especially the SHO

 

I think the C4's are the best bang for the buck right now if your looking into buying a used Corvette. The 93-96's are nice cars, they look good, handle great and are relatively quick as well. You can put a newer style ZR-1 rear bumper on the earlier models and make them as nice looking as the newer ones. I think they get more of a bad rap because of their electronic issues than because of their looks. Oh, and there is no way that you can mistake the front of a C4 for a Camaro or a Firebird. The front of the C4 is one of it's attributes as far as looks go, now a Trans Am WS6 Firehawk with Ram Air, that's another story.

 

The C4 ushered in the modern performance era for Corvette. It was the first Vette that underwent any significant wind tunnel/aerodynamic testing. Alot of it's appearance was accomplished with aerodynamics in mind. I have had a couple of early C4's and really enjoyed their handling and performance. While I may prefer other generations, in my opinion, the C4 gets alot less respect than it deserves.

 

Well, since you mentioned it....I have owned C2's, C3's, C4's and driven a C6 many times. To try and rate them by style....forget it! Each generation has its own, good, bad or indifferent. But, to rate them as to comfort and ride....on a 1 to 10 scale...here is my my opinion.

C2 = 2 / 3

C3 = 5

C4 = 7+...(ZR-1's included)

C6 = 9 /10....out on the open highway it feels like a TAURUS...Its that comfy! Just shy of boring! Thats of course, until you drop the hammer!

I like to feel the road when in my car's...so, even though I have rated the C3 a 5, that does not distract me one little bit from buying another, and with any luck, by this time next year I will have done so.

Stay in tune....

 

You asked a question. "Is it just me?"

I like the C4s. I'm not particularly in love with the C5, but it looks better than the C6.

 

For me C3 has always been Corvette! I like all the others but being born in 1966 it seems to me I just grew up on the C3. I was 17 or 18 when the C4 came out. I liked the performance upgrades that Chevy made with the Corvette, But the styling just did not stir me at all. To me the Corvette had lost all its classic lines. Up to 1984 the Corvette always stood out, with Bold styling, The C4 concerned itself with performance, rather than styling.

So to me the C4 has always been milk toast when it comes to the styling. Now all you C4 owners dont hate me, The C4 is still a Corvette and still the best thing that rolled off a chevy assembly line at that point in history! The Corvette still evolves and changes, and always will.
I just think that with the C3 being the longest running body style, and so many of us Grew up with the classic lines of the C3, The C4 has always had to compete with that.

Dont get me wrong, When I was looking for a Corvette late last year, I had a short list of Corvettes on the buy list. One was a 1984, one was a 1985, and the other was My 1980. I Had to go with the 80, but the other two were the only others on my list.
So for me being a C3 guy, having two C4's on a list of 3 Corvettes That I was ready to plunk cash down on, Say's a lot about the C4.


Mike.

 

The styling of the C4 were in line with the times...look at an 84 Firebird or Trans Am...to me they look very similar. Although the C4 is not my favorite body style, I respect the performance & handling aspects of the car over earlier generations. IMO...without the C4 generation being built as it was, the C5 generation would have never been the car it is!!!!

 

The C4 was intended to be the best Corvette ever built. Development spent most of the money on the chassis design and there wasn't enough left to make the body 'sexier'. Curves on body panels cost money...and the C4 base price was already going to be 30%+ higher than the '82 car price. So, compromise limited the styling (and the interior creature comforts...except for the 'star wars' dash).

 

When I started driving, the C4's were the latest thing, and the 150mph top-speed of the earliest ones, and especially the 13-sec quarter-mile times of the ones from the later-80's, plus the regular manual-transmissions made them far outclass the rubber-bumper c3's that I grew up knowing. Then when they came out with the convertible C4's, I knew that someday I would want to have one.

But now that C5's surpass them in performance, and the C6's surpass them by far in performance and looks, I think the C4 pales in comparison.

 

C5 next and then a C2? C6 then maybe a C1? I wish I had one nice example of each one. They're all Corvettes.

 

I like the looks of my C3 better,,,,,,,but I love my C4 and the way it looks!!!

 

I'll always have space in my garage for a C4.

 

To me the C3's and C4's are the only good looking Corvettes ever made. Unlike others I find the first C4's to be the best looking, particularly in terms of interiors. The later C4 interiors with their ovals and curves really clashed with the beautiful straight lines of the body. The C4's and third generation firebirds were amongst the best looking cars ever made and everything that's come since has been a huge disappointment in the looks department. The C5's and C6's may be way ahead in terms of performance, but that'll never be enough for me to consider driving an ugly car.

 

I bought my 3rd corvette last month. A 1986, new paint and the interior is 8/10, $5k. I wasn't looking for a c4, but could not pass up this deal. It looks great in the garage, and is all corvette. The Wife came in through the garage the other day and said it smells like the '69. Old corvettes seem to inherit a distinct sweet odor. I like her as much as my c3 and c6. The clamshell hood provides easy access.

 

My 1st Corvette was an 86 Z51 Coupe with the clunky 4X3. I got it used with 60K miles, and was a little beat. I loved that car and shoulda kept it. Then I bought a new 90, black 6 speed Z51, $29K out the door. Wonderful car, but I couldn't afford it. I was hooked, and started buying C3's due to low cost. I coulda bought a beautifull blue 67 Vert (plain jane 327 4 speed) for $24K, but it was just too much money. Oh well, now it's just my 68 L36 Roadster and 65 442 (96K all original), my girl and me. I love 'em all.

 

Pic of my C4s

 

 

I used to have a C4 too, and loved it but did feel the disrespect from fellow Vette owners.

Anyway, C4 bashers may like this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SimNDBl4J-0

 

I posted this once on the C4 sight... and man did I get Flamed.... but it is true, the C4 is at the bottom of the totem pole, evident by it price$$$$

ok.... I know i am not supposed to be here.... a C3 guy, but I thought I hit the C3 General, and I saw this topic and started reading.... it was very interesting... so, I will through in my 2 cents..... it always seems that every era of corvette has a low and high spot... high at NEW and high again at old/classic..... the C4 is now at the bottom and the C3 is going up.... in 10 years or so I would think that maybe the C5 will be at bottom and the C4 will start its way up.
On a personal note about body style, I feel, as do many that the C4 is the most boring design of all vetts... no lines... we call the C4 the "Wedge"... Now keep in mind that I have also owned a C4, and currently own a C5 and a C3.... Yes, the stock C4 is light-years ahead of a C3, 2 or 1. in both ride comfort, reliability, and design. But that is not to say a properly build C3 can not smoke any Stock C4, 5, 6 or Z... I know, my C3 can beat a new C6 Z06.... done it many times... but it is much louder, less comfortable, 10-13mph, and WAY more problems due to poor quality workmanship and the times it was built.

BUT, I get 100000000 times more looks, thumbs up, positive remarks and so forth in the C3 than i ever got in the C4, and in the current C5. it seems that it is now time for the C3 to start coming into higher desire, as the C4 hits rock bottom (As the C3 did ~10 years ago.)

You are starting to feel or understand what us C3 guys went through,,,, We all believe that or C3's are the best looking Vett made, as you C4 guys believe about your vett. but after the C4 was built, and the C5 just came out, the C3 was looked at as if it was old junk.... and this was supported by the CHEAP pricing, and every redneck had one falling apart in there trailer park or barn or????? not anymore.... The C4 has taken this spot. I have owned my C3 since i was 21... ~1982..... and have seen it go from WOW to, O... just some old vett.... to WOW again... but now more WOW than when i first got it.... now I do admit I have done a pile of work to her.... about $25K so far in the last 12 months.... might be part of the reason for smoking the C5&6's.... new paint, engine (~550hp at the crank) drive train, interior... EVERYTHING... but she still does not ride as smooth as a C4 and as quit as a C4 and as comfortable as a C4. But get this.... My wife will not go on trips in the C5, which is way more comfortable than my C3, Why???? it does not matter where I go in the C3... to the gas station, down the block... ANYWHERE... doesn't matter, someone will come up, come over or whatever and say something positive about the C3.... This NEVER happens in the C5... maybe that it why it still has only 15K on it. you want the looks and positive constant feedback, get a C3 and fix, fix, fix.... if you want reliability, comfort and good gas milage, along with a great handling car that will be worth something again in about 10-20 years ... keep the C4....

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we all think our C1,2,3,4,5 or 6 is the most beautiful, that is part of the reason we bought them. But it is apparent to me from random input from others that the C3 is much more looked at than a C4, 5 or 6...

now me personally... I remember exactly when i saw my first C3... I was a little kid riding in the back of my parents green Pontiac Venture, we pulled into a gas station, then a C3 pulled in... I looked up and thought it was the most awesome car I have ever seen... I told my mom and dad "Thats the car I want some day" and my mother replied, well, you better get a good job because they cost a lot of money.... I stayed in school, became a electronics engineer, and I bought "Baby" and I bought her a second time from the X-wife 10 years later!!!!! I will never sale my C3.... But I will be giving it to my oldest son in 5 years when he finishes his masters in engineering also... and then I have my sights set on the new C7... which once again, has lines!!!

Don't worry about what others say about your C4, its value may now be at the bottom, but it will come back up over time.... and this is what i say to people with those POS ricers....my car gains value every day it gets older, your car looses value every day it gets older.... my car in 15 more years will be worth some real money, and your car will be in the process of becoming beer cans...

Keep you C4's.... its a vett.... and will always command a price and respect.

Now.... back to the C3 side.... p:-)"


but it is true....the C4 has the body lines of a door stop (Wedge).... here is that thread: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...respect-8.html

 

I like C4's, and the later years better.

The only thing I never liked on any C4 is the stock rims...

Prices are great for a buyer right now...