Are C4's considered reliable
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
The L98 C4 Vettes are Very Reliable.
I have a 91 C4 the last year with the L98 Tuned Port Injected engine and I use it as my daily driver. It is very well maintained. I change oil every 5000 with Mobil1 5w/30 full synthetic.
I bought the 91 with 50k on it and it now has 100k trouble free miles.
Most used C4's are junk. A lot of people abuse these Vettes and it will take you awhile to find a good one. Expect to pay 10k or more for a decent well maintained C4.
I have a 91 C4 the last year with the L98 Tuned Port Injected engine and I use it as my daily driver. It is very well maintained. I change oil every 5000 with Mobil1 5w/30 full synthetic.
I bought the 91 with 50k on it and it now has 100k trouble free miles.
Most used C4's are junk. A lot of people abuse these Vettes and it will take you awhile to find a good one. Expect to pay 10k or more for a decent well maintained C4.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 64
From: Roanoke Va
The L98 C4 Vettes are Very Reliable.
I have a 91 C4 the last year with the L98 Tuned Port Injected engine and I use it as my daily driver. It is very well maintained. I change oil every 5000 with Mobil1 5w/30 full synthetic.
I bought the 91 with 50k on it and it now has 100k trouble free miles.
Most used C4's are junk. A lot of people abuse these Vettes and it will take you awhile to find a good one. Expect to pay 10k or more for a decent well maintained C4.
I have a 91 C4 the last year with the L98 Tuned Port Injected engine and I use it as my daily driver. It is very well maintained. I change oil every 5000 with Mobil1 5w/30 full synthetic.
I bought the 91 with 50k on it and it now has 100k trouble free miles.
Most used C4's are junk. A lot of people abuse these Vettes and it will take you awhile to find a good one. Expect to pay 10k or more for a decent well maintained C4.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Corvettes cost more to maintain than say a Firebird.
Some of it is because of what they call a "Corvette Tax". Also because some parts just cost more than other cars. My guess is because the Corvette has alot of Corvette only parts. That is why alot of people here do their own work.
Though the one thing I really like about the C4, is you can work in the engine bay all day long, and not really worry about scratching the paint. Sometimes I've sat on the tire when working in the engine bay.
Some of it is because of what they call a "Corvette Tax". Also because some parts just cost more than other cars. My guess is because the Corvette has alot of Corvette only parts. That is why alot of people here do their own work.
Though the one thing I really like about the C4, is you can work in the engine bay all day long, and not really worry about scratching the paint. Sometimes I've sat on the tire when working in the engine bay.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: wilmington De
WELL I HAVE HAD CAMAROS MOST OF MY LIFE, THEY ARE SIMILAR IN A FEW WAYS LIKE ENGINE AND TRANS. AND THEY BEEN DEAD RELIABLE. NOW I HAVE A 1987 CORVETTE THAT I BOUGHT 2 MONTHS AGO 117K EVERYTHING WORKS FINE AND I DRIVE IT EVERYDAY RAIN OR SHINE! EVERYTHING GOING GOOD STILL NOW!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
WELL I HAVE HAD CAMAROS MOST OF MY LIFE, THEY ARE SIMILAR IN A FEW WAYS LIKE ENGINE AND TRANS. AND THEY BEEN DEAD RELIABLE. NOW I HAVE A 1987 CORVETTE THAT I BOUGHT 2 MONTHS AGO 117K EVERYTHING WORKS FINE AND I DRIVE IT EVERYDAY RAIN OR SHINE! EVERYTHING GOING GOOD STILL NOW!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
That's good to know. About the only problems I had out of my 89 Firebird was a shop I used. They put on Napa parts. And I had to go through several alternators, starters, water pumps, radiators, master cylinders, etc. All in a 2 year period. So I was in the shop about once a month getting one of those things replaced for the 2nd or 3rd time. After that, I started learning how to work on it myself, as I had to pay labor each time to get the same part replaced over and over again. One time though, I was 2 hours out of town. And my month old Napa alternator quit charging and killed my battery. Had to get a new battery and turned the month old alternator to Autozone and got their alternator. Put it on myself and has been running 6 years since.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 765
The L98 C4 Vettes are Very Reliable.
I have a 91 C4 the last year with the L98 Tuned Port Injected engine and I use it as my daily driver. It is very well maintained. I change oil every 5000 with Mobil1 5w/30 full synthetic.
I bought the 91 with 50k on it and it now has 100k trouble free miles.
Most used C4's are junk. A lot of people abuse these Vettes and it will take you awhile to find a good one. Expect to pay 10k or more for a decent well maintained C4.
I have a 91 C4 the last year with the L98 Tuned Port Injected engine and I use it as my daily driver. It is very well maintained. I change oil every 5000 with Mobil1 5w/30 full synthetic.
I bought the 91 with 50k on it and it now has 100k trouble free miles.
Most used C4's are junk. A lot of people abuse these Vettes and it will take you awhile to find a good one. Expect to pay 10k or more for a decent well maintained C4.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 272
Likes: 2
From: West Hills CA
Reliability wise my C4 is pretty awesome. Aside from having to do the regular maintenance mumbo jumbo and my smog pump taking a crap and needing to be replaced the car's been incredibly reliable. And let me say, I drive this think every day and I'm not talking about around the block, at least 50 miles a day.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: Brooks GA
Reliable? Sure they are if you take care of them. Will be jumping in mine and driving from Columbus to Savannah Ga. for a conference. My vette only has 86K on it so far and it is my DD. I have hd vehicles with well over 275K. Just get a good one and take care of t.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 173
Likes: 7
From: Blk Mtn NC
Stating the obvious first that a used Vette needs to have been cared for I would vote for reliable. I bought my 93 in 96 with 48K on it. One clutch at 55K (bad previous driver), one water pump, Opti, hoses, etc. at 110K and now 167K on the clock.
Best car I have owned in a long time. It is my daily driver so the pleasures bring the usual pains, rock chips, worn interior, etc. but it makes for a good drive home.
Buy, drive like you stole it,enjoy, rinse and repeat....
Thanks,
Mike
Best car I have owned in a long time. It is my daily driver so the pleasures bring the usual pains, rock chips, worn interior, etc. but it makes for a good drive home.
Buy, drive like you stole it,enjoy, rinse and repeat....
Thanks,
Mike
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Colgate WI
The L98 C4 Vettes are Very Reliable.
I have a 91 C4 the last year with the L98 Tuned Port Injected engine and I use it as my daily driver. It is very well maintained. I change oil every 5000 with Mobil1 5w/30 full synthetic.
I bought the 91 with 50k on it and it now has 100k trouble free miles.
Most used C4's are junk. A lot of people abuse these Vettes and it will take you awhile to find a good one. Expect to pay 10k or more for a decent well maintained C4.
I have a 91 C4 the last year with the L98 Tuned Port Injected engine and I use it as my daily driver. It is very well maintained. I change oil every 5000 with Mobil1 5w/30 full synthetic.
I bought the 91 with 50k on it and it now has 100k trouble free miles.
Most used C4's are junk. A lot of people abuse these Vettes and it will take you awhile to find a good one. Expect to pay 10k or more for a decent well maintained C4.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 679
Likes: 0
From: vero beach florida
I've been looking around at cars alot lately ($9500 budget) and the newer cars are nice but these C4 corvettes have really caught my eye even before I was in car purchasing mode. These are nice looking cars with lots of power (LT1/4) and rear wheel drive (driven a few muscles cars and there a blast) but I was wondering are these cars really that reliable ?
The ones ive looked at are pretty old (92-96) and I wonder if I do decide to go this route will maintance be a big issue ? Also how long do these transmissions last ?
The ones ive looked at are pretty old (92-96) and I wonder if I do decide to go this route will maintance be a big issue ? Also how long do these transmissions last ?
Keep up on maintenance and buy a car that has been kept up and you will have little problems, don't any you will have big problems.
This is true of any car you buy.
Remember the Fram commercial, you can pay a little now or a lot later.
Roadster Madness. 😠
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,304
Likes: 2,371
From: Ventura Co Ca
SoCal Regional Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '13, '20-'21
Like the guys said, it's all in how the car is maintained. I wouldn't hesitate to jump in my 150K mile 1984 Corvette and drive it to Los Angeles and back tonight. Contrarily, I've seen 65K mile C4's I wouldn't trust across town. Find the car that has had the best care taken of it. It will be obvious when you see it.
Do the maintenance, fix the small stuff that breaks, and they are as reliable as most any other car on the road.
Do the maintenance, fix the small stuff that breaks, and they are as reliable as most any other car on the road.
I also took the vin number to the dealer where the owner said he had it serviced. They gave me a copy of the maintenance record and it was very extensive and the oil had been changed every 3,000 miles. 
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 3
From: Maine
I preface this by saying that this is only my opinion.
Having said that, I think that most folks have C4`s as hobby cars. There are some that use them as daily drivers, but most have them as a "fun" car & have other cars/trucks as dd`s. As for reliability, the newest C4 that you are going to be able to buy is going to be 14 years old. So it depends on what you are looking for. Are C4`s dependable?, for the most part- yes, but again- if you buy a car that is original, a lot of parts are just going to wear out. As a hobby car, you can let it sit when something expensive breaks until you get the money to get it fixed. If you need a car, as an only car to get you to work or school, I don`t know if I would have just the `Vette, but again, a lot of folks do use their `Vettes as their dd`s
Having said that, I think that most folks have C4`s as hobby cars. There are some that use them as daily drivers, but most have them as a "fun" car & have other cars/trucks as dd`s. As for reliability, the newest C4 that you are going to be able to buy is going to be 14 years old. So it depends on what you are looking for. Are C4`s dependable?, for the most part- yes, but again- if you buy a car that is original, a lot of parts are just going to wear out. As a hobby car, you can let it sit when something expensive breaks until you get the money to get it fixed. If you need a car, as an only car to get you to work or school, I don`t know if I would have just the `Vette, but again, a lot of folks do use their `Vettes as their dd`s
