You will get as many different opinions on here as there are days in the year on this topic.

I own an '84--have for about 10 years.

Great car, runs well, has the Z-51 so it's stiff, but it takes turns like you're on roller coaster tracks.

It has the crossfire, so mods are hard to find. I've learned to maintain my own crossfire system and there are mods you can do (port the intake, etc) but if you want the simple method of buying upgrades out of a magazine, an '84 is not for you.

If you don't mind learning to work on your car, maintain the crossfire (which really isn't that hard to do once you rebuild the TBs and balance them correctly, then an '84 is a fun and unique year to own.

If you would rather take it to Chevy and have them work on it, then an '85 or newer is a better bet.

The Z-51 does have different tires on the back vs. the front. But I don't see how that makes a matter. Chances are you are going to burn up your rear tires anyway, so being able to rotate them around probably won't even come into play.

To each his own. Those of us who own '84s have a fond appreciation of them. Those who never have owned one really have no idea other than what they have read on the bathroom wall.

Now, don't misunderstand my note. Do I like my 84? Yes I do. Is an 85 25 hp faster and easier to upgrade? Yes it is.

Find one that makes you happy and you'll be happy going forward!

 

Never heard of this before?
I do know however that the standard coupe had all the same size wheels... 8.5 inch
The Z51 package came with 8.5 in the front and 9.5 in the back.
Is this what your referring to?

 

That's correct for '84. In '85, the Z51 came with 9.5 front and back.
'Course, a LOT of folks with '84s have changed the fronts to 9.5s also.

 

Here's the C4 suspension chart at the Corvette action center.
Know it, love it, bookmark it!

 

Per the Black Book all 84 base coupes came with 8.5 front and rear. Z51 cars had 8.5 front, 9.5 rears.

Same info as listed at CAC

 

$7500.00 is NOT too high for an 84 or an 85 unless they are in poor shape. If they have lower miles and in good clean shape, they may get up closer to 8 or 10 grand. Maybe more depending on the buyer. Some of you guys need to follow the prices a little better now and not what you paid years ago. Quoting those old prices all the time is getting old. The C4's are now starting to appreciate in value. Start watching what some of the nicer cars are fetching now. You might be surprised. I am sure that someone will now tell me I don't know what I am talking about. All I ask is watch the clean ones and tell me that I'm wrong.

 

I'll have whatever he's smoking.

I thought firefighters had to take random drug tests.

Sorry...

I know I love my '88 Z52 A4 Coupe, and it only cost me $6100 3 years ago just as it sits, and there are thousands of '84/85s out there in good shape for way less than 9 or 10 grand.

As is always the case, the car is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

 

I knew it would not take long. Why the personal shots?

 

Get the 85, a few bolt ons and you will be low 12's. I'm to poor mine is only at high 13's.

 

I think the c-4 was a work in progress all the way to the end. My mommy told me to never buy a "first year" model of any car. I know my 85 Z-51 rides like a hay cart, I can't imagine what the stiffer 84 was like. 85 has the "old school" 1st gen and the MAF, which has its tuning and mod advantages, as opposed to later models. I know the 85 has 25 more horses, but I think the jump in torque was even higher (correct me if I'm wrong) Modding an 84 would be fun also, I had read an article in Corvette Fever on exactly how to do it along time ago.