Tdub80

Did they change much of anything from 92 on mechanically or cosmetically for better for worse??

cv67

Cosmetically not really. Later ones ride much better, vented opti etc.

Tdub80

Here is a pic of a '92 that I might look at tomorrow with a 100k. Just a driver. It will need buffed. I think I can get that deck to look better? He's asking $7700 which is too much I think but I'll see what some cash can do.

http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/..._22952345.jpeg
http://www.thedetailerscafe.com/smf/..._22941654.jpeg

lushdrunk

The 94-96 has different door panels, and seats.
The 90-93 has center radio bezel divider.
The 94-96 has pass side air bag/ 90-93 has glove box.
The 94-96 has black composite valve covers/92-93 has the 87-91 silver style.
The 94-96 has a different intake design with a fuel rail crossover on the front.
(no change in HP/Tq)
1996 Manual transmission cars came with 330hp Lt4 engine and calipers with C-O-R-V-E-T-T-E script on HD models.

Joe C

...and don't forget, 95-96 have different front fender "gill" panels. 92-93 have orange dash/interior lettering, 94-96 have white. that little separator on the front bumper fascia (between turn-signals/fog lamps and the side markers) is painted black on 92-95, 96 is body color. i'm not sure, but from above, does the 93's have silver (magnesium) or composite valve covers - ??? - i thought only 92 LT-1's have magnesium.

zr1fred

I think the 94-96 are a little better cars, they are worth more in the marketplace. A little more than could be explained just by being newer. GM spent a lot of money on quality issues when they decided to hold off on the the C5 for a couple of years. The 92 was the only vette LT1 with aluminum valve covers. Worth passing on a 92 or 93? Probably not.

flightmate

Between 92-96 condition and milleage are more important than year from what I saw when shopping around.

corvetteronw

Find something with a better paint job than that red vert. I can just about guarantee that after you buff it out there will be weak spots such as the tail and nose that do not look good. You will have a hard time getting a paint shop to match them to your faded paint after you buff it out as it still will not look like new.
This is the time to pay a little more now and avoid hundreds if not $1,000+ expense later.
I don't intend to sound like an azz but please heed the advice of many here. BUY THE BEST THAT YOU CAN AFFORD. Whenever I ignored this advice I have been sorry. Whenever I have listened to this advice I have been very pleased.
Nothing is worse than being unable to drive your baby because you are ashamed of how it looks, sounds or performs.

corvetteronw

Here is one that looks promising. If interested have a local Forum member test it for you (offer to pay him for the trouble) then fly down and drive back. You will have fun and never forget the experience.
http://www.gscorvettes.com/For_Sale.html

c4cruiser

There are a lot of later C4's out there and you should really look hard before deciding on "the" car to buy.

Back in 97, when I bought a '92 'vert, I had looked at something like 12 cars. Most of them were OK but nothing really nice. I finally found one at a specialty shop in Portland OR. There were two 92's sitting side by side. One was a 92 coupe in Black Rose Metallic with a 6-speed, the other was a 92 'vert in Polo Green and A4. Both were the same price and both had <10K miles. I bought the 'vert simply because I liked the color. Never had one single problem with it all the time I owned it. Always got compliments, won some car show trophies and even autocrossed it.

The point is to look for the best car you can find for the money you want to spend. Buying a car that needs some work means you will be spending more money down the road that could have gone towards a better car in the first place.

Camelotian

'92> have elcetronically controlled automatic transmision.

96 Vette CE

1994 was the first year GM used electronic solenoids for the transmission.

c4cruiser

Thought the 4L60E appeared in late 93 cars??? Maybe very close to the end of 93 production?

BlackbirdZ07

I like the '92-'93 interiors a lot more than '94-'96. Earlier has the better looking four spoke steering wheel instead of the two spoke, contoured seats instead of the fat person seats, glove box that's missing on the later cars, and the orange graphics instead of white.

There are also some mechanical differences as some have mentioned. Also, the AC system went from R12 to using R134 in '94. Probably the best source of all this information is the Corvette Black Book; it lists all the major changes by year.

The cars are similar enough that it's best to buy the best car you can find, as others have said.

bac22

Personally, I think it's always best to buy the latest model year of any car...generally the bugs have been worked out (@#$% weatherstipping excluded). But at the same time you need to buy a car that's within budget.

Mr. Peabody

This may help to clarify the changes from year to year.

http://100megsfree4.com/corvette/1990/vet95.htm

At the very bottom of the page you sill find a link to each year. Hope this helps

jsims002

Mine is a 94, one thing comes to mind that I wish I had was OBD II which I think was added in 96.

RollaMo-LT4

Only the Grand Sports and Collector Edition cars had the black brake calipers with the CORVETTE script on them.

Regular LT4 cars still got the J55 brakes (as all '96 Corvettes did), but they did not have the word Corvette on them.

Illini Al

Thanks! Was looking for something exactly like this.

bigjohn85

I have a OBDII in my 95? I thought they started in 94, I might be wrong. I bought my 95 for 4k. Needs a little work, biggest issue is I have a hole in the fiberglass hood. She has 120k and a 6 speed and it has been in Az all of it's life. It has been a fun project just to clean up, most of the cosmetic issues are on the inside which I think are easiest to fix for me. I have found a couple of cars here in phoenix for about 7k with under 100k around 60-80 mostly in wonderful condition. Tell me what you want and I can look around for you, just pm me!