Disappointed in C4 performance
04-01-2007, 08:44 AM
#41
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I think the 80's and 90's corvettes are a testament to how advanced they were for their time. Power, braking, suspension, etc....... There are areas in which the C4's still prevail, even 20 years later. The major thing that will be catching up with our vettes (and already has caught up) is engine horsepower. The 2007 Nissan Maxima (keep in mind a family sedan) is rated at 255 HP. 
Inevitably, in another few years, it won't be uncommon when family sedans will be pumping out 300+ horsepower. As technology advances, we'll see it being delivered to our vehicles. It's just the way of the world. I'm sure there are many other family sedans that are already at 300+ hp. Take for example the 2007 Chrysler 300, it's 340 HP. It's crazy to think how far technology has come since our C4's were produced. Even though we may eventually lose the race against a family sedan 
, I'll still be comforted by the fact that our Corvettes are some of the most beautiful cars in the world. 
Inevitably, in another few years, it won't be uncommon when family sedans will be pumping out 300+ horsepower. As technology advances, we'll see it being delivered to our vehicles. It's just the way of the world. I'm sure there are many other family sedans that are already at 300+ hp. Take for example the 2007 Chrysler 300, it's 340 HP. It's crazy to think how far technology has come since our C4's were produced. Even though we may eventually lose the race against a family sedan , I'll still be comforted by the fact that our Corvettes are some of the most beautiful cars in the world. 
04-01-2007, 09:01 AM
#42
Le Mans Master
Let me clairify my position. I am comparing corvettes to corvetts. Around 74 they started slowing up. Yes,they were still one of the fastest "new" cars available. The slowing down process continue untill 84 or 85,then , started getting faster again.At all times,in any year,they would run,or out run,with anything out there in their ERA. They have always been the cutting edge of excitement in new cars. The old C-1s and C-2s will outrun late C-3s AND early C-4s. Just dont go around a corner with one ( espically the C-1s...I have been in one,on its side,not fun).The handleing aspect however,has gotten better each year,year to year,without a doubt. i am NOT bashing 84s. I remember when they came out,,great excitment all around on the styling and the writers/testers couldnt say enough good things about the handling. I still say,pump up the HP in an 84,and you have a great corvette. To the fellow with the orange wheeled vette..thats a great looking car and low 14s is quick!
04-01-2007, 09:05 AM
#43
For me, performance is absolute, not relative. If a car seems slow to me; it makes no difference if its contemporaries were slow. The 1980s and early 90s were lean years as far as performance, with a few exotic exceptions (Porsche 959, Ferrari F50).
I admit I would be in the "dissappointed with the (stock) C4 performance" club. I've mothballed mine until I'm financially in a better position to tune it properly. As far as why I have it; I think it's got performance potential. It's main appeal for me is this potential, there are a lot of supercharged and stroked C4s on this board and I hope to add mine to the list.
I admit I would be in the "dissappointed with the (stock) C4 performance" club. I've mothballed mine until I'm financially in a better position to tune it properly. As far as why I have it; I think it's got performance potential. It's main appeal for me is this potential, there are a lot of supercharged and stroked C4s on this board and I hope to add mine to the list.
04-01-2007, 09:12 AM
#44
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I think the 80's and 90's corvettes are a testament to how advanced they were for their time. Power, braking, suspension, etc....... There are areas in which the C4's still prevail, even 20 years later. The major thing that will be catching up with our vettes (and already has caught up) is engine horsepower. The 2007 Nissan Maxima (keep in mind a family sedan) is rated at 255 HP. Inevitably, in another few years, it won't be uncommon when family sedans will be pumping out 300+ horsepower. As technology advances, we'll see it being delivered to our vehicles. It's just the way of the world. I'm sure there are many other family sedans that are already at 300+ hp. Take for example the 2007 Chrysler 300, it's 340 HP. It's crazy to think how far technology has come since our C4's were produced. Even though we may eventually lose the race against a family sedan , I'll still be comforted by the fact that our Corvettes are some of the most beautiful cars in the world.
Inevitably, in another few years, it won't be uncommon when family sedans will be pumping out 300+ horsepower. As technology advances, we'll see it being delivered to our vehicles. It's just the way of the world. I'm sure there are many other family sedans that are already at 300+ hp. Take for example the 2007 Chrysler 300, it's 340 HP. It's crazy to think how far technology has come since our C4's were produced. Even though we may eventually lose the race against a family sedan , I'll still be comforted by the fact that our Corvettes are some of the most beautiful cars in the world. 
04-01-2007, 11:38 AM
#46
Team Owner
I'm sorry, but if you are dissapointed with the C4's performance, you didn't do any research and deserve what you got. Besides, the C4 is a great platform to improve upon. The suspension just needs some minor tweaks and it's there and if you can't get enough aftermarket performance from what is basically a small-block Chevy, you have big problems...
04-01-2007, 01:42 PM
#47
Le Mans Master
Someone above mentioned a Maxima. If he is unhappy with his Corvette perhaps he will find that one more to his liking... comes with four door convenience too! And plenty of room for Corvette kill stickers on the front fenders which you will surely want to proudly display
04-01-2007, 01:58 PM
#48
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04-01-2007, 06:27 PM
#49
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Look at it this way,
In 0-60 performance its taken them 20+ yrs to achieve the 85s speed.
and even then you need to buy a performance model 07 car.
and you can buy an 85 for under $5000
To get comparable 0-60 performance today you need about $30,000
I think a stock 85 is plenty fast stock.
(even though im shooting for about 350hp
)
In 0-60 performance its taken them 20+ yrs to achieve the 85s speed.
and even then you need to buy a performance model 07 car.
and you can buy an 85 for under $5000
To get comparable 0-60 performance today you need about $30,000
I think a stock 85 is plenty fast stock.
(even though im shooting for about 350hp
)
04-01-2007, 09:56 PM
#50
Le Mans Master
I think it's more disappointing realizing that what just broke on mine is going to cost me, may take an eternity to find the correct part, and after it's fixed, something else might break (or I might break something while I'm fixing what's broken). The Nissan gets fixed under warranty and it's paint is probably good for another 10 years. I guess I really just need a Buick.
04-02-2007, 02:35 PM
#52
Melting Slicks
84 Corvette 15.4 0 to 60 6.7
85 Corvette 14.1 0 to 60 5.7
85 Grand Nat. 15.7 0 to 60 7.5
86 Daytona turbo 16.4 0 to 60 8.6
88 ferrari 328 GTS 15.0 0 to 60 6.7
84 Mustang SVO 15.8 0 to 60 7.9
85 Mustang 5.0 14.9 0 to 60 6.4
85 300ZX turbo 15.7 0 to 60 7.4
84 Carrera 911 14.6 0 to 60 6.2
84 926 15.4 0 to 60 15.4
85 Corvette 14.1 0 to 60 5.7
85 Grand Nat. 15.7 0 to 60 7.5
86 Daytona turbo 16.4 0 to 60 8.6
88 ferrari 328 GTS 15.0 0 to 60 6.7
84 Mustang SVO 15.8 0 to 60 7.9
85 Mustang 5.0 14.9 0 to 60 6.4
85 300ZX turbo 15.7 0 to 60 7.4
84 Carrera 911 14.6 0 to 60 6.2
84 926 15.4 0 to 60 15.4
04-02-2007, 04:39 PM
#54
Le Mans Master
Then why aren't you driving a Z06? Money spent for mods on something like a 2001 which you could buy for not much more than the cost of a good C4 would get you more raw performance per dollar spent than your current platform.
04-02-2007, 04:48 PM
#55
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by the way, i love my L98 now, after i "fixed" it. and the early C4 body is my preference in corvettes. the '90 was my only choice because i wanted a "newer" interior. anything prior to '90 was out of the question, and the LT1 was out of the question for several reasons, and besides the base LT1 is fully included in my opinion of disappointing performance. it was either a 90 or a 91 to start from. like i mentioned earlier, i really didn't feel that way until about 6 months after purchase, then i though WTH am i doing with such low power. and yes, thats just jaunts to the grocery store that told me that.
Last edited by Red Tornado; 04-02-2007 at 04:58 PM.
Not bad for an old man!
04-03-2007, 04:19 AM
#58
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I like the looks of my car and am satisfied with it's performance. I get a lot of nice comments just going around town, you gotta love the C4 body style, it's just a sexy beast, and I hardly see any of them on the road...probably because they are all garage queens. That said, I would be very impressed with my car if it had 100 more horses under the hood...but that translates into what...8-10k in mods? Forget that, I'd rather use that 10k to open up an ice cream shop or just buy an LT4. So my 91 is great, but an LT4 would be outstanding. Sometimes I wished I had saved for an LT4...but no going back now...I already pledged to get to 200k miles.
04-03-2007, 06:31 AM
#59
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i didn't rationalize, my opinion is based on driving one for several days, a 94. it was a ZF6. it had just gone thru the makover at a high end dealership which included a tune-up. and it somewhat surprised me (not in a good way). AND i've been used to 4 and 6 bangers for 25+ years of driving beforehand. and i proceeded to kick the crap out of it, got 400+ miles on it over that weekend, with no questions asked.
look, its just my opinion that unless i'm graced with some factory freak, base LT1 -- and especially L98's -- are inadequate for today's enviornment. they need juiced up one way or another, take your pick. i cannot and will not ever drive stock again. its either gonna be modded out, or i'm moving up to a C6/Z06 down the line. i really like mine now -- thats why i consider it "fixed", but i can't see going back. period.
why is it so difficult to accept a differing opinion? it's no big thing. if someone digs their stock base C4 performance, great.
there's all kinds of folks on this board that say the same exact thing.
what would be even better? cubes.
look, its just my opinion that unless i'm graced with some factory freak, base LT1 -- and especially L98's -- are inadequate for today's enviornment. they need juiced up one way or another, take your pick. i cannot and will not ever drive stock again. its either gonna be modded out, or i'm moving up to a C6/Z06 down the line. i really like mine now -- thats why i consider it "fixed", but i can't see going back. period.
why is it so difficult to accept a differing opinion? it's no big thing. if someone digs their stock base C4 performance, great.
there's all kinds of folks on this board that say the same exact thing.
what would be even better? cubes.
Last edited by Red Tornado; 04-03-2007 at 07:08 AM.
