nferr

I'm sure it sounds crazy to some, but I bought a 1984 back in 05 or so off a forum member. Loved it, 1'st Vette, ran fine. Anyway in late 2012 I got a great deal on a new 2012 C6 leftover. Base car, 6 speed, paid $40k with 5 years zero interest financing. Great car, but somehow I never bonded with it like I did the old 84 which I sold when I bought the new one. Anyway a recent divorce made the C6 an expensive proposition with payments, property taxes and insurance in a Northeastern (Bridgeport CT.) city. So when a friend said he wanted to look for a late model used C6 we struck a deal. I decided I wanted another C4 with the low prices out there. Wanted a convertible and wanted one that didn't have to pass emissions here in CT which is a pain in the butt for old cars. So started looking for 86-90 convertibles. Came off the truck yesterday from Georgia, Buy-a-Vette.net. 86 convertible with 64,000 miles. Battery was basically dead but it did start after a while and I promptly drove it up to my girlfriends about 45 miles with some highway running and that gave it decent juice. We threw the top down and took it for a 175 mile ride. Love the thing, everything works, and it's a blast. My girlfriend says it's "meaner than the new one was". She thought that one was kinda yuppie. I really missed the muscle car feel and sound of the C4, the C6 was of course faster, way smoother, but it felt a bit like a sedan to me. Checked my garage this morning and not one drip under the car. Put it on the tender that was actually in the back of the Vette and it should have a full charge when I get home. I'll never understand the Corvette people that blast the C4's. They have a unique feel to me. Love em.

starrman62

Sounds like you win all around! Vettes, divorce and girlfriend! Glad to hear you found a good one that you are happy with...I agree with your sentiments on the newer cars...they did get a bit smooth.

sluggballz

C6s are great. I love my 08. But they are like setting in the cockpit of a stealth bomber. Fast, awesome and SPACIOUS inside. My 95 is like setting in an F-16. You're all wrapped up and feel like your going faster than you are. Welcome back to the dark side!!

Rexracer77

I corrected the timeline there for you. ;-)

nferr

Actually your timeline was correct.....with a different girlfriend.

Bandit's C4

You are not the first one... among many who felt the same way.
Been there, done that. (93 to 08 to 94)

Rexracer77

Oh your talking about the transition from C4/C6/C4, and not the

Wife/Corvette/girlfriend/divorce.

I get it now...

MaxDaemon

The difference is evident even between the '84 and the '94. When I switch back and forth on the same day, I can really tell it. The '84 squeaks and rattles and the Z51 suspension is really .. hard.

Then I drive the '94 and she's perfectly quiet, no rattles or squeaks and going over bumps is smooth and quiet. She's also much more powerful than her sister.

That said though, there's something about the '84 that is very hard to quantify - it's like I'm closer to the driving experience. I'm not being as insulated from the world. And I suspect with each succeeding generation, it's more the case.

Rexracer77

I think you just hit the nail on the head, in regard to the huge VALUE difference in these cars. My VERY WORN 94 squeaks rattles and is rough, so its not the model year, its how the cars are taken care of and what kind of condition they are presently in.

FASTAZU

Congrats.. I bought a new C5 in 04 drove it as a DD for 10 years and it just got to be another car. Sold it last year and bought another ZR-1.

PLRX

I agree, when I drive my C5Z06 it feels like I'm driving a rental car. It sits like a sofa, and I have lots of space in there.

sahhas

sorry to hear of your ups and downs, the funny thing our local chevy place has a '12 vette for sale, and when my wife saw it she said: that' looks like a RACE CAR.

and i had to agree...it is way way cool for sure.

but i've still been looking at C4s, there is something about them that i like....

vl5150

You see this point again and again about over refining sports cars. I read that Mazda engineers design a certain lack of refinement into their cars, but it would pretty bold thing for Chevrolet to do the same with the Vette. We're left with a car as refined as refined as a Toyota Camry with the horsepower of a race car.--not the ideal blueprint of those who love elemental sports cars.