LT4 What do you consider low mileage on a 1996 corvette?

[intmdt8r]

I was just wondering what you guys think is low mileage for a 1996 corvette? It's just that everyone has there own idea of what is low mileage and i was just curious as to what other people's opinions were on this subject. Thanks

 

[Red Vette]

In my opinion, under 50,000 miles is low. But it depends on where the corvette is. If in the north, the miles may be low because of storage for half the year, in the south, much higher miles. On my 1994, I had 56K on it when I sold it last June.
Barrett

 

[89blackvette]

I think anything 5000 or less per year would be low. That would mean a 1996 with 65000 or less would be low mileage. Normally a car is driven 7500 to 10000 miles per year. 10 miles would be really great.

 

[KANE]

I was just wondering what you guys think is low mileage for a 1996 corvette? It's just that everyone has there own idea of what is low mileage and i was just curious as to what other people's opinions were on this subject. Thanks

Most evaluators (KBB, NADA, Edmond's, etc) place low mileage around 10,000 miles per year or less.

So, low mileage would be around 130,000 or less by those standards. However, Vettes can be found with lower mileage than 10k per year. Sometime that is good, sometimes not so good.

Condition and maintenance can be far more important than mileage. A well kept, meticulously maintained car may be in better shape than another car that has just sat. Many low mile cars are really nice- but there are some that need help. I wouldn't run from a car that I planned to drive just because the miles were a little higher if the trade off was better maintenance and condition.

Here is an example of a low mileage Vette where low mileage wasn't necessarily a great thing. My 1980 Vette had less than 60k original miles on it. In 29 years, it had been driven on average 3,000 miles per year.:eek

It also had a mouse that lived in the rear cargo compartment at one time ugh). Sitting was killing it- fluid leaks of all sorts, exposure to elements, etc. When I did start to drive it, it needed a lot of help.:bang

Although not a Vette... an example of "low to average" mileage and in excellent condition is my (kid friendly- I need the backseats! ) Trans Am. 14 years old and 140k miles. Still on the OEM clutch (that is a shocker to most folks!), perfect weatherstripping- all OEM with no significant / extraordinary blemishes. It was a one owner car and the guy tracked every repair in Excel, had every piece of documentation, and was driven in nice weather & garaged every night.

If I coud have another Vette, it would be like my Trans Am in terms of condition, mileage, and maintenance history.

 

[intmdt8r]

Hi! Thanks for the responses. I agree that maintenance is a big piece of the puzzle. I have a 1996 torch red on red black top convertible LT4 6spd. with 4,800 miles but the coolant is drained and flushed, oil changed all the time andall other maintenance and fluid checked and changed on a regular basis. Plus, i store it in a finished, climate controlled building in the winter. no matter how much or little you drive your car, you need to perform regular maintenece on it to function properly.

 

[KANE]

... no matter how much or little you drive your car, you need to perform regular maintenece on it to function properly.

Amen to that!

...4,800 miles...

:eek

There is low mileage and then there is what you have- which is INCREDIBLE mileage! That is just too cool!

 

[aligator]

I have about 15,000 on my CE.

 

[Catfish9450]

When I bought my 95, it had 101K on the clock, but was immaculate... regular maintenance, garaged, spot-less inside /& out, etc. I also looked at a similar one (convertible) w/ 55K... And I wouldn't even take it on a test drive. You could tell it had never seen the inside of a garage, it had food crumbs in every crack & crevice of the interior, & you could see the air in the tires !!!

 

[dogfish246]

I do low mileage a bit differently...

For a 1996 Vette, I would say around 50k...

I base it on many factors put together like:

• Comparing the same cars on the market because if the lowest mileage you can find on the market is 80k miles then a 70k mile car is low mileage...
• Look at the year because the newer the car the lower the "low mileage" number should be. For example with an 05 Chrysler Crossfire I would consider low mileage 20k miles
• No car that has 100k miles or more is considered low mileage in my book

Thats how I figure out what is low mileage!:cool

 

[wickedlt4ce]

I was just wondering what you guys think is low mileage for a 1996 corvette? It's just that everyone has there own idea of what is low mileage and i was just curious as to what other people's opinions were on this subject. Thanks

For me, low mileage is ~5000 miles a year. I like to see some mileage accumulated just so I know that it's been up to operating temp, etc on a fairly regular basis. I've never been one to buy a garage queen with uber low miles because that's not what I like, but those cars are sure nice to look at.

 

[KANE]

For me, low mileage is ~5000 miles a year. I like to see some mileage accumulated just so I know that it's been up to operating temp, etc on a fairly regular basis. I've never been one to buy a garage queen with uber low miles because that's not what I like, but those cars are sure nice to look at.

I think there is a point where it is either a car that is driven or a museum piece.

 

[CAJUN C4]

My LT4 has 40K and my 95' just turned 80K.

Low mileage is a good thing but I like to drive mine too much with the 95' being my daily driver..I can drive them more living in S.E. Louisana.
The older I get I feel that Life's too short not to enjoy Driving one of the best sports cars ever produced.