When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I use to own this 91, it was my daily driver. It was fun, fairly fast, and handled far better than a C3. Reliable as any other GM, got decent mileage too.
This is my 70, it gets driven a lot, but not a daily driver. It's fun, fairly fast, hot inside, handles like a tractor, and loves eating gas.
C4 is a very nice driving car, much better than the C3. But the C3 has the classic lines. If you want a classic car go with a C3. A driver, go with a C4.
Statistically, it would be easy to say that my '92 was the "best" Corvette I've ever owned. That said, of the four Corvettes I've had, three have been C3s, including the one-owner '78 I've hung on to throughout the years. Sold the C4 to save the house during the Big D a few years back, but fought tooth and nail to keep the '78. You can draw your own conclusions as to why I did so. Still, IMHO that '92 was a beauty...
I've had/have four C3's, and had one C4. The C4 was more civilized (electrical functions, comfort, quietness, reliability, etc.).
I no doubt, will own more C3's, very doubtful, I would own another C4..reason is, I just don't love the look, C3's on the other hand are sexy/beautiful.
The higher door sills on the C4, are also an issue, for a tall guy, like me.
I have owned 2 C3's, both '69's and 1 C4, a 1996 CE coupe. The C4 handled better, rode nicer, performed better and got better mileage but, I love the lines of the early C3's. For a frequently used car you would have to give the nod to the C4. If you want a classic Corvette then you have to go with the C3.
I guess it all depends on what you're hoping to get out of the car.
The C3 and C4 are very different cars. Unless you're talking about a high horsepower C3 the C4 will do everything better...........except hold it's value.
The sills are much higher but the seating is more cockpit like. There are a lot more creature comforts. The handling is far superior at the expense of ride comfort especially with Z51 suspension. The performance is OK. The gas mileage is far superior. There's a lot more electronics (but by todays standards not overly complicated). As far as styling goes that's personal preference. You really need to sample some of them as a '84 is very different than a '96. Also IMCO if you decide to buy one buy condition not price.
I own both and the C3 wins hands down in the looks. The C4 is still an amazing car on auto cross tracks after all these years. It gets the least respect when in its time it sent Europe back to the drawing boards. The clamshell hood,disco dash and high sills to climb in and gave that fighter jet feeling. These blew away everything at the track in its day. I have fun with mine and would never get rid of it. Pretty cost effective too! One of the best bangs for the buck!!
Love my C4. She will be 20 years old, next July and she still looks brand new with 100k soon. Rarely any problems, very smooth, nice,driving Corvette and love the seats. Saturday, had the top off and drove 30 miles through nearly empty canyon roads on a nice, SoCal Fall day and it was really nice. Just cruised it and she's a very capable handler too.
The C4 WAS the first modern Corvette and personally, I like the looks of the C4. It may be a little plain looking, next to the swoopy C3, but there isn't an ugly line on them either .
The C3 and C4 are very different cars. Unless you're talking about a high horsepower C3 the C4 will do everything better...........except hold it's value.
The sills are much higher but the seating is more cockpit like. There are a lot more creature comforts. The handling is far superior at the expense of ride comfort especially with Z51 suspension. The performance is OK. The gas mileage is far superior. There's a lot more electronics (but by todays standards not overly complicated). As far as styling goes that's personal preference. You really need to sample some of them as a '84 is very different than a '96. Also IMCO if you decide to buy one buy condition not price.
Love my C4. She will be 20 years old, next July and she still looks brand new with 100k soon. Rarely any problems, very smooth, nice,driving Corvette and love the seats. Saturday, had the top off and drove 30 miles through nearly empty canyon roads on a nice, SoCal Fall day and it was really nice. Just cruised it and she's a very capable handler too.
The C4 WAS the first modern Corvette and personally, I like the looks of the C4. It may be a little plain looking, next to the swoopy C3, but there isn't an ugly line on them either .
Your photo really highlights the difference in the length of the hood between the two models
I have a 79 C3 Vette which I love .I would like to know those of you who have a C4 or who have driven a C4 ,how does it compare to a C3.
Does the C4 drive better ? is there more room for the driver and passenger ? Let me know your experiences with a C4
Ok, I had a 92 LT1 for about 7 yrs. I qualify. Awesome car. Fast, yeah its quick, not Z06 fast but I turned faster lap times on an auto cross course than a few C5 Z06 vettes, and was only a tick off the fastest C6 times. I think driving skill played a little. As for comparison to a C3 looks only? Early chrome bumper C3 corvettes win. Hands down. Rubber bumper versions? uhhhhh, maybe. Stock performance? none. C4 all the way. Bottom line I have nothing bad to say about a C4. And I really really think the chrome bumper C3's are the baddest corvette to hit the road. OK thats my opinion.
Your photo really highlights the difference in the length of the hood between the two models
True, but the clamshell is an illusion. The C4 is actually a smaller car than the C3, both length wise and height wise. What the C4 has in unbroken clamshell length, is outdone, by the nose on the C3.
C3's are classics . Unfortunately C4's will never be , despite their getting older.
I owned lots of c3's c2 and had an 86 the c4
While I find some c3's more beastly than others like my daily driver 81 was every bit as "good" a car as my 86 c4, but my 72 bb was a nasty creature for the street, the c4 wasn't faster tham "my" c3's lol, it did have more room but not really of any use to me,
As time passes I see C4's in trailer parks, I see them dirt cheap on CL even more so than camaros and firebirds of those years, no, I do not believe they will ever be classics, or even up to par with other vettes before and after them,
I would take my 72 beast as a daily driver before getting in another c4...that's just me, some people love the hell out their c4...
1974 W = 185.5" H = 47.7"
1995 W = 176.5" H = 46.7"
Nine inches shorter and one inch lower. So I finally got the numbers on it, after seeing them side-by-side in the shop. The C4 only looks bigger, but it is not.
I don't think the C4s have that classic fender buldge styling that distinguishes the C3s. You can always pick a C3 out of a parking lot but to me the C4s just blend in with every other car. I on the other hand have owned two C4s and the second one was a brand new 95 off the show room floor. I will say that I felt the C4 was safer and stonger and more of a pleasure to drive and fairly quick with great gas mileage. Went down to the Corvette plant and museum and got 28mpg going there and 24 coming back (it was raining). I have always been partial to the hidden lamp styling and really liked how they rotated on the C4s as well. But all in all the C3s just have that special look that will never disappear.
11-10-2014, 08:27 PM
C3 Vs C4
As for comparison to a C3 looks only? Early chrome bumper C3 corvettes win. Hands down. Rubber bumper versions? uhhhhh, maybe. Stock performance? none. C4 all the way. Bottom line I have nothing bad to say about a C4. And I really really think the chrome bumper C3's are the baddest corvette to hit the road. OK thats my opinion.
