I just got my license and my first car is going to be a corvette.. at the moment i have a red 1987, i got it for a pretty good price. Problem is it was sitting for 4 years under a tree, so the interior is all dirty and filled with mildew and stuff. Although its nothing a new interior cant fix. Its got smell from the milldew, the rear trunk wont open because of some problem with the fuses that needs to be checked out. This car is option one.. my other option is a 1975 stingray, green. Its in mint condition, but this is only what i've been told. I've also been told its in need of no repair. Its a real dilemma... Because i have the c4 on one hand.. which i really like because of the digital dashboard and than i got the c3 which is a classic in my opinion. Both cars have great mileage, not sure the exact mileage of the c3 but the c4 has 59,000 original miles. Help on what car to pick will be appreciated
Thanks,
TabuIsMe :o

 

My post may seem to rant, but I just happen to think in bursts.

Unless the C3 is modded, the C4 will be quicker. The C4 also will get better fuel mileage. However, given that the C4 has interior damage, I'd give the C3 a clsoe look. C4 Interior parts are not cheap in any extent of the imagination. Think several thousand for new(about 2k - 2.5k for new carpet, seat covers and foam, door panels and assorted stuff, and you still get to put it all in)

Also, I saw Motor City Vettes avatar. Are you in Detroit or in the area? If you are in Michigan, you HAVE to have a second car. Trying to own just an old sports car is cruel to the car; potholes, snow, rain, etc on an old car. You also can't take a group of friends anywhere in one and you can't move big stuff.

Post up photos of each car along with more specs. I'd be worried about trying to drive a 75 in MI in the winter, the birdcage would be shot in not too long if you did. The C4 would probably hold up better in those conditions. I wouldn't really recommend either for an only car.

I bought my Vette a year and a half ago at 18, and had a 1973 Triumph GT6 MK3 from 16 - 19. I always had daily cars because I always figured it was a necessity. First was a mint 1997 Dodge Neon base coupe(NO options, now it's dad's car), second daily was a 1991 Lincoln Town Car that was in heated storage unmoved for 10 years(Still drive it daily and it never has any issues). They were both flawless when I got them, low miles, absolutely NO rust, except both needed major mechanical repair; Neon - Head Gasket, Lincoln - Crank Grind. I could not own a nice car of any kind unless I learned to work on them myself.

The question, what is the extent of your mechanical knowledge? From 1[change your oil] to 10[rebuild rear ends, transmissions, engines, etc].

Stuff breaks on these cars, and while it seems that I'm trying to steer you away, I just don't want to see anyone get in over their head on a first car.

Good Luck! Also, check your profile, Porsche, not Porche.

 

Congrats on becoming a vette owner so young. It only took me 32 yrs to get my first vette since becoming a licensed driver. My advice to you is enlist the help of a trusted corvette mechanic or skilled auto tech in evaluating your current car and what repairs might be necessary to fix your cars problems. That will give you an idea of what it will cost. Then have the mechanic evaluate the older vette and what it may need. You can search online parts distributers such as ecklers and Vette brake products to get real world costs of parts. Labor is extra, or learn as you build as I have done. ( I'm still learning ) As a professional aircraft mechanic and vette owner, Im here to tell you, unless the car has been sitting in a timecapsule, it too will need something to bring it up to snuff.
I really love my 92 corvette, but the truth is parts and maintenance are a tad higher than most domestic cars. You pay for performance. I love the early C3 styling, I grew up with it. But they had their fair share of problems, and the gas crunch of the mid 70's forced some pretty low performance numbers on the vette. By the late 80's a much improved corvette in both handling and performance was being built. The decision is entirely yours to make though, and I suggest you do it wisely.

 

Lol anybody who wants a corvette should never be too concerned about gas... And i agree the parts for the interior is a real hassle i was just thinking about maybe going to a junk or salvage yard and finding an interior there, im going to have to do something to the interior anyway because if i dont keep it i got to sell it.

I dont live in any major city i was just sort of in a hurry when i did the profile and used to live in NY so i picked it.. at the moment im in jersey. And in no way am i considering driving either of the vettes during winter time, going to park it in a storage room and drive a car thats safe for winter weather. I couldnt handle it, i know my limitations as of the moment.

"Post up photos of each car along with more specs." - ill take pictures of the red c4 tomorrow the green one i have to pick up from new hampshire this week.
I could see myself getting a Lincoln for winter, i like the way it drives. I know a lot of mechanics who will repair stuff for me for a lot cheaper but im going to work along a mechanic this summer to pick up some stuff like changing brakes and learning more about the engine. Also im taking automotive class next year. I only know the basic stuff right now.



Good Luck! Also, check your profile, Porsche, not Porche.[/QUOTE] <going to correct this>


P.s- does anybody know any exact differences when it comes to performance inbetween the c4 and c3?

 

The 87, in good shape has 240HP from it's L98 whereas the 75 in good shape has 205HP out of it's L82 or if it's a base engine(L48) it has only 165HP. Curb weight on the 75s appear to be aroudn 3500lbs from the sources I keep seeing. Curb weight on the 87 seems to be a little more than 3200lbs. Assuming both cars are in good mechanical shape, the 87 will spank the 75 on all performance aspects; straightline acceleration, top speed, and handling.

 

This post renewed my hope in the youth of America

 

Good Luck on that decision Bro When I was in the Vette Shopping phase, you know the "GOTTA HAVE A VETTE" syndrome...I sold my 93 Z28 and wanted a C3...REALLY wanted and still do want a 70-72...(actually I'm planning on getting one when I return from my tour in Japan or a Z06 which ever comes first)...ANYHOW, I was talked out of the C3 route by a friend cause I was going to be actually using the car as my daily driver and a C3 really isn't much of a DD. But now since I have my 91 a C3 is definitely in my future. On the other hand are you looking for performance, handling, style, classic...Have fun and whatever you decide ENJOY IT!!!

 

The interior is damn expensive to replace. Most of the C4s I looked at had ragged interiors. I figured I could do underhood repairs cheap, so I found a car in good cosmetic shape that needed some mechanical work.

Your situation, you need something reliable. A C4 that wasn't maintained and then sat for 4 years is bad news. Once you start driving it daily you'll end up doing 4 years worth of maintenance in a few months, which will be impossible without a backup car.

I'd go for the 75 if it is in fact that price and description.



At one time I had just the vette, I had to cross my fingers and get all the parts ahead of working on it. If I was missing a tool or part halfway through I had to bum a ride to the store. And I had many, many late Sunday nights trying to get it back together in time for work.

 

So you have a C4 that is in need of some work - does it run? What condition is the engine and tranny in? Will is pass a state inspection?

Who said the C3 needs no work? The person selling it? A C3 coming from NH be very careful of C3 rust issues. The car can look 100% on the outside but under the skin could be lurking a nightmare. I had a customer once who thought his T-top seal was bad, turned out the whole windshield frame had to be replaced. Cost $3500 and I gave him a good deal. Car looked 100% from the outside. I'm in VT, one state away from NH.

C4s don't tend to rust like C3s can but as Kevin mentioned C4 interiors are $$$ to replace. Is the C4 in good shape mechanically? all you've described is the condition of the interior and a minor electrical problem. Have you driven the '87 at all? Does it run?

 

Do a lot of maintenance before trying to really drive the 87. Sitting for 4 years means what CC said.

Change the Oil, Transmission Fluid, Coolant and Brake Fluid. Put in new plugs and wires. Change the Fuel Filter. Since you don't have the impressive multec injectors, run some decent fuel injection cleaner(say Chevron or BG44K). Get a new battery. Don't even fiddle with the old one.

Post up as problems arise. Even if you don't keep the 87, you'll get more money if the basics to make it run right are done.

Given that it'd be a toy and you wouldn't drive it in the winter, the 75 looks better if it's nice underneath and the birdcage isn't made of iron oxide. I'm not as versed in the C3 because I'm not interested in the late ones, and the early ones are far out of my price range. I'd get a local forum member who is a C3 fanatic to go check it out with you. Preferably one who does all of their own work, or even more, an experienced mechanic owner.

Don't make any actions as far as swapping or selling without fully analyzing both situations on paper, without emotion, first.

 

If his decision for a daily driver wasn't based on emotion, he would be on the Toyota Camry forum right now.

 

Remember my former user name here on CF:

http://toyotanation.com/forum/member.php?u=38141

Link to pic(before bodywork): HERE.

 

The 87 drives great, the 75 i know is in a good condition because it was maintained good. my dad knows everything about corvettes his first car was a stingray too =] If i plan on restoring the interior and find good parts ill put up where i got them from. So far im leaning towards the c3, im getting a temporary tag for it so i can test it out for a month. I'll take pictures of the c4 to show the condition. the engine sounds good though according to another mechanic i know who works at a dealership. I asked my dad what he thinks about the mechanical differences between the 2, and he said the c3 is noisier and less comfortable. But not much of a difference... haha this is like a chocolate and vanilla dilemma..
btw i didnt know the c4 only had 240 hp i think someone mentioned, because my dad said it has 5.7 liter so i figured it has 305 hp?

 

What body work did you do to the car?

 

I haven't done any to the Vette, it was perfect everywhere(paint job fairly recent). I did some on the Toyota.

I refinished the front bumper on the drivers side due to severe spiderwebbing. I sanded, primed and painted that and blended it. The "pimple" on the passenger's rear door is better now that it has paint, but I'm going to repaint the door eventually and blend it. I also cleaned up the few tiny surface rust areas. My work on that car wasn't perfect, but my mom wanted spot work done until she gets a full paint job done on it.

 

Nope. The 87 has a TPI 350 which has a lot of torque but the long runner intake chokes on high rpms. The C4 didn't get 300HP for the base model until 1992 with the LT1.

The C3, unless modified will be slower. The C4 will handle better and be faster and achieve higher fuel economy.

 

<going to correct this>


P.s- does anybody know any exact differences when it comes to performance inbetween the c4 and c3?[/QUOTE]

I had a turbo car when I was younger, it got 13 MPG witch is really hideous compared to the 'vette I have now. There were times I couldn't afford the gas to visit my parents. Getting twice the gas mileage is really sweet, it saves a bundle! If you do not have a second car you should care about the mileage. I really enjoy to drive and if the car gets terrible mileage, I can't afford to enjoy it as much as I would like!

 

I do little jobs for my dad and he pays the gas, so its not one of my worries.
After i posted today on the forum i went to take the car to get an estimate for how much the interior would cost. My brakes went out while i was driving on the highway... i swerved in time to the other lane and went to the car place but it was not easy... They said for all new carpeting it would be $990 which is fair IMO. although tomorrow im going to check out a junk yard to see some interiors. I couldnt take the pictures because right afterwards i dropped it off the mechanics, the car has NO brakes whatsoever. So he said he will check it out again and see whats wrong. my dad said i ran out of fluid, i really hope its just that lol

 

I had a turbo car when I was younger, it got 13 MPG witch is really hideous compared to the 'vette I have now. There were times I couldn't afford the gas to visit my parents. Getting twice the gas mileage is really sweet, it saves a bundle! If you do not have a second car you should care about the mileage. I really enjoy to drive and if the car gets terrible mileage, I can't afford to enjoy it as much as I would like![/QUOTE]


what car did you have?
P.s- nice vette

 

My third car in life was a '89 Dodge Daytona that I built up. All new suspension, engine, turbo, shifter, etc. I was shooting for 300/300 FWH (front wheel HP LOL) and 12's in the 1/4 but had a lot of trouble with the tune. I went through many head gaskets, studded the block, and o-ringed to. Snapped a crank in half, that made a nice decoration for awhile. If I knew then what I do now...