reliability
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 5
From: ZR1 Gathering '04, '05 Northlake Texas
I think your are right. You shouldn't buy a C4 if you are worried about driving it. Go buy a newer C5 with a warranty. You should not have to worry about driving a Corvette. With that said, I drive my old 1993 C4 to Bowling Green 1450 miles every year with out a problem or worries of a problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 5
From: Howard PA
I didn't take the time to read all the replies but to do it over again I'd get a '95. For one, it's newer, second it can tuned easier if you wish to make mods to it. '95 is still OBDI and software and cables are a dime a dozen as opposed to '96 OBDII wich is very limited in options, tuning wise.
Keep in mind also as stated in some previous replies, of course you see a lot of problems here, that's what this place is for.
Keep in mind also as stated in some previous replies, of course you see a lot of problems here, that's what this place is for.
Last edited by ALLT4; Jun 13, 2005 at 12:26 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 11
From: Savannah Ga.
These cars cost to maintaine!!!!.........If you are looking for a free ride
"FORGET IT"............the vette in my opinion is meant to be driven...
keep one sitting around is worse than ******* one out!!! If you looking
at cost cutting and counting future cost of ownnership and maintence
...don't waste your money in the first place!!.....It cost to run with the big dogs!!
"FORGET IT"............the vette in my opinion is meant to be driven...
keep one sitting around is worse than ******* one out!!! If you looking
at cost cutting and counting future cost of ownnership and maintence
...don't waste your money in the first place!!.....It cost to run with the big dogs!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,589
Likes: 0
From: DrunkDefender
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
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CI-IV Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '07-'10
Alot of these threads repeat themselves. There are also a bajillion members here and this is the place to go when you need help so you may see a disproportionate number of threads here also.
My 90 had 100k on it when I traded it. I drove that car very hard. It was very reliable too. In 1 day I drove it 300 miles to Bowling Green, made 10 laps around the autox course, 11 passes down the 1/4 mile and drove it back home 300 miles. All in the same day.
I drove the same 90 from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo to Knoxville, Tn on weekends when I was stationed in Ft Wood. Round trip was like 1200miles or something awful like that.
This past cruise in I drove my 1996 200ish miles to Nashville and put it on the superspeedway for a high speed driving event. Then I drove it to Bowling Green for the cruise in. I drag raced it the next evening. Drove it home the next day.
My 90 had 100k on it when I traded it. I drove that car very hard. It was very reliable too. In 1 day I drove it 300 miles to Bowling Green, made 10 laps around the autox course, 11 passes down the 1/4 mile and drove it back home 300 miles. All in the same day.
I drove the same 90 from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo to Knoxville, Tn on weekends when I was stationed in Ft Wood. Round trip was like 1200miles or something awful like that.
This past cruise in I drove my 1996 200ish miles to Nashville and put it on the superspeedway for a high speed driving event. Then I drove it to Bowling Green for the cruise in. I drag raced it the next evening. Drove it home the next day.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 1
From: prescott AZ
Usually members write into the forum with problems and not when the car is running fine. I currently have a 88 and a 95 which give me zero problems to date. The cars are also driven very hard by some members but generally the C4 is a very strong car. Yes, some years do have certain problems like the dash flickering on the 84 and 85 cars. I also found that the 59, 65 and 69 that I owned were extremely reliable. I never had to touch anything other than brakes and tires. If you think the Porche is much better think again - several of my friends always have them in the shop.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Ferndale, Detroit, MI 1993 Ruby Coupe
If you want a C4 that you can drive be sure and shoot for a low mileage car. Not that higher mileage ones are guaranteed to be less reliable, but you are just starting off on a better foot with a low mileage vehicle.
I drive mine daily and have not had any issues with it. I've only owned it a month, but hey :p
'93 with 35k miles
I drive mine daily and have not had any issues with it. I've only owned it a month, but hey :p
'93 with 35k miles
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 167
From: sylvania ohio
thanks for reliability replies
gentlemen thanks for your replies ,i appreciate your time.i guess if i went to a doctors office i should expect to find sick people,just as coming here i should expect to find more sick cars than healthy ones.i did not think of that aspect when i asked about reliability of c4's,but i should have. oh well,being old does not make one wise i guess. big cypress
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 44,773
Likes: 1
From: 63.8% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
keep in mind that this is a help section so all you will see are post about issues. If this is all that you read about the C4 of course your view is skewed. I love my 90 and yes it has had a few little things go bad in the 5 years I've owned it, but I consider it reliable and I don't work on it every day as you suggest.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View CA
You get EXACTLY what you pay for. If you're going to buy a mid-90's vette, you'll have a 10 year old car, and depending on the mileage, it could be in great shape and very reliable.
I on the other hand, bought a real cheap 88 vette knowing pretty much what problems it had, and after investing a lot to fix her up up front, she's very reliable. Just completed a 3000 mile cross country drive, and only had to replace the fuel filter. If you want the car running perfect and want peace of mind all the time, then don't buy a used car period. If you are willing to pay or work to fix things once or twice a year, or just put up with a few finicky parts or features (e.g. sticky windows, power seats, occasional odd noises from engine or suspension), you can get thousands of enjoyable miles out of even a 20 year old original vette.
I on the other hand, bought a real cheap 88 vette knowing pretty much what problems it had, and after investing a lot to fix her up up front, she's very reliable. Just completed a 3000 mile cross country drive, and only had to replace the fuel filter. If you want the car running perfect and want peace of mind all the time, then don't buy a used car period. If you are willing to pay or work to fix things once or twice a year, or just put up with a few finicky parts or features (e.g. sticky windows, power seats, occasional odd noises from engine or suspension), you can get thousands of enjoyable miles out of even a 20 year old original vette.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
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Mine has only been flat-bedded once in four years of ownership. And that was due to a failed ignition coil and module that gave without warning.
And that was my fault for failing to replace it within its specified service life.
And that was my fault for failing to replace it within its specified service life.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 721
Likes: 10
From: Irvine CA
Reliability is relative. My '95 has 114k on her now and the last 70k was my doing.
It has stranded me once in the driveway and it had to be flat bedded for repairs. But it is at the point where it needs constant care ($$$). Almost all of the stuff is "normal" maintenance; starter, radiator, air conditioning, water pump. It just seems to be happening since it turned 100k. I think when I get over this hump it might be good for another 100k.
It is my daily driver, this week we took it on a road trip and it got 28.9 MPG on the freeway.
It has stranded me once in the driveway and it had to be flat bedded for repairs. But it is at the point where it needs constant care ($$$). Almost all of the stuff is "normal" maintenance; starter, radiator, air conditioning, water pump. It just seems to be happening since it turned 100k. I think when I get over this hump it might be good for another 100k.
It is my daily driver, this week we took it on a road trip and it got 28.9 MPG on the freeway.