Question for C4 owners
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
It depends a lot on how much you can or are willing to spend. Say for instance, the sky's the limit. Get yourself a Grand Sport. That is probably the only C4 (so far), with the exception of maybe the ZR1, that will hold or increase in value with time. If power is what you are looking for and want to stay stock, then the 96 LT4 is your answer. You could pick up a manual 85 (for dirt cheap), drop in a Keisler 5-speed, mod the heck out of it and have a car with a ton more HP and torque than an LT4. The 96 will undoubtedly have more convenience features than any predecessor.
The C4 has many styles, all of them
, so you need to pick what you like, how much you want to spend, what you want to do with it (daily driver, track, etc.) and the answers to those questions will guide you to your answer.
The C4 has many styles, all of them
, so you need to pick what you like, how much you want to spend, what you want to do with it (daily driver, track, etc.) and the answers to those questions will guide you to your answer.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,727
Likes: 711
From: Bergen County, NJ
I've been thinking about adding another Vette and was thinking about looking for a nice one and my question is...of all the years, which do you people feel are the best years I might look into?
Any help as to which year to look for or avoid for whatever reason would be greatly appreciated
Any help as to which year to look for or avoid for whatever reason would be greatly appreciated
But it depends what you want it for. Do you want a show quality car that you won't use much? Then I'd get a low millage '88-to about '92. There are plenty of low milage C4's around. There are still some Corvette shows coming up in NJ. Go to them, there are always a few low milage C4s looking for new owners.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,285
Likes: 52
From: Jacksonville, FL
St. Jude Donor '08 thru '26
Sweet steel bumper shark...
....ya got there! 
I had a 72 LT-1 and now I have a 90 ZR-1....so my HO is if ya want the high rpm thing go with the newest ZR-1 ya can afford! Oh yea, I'm not objective as far as the ZR-1's are concerned!
If the Z isn't your cup-o-tea, and it isn't for everyone. I'd say a GS followed by any LT4.
Tom
I had a 72 LT-1 and now I have a 90 ZR-1....so my HO is if ya want the high rpm thing go with the newest ZR-1 ya can afford! Oh yea, I'm not objective as far as the ZR-1's are concerned!
If the Z isn't your cup-o-tea, and it isn't for everyone. I'd say a GS followed by any LT4.
Tom
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
As you've no doubt seen in the replies the prevailing wisdom is to buy the "newest and best" you can afford. While I'll agree with that up to a point, you have to remember that it'll be your car. You're the one who is going to drive, maintain and pay for it. Unlike the 68 C3, (which one car mag refused to test drive because of the problems with it) there are really no inherent problems in a C4. (One could say that a C4 is like a hummer, there are no bad ones, some are just better than others).
Jared1984 makes some valid points. I would suggest you pick up a copy of Michael Antonic's Black Book and read up on the various changes that were made over the years. You might, for example, not want ABS brakes. In that case you'll have to limit yourself to the 84-85. The L98 is a great engine and very similar to what you have in your C3, but it runs out of power around 4800 rpm while the LT1 and LT4 will pull right up to the red line. Of course if you rarely take the engine over 4500 rpm this won't matter.
The C4 got progressively better and more refined (and complicated) as the model years progressed.
BTW, what section of Clifton are you in? I'm in the next town, Passaic, right on the Rosemar border.
Jared1984 makes some valid points. I would suggest you pick up a copy of Michael Antonic's Black Book and read up on the various changes that were made over the years. You might, for example, not want ABS brakes. In that case you'll have to limit yourself to the 84-85. The L98 is a great engine and very similar to what you have in your C3, but it runs out of power around 4800 rpm while the LT1 and LT4 will pull right up to the red line. Of course if you rarely take the engine over 4500 rpm this won't matter.
The C4 got progressively better and more refined (and complicated) as the model years progressed.
BTW, what section of Clifton are you in? I'm in the next town, Passaic, right on the Rosemar border.
Cool Hand Luke of W MI
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,292
Likes: 181
From: Winona Lake, IN
There is more refinement in the C4 gen the later you go. My 92 rides a ton better than my buddies 84, but the 95-96 years ride even better than mine!
I would go for the newest C4 that you can afford. Mind you, the repairs on these cars can be expensive (FX3 ride control shocks and actuators, etc.)
Good luck!
I would go for the newest C4 that you can afford. Mind you, the repairs on these cars can be expensive (FX3 ride control shocks and actuators, etc.)
Good luck!
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