I swore I wouldn't go back to Corvettes at Carlisle this year because of the extreme lack of attention from vendors to the C4 era Corvettes in my opinion. Last year there was very little there in the way of C4 stuff. But at the last minute my buddy wanted me to go with him. So....I went. This year was really bad as lots of vendors were leaving Saturday morning because of what they said was a lack of sales and bad weather. The items that were there, new and used, were so ridiculously priced (high) and they weren't willing to make any deals. NONE! After a tank full of gas, admission, food, PA turnpike tolls, and two Corvette shirts, I spent close to $200.00 myself! There were a lot a C4 Vettes there in attendance. I wonder when the vendors will realize that most of us C4 guys are willing to spend good money and they will start making more money if they just open their eyes.

 

That's too bad. I know a lot of people cancelled their trip because of weather. You can see the attention from vendors to the C4 right here on the forum. C5 and C6 section is filled with vendors. Even our own CF store doesn't have anything for vettes prior to the C5 I don't think.

I know when I had my C4 I bought tons of stuff for it. I've actually spent less on my C5 than I did my C4.

What, has people quit buying for the C4? There has to be a reason I would think. Surely they aren't that stupid are they?

I don't know but I understand the frustration.

 

I got a glass top, hood badge and a B pillar weather strip for the C4, ZR1 side skirts for the wife's car.

But you're right, not exactly the C4 stuff I was expecting to pick through.

 

I enjoyed Carlisle but I do agree the C4 is left out. I asked a vendor that had all sorts of chrome underhood goodies if he had anything for C4 and he said no. We are red headed stepchildren.

 

thats a complete shame.

You always here about how incredible the ECS and tuner kits are for C5/6.


C4 would be just as good, but the vendors dont support them.

Crying shame

 

I got a good nice pair of sun visors

 

NCRS florida was the same way. Very little C4 stuff (mainly c1 & c2 used parts) and no real deals. Was still a fantastic show though...

 

This redheaded step child went drag racing last night (only street legal Corvette in attendance) and did some auto-x today (ditto). Not bad for a the red headed step child. I did not win much, but at least I showed up and drove my Corvette the way God, Zora, and Dave intended. I failed to have saw any C5's or C6's or any other Corvettes for that matter.

 

Well, the only things I bought were a shirt, and the rubber "dish" that goes around the filler neck under the gas door. But I really needed that so it was a success. The wife seemed reluctant to leave a blue '76 the guy was asking 10K for, but when I asked her a bit later if she wanted to go back and really look it over closely she said no. Then halfway home she asked what I would have done if she had said yes......

Got to meet a few CFer's including Nowhere Man and his fiancee but we must have had our times wrong as nobody showed up for a CF group photo.

For a first timer I was impressed altho everyone insisted this was about HALF of what Carlisle usually is. I think between the somewhat cooler weather and not having to fight huge crowds this was probably a blessing in disguise.

I'd go again.

 

I remember reading a thread like this last year. I still would like to see pictures. anyone?

 

All the money is in the C6 stuff there just not much incentive to make parts for C4 guys these days.

Whew, close one. More mod money for you

 

Same story at Bloomington Gold, a little bit of everything except C4 stuff.

 

We discussed this topic before and I remember even when the C4 was it the aftermarket C4 parts was not even close to whats out there for C5 and C6. The market for those generations is excessively large with vast choices. If you guys take the time and read the C5, C6, Z06 and ZR1 its is amazing how the LS engine generates massive horses with only few mods.

A quick example is heads and tune.

A set of heads for the LT4 may give you 20 HP. A set of heads gives the LS 100 horses.

In SoCal CMS tunes C5 and C6 and Ive been in his shop and his dyno tune gives a stock C6 40 RWHP. Yes, just the tune.

 

Yeah, but if she said yes, it's another Vette for me to play with, without having to explain, justify, or whatever - she'd THINK it was for HER!

 

i used to go to carlisle every year - starting in 1988, went 17 out of 19 years, then, i got burned out. just wasn't that exciting anymore. in the last few years, i have gone a couple times, and i did go last year, but only stayed one day. seems like vendors didn't want to deal on things i wanted or needed, and i just don't need that much anymore. i can buy anything i want much cheaper on-line. i usually dropped around $400-$500 going to carlisle (gas, motels, eats&drinks, admission fees, etc), without buying anything. i must be getting cheap in my old age, and sometimes i feel like i'm getting ripped off - like a $24 one day admission fee (WTF ), and then having to park out in "west bum-*****" . for me, carlisle maybe a "every 4 or 5 years" thing - if that...

 

Hey guys-

I enjoy reading your posts, thank you for your feedback. I was receiving phone calls early this week due to people having to bail out last minute for the event due to their homes and safety with the threat of Irene. The media did a wonderful job at hyping this storm up and scaring many people for a reason, it’s dangerous. Fortunately there weren't many deaths (six that I'm aware of from this storm). Corvettes at Carlisle draws a lot of people from all around the NE. Unfortunately that was directly in Irene's path, unfortunately we can't do anything about mother nature. However I can assure you that my team and I will continue to strive to do the very best job we can to continue the success of Corvettes at Carlisle.

We hope to see you in 2012: August 24-26. Please feel free emailing me directly with any recommendations you might have to help us improve year over year: lancem@carlisleevents.com.

Today (Sunday) our team and I are picking up flipped over tents, jiffy johns and etc. Not a fun day, but we’re lucky to be on the right side of the dirt. We appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Lance Miller

 

i agree, there is a lack of c4 parts but its still a blast going and seeing all the amazing cars and parts and events. this was my 2nd year and i only got to stay maybe 24 hours cause of the storm, but ill be back next year! the aftermarket does make me crave a c5 though

 

with everything said, my buddy did get A & B pillers Latex weather stripping for $125 each for a total of $250, he started out at $350 we got him down and a can of beer for each of us. I don't think I will be back for a while if at all.

 

This was my first year and I drove out & back for Friday. This was sort of a scout mission as I am looking to buy my first Vette. My impression was not much of anything that struck me as a great deal....cars or parts. I also didn't notice a lot of people carrying parts out like I see at the other shows. Maybe it was just an off year due to the weather reports.

 

Lance, I should think the title of this thread (Carlisle Disappointing...Again!), and the content of the thread expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of C4 parts and with vendors being unwilling to make deals on the parts they do have, should be a pretty strong recommendation in itself.

It sounds like vendors might be starting to shoot themselves in the foot, especially in a day and age when folks can stay home and order pretty much anything they want from the comfort of their home computer while sipping a cup of coffee, instead of dealing with the time and expense of traveling to Carlisle.

Regards,
-Ward