I have owned my 1991 C4 for a little over a year now. I love the power and the shape of the body. I think the engineering is brilliant! However, I have an undying love for the C3 as well. I believe the C3 was a time when America truly fell in love with the Corvette. I love the shape of the C3 and I love the era in which it was built. I was wondering however, how C3 owners felt about the C3 versus the C4. What do you think was lost in the C4 that the C3 had? If I ever get the chance to buy a C3, what are the advantages over a C4? I decided to post this on the C3 portion of the forum to get some fresh insight.

 

I never warmed up to the C4. Came very close to buying a C4 Pace Car and changed my mind at the last minute. There is something about the big C3 front fenders out in front as you cruise down the highway that no other Vette Ive owned could match. I also never cared much for the C4 interior. My C5 is nice, its fast, and it will be very expensive to fix some day. When it all comes down to it, I think Ill be a C3 owner for years to come!!

 

I have a 93 and a 73. for me it was about reliability and safety. I bought the 93 for my wife and I wanted a low-miles car she could drive every day. I found the 93 with about 38k miles and it had everything she wanted. On top of that it has airbags and anti lock. The C3 was purchased more as a project for my son and I. I prefer the body lines of the C3 and the simplicity of the SBC. Comparatively, the C4 just looks as exciting as a bar of soap. Fun to drive...but just kinda blah on the outside.

 

Go figure... My wife loves the C-3 and couldn't care less if I gave away my C-5. She says it is the same as our Lincoln MK, so why do we own it... (She was slightly peeved when I wrote a $20k check when I bought the C5)..

 

Actually, I first fell in love with Corvettes during the mid-years (that's C2 in today's terms), but 'twas the shark stole my heart. Having owned C3's since the 70's, when the C4 was first introduced I had a laundry list of reasons not to buy one (particularly the Fisher-Price instrument panel). Finally, in '92 the last couple of items were addressed (the 300 HP mill was a big one) and I promptly custom ordered the LT1/6-speed roadster below.

However, I felt (still do) the original body styling looked incomplete, and already had an Eckler's ground effects kit on hand for immediate installation before my car was delivered. It was very nice, and I doubt I'd have sold it except due to divorce, but it never really got my heart going like the sharks I've had. Sure, the 427 BB's in all of those C3's (yes, all of them) have cast a spell on me, but to my eye the shark will always be the one.

The '92...


Of course, you do know you're going to get a biased opinion favoring C3's here, right?

 

To me the c-4 was a drivers car.It was fighting the styling of the day and was a little plain on the body lines,but was a very nice handling car. (They still hold there own very well on a road course.)It needed help in the power dept, but the later c-3s suffered there too!
(Fixable)
The Vette,Camaro /firebird,and mustangs all were going through the same growing pains of the day and they suffered in the body lines.I had a c-4 and an Iroc-z and loved them both.The suspensions were improved lot during that era though.

 

I've had a couple of C4's and really liked them. To me, they don't get the respect they deserve. They were the first modern Corvette that really handled well and were fuel efficient. To me the only 2 areas the C3 has over the C4 are styling and value retention. The C4 is a much better driving, handling car. But I still like the early C3 better, especially with a big block or Lt-1.

 

I have a 69 and as stated before,the c3 looks like a race car with the big fenders ,the cockpit,interior , and the early c3s were the best,in my opinion. the c4 came out ,i was looking forward to them ,but was greatly disapointed in GM,it looked like the firebirds i was looking for the big fenders if GM would have made the fenders a little bigger,it would have been alot better looking.

 

A C4 just doesn't have the style, and doesn't attract the attention of a C3. I think that is why you can get an early c4 that is in good shape for less than a late c3 that is in much worse shape. Not as many people want a c4, especially me.

 

Ive said it before, the C4 does just about everything better than the C3 except look as good. this is nothing to be surprised about as technology increases, and it certainly nothing against the C3.

the later cars have a nicer ride, better handling, roomier interiors, and in most cases perform better.

Like many if not most C3 owners though I draw the line at styling, the C4 is largely uninspired in its styling. I must admit though when I owned my C4 many years ago, I liked that car lot.

 

C3 has better lines!!
C4 I like because of the 80's-like styling!

 

I've had both. The C4 has much better handling capabilities, feels much more stable at speed and in turns...and that's about it. The C3 is a much more stylish car, oozes sex appeal (for the car, not the driver), it feels like you are climbing into--and becoming part of the car, rather than just sitting in the seat--, and is just plain FUN to drive. The cabin is more like the 'cockpit' of an aircraft, instead of a car. It's just a whole different feeling. The C4 is just a much more sterile environment.

 

C 3s are the best looking cars made.In my opinoin.They are also easy to work on,afordable,also a classic right now.Insurance is very afordable.In most states no emisions inspection.You have many options as far as exhaust and carb.I have a beautiful 78-L82.Love it!I have an itch for a 1992 coup.Love the power and handleing. You can not make a bad decision either way. Buy right and you can always sell and buy another one

 

C3s are great looking, and fun. I'm really liking the C4s though. The late ones, with rounded corners on bumpers, and the newer int. I love the way the rocker panel area goes in down there, very neat and clean looking. Actually, the whole body has a very clean , mature, sporty look to it. Just the nose dosen't quite cut it. boring looking. If chevy had put a nicer, maybe more agressive nose on it, it would have been killer! Plus its a nice riding car.

 

I can hear this being repeated.

Bill

 

What's the latest on lack of parts availability for C4s, particularly of electronic components? This was discussed on the NCRS Tech Board several months ago and it seems that some components are betwixt and between re GM's 10-year responsibility expiry and lack of aftermarket pick-up.

 

NOT a fan of plastic bumpers, not that I particularly care about chrome, but when they age, plastic/impact bumpers just look all warped/repaired/sun damaged/tired rather early....

I seriously feel the C3-4 styling is rather similar, it's a transistion, but has the same theme.....

I also feel the C4 is the far superior handling animal,....much less the greatly improved drive trains.....the engine is much improved...DPFI/etc....roller everything...then the obvious overdrive....

not that the early C4's were all that great...stick or auto...but it's a development trail....that's life....

then the addition of all that wiring and super electronics.....fine to a point....IMO...just control the engine properly ....on a plane the carbs and other early crap just can't compete....

then there is the issue of if you want a 'HOBBY CAR" something you can work on/modify you really don't want something like the C4 because you have Uncle SAM looking down your throat....that's a huge PIA by time the CARB/EPA types even bother to LET you run on the roads.....

I got my hardball 'tude'.....if I can't enjoy it when/if I want to...WTF good is the car.....I"m not a dedicated racer....

UNTILLLLLLL the .gov quits looking down our throats....there are very few performance/affordable mods that can be done to a C4.....take a ~250 hp '87 like mine was....aluminum headed vert and all, and work it past CARB/.fed regs in your state....how much money you got??

really worth it?? thought not....it's not the C4, it's the .gov lets face facts of life...

so that left me with being a '87 owner, next car was my present '72....hotrod....updated with most important (to me) tricks....

and without most any .gov going to look down the throat and demand demeaning devilment on the engine/etc.....

UPdated....yes, totally modern tech...NO!! basically done over a 15 year period.... to my more or less 'satisfaction'

on any pet project, be prepared to be unhappy with results...some projects/aspects have worked out really well, happy as a clam...

the +++ ones.....

rack steering, done for 200 bux in my garage in 01-02 winter....

Hydro boost brakes.....well worth the conversion...along with O ring pistons....stock calipers/rotors....

Overdrive tranny, to cruise the freeways top down scared of nothing....

Basically all the other mods are to suit ME personally....

things like ride....plastic VBP 360 rear spring....460 coils front...Bilsteins all around....'89 vette wheels/tires 275/50 rear 255/50 front....

thin front bar, small stock sway in rear....

the steering radius is less than a C4 even with wide tires/wheels/ and 2.5" VBP wheel adapters....

the cars are damn similar in weight at 3300 lbs or so....

now down to the lack of basic reliability in the C4 my stock '87 had a CS130? alt...3 of them in 3 years ownership...junk....
700 tranny burning up....
window rubber...OPEN CELL FOAM...doomed to failure...not fixable, short lifespan...expensive.....

then we get to the interior pieces....the door panels were terminal POS....

the seats were almost as bad....

I had not fought the other reported asspects of failures...like headlights....long etc. list....



I figger I got a HOBBY car, my mind is into tuning, driving, improving NOT just simply replacing/trouble shooting part after part and component that is typical of modern cars in general...

: (

 

They're all great, no matter what model.

 

Only pic I have of my three girls together. I have owned the IROC since it was new in 88, finally bought the pace car a couple of years ago because the C3 was always the ultimate corvette in styling to my tastes. Never much cared for the C4, even though they were the vette to have in my partying years but my IROC could deal with most of them until the LT engines came out. The C4s kind of started growing on me about a year ago so I bought the LT4, havent regretted that purchase yet. May not have the curves of the C3s but it handles way better and I love running through the gears on the 6 speed.
But nothing beats the time I spend tinkering on the pace car, its a love/hate relationship but there is nothing really all that hard to working on it.

I saw my first C6 ZR1 up close and in person yesterday, didnt really care all that much for the C6s until I saw it. If I can find the $$s I may try and add it to the stable one day...................

 

There is only ONE reason people flock to C-3's= STYLE. They are sexy and sleak and look like they have muscle even when standing still. Yes the later vettes have better suspension/faster/more reliable and are more comfy. But they lack style. When a car is purchased or built to be shown, the # one thing is style. Without that, everybody just keeps on going. Thats why C-3's and earlier are neck breakers.LOL