View Full Version : Who actually drives their Corvette?
BADRACR1
10-20-2023, 11:59pm
Not talking an occasion monthly outing when it hasn't rained in three days or supposed to for three more. I mean as a daily or most of the time vehicle.
I got to thinking about this because of comments on another forum about engine detailing. I replied I have never detailed mine. I also made the comment the car's lucky if it gets washed every other month. Haven't vacuumed it since the start of the summer. You'd think I had killed someone.
Don't get me wrong. I don't abuse it, but I do use it. I have put 4k miles on it since I got it back from a trans rebuild in March. I generally don't drive it when it's supposed to rain. That's what the F50 is for. I'm not afraid to get it dirty, just don't enjoy cleaning them like I did when I was younger.
Hell, they'd really have a cow if anyone asked about smoking in their car. It's a convertible, so the top is almost always down. Plus, it's mine.
Still looks pretty nice.
89927
Mike Mercury
10-21-2023, 12:02am
our 2015, purchased Oct 2014... just turned over 20,000 miles.
I average around 2,500 miles per 7-month season on mine. It’ll go into hibernation in the next week or two until March-April when the road salt is all washed off.
Taurus
10-21-2023, 12:12am
I drive the C5 regularly, not so much the 17k mile C3 survivor.
https://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=342&pictureid=3467
Oh-yaa
10-21-2023, 12:14am
I drive mine sometimes. I work from home now so I don't drive anything much. The tow pig is currently hooked to the 5th wheel rv, so running around duties go to the Corvette. It is low mileage, 89,something, for a 2003 AE. Its my toy
ZipZap
10-21-2023, 12:16am
Coming in December at the NCM.
I don't particularly like going places with people but I love to drive. No work = Tearing up the tires.
My C6 was a daily when I was working. This will be my car, and the F-250 will be the hoss during snow.
Anjdog2003
10-21-2023, 12:36am
I drive my cars 12 month out of the year. Hard top or convertible.
Anjdog2003
10-21-2023, 12:37am
Since our summers in Winnipeg last 3 weeks i only put 500 miles a year on my Corvette
mrvette
10-21-2023, 2:03am
YET ANOTHER REASON to enjoy FLORIDUH........drop my top and gofurr a ride....garage kept on a rather tall hillside......
Yesterday I loaded it up with dough-nations and so drove about 4 miles one way and dropped them off the vette was loaded and top DOWN......every time I do that, someone asks about the car......
but in fact it gets noticed all the time, people ask the same question....WATT YEAR IS THAT????
gee I wunder why.....
Black94lt1
10-21-2023, 3:07am
My 09 has 72k on it, I try to dive it at least once a week and we travel with it regularly. I’m like you, I fair weather drive it just because I don’t want to clean it 😂
91corvette
10-21-2023, 3:42am
450 miles this summer. April until now.
Just got back from a 2996.6 mile road trip in the C5 convertible. Orlando-Charleston-Asheville-Nashville-West Lafayette IN-Indianapolis-Louisville-Lexington-Kingsport TN-home. So, yes that gets driven. But having 4 cars and work from home, lots of days I don't leave the house. My truck (99 Silverado RCSB) gets some use, the Z06 is relegated to car show duties. The MDX gets most of the miles.
99 pewtercoupe
10-21-2023, 5:42am
Bought new in December 2016. 19,000 miles on it. Drive it several times a week but mostly just on the island
Since our summers in Winnipeg last 3 weeks i only put 500 miles a year on my Corvette
As I type this at 6 am it’s 56 degrees :toetap:
Teeing off at 8:49am and taking it to the course, then I put it away till April :banghead:
Drove it home across country May of 2016 with 43K kms now has 69K and change.
I also hate cleaning it so the Lexus is my rain/ winter beater car
89931
Frankie the Fink
10-21-2023, 6:36am
I drove my 61 5,000 miles/year and about the same with my split window.
I don't do garage queens.
04 commemorative
10-21-2023, 6:39am
Love that color ! My first one was the same.
Steve_R
10-21-2023, 6:54am
My 14 vert I bought new is approaching 40k miles. I drive it daily. It’s been driven in the rain and - GASP - snow. I’m not saving it for the next owner.
bigblock427
10-21-2023, 6:59am
Mine '21 is my daily driver. My wife has a '19 Grand Sport that is her daily driver. We drive ours every day.:seasix:
89939
450 miles this summer. April until now.
You got me beat! Mine has rolled about 120 miles so far this year. Sadly, that is more than some years recently.
I used to drive it a lot, and would put 1500 - 2000 miles on it per year. Knee arthritis has ended that practice. :cuss:
If I wasn't currently Vetteless, I'd drive the Vette more often than not.
outrunm
10-21-2023, 7:50am
The 63 will sometimes sit for a month or 2, but I drive the 15 every single day.
I put less than 500 miles on the '76 this year.
Maybe next year I'll get more miles on it.
Or not.
SurfnSun
10-21-2023, 8:01am
Mine has been driven a little bit. :D Actually drove it to work this morning...
Torqaholic
10-21-2023, 8:08am
It's my grocery getter for 6 months every year. It holds two overfilled shopping carts and two people. Cut back to one cart and no passenger since my youngest moved out and got a place of his own. Kinda miss the helping hand.
My 09 has 72k on it, I try to dive it at least once a week and we travel with it regularly. I’m like you, I fair weather drive it just because I don’t want to clean it 😂
Same here. The older I get the harder it is to clean. :(
It's an '07, had 23k when I picked it up in May 2014, just clicked over 50k last week.
The nice thing about storing over winter (for motorcycles too) is it seems like a brand-new car when you first get it out in the spring. If I could drive it 12 months per year it would get boring and would seem like any old car.
My 2004 , which I got Labor day weekend 2003, Now has 82,500 miles on her. I just don't go out that much and , for 10 years after I got her, I spent 1.5 weeks a month on the road and worked from home.
ricks327
10-21-2023, 10:28am
Drive my C7 convertible regularly in the summer season except for this year because of the wife's health issues, ie; hospital and rehab centers.
Onebadcad
10-21-2023, 10:39am
Bought my '15 used in 2016, drive it daily, about 500/month.
My 2005 has not moved in a while,,, long, long story.
GTOguy
10-21-2023, 10:53am
I drive my '61 once or twice a week. I just hit it with the CA duster and go. It always fires right up and is great to run errands in. 89955
Unsuspicious
10-21-2023, 11:37am
Once a week, if it happens to not be raining on trash day cause it has to come out of my tiny garage for bins to come out. Maybe weekend ride to the casino.
Bought my '15 used in 2016, drive it daily, about 500/month.
My 2005 has not moved in a while,,, long, long story.
Early build? :bigears:
BTW, for those of you who won't drive your Corvettes, I will gladly take Corvette donations, and I will drive it/them. :yesnod:
PS: NO C4s. :nono:
Torqaholic
10-21-2023, 1:08pm
Same here. The older I get the harder it is to clean. :(
...
That's why I am more likely to drive it in the rain. Gotta wash all that dust off somehow. Added bonus of not risking scratches on the clear coat :D
Steve_R
10-21-2023, 1:12pm
Once a week, if it happens to not be raining on trash day cause it has to come out of my tiny garage for bins to come out. Maybe weekend ride to the casino.
Contrary to popular opinion they don’t melt in the rain. :seasix:
IrishSpuds
10-21-2023, 1:17pm
I got rid of my C6 GS two years ago, but am #27 with MacMulkin on the Eray list, so should have in the next few months. I will likely only use spring through fall on weekends etc so maybe 3-4k a year, but it is not my primary whip.
SQUIRMIN VERMIN 84
10-21-2023, 1:54pm
I drive my 84 mostly in the summer anymore.
89966
My 14 vert I bought new is approaching 40k miles. I drive it daily. It’s been driven in the rain and - GASP - snow. I’m not saving it for the next owner.
At about 4K miles a year most would disagree
That's why I am more likely to drive it in the rain. Gotta wash all that dust off somehow. Added bonus of not risking scratches on the clear coat :D
What I meant was it's harder for ME to clean it, not that the car itself is harder to clean. :cert:
Datawiz
10-21-2023, 2:37pm
Considering I work from home, and rarely drive, I still drive my C8 as much as I can. I take the Tundra when the weather sucks, or take the C6Z when the C8 is prepped for a race weekend sitting on Hoosiers, but basically, when I drive, it's a Corvette.
I drive my '61 once or twice a week. I just hit it with the CA duster and go. It always fires right up and is great to run errands in. 89955
Thread win here. :yesnod:
AUTOHOLIC
10-21-2023, 4:45pm
I drive ALL my cars regularly as the only modern vehicle (other than the ZRZ 900 is my 1999 F150.
See my albums
theandies
10-21-2023, 4:49pm
Daily drove my 71 Convertible for about 3 years a few years ago but I drive mine all the time all year. Put about 5000 miles a year on the old girl.
Steve_R
10-21-2023, 5:44pm
At about 4K miles a year most would disagree
Since my work commute is from the bedroom to the home office, and we live on an island, neither of our cars get driven far.
And I don’t give a flying **** what “most” think. YMMV.
No vette, no miles. I drive the 996 a few times a week. It lives in the back garage so it’s a little more work to get out. Also based on whether what I’m going out to get will easily fit in it. I don’t commute, so that’s out. It probably only gets a couple thousand miles a year.
Unsuspicious
10-21-2023, 6:39pm
Just looked at my records, I was at 5000 miles a year but driving it much less now since getting an EV. It's no longer daily driver status. Now I'm around 250 miles a month, it's 100 miles round trip to the casino.
Since my work commute is from the bedroom to the home office, and we live on an island, neither of our cars get driven far.
And I don’t give a flying **** what “most” think. YMMV.
Same with me but being retired my commute is shorter. I plan to rally with the vette. Looking for some nice roads in the mountains. What will they do, take my license?:rofl:
Same with me but being retired my commute is shorter. I plan to rally with the vette. Looking for some nice roads in the mountains. What will they do, take my license?:rofl:
According to a lot of members "at another Corvette forum," if you don't rack up a lot of miles then you're not a real Corvette owner.
I got in numerous debates about this cuz it's so stupid. Are you supposed to just drive it even when you don't feel like going anywhere? Show a lot of miles on your odo on a regular basis to prove you're a real Vette owner?
"What are ya, saving it for the next guy?" No, I drive it when I feel like driving it -- which isn't all the time.
How freaking dumb. Back then I was still working (at home) so I never put a lot of miles on any vehicles. I actually drive more per year now that I'm retired.
I made this smiley just to tweak the retards "at that other place":
89980
According to a lot of members "at another Corvette forum," if you don't rack up a lot of miles then you're not a real Corvette owner.
I got in numerous debates about this cuz it's so stupid. Are you supposed to just drive it even when you don't feel like going anywhere? Show a lot of miles on your odo on a regular basis to prove you're a real Vette owner?
"What are ya, saving it for the next guy?" No, I drive it when I feel like driving it -- which isn't all the time.
How freaking dumb. Back then I was still working (at home) so I never put a lot of miles on any vehicles. I actually drive more per year now that I'm retired.
I made this smiley just to tweak the retards "at that other place":
89980
This ^^^^
And no apologies for affording another car for shit weather :D:
This ^^^^
And no apologies for affording another car for shit weather :D:
Yeah, mine is stored for 5 months during winter. Not a big deal like some seem to think, been doing this with cars and motorcycles all my life.
When I get it out in the spring, it's like a new thrill all over again. :) If I could drive it all year I'd probably get bored with it and sell it.
ricks327
10-21-2023, 8:43pm
Yeah, mine is stored for 5 months during winter. Not a big deal like some seem to think, been doing this with cars and motorcycles all my life.
When I get it out in the spring, it's like a new thrill all over again. :) If I could drive it all year I'd probably get bored with it and sell it.
Exactly!!!
Yeah, mine is stored for 5 months during winter. Not a big deal like some seem to think, been doing this with cars and motorcycles all my life.
When I get it out in the spring, it's like a new thrill all over again. :) If I could drive it all year I'd probably get bored with it and sell it.
The above is the exact reason I sold
My 96 Z28 Vert. That feeling stopped spring of 2016. Bought the Vette a month later. Feeling is still there so the Vette remains until the thrill is gone
The above is the exact reason I sold
My 96 Z28 Vert. That feeling stopped spring of 2016. Bought the Vette a month later. Feeling is still there so the Vette remains until the thrill is gone
Yeah, I've had my '07 for ten years this coming May. I still enjoy driving it, but the early rush is a bit less each spring. But jumping on the gas periodically brings the rush back like nothing else (like I did Thursday). :hurray:
It's like having the same woman too long. I know a few things about that, unfortunately, but that's all behind me. :(
Drive, or do not drive. Your car. Anybody that buys a late model car to use it as an asset on their balance sheet is a clown.
Steve_R
10-21-2023, 9:24pm
Drive, or do not drive. Your car. Anybody that buys a late model car to use it as an asset on their balance sheet is a clown.
No, wrong, it’s an investment. At least a C7 is according to many owners at CF. I was threatened with a ban for daring to type “It’s not an investment, it’s a depreciating Chevy.” Much butthurt ensued from that post. :D
No, wrong, it’s an investment. At least a C7 is according to many owners at CF. I was threatened with a ban for daring to type “It’s not an investment, it’s a depreciating Chevy.” Much butthurt ensued from that post. :D
:funniest: :funniest:
No car is an asset, aside from MAYBE various classics that might appreciate as time goes on. But owning any car like that, how willing is one to actually drive and enjoy it? Not most, I bet. I've talked to guys at car shows years ago who had old, rare, big-block Vettes, etc., and all the driving they did was to drive them on and off trailers when going to car shows.
Putting the same amount of money into the S&P 500 (SPY) will average you 10% gain annually over time. I bet very few cars will do that.
ZipZap
10-21-2023, 10:13pm
No, wrong, it’s an investment. At least a C7 is according to many owners at CF. I was threatened with a ban for daring to type “It’s not an investment, it’s a depreciating Chevy.” Much butthurt ensued from that post. :D
Clowns are abundant. Everywhere.
Ronins2ndCuzzin
10-21-2023, 10:21pm
I drive mine any chance I get...or when I'm not working on it. Here's where she's at right now...
I'm mating/grafting a C7 ZR1 bumper to a C6 ZO6. I really like how it's laying out.
Taurus
10-21-2023, 11:18pm
That does line up nice.
Steve_R
10-22-2023, 6:19am
I drive mine any chance I get...or when I'm not working on it. Here's where she's at right now...
I'm mating/grafting a C7 ZR1 bumper to a C6 ZO6. I really like how it's laying out.
Cool project! Do you have a build thread on it? Would love to follow along and see the finished work.
Ronins2ndCuzzin
10-22-2023, 8:54am
Cool project! Do you have a build thread on it? Would love to follow along and see the finished work.
Yep.
https://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134537
GTOguy
10-22-2023, 11:11am
:funniest: :funniest:
No car is an asset, aside from MAYBE various classics that might appreciate as time goes on. But owning any car like that, how willing is one to actually drive and enjoy it? Not most, I bet. I've talked to guys at car shows years ago who had old, rare, big-block Vettes, etc., and all the driving they did was to drive them on and off trailers when going to car shows.
Putting the same amount of money into the S&P 500 (SPY) will average you 10% gain annually over time. I bet very few cars will do that.
IMO, life is too short to have cars that are 'too valuable' to drive. I've always done well with old cars, and that's all I drive. But knowing how to repair them and keep them in top shape myself is a huge factor. The GTO's have gone up 30-40 times the price I paid for them since I've owned them. Not too shabby. Other old cars, not quite as much, but still 2 to 3 times the buy price. The key is to keep them for decades and drive and use them so they don't become garbage.
sublime1996525
10-22-2023, 12:16pm
Agreed! Life is too short to save them for the next person.
:funniest: :funniest:
No car is an asset, aside from MAYBE various classics that might appreciate as time goes on. But owning any car like that, how willing is one to actually drive and enjoy it? Not most, I bet. I've talked to guys at car shows years ago who had old, rare, big-block Vettes, etc., and all the driving they did was to drive them on and off trailers when going to car shows.
Putting the same amount of money into the S&P 500 (SPY) will average you 10% gain annually over time. I bet very few cars will do that.
VFINX (https://www.morningstar.com/funds/xnas/vfinx/quote) (Vanguard's S&P 500 index) if you bought $10k in October 2013 (enter the starting date) all gains reinvested, would be worth $28,855 today. (https://www.morningstar.com/funds/xnas/vfinx/chart)
Enter the starting date to go back farther:
From October 2003, today would be worth $58,469.
From October 1993, today would be worth $156,754.
Going back 40 years to October 1983, today would be worth $609,269.
So enjoy driving your cars, but if you're investing in them for retirement, eh. :( Some cars may be an asset, but not a very good one.
With maybe rare exceptions (which you won't know ahead of time until after the fact) you'll be much better off with a stock index.
Unsuspicious
10-22-2023, 4:10pm
I can get twice what I paid for my C5 if I sold it now, S&P didn't do that
I can get twice what I paid for my C5 if I sold it now, S&P didn't do that
When did you buy it and what did you pay for it?
I can get twice what I paid for my C5 if I sold it now, S&P didn't do that
100% gain for a minimum of 20 years? That would piss me off. FFS that's only 5% non-compounded.
My dollars invested in actual assets from the 80's and 90's have blasted that return by a long, long way.
When did you buy it and what did you pay for it?
Interested as well. Paid $16K I think for my 50K mile 2004 coupe 18 months or so ago, no idea what the market is right now.
I did get offered $25K for the 79 at the last show it was at, just not interested in letting it go.
Unsuspicious
10-22-2023, 6:53pm
When did you buy it and what did you pay for it?
Less than 10k 2 years ago
Onebadcad
10-22-2023, 7:21pm
Less than 10k 2 years ago
fpd would get 500+% on that using his own GAAP.
SurfnSun
10-22-2023, 7:47pm
I drive mine any chance I get...or when I'm not working on it. Here's where she's at right now...
I'm mating/grafting a C7 ZR1 bumper to a C6 ZO6. I really like how it's laying out.
Here’s a similar look I came across on a Callaway C6
Ronins2ndCuzzin
10-22-2023, 8:40pm
Here’s a similar look I came across on a Callaway C6
That's "interesting." I don't know that I'd be a fan of it on my car. This is the bumper before this project.
TripleBlack
10-23-2023, 12:08am
104k on my 07 C6 vert. Lots of road trips.
Jughead
10-23-2023, 5:34am
Not as much as I used to. Used as a summer DD for a few years but now getting older I find less and less time for it. Thinking of selling. Been in storage the last few years taking her out every couple months. Loaded with every option incl heritage package.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corvetteforum.com-vbulletin/1024x576/80-20160722_164754_zpstkwzcwqm_ad3833b1b70d37678f3be28aeb4ee3be8080c452.jpg
ptindall
10-23-2023, 9:54am
When I bought my corvette, it was my only car. Both daily driver and road trip car. That was true for a few years. I kept it as a track car for many years but retained streetability. A few years back I decided I wasn't enjoying the track enough anymore to devote time and money to it so I set the car aside. I've only driven it a couple times in the last couple years. I really need to change the oil as it's been two or three years since I've done it. I drive my '67 Falcon much more.
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