I own a 94 Coupe, 6-speed, and I am very happy with the car overall. I have always thought the C4 design, especially the later ones had one of the cleanest exterior designs of all the Corvettes. But there are two design features on the interior, that I have never liked. They are...the instrument panel, and the steering wheel. I don't know what the Corvette designers were thinking when they came up with that instrument panel on the C4, especially the later models..with that jukebox, hodge-podge design. I really wish they had stayed with analog instruments, instead of all that gimmick stuff. At least they came to their senses with the C5 and C6. It would be great if someone make a conversion for the C4 to replace the stock instruments with a analog set up. I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap, and probably a pain to install.

The other item...the steering wheel...This thing looks like it came out of grandma's Buick. If you compare it to all the Corvette steering wheels of the past, and the present...it looks pretty sorry. My question is, has anyone ever replaced the C4 steering wheel, with another wheel, off a different year Corvette? I think the new Z06 wheel would really be nice. Anyone have any information on how much work this would be to install a new wheel?

 

I dunno, I think my '90 is pretty unique because of that digital dipslay. It also makes it easier to read when I'm doin 120+(on the track of course) I do love that its 50/50 with the tach analog, and the speedo digital. I love how the whole panel surrounds the driver making him feel like a king.

I have no experience with other wheels, I'm only 19 and haven't been in a lot of different vettes/cars. But I do love the tight feel of the wheel, it makes turning very easy.

Thats just my opinion. I'm not here to bash ur thread. perhaps I'm trying to convert you i dunno..

 

If I'm granted life for about 5 more years I will do it with my engine swap. Hate 'em too.

 

Hey! I happen to own a Buick thank you. In comparison my '85s steering wheel is much different. Its a lot thicker and is bound in leather. The only thing I like about the digi dash is that I know exactly how fast i'm going (besides the lag on WOT). My Buick's speedo only goes to 85, so after that I have no clue. And yes its been clocked at 115 (racetrack).

I'm not getting mad at anybody, just sick of people bashing on Buicks. The newer ones are the grandma cars. Check out the '87 GNX and you'll see what I mean, faster than a C4.

 

Digital dash > analog dash when it comes to doing performance driving and needing a quick look. For all the people out there that complain about the C4's digital dash - take a look at what indy drivers use.

 

Until the intercooler heats up and then it is ordinary.

 

Yeah, a long time ago, I got the jump on a Grand National. But he was gaining on me. At 127 when I shut it down. Might've been different if I'd stayed in fifth, tho. Still, pretty good for a turbo six.

 

The dash is pure personal preference.
The wheel....well, not much you can do with a steering wheel when you have to package an airbag in it. The C5 and C6 steering wheels are no better.
If you want a truly nice wheel, you'll have to go aftermarket.

Larry
code5coupe

 

I agree about the later wheel, looks like it was lifted right out of a GMC pickup truck.

 

Digital dash is only good for looks, and is not very useful to me during performance driving.

The tach can't keep up with the engine in the first two gears, the bar graphs are totally useless, the speedo lags , and it's hard to see anything with the roof off.

The only thing it's good for are the oil/coolant readouts. Yet when they changed the interior, that's precisely what they pulled off of the digital display. Idiots!

 

Oil temp and coolant temp are still on the late C4 readouts. Oil pressure is not , but, then, it may not have ever been there.

GM must have heard the grousing from you performance-first guys, since the later C4 also had analog for everything but speedo.
.....and not many of us have even learned to read one of those.


Larry
code5coupe

 

I too have a 94 and to me the feel of the leather wrapped wheel is very good, and it is easy to grasp when driving hard. But in any kind of turn the air bag blocks a view of the guages, including the tach.

I won't do without the air bag! I've been in a head on collision with an SUV and I never want to hurt that bad again. I had put a Momo wheel in that Honda and it caused most of my injuries. But you know, this is an opportunity for aftermarket wheel makers like Momo to design one of their great looking and feeling wheels with an integral air bag. I wonder why no one has stepped up to this market?

 

Oil pressure, oil temp, and water temp are included in analog guages highly visible in the 94. In addition the oil temp and water temp are available on the digital readout. What am I missing?

 

i think early c4s had didg speedometers because of idiotic 85 mi law mandated by touchy feel good enviro ***** in washington look at seedometers on later c3s which is my fav vette of all time 1970 i like didg dash just wish it was green

 

"I wonder why no one has stepped up to this market?"

Probably because of 1. liability problems and 2. not enough profit to recoup their R&D.

Just my opinion.

 

My guess is because:
1) With an airbag, those great looking wheels would end up looking a great deal like the factory airbag wheels. Being sans airbag is exactly why those MOMO's can be so good looking.

2) The cost of the MOMO would be, instead of $225, $1225! And you wouldn't be able to ship them to the consumer for $10 (an airbag is considered an explosive device), etc.

Looks like we have a choice; ugly w/ airbag, or beautiful w/out.

Larry
code5coupe

 

Well, being in a Honda and getting hit by a SUV is going to hurt, air bag or not. Now they're saying a steering wheel air bag is not enough, you now need the air bag side curtains.

Getting hit by a big car (truck SUV) in a compact is deadly, you got lucky it wasn't a side impact.

Momo steering wheels are nice to doubt about but at the cost of no air bag its a hard sell.

The safety of the air bag is questionable in my mind. So far air bags have killed 64 people. Most were children in slow speed accidents.
With the air bag being the only factor in the fatality.

In one case a woman driving her late model Accord had the air bag go off at 65 mph, with no collision, or impact of any kind.

She refuses to drive the Honda anymore.
Air bags in the late model Nissan Altima have caused blindness, by striking the eye with blunt force.

Yeah, I agree the dash in the C-4's are ugly compared to the C-3's
Same for the wheel barrow steering wheels.

 

I want Pics of a '70... plz

 

I can't read the speedometer so I do alot of estimating on my speed. It's a wonder that I haven't got a speeding ticket (yet). I guess I could take along a portable G.P.S. as a back-up. The rest of the gauges seem helpful enough and I like the wrap around layout.

 

Theres no Oil or Water temp on my digi display , its a 91 and man do i wish there was .

Patsfan