Road and Track article...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 914
Likes: 277
From: St. Petersburg FL
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 375
Likes: 89
Just wondering if you could elaborate on what problems and issues you had with your '68 that made you trade the car in? I have always liked the early C3 look so just wondering what kind of issues you experienced with yours.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 609
From: Minneapolis Mn
I think the electronics will be the death of most cars from 2000 forward. Capacitors will dry out, resistors will drift tolerance, solder joints on ckt. boards and connectors will corrode and fall apart, miles of wires will get old and crispy, and the computers will get stupid or just lock up.....it goes on and on! My C4 is already an electrical nightmare. Every time I get in it, it's something else failing to work that did the day before. Each new gen has double the electronics of the previous one.
I bought my 86 because C3's and below were too high priced as well as were C5's and above. Wanted something that could run on most any gas (got a L98), able to be fixed almost anywhere and didn't have an optispark, priced so I could afford it and such that there's a chance I can do most of my own maintenance. The 86 filled most of my list of requirements.
I've seen too many nightmares relating to computers in cars, I didn't want any more than I had to. Parts are becoming the first issue many see and that's why I've been collecting a few of the non-perishable items and putting them on the shelf for the possible day I need them.
As long as my 86 runs and is reliable, I see no real reason to upgrade to something else that could be a headache in the future. To me, simple is good in this case.
My 2 cents.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 914
Likes: 277
From: St. Petersburg FL
1. The thing was incredibly uncomfortable given that the shoulder bolsters on the doors were about two inches thicker than on the '69s and following.
2. It felt all noise and vibration with less acceleration than my old '66 had.
3. Same for the handling... it was touted to be a step forward and felt like a step back. Big, fat and wallowing.
As a matter of fact, I probably owned seven or eight C3's after it and never bought another big block.
By the way, I later sold the Karmen Ghia and bought a '65 327/365hp. THAT was a fun car!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
Truthfully, this is close to 50 years ago and specifics are a little fuzzy. My impressions looking back are:
1. The thing was incredibly uncomfortable given that the shoulder bolsters on the doors were about two inches thicker than on the '69s and following.
2. It felt all noise and vibration with less acceleration than my old '66 had.
3. Same for the handling... it was touted to be a step forward and felt like a step back. Big, fat and wallowing.
As a matter of fact, I probably owned seven or eight C3's after it and never bought another big block.
By the way, I later sold the Karmen Ghia and bought a '65 327/365hp. THAT was a fun car!
1. The thing was incredibly uncomfortable given that the shoulder bolsters on the doors were about two inches thicker than on the '69s and following.
2. It felt all noise and vibration with less acceleration than my old '66 had.
3. Same for the handling... it was touted to be a step forward and felt like a step back. Big, fat and wallowing.
As a matter of fact, I probably owned seven or eight C3's after it and never bought another big block.
By the way, I later sold the Karmen Ghia and bought a '65 327/365hp. THAT was a fun car!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
Which is worse the occasional worn out wheel bearing and Opti-Spark failure of total meltdown+engine damage.
Never had those issues on track or at an auto-x. Been thru a few wheel bearings but never those things on the C7.
I still think the C5Z is the BEST Corvette in terms of durability, being modern enough, and speed for track use.
Never had those issues on track or at an auto-x. Been thru a few wheel bearings but never those things on the C7.
I still think the C5Z is the BEST Corvette in terms of durability, being modern enough, and speed for track use.
I bet your 93 is probably a better car out of the box when new and probably still now than my 85 was with advances made during the years as well...just a guess but I bet I am correct...I think the later C4's are pretty good cars too!
Instructor
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 212
Likes: 12
Just another reason to appreciate the C-4 - best rear end of any generation since the chrome-bumper C3. And so much better than the box truck C5, whose rear end had no relationship to the front, and the totally bland C6,
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,214
Likes: 1,140
From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
I bought a 68 427 390 vert as well. Almost new usd. 2nd vette after VN. No issues to report & no complaints.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Its rather ironic reading some of the posts. For years the knock on the C4 was the computer controls and "electrical gremlins" that made the C4s "impossible for a DIYer to work on". Many still believe it!
Most of the C5 "gremlins" were identified and/or solved by the 2001 my.
Most of the C5 "gremlins" were identified and/or solved by the 2001 my.
Last edited by zr1fred; Sep 27, 2015 at 12:55 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 44
From: NC
It's the four trumpets in the middle of the car's ***.
Exhaust in the center has always looked stupid to me. I thought it was a dumb design from the C5 and C6.
What this car needs, is a dual exhaust that empties out on either side of the bumper, with LT-1 C4 shaped tips.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Its rather ironic reading some of the posts. For years the knock on the C4 was the computer controls and "electrical gremlins" that made the C4s "impossible for a DIYer to work on". Many still believe it! Most of the C5 "gremlins" were identified and/or solved by the 2001 my.
Most of the C5 "gremlins" were identified and/or solved by the 2001 my.
People will always adapt and fixing newer, more complicated cars is part of that.What *I* don't like about the (electronics aspect) of later cars is that the electronics takes over fundamental things...like opening the door, yet doesn't allow those operations to be configurable by the user. Further, no one that I am aware of, programs late model BCM's. So your "stuck" with a car that behaves a certain way, and there is nothing that you can do about it.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,214
Likes: 1,140
From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
Two year sales total of 71,500 speaks for itself at prices that are out of reach for many C4 owners. Therefore a lit bit of jealously kicking in? Kinda like a ricer who can't afford a C4/5?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 44
From: NC
Honestly I think the C7 is the first actually cool Corvette, that isn't completely color dependent on whether it looks good or not, since the C4 and earlier Corvettes.But that exhaust is still dumb looking to me. I love the styling otherwise.
Still though the R&T article is kind of silly. The C7 is an impressive machine. No one here's doubting that. But of all the Gens, the one that is straight up the biggest improvement in terms of sheer performance over it's predecessors was definitely the C4.
The C4 was the first Corvette to hit a full G on the skidpad, and the first Corvette to actually be successful at racing. (And to the point it was straight up banned from Showroom stock and Escort both)
The C3 and C2 weren't anywhere close.
The C5 through 7 are incremental improvements. That's not a bad thing. All that means is that technology is beginning to plateau with these cars. I've no doubt the C8 will be an even better Vette than the C7...but the gap I think is going to be smaller, between C7 and C8, than it even is with C6 to C7.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,214
Likes: 1,140
From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
Here's a C7 with mods to the rear. Asking price was $52.5K
It just sold with 50K miles
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=3588256
You can't have it all. I hesitate to pull the trigger on one. Been mulling things over for a month now and I will wait for '17 to see if things improve a bit more. If it looked like the new Ford GT rear shot I'd be all over it by now.
It just sold with 50K miles
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=3588256
You can't have it all. I hesitate to pull the trigger on one. Been mulling things over for a month now and I will wait for '17 to see if things improve a bit more. If it looked like the new Ford GT rear shot I'd be all over it by now.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 44
From: NC
Here's a C7 with mods to the rear. Asking price was $52.5K
It just sold with 50K miles
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=3588256
You can't have it all. I hesitate to pull the trigger on one. Been mulling things over for a month now and I will wait for '17 to see if things improve a bit more. If it looked like the new Ford GT rear shot I'd be all over it by now.
It just sold with 50K miles
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=3588256
You can't have it all. I hesitate to pull the trigger on one. Been mulling things over for a month now and I will wait for '17 to see if things improve a bit more. If it looked like the new Ford GT rear shot I'd be all over it by now.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Curious; did you think that my posting of the article, was an indication of my opinion of the C7?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,233
Likes: 419
Well that's quite an ASSumption. I STARTED with a C6, had it for 3.5 years, now have a C4. In fact, I had both for about 4 months....C6 never left the garage, that whole time. Maybe some C4'ers are "jealous"....I'm not one of them.
Curious; did you think that my posting of the article, was an indication of my opinion of the C7?
Curious; did you think that my posting of the article, was an indication of my opinion of the C7?
Exactly. And I also happen to prefer the look and feel of my 95 ZR-1 compared with the C7.