When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I picked up my Z06 about a month ago now and have been enjoying it immensely. I drove it back from Iowa and it was a trip I'll cherish for years to come (I posted a thread here on it).
I discovered something about myself on that trip though. I think I am a "Gentleman Joe Dirt". I stayed on the back two lanes as much as possible and there were many times I saw dirt roads that I wanted to explore. I also live on a dirt road so I have to drive a mile on dirt before hitting pavement. I actually enjoy it most of the time (my daily's are a lifted Jeep Grand Cherokee and a lifted Duramax diesel truck) but in the Vette I have to idle all the way out and back so as to not get covered in dust. At the same time I like my vehicles to have the gentleman's luxuries that a modern C5 has.
My other C5 is a convertible with almost 140K miles on it. It is in quite good condition and I still try to keep it clean but I don't mind if it sits in the garage dirty after a drive. I can also park it anywhere without worry.
The Z06 has only 32K miles on it and is in like new condition. So I have actually thought about selling it in favor of a car that isn't so nice. On the other hand, I think I should just drive it as much as I want and not worry about it getting dirty or about resale value. It is such a wonderful car to drive. I think I should get it ceramic coated to make it easier to shed the dust.
Do any of you ever think your car is too nice and a bit of a burden because of it? I've never been a garage queen kind of guy.
Here's a couple photos of the car off pavement from my road trip.
32k miles. I say start driving it and enjoy it. Use what someone else left behind sitting on the table wasted.
My crappy 97 only had 26k on it when I bought it 4 years ago. I don't abuse it by any means but at the same time I bought the car to enjoy it however I see fit.
I'm not a paint polisher but we to try and keep our cars clean. Hell I'll use a wash brush on my car. Granted it's not a cheapo wash brush but it's a wash brush none the less.
Every time I consider selling mine and getting something flawless.......I come to my senses.
and especially not another black c5.
So, opposite end of the spectrum for me. But I truly like that I can relax in it.
I just in the last month have moved again and the new place is on a gravel road also. I will be driving like, 5 mph or slower for a half mile before I hit pavement. I know it will be inevitable that I'll either have someone behind me honking like crazy or I'll meet someone driving the speed limit and have dust blown all over it for me to clean. I'm more afraid of the rocks flying around then I am of the dust. I will be cleaning it for sure when I get it back in the garage too.
All that really matters is that YOU are enjoying your Vette the way YOU want to.
There is no right or wrong here.
This exactly. No right or wrong, just personal opinion. For me, I just bought my C5 (my 3rd overall) specifically as a track car. It already has battle scars from track days done by the prior owner, even though the car only has 33k miles, and I don't give a darn. I don't understand the mindset of the wax/don't drive it crowd. I cringe at the signs at car shows saying "This car is 1 of 4 built with this paint, this interior, these options and assembled on a Tuesday after 2pm by a guy named Fred", but it doesn't mean they're wrong. If they're enjoying their car, then that's the only thing that counts.
I bought my first Vette ('02 vert) about 6 months ago, when it had only about 7,100 miles on it. Obviously had been a garage queen. But I wanted something I could drive and enjoy. After quickly replacing the original run-flats that were still on it, I proceeded to get it out on the road. Taking trips out and around most weekends, and just around town occasionally during the week. However, I originally had the odometer showing constantly in the DIC. I had to change that as it was messing with my head ... every added mile seemed to be some sort of insult. Once I turned it off, I was able not to obsess so much about each new mile. As a result, I've really enjoyed adding a little more than 2,000 miles on it this spring and summer. Now in the DIC I'm jumping between average MPG and a trip odometer just so I can see what kind of mileage I'm getting (22+ in very mixed types of driving).
One person had (what I think) was great advice -- respect the car, but go out and enjoy it.
I'm trying to to I still tend to park a couple spaces away from other cars when ever possible, but I'm actively out driving and enjoying it. And I'll still make sure it gets cleaned up when I get home--although it might not be constantly in a ready to go museum show condition.
(PS: I did take it for about a hundred yards on a gravel road the other day... at about 2 MPH...)
My car is definitely a drivers car. I never intend to sell it, so I don't care at all about resale value. I drive the car where and when I want. With that said, I totally understand where you are coming from. I used to worry and stress about something happening to the car every time I took it out. I keep the car looking nice, and do avoid driving it in the rain. However, the car isn't in perfect condition, and I have resolved to just enjoy driving it.
Mine had 34k miles and was like brand new when I bought it 2 years ago. It has been my dual use street and track toy. Back in April this year I spun out and hit a tire wall on track. Now it has a different color front bumper and some tire scuffs down the driver side that wont buff out. These are the risks we take putting a car on track. Its still a fast and fun car and I enjoy it every time I take it out. I still clean it, polish it, and care for it regularly, and just polish over the tire marks. These cars are meant to be driven! Enjoy it in the ways that you want.
Well, I got my car from my cousins farm today. Had to drive it about a 1/4 mile on a gravel road. Only went between 5 and 10 mph. Didn't kick up to much dust and the rock flinging was kept to a minimum. Once I hit the pavement though, all hell broke loose and I was at 110 before I knew it. Did I mention he lives in Mexico? I think I'll be okay on my road for a while.
My driveway is gravel and about 300 feet long . When I leave and get on the blacktop road I drive slowly for first mile or so to let the rocks come out of the tires. This seems to eliminate most the rock chips. I enjoy driving the car so if I get an occasional chip I can live with that.
Sympathize WRT long driveways. Ours is 250 yards, but we finally decided to get it paved as snow clearing in winter always ended up removing a lot of gravel. Not cheap by any means.
BTW, as to the comment about the luxuries a modern Vette has, I would agree as I've spent time driving my neighbor's nice new C8. But the C5? Not so much. The newest C5's are 18 years old and the design goes back about 30 years. My own C5 is 25 years old. Switching between the two iterations is a night and day difference.
Last edited by jackthelad; 09-15-2022 at 04:24 PM.
Dust over rock chips any day, especially the now-hard-to-find windshields! I try to keep my car clean, and waxed. I don't obsess over it, though. Close to 140,000 miles will do that for you. Even with some paint chips here and there, I still get compliments on it. I just say 'it's in pretty good shape for a 22 year old, original paint car.' Then they all say 'it sure doesn't look that old!'
09-12-2022, 07:59 PM
is Your C5 Too Nice?
I stayed on the back two lanes as much as possible and there were many times I saw dirt roads that I wanted to explore. I also live on a dirt road so I have to drive a mile on dirt before hitting pavement. I actually enjoy it most of the time (my daily's are a lifted Jeep Grand Cherokee and a lifted Duramax diesel truck) but in the Vette I have to idle all the way out and back so as to not get covered in dust. At the same time I like my vehicles to have the gentleman's luxuries that a modern C5 has. 
