Hey guys, as you can probably see by my ID name, I usually hang out in the C3 side of this board. I'm here for some information though regarding later model ('94ish and newer) C4 reliability. I have been told that I should get a newer car that will start right up and get me from point A to point B on a daily basis without thought. I reside in the S.F. Bay Area and should I decide to take a trip to San Diego, Seattle or even to Bowling Green, I want a car that can make that kind of road trip. The C3 is a beautiful car, and I am in love with Corvettes. I noticed that C4 prices are down to fairly reasonable prices too. If I don't get, or am unable to get a Corvette, I'm looking at things like the Mini Cooper S, Fraud SVT Fukus or a VW Jetta. The major pluses with those cars would be a factory warranty and next to nil miles on the motor/driveline/chassis. What should I be careful with on a used C4? I've seen them down in the $12K-$16K price range and back in '99 that's what my step-mom sold her '92 coupe for. With the exception of the crap CROWN CHEVROLET in DUBLIN, CA did to the car we had great luck with her '92. I like the fact that Corvettes retain their value very well (heck I could sell my '69 now for more than it was worth brand new) and really would like to stay in the Corvette community. I'm a 24 year old injured ex-Army (med. 40 honorable discharge) college student living at home trying to find a new path in life :confused: :sad: Insurance quoted via Progressive was a doable 2K/year, I'm sure it would be about the same at other companies too though. Feel free to write, I'm really interested in knowing what C4 Vettes are notorious for (GM starter?)

 

Well, I have to say I have owned 9 cars (Im 27), and the vette has been the most reliable car I ever owned (It also received the LEAST amount of repair work in 7 years than my other cars in a LOT less time).
The only time it left me stranded was when the starter went 5 years ago, and the fuel pump last year. Starter replacement was $400 installed, and fuelpump was $70 and I installed myself within an hour.
I have owned new Oldmobiles, Fords, a Mercury Sable, an AMC (yes my 1st car) :crazy: . Most of them had major repair work done during my owning them, other than my vette (had a '93 too, but sold that few years ago).
I am currently selling my '85 vette, but right away getting into a newer one or ZR1 if business picks up.. :D

I just remembered.. One of the things that DO go on the earlier C4's is the instrument cluster. They start by flashing ON and OFF during driving (internal solders are gettign old thats why). I had mine rebuilt about 1.5 years ago and its fine since.. Cost $200 only too.. A new cluster is like 1200.00 if ordered..



[Modified by MrNuke, 6:36 AM 6/20/2002]

 

I've had my '92 for almost three years and 15,000 miles, and I've spent about $3,000 dollars on repairs and maintenance. Considering I've done almost all the labor myself, that's a lot of money. Generally, the cars are fairly reliable, but there's just so much stuff that can break, especially all the electronics. It's mostly little things that need attention, usually nothing that'll leave you stranded. Sometimes it seems like you fix one thing and two more little things go. For example, I recently replaced the optispark (really the only major thing that regularly goes wrong with these cars... and close to $1,000 to fix at the dealer) and now my idle is a little high and the antenna mast won't fully retract. Just more stuff to worry about. And when I get those fixed I can try to fix a slight oil leak at the intake manifold and fix the door panels because they've become detached at the top. There's always something.

If the car wasn't a Corvette and didn't drive so nicely, there's no way I'd put up with it. If it was any other car I'd get rid of it because it costs so much to keep up. I think it just depends on what you're willing to put up with. I don't think a Corvette will leave you stranded on the side of the road much more often than any other car will, but I do think you'll have to do more to keep it up. Things to think about are: How often will you be driving it and do you have alternative transportation available? Do you have the budget to cover repairs? Can you do some or most of the work yourself?

The up side is that if you can do a lot of the work yourself, you can mailorder the parts for wholesale and there's plenty of good advice here on the forum. Plus, you're driving a Corvette!

 

I would stick with the 95 & 96s if you are looking for reliability. GM pretty much has all the bugs worked out by then. I haven't had a problem with my 95 yet!!

 

Compared to most C3's, the C4's are quite reliable. But before I got my '89, I was driving a Toyota Avalon. There is just no comparison as far as reliability goes - nothing but routine maintanence for the toyota in 6 years and 130K miles.

 

Thanks guys, I'm appreciative of what you've had to write.
Marthpodi, how is your '89 doing? I hear about the Avalon but does the Corvette need major, minor or both things done to it? That's a little too old for what I'd be looking for and I will take heed to what 95DropTop says about the later, '95 and '96 models. I have noticed that by the end of a production run or 'generation' of Corvettes, GM has their act together and has gotten a lot of the bugs worked out of any given platform.


[Modified by 1969Vette350, 2:37 PM 6/20/2002]

 

96 coupe, 45K miles. The only thing, outside of normal maintenance, thats been replaced is the water pump. I think that's pretty common. I caught it leaking before it took out the optispark. :seeya

 

You really should stay 95-96 models, they have a vented optispark. So while you wont be able to wash the engine like a C3, you wont be SOL if your water pump goes.

Water pumps seem to be the only common replacement on those years.

 

My '95 has just over 40k miles on it, with about 20 road course track days
and a half dozen drag strip track days in that time. Been through 3 sets of
tires and 6 sets of brakes. :)

Outside of normal fluid and filter changes, the car has had an intake manifold
gasket and power steering pump replaced (both under warranty, so I don't
know the cost), and I replaced a leaky clutch slave cylinder, that was $100.

And I always wash the engine and under the hood when I wash the car...



[Modified by SilvaDragon, 4:20 PM 6/21/2002]

 

I am the original owner of a 94 convertible and have had no problems with it. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across the country.

I think you just need to look at all the things you would normally look at in buying a used car. Interiors never lie about how a car has been taken care of. If I was serious about a particular one I would try to have a mechanic check it out too.

Good luck in your search.

 

I appreciate the information guys, these all sound like valid points to look for and will *definitely* get a mechanic to check the car over before I buy one. I hadn't heard about the vented optispark before, I just remember being able to power wash my step-mom's '92 coupe, but that would have been before vented optispark.
In many people's opinions, how many total miles are reasonable for that vintage C4? I obviously want one with as low miles as possible, but I also want to be as much under the $20k line as I can. I'm glad to see that even track days and drag days don't disagree with the car too much, though I wouldn't be intentionally searching for one which has been ripped around a track too much.

 

Hi 69! With the major points already having been mentioned...i just wanted to throw in my 2¢ on the reliability/dependability.

I rely on my '94 as my sole transportation for my 100 mile/day commute. It's sitting in the driveway right now with over 178,000 miles, and it's running stronger now than it did right off the showroom floor! :D

IMHO...the vented opti is a valuable upgrade! I got 120K miles on the factory opti, and when it finally gave up the ghost i put GM's "upgrade" kit on the replacement. While it doesn't provide me with the security to pressure wash the engine, condensation is no longer a concern.

Best of luck in your quest!

 

I bought my 96 with 47k miles and now have 93k miles on it. The only things I've had to fix were water pump at 48k miles (was weeping at the seals), battery, and tires. And I wash my engine on a regular basis--not with a pressure washer, but full stream from a garden hose hasn't caused any problems.

Theres a 96 LT1 here locally for $19k with about 20k miles and my cousin has a 96 LT4 with 57?k miles for $19k. Shouldn't be too hard to find what you're looking for. :cheers:

 

If you are looking for a reliable C4 I think the absolute best is the '91. That L98 would run under almost any conditions, no opti, late body style, etc...

 

Well I'm at least I'm working this summer, when I can sell my C3 and find a later model C4 that I can actually afford, I'm going for it. It may not have a warranty and if it breaks I could hurt $ wise, but A) at least I like doing car work B) it would still be the newest car I've ever owned C) I have thousands of others who have gone before me and D) I LOVE the Corvette community :D :cheers: :chevy

 

Only problems besides wear:
Blown hose. Should have replaced it, my fault.
Horns died.
Leaky Clutch Master cylinder, replaced new.
That's about it.
The rest was either wear or time damage. These included:
Tires, Top, brakes, clutch, weatherstripping, window bumpers, assorted bulbs.
All in all, not bad and I have only been stranded once. This was when I drove through a puddle with some hidden debris. It blew out both tires on the passenger side and the car dropped. At the same time the road dipped and I had a wave of water go up the hood and brake on the windshield. Needless to say, I was out TWO tires and an optispark. :cuss :mad

 

'89: Well, Before I bought it, the engine was replaced under warranty @ 39,000 miles. A lot of minor work was done (weather-stripping, re-covering seat, small things like that) and a lot of components were replaced (clutch, master cylinder, etc).

I bought it about a month ago and it has already developed a small leak in the radiator, needed wiper blade replacement, overheated, and now has some sort of transmission issue (ZF6) that is serious, but I have no clue what to do about it (posted in Tech).

Its not too bad, but it's worse than any japanese car I've seen - as far as maintanance goes.

 

I've driven my car hard for about a year now, only things I had to replace were the battery and heater core :yesnod:

 

First of all you will love the C4. They are very comfortable and reliable for the most part. A general rule of thumb that I have always been told is to buy the newest and nicest corvette you can afford. That would mean a '95 or '96..which would be very comfortable and reliable. But...the L98 is a great engine ..and I wouldn't hesistate to buy a late 80's or early 90's L98.
One other option would be to keep a beater car and have a nice C4. That is what I do. It is really nice to have another car ..or a pickup for daily duty and keep the vette for evenings, weekend, etc. Besides having this second vehicle....it saves on insurance....you can put the vette down as a "recreational" vehicle...and the beater is your primarly vehicle for insurance purposes. That insurance quote you received is a little high for my blood. Good luck and let us know what you find!! :)

 

The 91 L98 is a very good option since by then they had all the bugs worked out and that was possibly the best version of the sbc gen1 ever made. A 95 or 96 would be a good choice as well but even the 92-94 LT-1S didnt have that many growing pains. I would rather have a well maintained car that has a few miles on it, even if its older, than a newer one that hasnt been maintained as well with less miles. Personally I'd go for the 95 or 96.