Looking at a Corvette
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Looking at a Corvette
Hello all, in light of recent event my winter beater has taken a turn for the worse. My 94 Buick Skylark with 218k has finally began to have transmission problems. So I'm currently debating dumping the car rather than invest 3k+ into a new transmission and other required items. I have no desire to take out my rust-free Miata and drive it around in Buffalo, NY Winters. Nothing about a 2100lb convertible with track tires sounds like a smart idea in Winter.
The dealer across the street from my job has what appears to be a 1990 Red coupe that looks in decent condition for around 6k. I'm here today to ask you all if you can provide a list of things to look at/check that are C4 specific. Known problem areas, known things that break at xx mileage, etc. This is going to turn into a year-round car, so I'm not looking at something that needs to be in pristine condition, nor am I planning on building it up or restoring it. I just want a nice car that I can have fun with in the sun or snow, and like how the C4 is not very wide. (Look up the 94 Skylark, it has the same narrow width, long length wheelbase that's phenomenal in snow)
The dealer across the street from my job has what appears to be a 1990 Red coupe that looks in decent condition for around 6k. I'm here today to ask you all if you can provide a list of things to look at/check that are C4 specific. Known problem areas, known things that break at xx mileage, etc. This is going to turn into a year-round car, so I'm not looking at something that needs to be in pristine condition, nor am I planning on building it up or restoring it. I just want a nice car that I can have fun with in the sun or snow, and like how the C4 is not very wide. (Look up the 94 Skylark, it has the same narrow width, long length wheelbase that's phenomenal in snow)
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 143
From: Manalapan New Jersey
C4's are great in snow!! They slide slip and spin....better than an amusement park ride!! In Buffalo I would look at something else for the winter. The Vette is a torquey rear wheel drive sled with little ground clearance. It would be great as a daily driver spring , summer and fall.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 14
From: Nampa Idaho
Snow? Gawd! I don't even like driving mine in the rain. Those wide tires combined with the light-weight car make it start hydroplaning at just a little above 60.
345lbs of torque + rear wheel drive +fat tires + snow and ice = disaster!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Derby (Wichita area) KS
Speaking as someone who has owned both a Miata and a C4 I can tell you this. The Miata was bad in the snow. The C4 is useless. Never been north of NYC myself but I hear you get some big snow upstate? Save your $$ and get yourself a winter beater. Or replace the Miata with a Corvette...as fun as those cars are, there is no replacement for cubic inches.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Well then, thank you all for the input. Seems like I'll need to pass on it then. Maybe some place has a decent BMW or Audi that can get me through a few years. Miata is going nowhere, too much fun on the autox course and local tracks. Have never driven a vehicle that handles corners better. Again thank you for the input and quick responses.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Derby (Wichita area) KS
I do think you're wise to direct your winter car search elsewhere no matter what. FWIW...I have a Suzuki SX4 AWD for a work car. It's nowhere near as cool as an Audi (any Audi), but it was cheap and seems to be tough and relaible. Some crazy snow in CO and western KS didn't even phase this car. My previous "winter" car was a Jeep ZJ and this car is a match for it in the white stuff.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
It seems like everyone here says you can't drive the C4 in the winter.
I did. I daily drove a couple of them (an '88 and a '94) for a combined 5 years and about 100k miles. While i agree that they are not the greatest snow cars, I didn't have any problems. In normal winter driving they are quite stable and good with reasonable winter tires. I had Falken ZE-512's and it worked pretty well. I agree with the others that if you try to use all of the cars power, braking and cornering on the ice and snow you will have problems (so would any car), but if you use some common sense it was ok.
I got caught in a couple of big snows and it was not too good. On one it was deep enough that I could hear it dragging across the bottom of the floor, but I kept the car moving and it pushed through.
In normal winter driving with plowed roads, the ice and snow levels weren't bad enough to stop me from going anywhere.
The only thing I didn't like was the salt. I washed the outside and underneath at least every week and tried to keep it as best I could, but I still found some things rusting. Mostly little stuff, like screws for the marker lights and stuff like that.
For me it was a good car all year and a lot more fun than a winter beater.
Good luck with your choices.
I did. I daily drove a couple of them (an '88 and a '94) for a combined 5 years and about 100k miles. While i agree that they are not the greatest snow cars, I didn't have any problems. In normal winter driving they are quite stable and good with reasonable winter tires. I had Falken ZE-512's and it worked pretty well. I agree with the others that if you try to use all of the cars power, braking and cornering on the ice and snow you will have problems (so would any car), but if you use some common sense it was ok.
I got caught in a couple of big snows and it was not too good. On one it was deep enough that I could hear it dragging across the bottom of the floor, but I kept the car moving and it pushed through.
In normal winter driving with plowed roads, the ice and snow levels weren't bad enough to stop me from going anywhere.
The only thing I didn't like was the salt. I washed the outside and underneath at least every week and tried to keep it as best I could, but I still found some things rusting. Mostly little stuff, like screws for the marker lights and stuff like that.
For me it was a good car all year and a lot more fun than a winter beater.
Good luck with your choices.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
Here's a "flip flop", far as what DD to use:
One of the ZR-1 "FBI" (Chicago) gang drives a base C6 all year 'round as his DD, but keeps his ZR-1 in a heated garage in winter months! Now THAT is a true C4 lover!
One of the ZR-1 "FBI" (Chicago) gang drives a base C6 all year 'round as his DD, but keeps his ZR-1 in a heated garage in winter months! Now THAT is a true C4 lover!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,234
Likes: 699
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
It seems like everyone here says you can't drive the C4 in the winter.
I did. I daily drove a couple of them (an '88 and a '94) for a combined 5 years and about 100k miles. While i agree that they are not the greatest snow cars, I didn't have any problems. In normal winter driving they are quite stable and good with reasonable winter tires. I had Falken ZE-512's and it worked pretty well. I agree with the others that if you try to use all of the cars power, braking and cornering on the ice and snow you will have problems (so would any car), but if you use some common sense it was ok.
I got caught in a couple of big snows and it was not too good. On one it was deep enough that I could hear it dragging across the bottom of the floor, but I kept the car moving and it pushed through.
In normal winter driving with plowed roads, the ice and snow levels weren't bad enough to stop me from going anywhere.
The only thing I didn't like was the salt. I washed the outside and underneath at least every week and tried to keep it as best I could, but I still found some things rusting. Mostly little stuff, like screws for the marker lights and stuff like that.
For me it was a good car all year and a lot more fun than a winter beater.
Good luck with your choices.
I did. I daily drove a couple of them (an '88 and a '94) for a combined 5 years and about 100k miles. While i agree that they are not the greatest snow cars, I didn't have any problems. In normal winter driving they are quite stable and good with reasonable winter tires. I had Falken ZE-512's and it worked pretty well. I agree with the others that if you try to use all of the cars power, braking and cornering on the ice and snow you will have problems (so would any car), but if you use some common sense it was ok.
I got caught in a couple of big snows and it was not too good. On one it was deep enough that I could hear it dragging across the bottom of the floor, but I kept the car moving and it pushed through.
In normal winter driving with plowed roads, the ice and snow levels weren't bad enough to stop me from going anywhere.
The only thing I didn't like was the salt. I washed the outside and underneath at least every week and tried to keep it as best I could, but I still found some things rusting. Mostly little stuff, like screws for the marker lights and stuff like that.
For me it was a good car all year and a lot more fun than a winter beater.
Good luck with your choices.