C4 reliability?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
I might add one point: Beware of aftermarket modifications. Many of the problems I've read about on this forum involve aftermarket items. I would give Corvette engineers a little credit for designing and testing our cars for reliabllity over a range of temperatures and conditions. (This includes the possibility of hard use and neglect.)
You can pick two of the three:Fast, cheap, reliable. I picked relativity cheap and reliable. Why, because a stock C4 has more performance than I know how to use at this current time. Why modify when you cannot drive the car as it sits stock?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 27
From: Monroe Twp, NJ
I would say no less than any other car with the same age. Little things seem to go on high end cars which are electrical. The 350 is a hard motor to kill and will easy go 200K if maintained. My 84 has 148K and does not burn oil and had 180 pounds of compression in each cylinder. It always had synthetic oil changed at normal intervals.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 3
From: Mission, Kansas
How many small block 350s did Chevy produce? I'd say it is pretty reliable. It's the electronics you have to be concerned with when they age. Take care of it and it will run vitrually forever.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 33
From: Folsom Ca
My 95 was a bit of a lemon but all easily fixed.
1. Ran out of gas two days after I got it. Dealer never told me that two bars meant empty.
2. Limped home when 3rd and 4th gear on my auto transmission stopped working. $1500 rebuild.
3. Optispark went out 3 times. I believe my friend got it wet when installing it they all went out fast.
.
1. Ran out of gas two days after I got it. Dealer never told me that two bars meant empty.
2. Limped home when 3rd and 4th gear on my auto transmission stopped working. $1500 rebuild.
3. Optispark went out 3 times. I believe my friend got it wet when installing it they all went out fast.
.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis Missouri
It honestly depends on the car. I own an 87 and although it has problems, its not too unreliable, but I wouldn't trust it more than a hundred miles from home. A friend of mine has an 86 and his was babied for it's entire life, runs like a top. Another friend of mine bought an 84 a couple months ago and has had nothing but problems (literally he has driven it 3 or 4 times).
If you're in the market, obviously a later model would be more trustworthy than an earlier one, but to say all C4's are unreliable is a flat out lie.
If you're in the market, obviously a later model would be more trustworthy than an earlier one, but to say all C4's are unreliable is a flat out lie.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 278
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
I might add one point: Beware of aftermarket modifications. Many of the problems I've read about on this forum involve aftermarket items. I would give Corvette engineers a little credit for designing and testing our cars for reliabllity over a range of temperatures and conditions. (This includes the possibility of hard use and neglect.)
I have had no problems the first 10 years driving my vette, ran like clock work. Then i MODIFIED it adding a blower then the trans died x2 then the half shafts snapped, keep it as GM made it and you will have uneventful ownership.
if you like that sort of thing 
Well with more horsepower comes the WOW factor
that more than makes up for the fragile parts
I mean any car with leave a trail of damaged parts when tampered with, as parts are made to a price and GM never imagined getting more than a couple hundred hp out of the TPI
Perhaps a ZR1 would be a good choice if you like to go hard, they were built with all the good bits for lead foot drivers
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
I've had my 91 vert for 16 years , during that time I have put less than 3k in repairs, very reliable car . I agree that it is best to drive them, mine sits alot now and I often joke about it being the only car I've owned that can break down just sitting in the garage. I have had to replace the intake manifold 3 time due to leaks and I think that is is because I let it sit too long. I try to drive it at least once a month now just to keep things working. I always get compliments on it when I take it out, Polo Green with cognac interior. Find a well taken care of model and you will love it.
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