k more miles) for close to that same $8k it's cost me. Not that I will - my wife would KILL me . I've been whining about wanting a Vette for far too long...

And an 86 with 132000 miles has still barely been driven 8k miles a year.

[RICHR]

 

[vettedoc]

Most of the time you get what you pay for, so the lower the milage the more you will get. However the statement about the car drying out the seals, rust, etc. is also true. I recently purchased a 1989 with 52,000 mi. and other than the need to redo the seats(there is some cracking of the leather), the car is in tip top condition. I paid 12K for this one owner fully documented gem! Good luck in your search and have fun>