C4 reliability?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 2
From: Naples FL
St. Jude Donor '12
C4 reliability?
Looked at a C3 today, the guy said he had a C4 and said stay away. Despite the obvious conflict of interest he had, he made a good point that this was the first generation of high tech fuel injection, electronic gauges and dash clusters, emissions, etc.
So honestly, how reliable are the C4's?
I think I like the body style better than the C5's to be honest, and reading reviews online most people have nothing but good to say.
thoughts??
BTW, I really appreciate everyone being willing to help out people like myself. I used to be a regular here a long time ago, I had a 73 with a 454, I loved that car, sorry I sold it.
So honestly, how reliable are the C4's?
I think I like the body style better than the C5's to be honest, and reading reviews online most people have nothing but good to say.
thoughts??
BTW, I really appreciate everyone being willing to help out people like myself. I used to be a regular here a long time ago, I had a 73 with a 454, I loved that car, sorry I sold it.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Norcross Georgia
I own an all original 85 with just over 100k. Not a ton of miles or anything bit it all works. All of it. My mechanic loves the C4 and swears they were the best generation. I'd drive mine anywhere.
I haven't owned mine a month yet though so my opinion is just that.
I haven't owned mine a month yet though so my opinion is just that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,392
Likes: 216
From: Merritt Island, FL
You're talking about cars that are 16 to 28 years old -- reliability, really??
Old cars break and need to be fixed. That's the way it is.
Old timers that prefer to play with jets and points, will trash-talk the C4 on grounds of its complexity.
There are plenty of people using C4s as daily drivers, myself included (91 ZR-1 with almost 200K miles on it). Probably not so many C3s in daily driver duty.
Old cars break and need to be fixed. That's the way it is.
Old timers that prefer to play with jets and points, will trash-talk the C4 on grounds of its complexity.
There are plenty of people using C4s as daily drivers, myself included (91 ZR-1 with almost 200K miles on it). Probably not so many C3s in daily driver duty.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
People unfortunately lump all C4's together. Most of the problems he alluded to were taken care of in the 80's. The 90's, especially the last 3 years are very reliable, or at least as reliable as any 15-20 year old car can be. Any C4 is a better driver and more reliable than a C3, but since almost nobody has driven one (c3) daily in the past 20 years or so, they rely on nostalgic rememberances of the good old days. Buy a C3 and drive it everyday or across country. They're great to wax up and go sit with the old farts at the car show, any more than that, make sure you have your AAA paid up and a chiropractor on speed dial.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
People unfortunately lump all C4's together. Most of the problems he alluded to were taken care of in the 80's. The 90's, especially the last 3 years are very reliable, or at least as reliable as any 15-20 year old car can be. Any C4 is a better driver and more reliable than a C3, but since almost nobody has driven one (c3) daily in the past 20 years or so, they rely on nostalgic rememberances of the good old days. Buy a C3 and drive it everyday or across country. They're great to wax up and go sit with the old farts at the car show, any more than that, make sure you have your AAA paid up and a chiropractor on speed dial.
With if you take car of your C4 especally the 90's models and DRIVE them. They are very reliable. They seem to not like to sit. My 93 included. The few issues I've had in 3.5 years are at the beginning of the driving season when I get her out of storage. Fixed those and all is well. They last longer if they are driven. You don't have to DD the thing but 50-100 miles or so every weekend keeps thing on the up and up.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
When I got my '86 my sister's boyfriend was working at a Chevy dealer in the parts department. He told me all the "new model" problems were fixed in the '86. Mine was super-reliable for the first 15 years and then the alternator went wacko and took out the ECM. Since then it's been a few maintenance items from time to time (bad plug wire messed me up for a while), but it's been mostly very reliable. Still my daily driver.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 218
Likes: 5
From: Charlotte NC
I put 30K on my 96 with in the first 2 years I had it. Once it hit 100k I had some break downs and it got expensive. I would return it back to dailey duty if I can get the water pump replaced before it fails and takes out my new opti. I find this car addictive.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Vail Colorado
My wife and I took our '90 from central Colorado to the Yosemite Valley and back last Summer. I could hear a squeaking sound when I could catch an echo off a nearby wall. Turned out to be u-joints. Lasted until we got back. Scheduled to go again. We could take her '11 Traverse but whats th fun in that. Oh, don't leave without AAA.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Galva IL
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.
4. Car had issues starting. Traced it to VAT issue but sold it at that time to a guy I kinda knew and let him fix it and any other issues. He was a friend of a friend and as far as i know he finally got it to stop being a lemon.
I think the 95 was just a bad luck car.
Just got the 96 and already it seems to run better.
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.
4. Car had issues starting. Traced it to VAT issue but sold it at that time to a guy I kinda knew and let him fix it and any other issues. He was a friend of a friend and as far as i know he finally got it to stop being a lemon.
I think the 95 was just a bad luck car.
Just got the 96 and already it seems to run better.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,448
Likes: 27
From: Valparaiso
A car is just a bunch of parts
The body and frame would not suffer.
My C4 is a 25 year old car , it's a 1987 very reliable.
But ...think of this, i have upgraded most of it.
Engine,trans,valvetrain,injectors and on and on and on
But i'm not sure if i would trust a 1987 with all 1987 original parts if that's the case.
The body and frame would not suffer.
My C4 is a 25 year old car , it's a 1987 very reliable.
But ...think of this, i have upgraded most of it.
Engine,trans,valvetrain,injectors and on and on and on
But i'm not sure if i would trust a 1987 with all 1987 original parts if that's the case.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
I'm 68...so I am not only old school.. but.. I am also just plain old...
I currently own one C2 along with three C3's and one each C4 and C5... I do my own wrenching ...
It is truth that many of us older guys find the C4 and C5 to be harder to work on or mess with then the older generations... If something needs repaired in my C2 or one of my C3's I just do it...
But when I have a problem with my C4 or C5.. I pray that the problem is in noway connected to anything connected to or or controlled by the computer.. if it is not then no big deal...
So as far as my confidence that I could fix any problem on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere I'll take a older C2 or C3 anytime... Only problem with my logic is that if I took an older car I would be almost guaranteed to have a problem... No so if I take the C4 or C5 plus I know my wife would not bitch about how rough the car rode..and they both have good AC
Bob G.
I currently own one C2 along with three C3's and one each C4 and C5... I do my own wrenching ...
It is truth that many of us older guys find the C4 and C5 to be harder to work on or mess with then the older generations... If something needs repaired in my C2 or one of my C3's I just do it...
But when I have a problem with my C4 or C5.. I pray that the problem is in noway connected to anything connected to or or controlled by the computer.. if it is not then no big deal...
So as far as my confidence that I could fix any problem on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere I'll take a older C2 or C3 anytime... Only problem with my logic is that if I took an older car I would be almost guaranteed to have a problem... No so if I take the C4 or C5 plus I know my wife would not bitch about how rough the car rode..and they both have good AC
Bob G.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 414
Likes: 133
From: uncasville ct
Sold my 78 to buy my 93, which I had no intentions of doing. The C4 just fell in my hands kinda .Being in the car business all my life I too had a bit of a sour taste for the C4s having seen the bad side of many. I will say that the 93 has changed that and makes me appreciater what these cars really are....pretty awesome. If you are considering purchasing one I'd look to do so now as I only see the prices going up as the economy improves and good cars become harder to find Just my opinion
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Chardon Ohio
Bought my 92' a little over a year ago and I'd have to agree with one of the posts above about how they don't like to sit.. my car sat most of it's life in a garage and many things have gone wrong since I've owned the car. Almost all of them having to do with dried out seals and such from sitting. But the car has always ran and never got towed. As far as reliability I'd give it an A+ because it has ALWAYS got me home.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 844
Likes: 8
From: Butler 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.)
