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I was reading some posts ranging from obsession with oil viscosity to engine hours, highway vs city driving, start up times, oil change and filter schedules, and began to wonder what goes on with owners.
I have owned Corvettes on and of since 1967. My last one, before the arrival of my Z06 was a 2020 C8 Z51. I own a car until a newer more interesting car, whether it be a Corvette or not , strikes my interest.
For example I sold the 2015 Z06 for a Porsche GT3RS (incidentally, regretted it) before replacing it with the C8. Why I am asking about how long you keep y our car is because I never baby the car from day one. Yes, I follow break in recommendations, but otherwise, start and drive, don't worry about miles, change oil about every 3-4,000 miles, may track occasionally, and never pay attention to miles. Every Corvette I have owned has lasted as long as I needed it and wonder how many "worry" about mileage or value at sale, etc. Do you buy the car to use, baby, save for weekends, and then move on, or do you cherish whatever year you have and hold on for dear life?
Ive owned corvettes since I was 20 which has now been a couple decades. Ive owned them as little as 6 months and as long as 6 years. I plan to keep the Z06 I just got indefinitely, but life always has a funny way of changing our plans so often, so we shall see...
I've never obsessed or worried about oil the way some guys do. Never done an oil analysis either. I change the oil when it is time on all my vehicles, along with all other recommended maintenence. To each their own, but I have way more important things in life to worry about than some others I guess.
Out of the 7 Corvettes I've owned/own, only 3 didn't make it to the 5 year mark. Those three were a 98 convertible, an 82 coupe, and a 2013 427 that I traded for a 2007 F430 to scratch the Ferrari itch (regretted that). I have a 2016 convertible I bought new and a 2017 Z06 coupe I bought new. My daily drivers are usually a truck or SUV. I kept my 93 Silverado for 12 years and 208K miles before I sold it and bought a 2007 Avalanche in 2008. The Avalanche got traded in 2019 at 160K miles for a new Silverado. I downsized in 2021 to a 2020 Jaguar F Pace SVR that is my current daily. Wife's current car is a 2022 Charger Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak. I have a build order in for a 2024 Z06 coupe waiting for the allocation.
When I was younger, I cycled through cars more frequently and started buying 1 - 2 yr old used cars (1 year B2B warranty remaining) to reduce the depreciation hit. Now, I normally buy and drive them for years. 5k - 8k miles per year for the toy. Hoping the Z06 is reliable and keeps me amused for many years.
If I'm lucky enough to get a Z06, it will be my first Corvette and based on the direction of the car industry I'm planning to keep it for as long as possible as it will be one of the last great ICE supercars. Outside of that I will cycle through the SUVs to handle the brutal winter and salt and daily driving, but not care too much about those.
No it wont be last great or one the last great ICE vehicles many more to come...jmho...On topic, kept my LS3 08 Vette for 5 years would have been longer but a deer helped me get my 13C6Z kept it for 7 years and traded it for a Nissan..Yeah I missed that LS7 screaming at 7K..
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11,'19,'22
St. Jude/CI Name Tag Designer
'21 C8 was a 3 year and done to be replaced with a '24-25 C8Z to be forever car to join my 2008 and 2009 C6Z forever cars. I'm sure there will be at least one more forever Corvette after the C8Z. I've still got 10-12 years in my career and am in peak earning years now. Daughter will inherit all of them. (Only child and fellow car nut and racer)
I've owned 42 of them over the last 47 years, expect #43 (Z06) in 4-5 months. I've kept some 15 years or more and others only days which were classic, investment quality Corvettes that I purchased just to sell.
Daily drove some, kept some for years hardly drove at all.
My C8 Z06 is my 5th new vette. Ordered each of them the way I wanted them. I usually have a couple at the same time (different variants). I've had a couple Callaway vettes and a Lingenfelter along the way. I usually take my time and spec a car how I want it and then keep it and drive it/enjoy it for a while. Shortest length of ownership for any of my vettes was 4 years. Still have my Lingenfelter C6 ZR1 I ordered new, and will probably keep that one forever - been the most fun vette of all them so far. The new Z06 is also entertaining to drive, so I'll probably keep it for a good bit as well - plus it has a completely different driving experience than the ZR so good excuse to have both of them.
If GM makes an all-engine (non-hybrid) ZR1 for this gen, I'll add that one as well.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
I move the modern ones every 2 years. I've kept my 65 and 61. Still have my 65 I bought in High School 52 years ago. Still have my 61 I bought 40 years ago. I've bought many in between. Played with them and sold them. All 8 generations.
My Z06 will be my 40th.
I did an NCM pickup for my first 'Vette, a 2005 C6 Coupe, in Feb 2005 and turned over 130,000 miles on it 13.5 years later on my way to trade it in on a used (1 year old) C7 Z06.
I've put 60K miles on that one so far and will drive until it costs me a car payment a month in maintenance.
09-14-2023, 01:35 PM
How long do you keep a Corvette you purchase
Daughter will inherit all of them. (Only child and fellow car nut and racer)
