If you were going to buy a C4 which year and why? Thanks in advance

 

A 1996. Newer is usually better I suppose. I'd go with an LT4 if you got the cash.

 

The general consensus around here is buy the newest C4 you can afford. I agree with that assessment. However, I am very happy with the '85 I found for $6,500, I have $7,200 into it after new tires and Iggee seat covers. Runs very strong, and should be able to get my $7,200 back out of it if I decided to sell. But I will own a newer C4 or a C5 someday......

 

Buy the best you can afford. A 96 is recognized as one the best of the run C4 wise.

 

It all depends on how much you want to spend, but my thinking was I wanted the LT1 with the redesigned optispark, larger 13" front brakes(standard in '95), and the redesigned interior that was introduced in '93. It also had to be a yellow coupe and I ended up with a nice '95 with 68k miles.

 

Depends on how much $$ you have and or are willing to spend. I would buy a 96 GS or a 95 ZR1 if $$ was not an issue. I've owned three C4's a 85 an 89 and now a 93. They keep getting better

 

I got a 90 because I liked the old body style and the new interior.

 

1. 96 Grand Sport (if there was one this year)
2. 96 ZR-1 (if there was one this year)
3. 96 Collectors Edition *Silver
4. 85 c4 *silver My car

 

'96 was the only year for a C4 GS.

There were none in '96.

A nice choice.

Nuttin' wrong with that!

Be well,

SJW

 

The newer the better, as others have noted.

Here is a list I generated when I was shopping for a C4 (it does not include anything related to the ZR1, because I wasn’t in the market for a ZR1). It includes the items that I considered to be notable changes as the C4 evolved following its debut with the Crossfire (Throttle Body) Injected engine in 1984:

C4 Corvette Evolutionary Highlights:

1985: L98 introduced as new engine (thru 1991), rear axle on manual trans cars became Dana 44 (thru 1996)

1986: Convertible re-introduced (all were Pace Car replicas), ABS became standard, VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System) introduced, all convertibles and late coupes had aluminum heads

1987: Roller lifters added

1988: Improved flow-thru ventilation in coupes, new dual-piston front brakes, E-brake used discs rather than separate small drums, 35th anniversary edition offered (coupe only), white with black roof bow & white leather seats (2050 units sold)

1989: ZF six-speed was new manual transmission

1990: Improvements to ABS and yaw control, radiator improved, instrument panel returned to analog except speedometer and fuel gauge, driver’s side airbag and glovebox added

1991: Rear exterior, nose, gill vent panels restyled, power steering cooler became standard

1992: LT1 introduced as standard engine (300 HP), traction control became standard, weatherstrips improved, insulation added to doors and transmission tunnel to reduce road noise

1993: Changes made to LT1 to cut engine noise (torque increased slightly), PKE introduced, 40th anniversary edition option for coupes and convertibles (all were ruby red exterior and interior)

1994: Sequential fuel injection and more powerful ignition introduced, passenger’s airbag added (glovebox deleted), all seats were leather and were redesigned with significant changes to side bolsters, run-flat tires optional, convertible rear window became glass with built-in defogger, A/C used R134A, electronic controls added to automatic transmissions, PCM used flash memory rather than EPROM.

1995: Indy Pace Car replica was convertible only with dark purple metallic and white (527 units sold), stronger French stitching used on sport seats, drip tube added to A-pillar weatherstrip to improve water sealing, fuel injectors revised to cut dripping after shutdown, connecting rods changed to powdered metal for strength and weight uniformity, larger J55 brakes used on earlier Z07 and ZR1 became standard, wiper arms changed to improve performance, newest ABS and ASR standard, gill vent panels restyled, actively-vented Optispark distributor on LT1 was an improvement over previous passively-vented units.

1996: LT4 engine used (only) on all 6-speed cars, LT1 was used with automatics, automatic transmissions were improved (clutches, bands, torque converter), Grand Sport option offered (admiral blue paint with stripes, LT4), Collector Edition available (silver paint only), new On Board Diagnostics (OBD-2), LT1 and LT4 had new throttle body

Hope this helps.

Be well,

SJW

 

Nice choice on the '95. But, one point of clarification: The revised seats showed up in '94.

Be well,

SJW

 

As others have said the newer the better. However, an 89 6 speed with Z51 suspension is considered by many to be one of the best C4s ever.

Also keep in mind a well maintained higher mileage car is usually a better buy than a low mileage, overwaxed but otherwise neglected, garage queen.

 

96 LT4
[IMG][/IMG]
Otherwise as stated probably the newest you can afford.

 

'95 and '96 for the main reason that the assembly line instituted an concentrated emphasis on build quality these last two years of the C4.

Otherwise, there are no "dogs" in the C4 generation.


Larry
code5coupe

__________
Often wrong, never in doubt....

 

I would buy one of these.
"http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i16.tinypic.com/4oqlaj9.jpg"

 

I gotta agree with a 1996 LT4. But only if it's black.

 

Two answers here
A; is this for investment? Rare is good
B; If it's a driver earlier is better.The 85-89 cars don't have half the probs of the later ones and you can cook them to chew up those things with the square tail lights!!!!!
The 90's C4's are an example of a car company that's just lost it's way as most have today.The only good thing that can be said is that they will ensure mid america and ecklers will stay in business for the next century.

 

Pretty broad question but, in my opinion, the early C4's with Z51 are the best handling Corvettes they ever made. The later ones are better riding and more refined. The 96 LT4's are fast and a bit more pricey. The ZR1's are great cars but parts are an issue. Bottom line: Buy the lowest mile, best maintained C4 you can afford.

 

If I were starting over and was limited to a C4 I'd buy a 95 ZR1.

Best of the bunch when it comes to ZR1s and they are crazy fast when properly modded.


Now if I was not limited to C4s, I believe the current bang for the performance buck is the C5 FRCs/Z06s.

 

Mileage doesnt mean a thing. Buy the best running C4 you can find, not the lowest mileage. 10,000 miles or 100,000 miles and there may be no difference in the way it drives. It all depends on how the previous owner cared for it and maintained it. Leaving it sit in a garage unused is NOT caring for it.

The later models have the same issues as the earlier ones. If it was me, id only buy 94 or 95 Corvettes now. If i was going to buy an earlier model, it would be an 87, id leave the 88s alone, and then the 89 would be next in the queue after 87. If you look at a 91 you may as well spring for a 92 and get a far better engine and a far better car with far more inclusions. 92 and 93 are pretty even, then 94/95 is a big upgrade.