Why did you buy a C4?
11-09-2014, 01:25 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Why did you buy a C4?
I have a feeling a lot of people on this board bought a C4 because its all they could afford. Am i wrong?
I bought my 91 on purpose. I wanted a C4. My first C4 was and 86. At the time C5s had just come out and were out of my price range. I was looking for a C3 because that's the car i fell in love with as a kid. I happened upon the 86 and after driving C3s the 86 was a much better car and I fell in love with it.
I bought my 91 on purpose. I wanted a C4. My first C4 was and 86. At the time C5s had just come out and were out of my price range. I was looking for a C3 because that's the car i fell in love with as a kid. I happened upon the 86 and after driving C3s the 86 was a much better car and I fell in love with it.
11-09-2014, 01:40 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I was in my 86 with my wife one day. We pulled up next to a GS. My wife said "What kind of car is that?" I said "The same kind as this one". She said "No its not that one looks way better".
Pictures don't do a GS justice that's for sure.
Pictures don't do a GS justice that's for sure.
Last edited by ch@0s; 11-09-2014 at 04:04 PM.
11-09-2014, 01:41 PM
#6
I have a feeling a lot of people on this board bought a C4 because its all they could afford. Am i wrong?
I bought my 91 on purpose. I wanted a C4. My first C4 was and 86. At the time C5s had just come out and were out of my price range. I was looking for a C3 because that's the car i fell in love with as a kid. I happened upon the 86 and after driving C3s the 86 was a much better car and I fell in love with it.
I bought my 91 on purpose. I wanted a C4. My first C4 was and 86. At the time C5s had just come out and were out of my price range. I was looking for a C3 because that's the car i fell in love with as a kid. I happened upon the 86 and after driving C3s the 86 was a much better car and I fell in love with it.
11-09-2014, 01:43 PM
#7
Team Owner
When I bought my '92, there weren't any C5's yet.....
I had owned 3 C3's prior to that and the C4 was certainly a huge engineering improvement (although sometimes I think I would like to have my old '70 454, 4-speed car back 
)
But even with still owning my '02, I bought a '87 after I retired. The idea was to have a car that I could drive regardless of the weather and didn't really think about whether or not I had to wash it daily. The '87 now serves as my autocross/track day car and it's still a whole lot of fun to drive.
I had owned 3 C3's prior to that and the C4 was certainly a huge engineering improvement (although sometimes I think I would like to have my old '70 454, 4-speed car back )But even with still owning my '02, I bought a '87 after I retired. The idea was to have a car that I could drive regardless of the weather and didn't really think about whether or not I had to wash it daily. The '87 now serves as my autocross/track day car and it's still a whole lot of fun to drive.
11-09-2014, 02:06 PM
#8
Race Director
Bought my '92 because it would be cheaper to recoup zero money out of one than pay for an on track accident in my C6GS. The C4 is cheap, but still does all the right things for a track car. Plus, it still has a small block in it, so its dead nuts reliable compared to anything else I would have looked at for a track car (E36 M3, Porsche 944, etc.) Overall operating expenses are low.
I think about the only other thing I could have chosen for a track car that would have been similar would be a 240SX. But it isn't as good as the Corvette.
I think about the only other thing I could have chosen for a track car that would have been similar would be a 240SX. But it isn't as good as the Corvette.
11-09-2014, 02:20 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
After a 30-year Corvette hiatus, I wanted another one. I really wanted a C5 but, with a $10K budget, it would have had some heavy mileage on it. A descent C3 was already in the mid teens so... a C4 it was!
Am I sorry my budget wouldn't allow for a descent C5? Sure. But... I have really learned to appreciate my C4 and am very happy with it.
As an aside, when l started my search I knew nothing about C4's. Each week, as I pulled out of my local Credit Union, I was staring at a blue C4 with a white stripe and red hash marks on the fender and... a "For Sale" sign in the windshield. Every time I saw that car I would think... "what a ridiculous paint job... why would anyone paint a Corvette to look like that?!"
When I finally learned what it was, I went back, mid-week, to look at it more closely. It was sold! 
11-09-2014, 02:20 PM
#10
I was 10 in 1983 when my dad and I saw our first C4 at the dealership, I've owned a C3, C5, C2 (in that order), but always longed for a C4, so I bought one 1.5 years ago and love it. I could afford newer, but it's a weekend cruiser and I love it, classic body style in my eyes that will stand the test of time
11-09-2014, 02:23 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Speaking for myself... you are correct!
After a 30-year Corvette hiatus, I wanted another one. I really wanted a C5 but, with a $10K budget, it would have had some heavy mileage on it. A descent C3 was already in the mid teens so... a C4 it was!
Am I sorry my budget wouldn't allow for a descent C5? Sure. But... I have really learned to appreciate my C4 and am very happy with it.
As an aside, when l started my search I knew nothing about C4's. Each week, as I pulled out of my local Credit Union, I was staring at a blue C4 with a white stripe and red hash marks on the fender and... a "For Sale" sign in the windshield. Every time I saw that car I would think... "what a ridiculous paint job... why would anyone paint a Corvette to look like that?!" When I finally learned what it was, I went back, mid-week, to look at it more closely. It was sold!
After a 30-year Corvette hiatus, I wanted another one. I really wanted a C5 but, with a $10K budget, it would have had some heavy mileage on it. A descent C3 was already in the mid teens so... a C4 it was!
Am I sorry my budget wouldn't allow for a descent C5? Sure. But... I have really learned to appreciate my C4 and am very happy with it.
As an aside, when l started my search I knew nothing about C4's. Each week, as I pulled out of my local Credit Union, I was staring at a blue C4 with a white stripe and red hash marks on the fender and... a "For Sale" sign in the windshield. Every time I saw that car I would think... "what a ridiculous paint job... why would anyone paint a Corvette to look like that?!"
When I finally learned what it was, I went back, mid-week, to look at it more closely. It was sold!
11-09-2014, 03:15 PM
#12
Race Director
Being a Ford guy, I didn't know squat about Vettes, but I just always liked them. I helped a friend drive his new C5 back home to Texas from a purchase in Mich. Stopped in Bowling Green for the night & went to the museum. HOOKED! Couldn't afford a C5 but there were some used C4's around that were, to my surprise, affordable for me. Didn't know what the differences were from one year to another. Thought all C4's were the same, just newer or older. Stumbled into a real nice LT4 (had no idea what that was). Found out though, learned about it and glad I got it! 
My buddy has been through 3 C5's and I still have the LT4.
My buddy has been through 3 C5's and I still have the LT4.
11-09-2014, 03:16 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
cause I drove my first vette when I was 16, it was a 61 fuelie and it was in 1966. I am now 64. always wanted one,always. family grown and away. can now buy me a toy. c-4 good price for a hot rod toy, not a garage queen. have a friend I was in a bunker with in Nam, 1971. He taped our conversation that NIGHT AND HAS ME SAYING I AM GONNA BUY ME A VETT SOMEDAY//I was 20 then. Besides, I like the c-4s.and c-3s,and c-2s,and c-1s.lol
11-09-2014, 04:07 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
11-09-2014, 04:08 PM
#16
Drifting
Corvettes held my attention since the C3 came out in '68... loved the sweeping body lines. A short time later, witnessed the near demise as a result of the oil crisis and emissions requirements in the 1970's. The slow decay of horsepower of that generation was the side effect. The stock smallblock C3 was known to be 'all show and no go'.
However... when the LT1 arrived with 300 HP - got my attention.
However... when the LT1 arrived with 300 HP - got my attention.
Last edited by Bandit's C4; 11-09-2014 at 04:20 PM.
11-09-2014, 06:10 PM
#19
I had a c3 (76) and that is my favourite body style but dollar per corvette the C4's are the best deal out their and I mean of any car. Where else can you get a ragtop that can get over 25 mpg, roast the tires from a standstill, and be reliable transportation.
