first car for son 1986 or 93
01-23-2013, 09:59 PM
#1
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first car for son 1986 or 93
hello, i found two cars in our price range. my son wants a vette because of the local club, and i had one. but i found a really nice 86 for 5k and a 93 for 5k. the 93 has 200 thousand miles, and i know they out horsepower the 86. the 86 is in fiar shape. i was wondering if the 93 with 200,000 miles would be a worry. thanks
01-23-2013, 10:26 PM
#2
I'd worry.... Not worth 5k to me. Anyone ever put a stock TPI against a stock LT? Ive heard the 88's have a great factory tune and can hang with the LT motors. If i owned the '93 but picked it up at 120,00mi....200,000 wouldnt scare me. However not knowing the previous history of the vehicle it could be a hard 200,000mi. Do some research on the C4 and find the niche you wanna be in, alot changes from 84-92. Interior, suspension, wheel fitment, Engines, Transmission. Dont let the Closesness of a car make the decision for you. Alot of us would be more than happy to look at a car for you so you dont have to travel unless its what you really want. Some more info on both vehicles would get you better answers.
01-23-2013, 10:31 PM
#3
Race Director
What is the maintenance history on both? That is the major question. Records? Rebuild? What is current condition? I recently bought a 200k mile ZR1 BUT virtually every piece of it, to include the LT5 has been rebuilt. I would shy away, no run away from an LT1 with that many miles. If you are really interested have a competent Vette mechanic inspect both.
01-23-2013, 10:50 PM
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well thanks guys i am completely ruling out the 93. but found a decent 94 so im happy. its black, good condition and i will bring my friend from the vette club to look at it. one uestion is i have seen little ***** on the consol and it was preformance, touring. i am guessin it is for suspension and does the 94 vettes have this as a standard feature
01-23-2013, 11:11 PM
#7
Race Director
That is the FX3 system. Make sure the dash light comes on when you first turn the key on to indicate it is working. Some have removed the bulb when the system is having trouble.
Good info here:http://corvetteactioncenter.com/tech/c4/fx3/index.html
Good info here:http://corvetteactioncenter.com/tech/c4/fx3/index.html
01-23-2013, 11:11 PM
#8
Drifting
One my first ever posts on this forum was on a thread about a guy that was going to buy his 16 year old a C4. Not surprisingly, a lot of members were against the idea of giving teenager a Vette. So I posted this.
Now while making sure your son is ready for handling a car such as a C4 is quite important, the car actually checking out mechanically is probably even more important. C4's can become money pits rather quickly. Ask me how I know. 
Can you give more details about the 86 and the 93? That would help us give you advice if we knew more about the cars.
Also, as an update; I turn 18 in just a little over a month now. It's closing in on almost a year of Vette ownership! No tickets, no wrecks, and almost 10,000 miles.
I swear I love this car more everyday. I like it so much, that my Grandfather got a C5 Vert. to try and one-up me. Too bad I like the C4 better. 
It all comes down to how much you trust your kid. Do you KNOW that he's responsible enough not to try something stupid on a public road?
I'm almost 18 and I've had my '93 Vette for just about 6 months now. No tickets, no wrecks, etc. I will admit, the urge is strong to feel all 300hp and bang through all 6 gears, but it's a hard feeling to overcome.
Also, the most important point: Teach him how to properly drive fast, do burnouts, launch and quick-shift (if it's a manual), etc. It makes him a better driver and it spares him from trying to teach himself. It WILL NOT end well for him. Make sure he understands that the Vette's ASR is not a lifesaving device. It will help him not spin out, but he can't just throw the car in a corner way too fast, and expect not to hit a tree.
Basically, just make sure he's ready to encounter everything in the car. Don't be the kind of person that thinks their kid is perfect and would never do anything wrong. He WILL floor it at least once. He WILL try a burnout. Make sure he's prepared and knows how to do it. I'm not saying don't buy him the car. I'm saying make sure he won't kill himself because he's not prepared before you make any decisions.
I'm almost 18 and I've had my '93 Vette for just about 6 months now. No tickets, no wrecks, etc. I will admit, the urge is strong to feel all 300hp and bang through all 6 gears, but it's a hard feeling to overcome.
Also, the most important point: Teach him how to properly drive fast, do burnouts, launch and quick-shift (if it's a manual), etc. It makes him a better driver and it spares him from trying to teach himself. It WILL NOT end well for him. Make sure he understands that the Vette's ASR is not a lifesaving device. It will help him not spin out, but he can't just throw the car in a corner way too fast, and expect not to hit a tree.
Basically, just make sure he's ready to encounter everything in the car. Don't be the kind of person that thinks their kid is perfect and would never do anything wrong. He WILL floor it at least once. He WILL try a burnout. Make sure he's prepared and knows how to do it. I'm not saying don't buy him the car. I'm saying make sure he won't kill himself because he's not prepared before you make any decisions.
Can you give more details about the 86 and the 93? That would help us give you advice if we knew more about the cars.
Also, as an update; I turn 18 in just a little over a month now. It's closing in on almost a year of Vette ownership! No tickets, no wrecks, and almost 10,000 miles.
I swear I love this car more everyday. I like it so much, that my Grandfather got a C5 Vert. to try and one-up me. Too bad I like the C4 better.
01-23-2013, 11:15 PM
#9
Drifting
well thanks guys i am completely ruling out the 93. but found a decent 94 so im happy. its black, good condition and i will bring my friend from the vette club to look at it. one uestion is i have seen little ***** on the consol and it was preformance, touring. i am guessin it is for suspension and does the 94 vettes have this as a standard feature
It tightens/softens up the suspension depending on whether you put it in performance or touring. So basically you can have a better handling car when you want it, or a soft and cushy car that can handle bumps and the turn of a ****.
01-23-2013, 11:25 PM
#10
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herre is the 86 http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3512332558.html
i hae heard they are slow for a vette standard.
here is the 94 http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3560850940.html
i hae heard they are slow for a vette standard.
here is the 94 http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3560850940.html
01-23-2013, 11:45 PM
#11
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2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
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That's one of the best things you can do!
I'd look for maintenance records on both. Since this is a project, you can probably deal with mechanical issues on either Vette.
Unless you're prepared to spend a lot of time or money on paint, the 86 looks better than the 94.
I'd look for maintenance records on both. Since this is a project, you can probably deal with mechanical issues on either Vette.
Unless you're prepared to spend a lot of time or money on paint, the 86 looks better than the 94.
01-23-2013, 11:51 PM
#12
Drifting
herre is the 86 http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3512332558.html
i hae heard they are slow for a vette standard.
here is the 94 http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3560850940.html
i hae heard they are slow for a vette standard.
here is the 94 http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3560850940.html
Good luck!
-Jay
01-24-2013, 12:37 AM
#13
If both are mechanically sound why not get both and have one for you, and one for the kid? 
Also the 80s vettes aren't slouches. Banging off 60 mph in under six seconds if the engine is in good order isn't a joke when most cars still can't do it in under 7.
And make sure you show the kid how to really drive, get some cones and a nice parking lot somewhere, or see if there's a driving range around locally that will let you two play around abit. Because the Kid's going to want to strut his car's stuff. Vette or not. The vette will only make him wanna do it at least once more. Better that he knows how the car will perform under those conditions before he tries it and that you've done the best you can to ingrain the kind of responsibility Performance Car Ownership entails into him early.
Also the 80s vettes aren't slouches. Banging off 60 mph in under six seconds if the engine is in good order isn't a joke when most cars still can't do it in under 7.
And make sure you show the kid how to really drive, get some cones and a nice parking lot somewhere, or see if there's a driving range around locally that will let you two play around abit. Because the Kid's going to want to strut his car's stuff. Vette or not. The vette will only make him wanna do it at least once more. Better that he knows how the car will perform under those conditions before he tries it and that you've done the best you can to ingrain the kind of responsibility Performance Car Ownership entails into him early.
Last edited by Aaron Keating; 01-24-2013 at 12:42 AM.
01-24-2013, 02:54 AM
#15
Melting Slicks
What makes you say that? The '86 looks pretty decent.
01-24-2013, 04:17 AM
#16
The '94 has the "right side" wheels mounted on the "left side" - one would wonder what is mounted on the other side? The owner mentions "ALL" maintenance records since '94. Could be a plus!
Get the VIN and if you believe you're interested this web site MIGHT offer up an interpretation of the way it's equipped. The web-site is erratic from time to time but when it works it should list the RPO's of the vehicle "AS BUILT":
http://www.compnine.com/vid.php
Get the VIN and if you believe you're interested this web site MIGHT offer up an interpretation of the way it's equipped. The web-site is erratic from time to time but when it works it should list the RPO's of the vehicle "AS BUILT":
http://www.compnine.com/vid.php
Last edited by WVZR-1; 01-24-2013 at 04:22 AM.
01-24-2013, 08:09 AM
#17
Race Director
01-24-2013, 08:14 AM
#18
Le Mans Master
I would be more interested in the '94.
Generally it looks pretty nice. It says the paint is dull, but at this price you are not getting a show car. The paint on the '86 is not a stock color, so it makes me wonder how good it is, whether it will last, and what it may be covering.
As WVZR-1 stated, the wheels on the driver's side are actually the passenger side wheels. The direction of the vanes is how you can tell. I would check the passenger side to see if they are actually the driver's side wheels. I suspect the recent tire change just mounted them for the wrong sides of the car.
As corvetteronw stated, the adjustable suspension needs to be checked out that it is working. It is expensive to fix if it is not.
There are a lot of changes between the years. Some of the bigger ones are the '94 has the LT1, 4L60E, the later suspension (revised in '88), 134A air conditioning, different gauges (I like the '94 better), the window regulators are improved and faster, and many other things.
Good luck with your choices.
Generally it looks pretty nice. It says the paint is dull, but at this price you are not getting a show car. The paint on the '86 is not a stock color, so it makes me wonder how good it is, whether it will last, and what it may be covering.
As WVZR-1 stated, the wheels on the driver's side are actually the passenger side wheels. The direction of the vanes is how you can tell. I would check the passenger side to see if they are actually the driver's side wheels. I suspect the recent tire change just mounted them for the wrong sides of the car.
As corvetteronw stated, the adjustable suspension needs to be checked out that it is working. It is expensive to fix if it is not.
There are a lot of changes between the years. Some of the bigger ones are the '94 has the LT1, 4L60E, the later suspension (revised in '88), 134A air conditioning, different gauges (I like the '94 better), the window regulators are improved and faster, and many other things.
Good luck with your choices.
