C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

Missing the C4...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 7, 2009 | 09:25 PM
  #1  
Bat Man's Avatar
Bat Man
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Veteran: Army
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 28,015
Likes: 32
Default Missing the C4...

I sold my 92 LT1 which I owned for 8 years.

Guess you could say I moved up when I bought my 2008 Vette. I love the C6, it's awesome, and it's becoming my favorite.

With that said, I kinda miss the C4. I miss the raw brute power (especially the low end). I miss it's "quirks".

Anyone else have a C4 and C6?
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2009 | 09:34 PM
  #2  
tblt44's Avatar
tblt44
Drifting
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Fl
Default

just think nothing to fix for awhile
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2009 | 09:38 PM
  #3  
pianoguy's Avatar
pianoguy
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 10
From: Apple Valley MN
Default

I was scouting around for a C6 to add earlier this spring, before I spun a rod bearing. I keep having this internal debate about whether having no car payments or having a C6 is more important, and so far the no car payments keeps winning. But I have a feeling that in a moment of weakness, I'll go take a test drive, and the check writing will commence. But I can't imagine parting with my C4.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2009 | 09:42 PM
  #4  
Bat Man's Avatar
Bat Man
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Veteran: Army
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 28,015
Likes: 32
Default

Originally Posted by tblt44
just think nothing to fix for awhile
That's far from true. Just don't have to pay to have anything fixed.

I do love the HUD and the high RPM pull of the LS3. It's crazy.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 01:00 AM
  #5  
VetBoyZR1's Avatar
VetBoyZR1
Race Director
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,546
Likes: 2
From: Marco Island FL
Default

Originally Posted by Valleybacker

Anyone else have a C4 and C6?
Yes, I have a C4 and a C6. I had a C5 for a while, and was so glad to get rid of that for the C6 and still keep the C4. The C5 was the worst Vette I ever owned.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 09:00 AM
  #6  
mnypitVette's Avatar
mnypitVette
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Deland FL
Default

Originally Posted by VetBoyZR1
Yes, I have a C4 and a C6. I had a C5 for a while, and was so glad to get rid of that for the C6 and still keep the C4. The C5 was the worst Vette I ever owned.
Why do you say the C5 was so bad? I am curious because I am in the process of making payments to myself(in other words putting monoey every month away in a "Corvette account"), so I can buy one cash in a couple years. I was looking at a C5 vert. I love the LS based engines. With relatively little work I was at 422rwhp and 405rwtq in my 98 Camaro. Stock heads ported polished, cam, and some boltons.

Please dont tell me I am going to have to wait another year to afford a C6 LOL
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 09:13 AM
  #7  
mazdaverx7's Avatar
mazdaverx7
Le Mans Master
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,340
Likes: 1,148
From: Vermilion OH
Default

a friend of mine has a 99 convertible. after driving the car, i think for the price its really a bargain. i know his car has been trouble free for over 100K miles. i believe he has only had problems with warping rotors. now with that said, i do enjoy driving my C4 as opposed to my firend's C5. the reason is that the C4 feels more like a sports car than the luxury hot rod like C5. the C5 is a great car and i'd own one in a heartbeat but deep down i prefer the C4.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 09:24 AM
  #8  
mnypitVette's Avatar
mnypitVette
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Deland FL
Default

Originally Posted by mazdaverx7
a friend of mine has a 99 convertible. after driving the car, i think for the price its really a bargain. i know his car has been trouble free for over 100K miles. i believe he has only had problems with warping rotors. now with that said, i do enjoy driving my C4 as opposed to my firend's C5. the reason is that the C4 feels more like a sports car than the luxury hot rod like C5. the C5 is a great car and i'd own one in a heartbeat but deep down i prefer the C4.
Trust me, my 98 Camaro, with all the suspension work, all poly mounts, raw power, felt more like a sports car than my current C4. The C4 feels tame and is slow as hell. I am sure if I own a C5 it will not have stock anything. I just like the capabilities of the LS based motors as opposed to the LT1 and L98. My Camaro was noisy, rattled, squeeked, banged. The wife hated it, told me she had to pee before we got out of the neigborhood every time went in it. Well the 4 or 5 times she rode in it anyway. She wouldnt even get in it after about 3 months, she would follow me in her car.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 09:33 AM
  #9  
VetBoyZR1's Avatar
VetBoyZR1
Race Director
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,546
Likes: 2
From: Marco Island FL
Default

Originally Posted by mnypitVette
Why do you say the C5 was so bad?

Please dont tell me I am going to have to wait another year to afford a C6 LOL
Somewhere in the C5 section is a list of common problems with the C5, and a do-it-yourself way to fix many of them. My C5 had many of the problems on that list, and the fact that there was such a list tells me I was not the only one. I had a '98, so I do believe the early model years were the worst. My problems included:

warped rotors, steering column locked up (major recall), defective power door lock, battery acid leak into the wiring harness beneath it (which caused all kinds of electrical gremlins), the auto shifter stuck in Park and had to be replaced, the rear view mirrors fell off, the CD changer in the trunk died, the seat wiggles in its tracks and does not hold firm, and several other issues. This C5 was the only car I ever owned that I had to get flat-bedded to a garage because it was not drivable.

If you're getting a late model C5, maybe 2003 or newer, I'd say OK - but I'd rather see you wait until you can get into a C6. I'll say it again - my C5 was the WORST car I ever owned, and I've had several Vettes, and mustangs, and even a Corvair!
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 09:57 AM
  #10  
mnypitVette's Avatar
mnypitVette
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Deland FL
Default

WOW you are the only one I have ever heard that from. I had the 98 Camaro, first year of the ls1. Yeah it had some quirks, but when I was done nothing was untouched anyway so it wasnt an issue. It gave me the "while your in there" excuse to give the wife LOL Why do you think my username is mnypit. My lisence plate on the Camaro read "MNYPIT Z".

I suspect I will be looking for a later model. My price range will be in the $25000 to $30000 range. I think I can get a pretty late C5 vert for that in 2 years.

Oh and by the way, I have a Dodge for a work van, so I doubt any Vette will be the worst car I have ever owned. Even though I dont technically own the Van, it is still a complete POS. Warped rotors, dash fire, tranny, CV axles, a/c, wipers died in the middle of a Florida rain storm, warped rotors again, warped rotors again, another tranny. All before 80k miles. Probably been in the shop 8 to 10 times for warped rotors. Oh and it eats tires. 5 sets in 90k. Everyone I know that has owned a Chrysler product has had similar issues.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 09:59 AM
  #11  
mnypitVette's Avatar
mnypitVette
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Deland FL
Default

I would love to see other C5 owners weigh in on that too. I am not yet warming up to the C6 body yet.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 10:15 AM
  #12  
BrianCunningham's Avatar
BrianCunningham
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Default

In the end, they're just cars and this is just a hobby.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 10:31 AM
  #13  
Relic's Avatar
Relic
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by BrianCunningham
In the end, they're just cars and this is just a hobby.
In the end, they're just old Chevys, and this is just a hobby. (Thought I'd sharpen the point a bit, if you don't mind?)
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 10:38 AM
  #14  
mnypitVette's Avatar
mnypitVette
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Deland FL
Default

Originally Posted by Relic
In the end, they're just old Chevys, and this is just a hobby. (Thought I'd sharpen the point a bit, if you don't mind?)
And this is probably why mine was in such poor shape when I got it. It was just a car to the DPO.

If it were just a car to all of us we would all be driving honda Civics or Chevy Cavaliers
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 10:48 AM
  #15  
BAMvette's Avatar
BAMvette
Safety Car
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,305
Likes: 1
From: Red city in deep blue Oregon
St. Jude Donor '17
Default

Had a '92 for 3 years.

Last winter we managed to trade it for an '04 CE 'Vert.

It had 8,700 miles on it when I drove it off the lot!

It's been a SWEET upgrade.

Haven't had a single problem with it yet.

Yes...there is a list of common problems in the C5 section. Most of them are easily and inexpensively dealt with.....especially in a preventative fashion.

I've done a few of them on my car, and I do not worry about those problems anymore. They are "fix and forget".

NONE of them are as bad as the OptiSpark.

Try it.....you'll LIKE it!
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 10:55 AM
  #16  
Relic's Avatar
Relic
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by mnypitVette
And this is probably why mine was in such poor shape when I got it. It was just a car to the DPO.

If it were just a car to all of us we would all be driving honda Civics or Chevy Cavaliers
That's the part where the "hobby" comes into play. But, don't lose focus, they are still just old Chevys.

Some people collect coins, and coins are special to them. To me, and most other people, it's just money.

I like my C4. It sits in my garage while my more valuable Toyota Camry sits in the drive.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 10:57 AM
  #17  
mnypitVette's Avatar
mnypitVette
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Deland FL
Default

Originally Posted by BAMvette
Had a '92 for 3 years.

Last winter we managed to trade it for an '04 CE 'Vert.

It had 8,700 miles on it when I drove it off the lot!

It's been a SWEET upgrade.

Haven't had a single problem with it yet.

Yes...there is a list of common problems in the C5 section. Most of them are easily and inexpensively dealt with.....especially in a preventative fashion.

I've done a few of them on my car, and I do not worry about those problems anymore. They are "fix and forget".

NONE of them are as bad as the OptiSpark.

Try it.....you'll LIKE it!
That is kinda what I figured. The items, although devistating to some, didnt seem all that bad when compared to my work van.

And the opti is not as bad as everyone says. It was one of the easier jobs I have done on a car.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Missing the C4...

Old Sep 8, 2009 | 11:02 AM
  #18  
mnypitVette's Avatar
mnypitVette
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Deland FL
Default

Originally Posted by Relic
That's the part where the "hobby" comes into play. But, don't lose focus, they are still just old Chevys.

Some people collect coins, and coins are special to them. To me, and most other people, it's just money.

I like my C4. It sits in my garage while my more valuable Toyota Camry sits in the drive.
Yeah but in 5 years your C4 will still be worth what it is now while your Camry will lose most of its value.

It is more than just a car. It is an old Chevy, and a hobby, so the statement that it is just a car, and a hobby is a contridiction. If it were just a car, like mine was to the DPO, it wouldnt be more. It wouldnt be a hobby. And like you, mine sits most of the time.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 11:09 AM
  #19  
enrgizerbunny's Avatar
enrgizerbunny
Advanced
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Point North Carolina
Default

I have a 1991 Convertible that freaks out when it rains and starts flashing the lights inside because there's a "door ajar."

Maybe one day I'll own a C6...when the lastest generation is a C9.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2009 | 11:10 AM
  #20  
Relic's Avatar
Relic
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by mnypitVette
Yeah but in 5 years your C4 will still be worth what it is now while your Camry will lose most of its value.

It is more than just a car. It is an old Chevy, and a hobby, so the statement that it is just a car, and a hobby is a contridiction. If it were just a car, like mine was to the DPO, it wouldnt be more. It wouldnt be a hobby. And like you, mine sits most of the time.
I don't know about that, those darn Camrys really keep their value! Not to mention they don't break near as much, so I won't have the near the repair cost.

It's not a contradiction, it's a matter of perspective. Because your car is more than a car to you, doesn't mean it is. Take your car to a dealer and you'll find it's just a car to them. To most people, it's just an impractical two seater. Those of us who like them and see them as something other than just a car, (hobbists), are in the decided minority.

And you misunderstand, during the driving season, my C4 doesn't sit much. It's just that when it is sitting, it's doing it in the garage, it gets the preferred spot. Because I'm one of the nutty few.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:22 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE