marty mar

Just wanted to share with you C4 guys a little comparison between my lightly modded 92 6 speed Z07 coupe, and my friends similarly modded 02 Z06 hardtop. Both cars are lowered with headers, full exhausts, and light mods.I have owned both a 89 L98 6 speed, a 99 FRC, and a 02 Z06 so I already am very familiar with both cars. I drove the 02 to work and back, about 60 miles round trip. To sum up this car, here are what I consider its improvements over my 92.

-big wide ***
-Quad tip exhaust in the center
-excellent Stop tech brakes
-LS6 is strong and sweet
-gauge cluster, nice instruments
-forward visability
-great ,close gear ratios

Things I like better about my 92 are
Long, low hood and roofline
Cockpit interior feel, steering wheel, and driving position
Excellent seats
The view of the hood from the drivers seat
Nostalga
The view under the Clamshell hood, great looking LT1 engine

I was on the fence when shopping for a Corvette, and was in the price range of higher mile C5s or a real nice C4. I am really impressed with my 92, and am enjoying time with it. One nice suprise I have found with this car is lots of positive feedback from people. I think these cars are starting to enter the age of nostalga. WHAT DO YOU THINK?????

Yukon Corleone

I have a 1990 which I have owned since new, now people are very excited to see one. If I stop anywhere or even while driving I get positive comments

1993C4LT1

I'm not a big fan of the C5, only the FRC and the Z. Weird considering I grew up with them in elementary school. When I go to C&C or car meets, people either like or hate my 93.

drcook

we have gotten lots of comments on the 96 we recently acquired. even folks at the grocery store have stopped and admired the car and made comments. today a couple young guys stopped working on their truck and turned around and watched me drive by

95tealconvert

Both Corvettes you pictured are very nice examples.

I find that nice examples of the C4's are starting to get attention now. I so seldom see one out being driven around my area that the C4 really gets my attention when I do see one.

Seems like each generation goes through this cycle of "new and coolest thing on the block" to "yesterdays old news" and finally to "wow I forgot how cool those cars were and are".

One thing I have found fun to read is old post from each generation when the next generation is coming out. For example read some of the posts from the C6 forum back when the C7 was just getting released. You will read some of the funniest comments ever and then watch many of the same C6 owners switch later to the C7 and cannot stop talking about what a vast improvement it is over the C6.

This goes on as each generation gets superseded. The C5 is in the " yesterdays old news " category right now as the C4 is sliding into the " wow I forgot how cool those cars were and are ".

Very telling to park a very nice C4 next to a equally nice C5 and even a C6 at a show and see which car gets the most attention. I have observed first hand a late C4 vert with the hood up getting the lions share of attention at many shows. That is not a slam in any way on the C5 or C6 but rather to point out the C4 is seldom seen any longer and so it is now becoming a modern classic IMO.

I clearly remember when the late C3's were often the but of all Corvette jokes and hardly anyone cared about them-not the case any longer and now we are starting to see the C4 cycle through this.

cv67

If the electronics werent so sophisticated on the C5 Id have a Z06
At the end of the day they are both Chevys & never bought a car with concern to what others think of it resale or anything else.

bac22

Agree, if anything the C5 is now becoming the trailer park sports car that everyone used to make fun of with the C4...but Corvettes are like fine wine...they get better with age!

SJW

Yep. It has been 20 years since the last C4 came off the line in Bowling Green. That's the age at which cool cars typically start to receive admiring looks and comments, after years of only inducing yawns. A very nice C4 will definitely catch the eye of a lot of people now.

Live well,

SJW

FASTAZU

Been there done that! The C5 makes a great DD. I'll keep my C4's long after the C5 is gone.

BobNJ

Both are very nice looking cars, but my vote is for the 92 C4 (not just because I have a C4). If I ever add a never Corvette to my stable, my 94 will remain. I received many compliments for my 94, head turns, I hear people say they like the "older" Corvettes better than the newer.

At car shows ---- the Corvettes that I see many people gather at are the oldies --- c2, 3, 4.

Tom400CFI

The gear ratios are pretty close between the two cars...but 1-4, the ratios in your '92 are closer....

Z06:

Gear ratios (:1):
First: 2.97
Second: 2.07
Third: 1.43
Fourth: 1.00
Fifth: 0.84
Sixth: 0.56
Reverse: 3.28
Final drive ratio (:1): 3.42

ZF6 Gear ratios -
1st-2.68,
2nd-1.80,
3rd-1.29,
4th-1.0,
5th-0.75,
6th-0.50,
Reverse-2.50



It's interesting to compare the cars. Very different machines.

jay23ls

Im curious, when exactly did the new excitement from ppl start rolling in? This year? Last year?

DMITTZ

I have to say that just this year I have started to have a LOT more people interested in my 88' than the other 12 years I have owned it. I used to hardly ever get any interest at all and even a few discouraging comments. Now I am starting to get a fair number of people talking to me about it that a really interested in it...

I have always really liked the exterior looks for the C4, comfortable seats, clamshell hood and the digital dash... The C5 seems like a real nice car to drive and has some great technology with the LS engines and transaxel but the looks/ styling is not really my cup of tea.

To the OP: Thanks for the comparison it's always great to have people that have owned or do own both cars give thier opinions.

Arctic91

I agree with the previous comments... that's a pair of nice looking examples from each generation.

Personally, the only C5 that I find attractive is the ZO6. The FRC is unique, but I still prefer the combination of the fixed roof configuration and increased performance that you get with the ZO6.

Here's a recommendation to get the best of both worlds: a C4 ZR-1 with porting/headers/exhaust, C5 brakes, 4.10s, and a short shifter. You'll maintain all the benefits that you've identified with the C4, match or exceed the wide rear and performance aspects you've identified with the Z06, and benefit from some rarity, that beautiful LT5 engine, and (potentially) increased future collectability. At today's prices, you can probably get a nicely modified C4 ZR-1 for the same price as a comparable C5 Z06.

Scott

219fit

Realistically there's absolutely no comparison. I've owned an 04 Z06 and currently own a 94 coup LT1. The only pro on the 94 is once your in it the seat is more comfortable, but on all other front your fooling your self if your saying the C4 is a better car.

1993C4LT1

I don't think anyone here is saying the C4 is a better car. The C5 should be, because it's newer.

Tom400CFI

Why'd you make that move then? '04 to '94? I went from an '06 to a '92. I don't miss my '06 one bit. So...it's "better in every way"?

92polo

I own a 92 vert and a 99 FRC. I have had both at shows side by side and the 92 gets more attention. I love to drive them both because they are so different.

ghlkal

C5s are great cars. In many ways they are better than a C4.

But, I own a C4 for a reason, and it's related to this:

I was at a show yesterday with 60+ Vettes representing every generation. With the hood up of my ZR-1, there were a steady stream of folks stopping by. My Z is hardly the quickest, fastest or best Vette, but it represents the 4th generation well. And the 4th generation is starting to get more attention.

95tealconvert

I for one was not saying the C4 is a better car than a C5. What I was saying is the C4 is getting old enough and seldom seen by the average person that it is starting to be recognized now as a modern classic.

I think all of us are on the same page when it comes to the advances that were made in each generation. That being said there is a reason why many prefer a C1 over a C2 or a C3 over a C4 and so on. Just because a newer generation is faster or easier to live with on a daily bases does not mean many prefer a older generation.

I like the C4 because it is a transitional generation that has many characteristics and raw feelings of the older generations along with many modern conveniences of the newer generations.

I know my '95 is not the fastest or easiest to get in and out of etc. but damn that car fits me and puts a smile on my face every time I drive it and that is all that matters. I just feel a connection to the car that I have not felt with any C5-now that may change over time but as of now I do not have that same connection with a newer generation.