Which year C4
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 173
From: Citrus Heights CA
Cool, cause I am in Citrus Heights, I got my 94 auto in Copperopolis about 2 hours from us. It was in the best shape I could find, for what I thought a C4 was worth. Decent 1s where we are at are about 7k on up and 6 speeds are always a tad higher. I wish I knew a tad more about the C4, when I got mine,I would have got a 6 speed, but I wanted to try an auto, as I am sure you about rush hour traffic here.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
You might consider investing $20.00 in what's known as the Corvette Black Book. It a fantastic book with a separate page of two for each year corvette. With this little book it is real easy to see what changes are made from year to year, what options are available with each year, etc.
The best advice is to drive as many as you can ..... before you buy one ... so that you can learn to "feel" the difference in the drive from a well maintained vette from one that was not.
Also ..... look for a car that comes with maintenance records and receipts for work done or parts replaced
With a C4 corvette the vast majority of the time you get what you pay for.
The best advice is to drive as many as you can ..... before you buy one ... so that you can learn to "feel" the difference in the drive from a well maintained vette from one that was not.
Also ..... look for a car that comes with maintenance records and receipts for work done or parts replaced
With a C4 corvette the vast majority of the time you get what you pay for.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: El Dorado Hills
I sold my C6 when I took off to Miami for college. I did not want to leave it sitting in the garage for that many years. Now, the C4 has caught my eye. I will get a C7 once I get off probation at work, but until then, hopefully a C4 will be fun on my off days.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,335
Likes: 6,509
From: Melbourne, FL
I had 2 C6s, and have an LT1 C4 now. I bought the C4 to use as a track car.
IMO, there's 2 styles of C4, and they're very different. The later cars with the LT1 are a more raw, far slower modern Corvette. You get engagement the C6 simply never will have. On the flip side, it's WAY slower and feels even slower comparatively than it is. They have the same sort of feel overall, you've got torque, sure, but the LT1 is much like an LS motor in that it's fairly revvy for a V8.
Then you've got the L98, which drives more like a slightly more modern muscle car. It also is much slower than the LS cars, but it feels totally different. The L98 is all about that low end grunty torque. It's a totally different type of drive than the LT1 is.
When I went and bought my C4, the high revving LT1 was perfect for my use as a track car. If I were buying the car as a toy or pleasure driver, having had the C6s I'd pick an L98 car. I'd tray to get a 6 speed, and I'd probably try to get the older bumper style. I like my LT1, but it feels very much like the grandpa of an LS (which it is), so I'd try to experience something different.
IMO, there's 2 styles of C4, and they're very different. The later cars with the LT1 are a more raw, far slower modern Corvette. You get engagement the C6 simply never will have. On the flip side, it's WAY slower and feels even slower comparatively than it is. They have the same sort of feel overall, you've got torque, sure, but the LT1 is much like an LS motor in that it's fairly revvy for a V8.
Then you've got the L98, which drives more like a slightly more modern muscle car. It also is much slower than the LS cars, but it feels totally different. The L98 is all about that low end grunty torque. It's a totally different type of drive than the LT1 is.
When I went and bought my C4, the high revving LT1 was perfect for my use as a track car. If I were buying the car as a toy or pleasure driver, having had the C6s I'd pick an L98 car. I'd tray to get a 6 speed, and I'd probably try to get the older bumper style. I like my LT1, but it feels very much like the grandpa of an LS (which it is), so I'd try to experience something different.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 173
From: Citrus Heights CA
Here 1,but its no 6 speed
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/5564030324.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/5556845645.html this might have what your looking for.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/5555410150.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/5564030324.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/5556845645.html this might have what your looking for.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/5555410150.html
Last edited by C5 4me; Apr 30, 2016 at 07:48 PM. Reason: Add 1 more car
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 769
Likes: 95
From: Central Pennsylvania
I currently own an 84, a 90, and a 92. The 90 is my favorite. Had 2 C5s, 01 and 03. Lot of electrical gremlins. The 03 caught fire and I got rid of 01 a week later. Current cars are drivers, but not my primary vehicles. I just retired from a major airline and drove to JFK on a regular basis and literally ran the wheels off a Lexus every three years.
The C4's are bullet proof.
The C4's are bullet proof.
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,368
Likes: 2,735
my advice is to screw the age of it and buy the cheapest on you can. because you will put in a few thousand easy as you fix it up. if your initial acquisition cost is too high, or u already blew your full load, u will resent the car. buy as cheap as you can and u will have the money to fix it. ive never seen a c4 that doesnt need work under 15k. if u have the 15k to buy one in pristine all-working order do that.
cheers
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,579
Likes: 59
From: Trieste Italy
I currently own an 84, a 90, and a 92. The 90 is my favorite. Had 2 C5s, 01 and 03. Lot of electrical gremlins. The 03 caught fire and I got rid of 01 a week later. Current cars are drivers, but not my primary vehicles. I just retired from a major airline and drove to JFK on a regular basis and literally ran the wheels off a Lexus every three years.
The C4's are bullet proof.
The C4's are bullet proof.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 920
Likes: 190
From: Stoneham, MA
Personal opinion only. I own both a C4 and a C5. Each have their good and bad points. All depends which car you rather live with. My wife likes our C5 coupe better cause it has more interior room and it's easier to get in and out of.
Test drive both before you make any decisions. 100 test rides each should do it.
Test drive both before you make any decisions. 100 test rides each should do it.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,335
Likes: 6,509
From: Melbourne, FL
They're very different. The C5 is faster, more comfortable, more capable, and easier to live with on a daily basis. But it's not engaging like the C4 is, it's significantly more expensive, and it's not "a lot" faster than the C4 - the LT4 Camaros were faster than the C5, and that's a heavier car than a C4.
If it's an every day driver you're going for, the C5 is better. If it's your goal to impress people with how fast your car is, the C5 is better. But if you want to drive something fairly quick and enjoy it... the C4 is a WORLDS better driver's car.
If it's an every day driver you're going for, the C5 is better. If it's your goal to impress people with how fast your car is, the C5 is better. But if you want to drive something fairly quick and enjoy it... the C4 is a WORLDS better driver's car.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 394
Likes: 27
That's a loaded question that you will get many different answer for.
I've had both a C5 and several C4's. To me, the C5 was a roomy, comfortable road trip car with a chassis that is noticeably stiffer. But it's also twice the price of a C4.
I've had 6-speeds in both generations too, which I prefer over the auto. But my biggest knock on the 6-speed C4 was the limited space between the clutch pedal and dead pedal. My size 15 shoes did not easily go from one to her other in the C4, and this was not a problem in the C5.
My perfect car would be a mix of C4/C5.
I've had both a C5 and several C4's. To me, the C5 was a roomy, comfortable road trip car with a chassis that is noticeably stiffer. But it's also twice the price of a C4.
I've had 6-speeds in both generations too, which I prefer over the auto. But my biggest knock on the 6-speed C4 was the limited space between the clutch pedal and dead pedal. My size 15 shoes did not easily go from one to her other in the C4, and this was not a problem in the C5.
My perfect car would be a mix of C4/C5.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,493
Likes: 475
From: New Jersey
As already stated, most say the later the better. When all is said and done I think it depends on what you plan to do with it.
Many, many years ago I had a C3 ('69) as my daily driver.
I just bought my C4. I was only looking for a cruise night type car. I wanted it to be at least 20 years old so I could put historic tags on it.
I initially set my sights on a '95 or '96. Found some great cars but then I stumbled on an '84, 4+3 car. Owned by an older lady, garage kept with 35k miles. Cleanest 32 year old car I've come across. All the power options work and everything on the Knight Rider dash works.
Could not pass it up for $4300. So far I'm enjoying the heck out of it.
There are lots of C4's out there for sale, just have to be patient and find the right deal.
I
Many, many years ago I had a C3 ('69) as my daily driver.
I just bought my C4. I was only looking for a cruise night type car. I wanted it to be at least 20 years old so I could put historic tags on it.
I initially set my sights on a '95 or '96. Found some great cars but then I stumbled on an '84, 4+3 car. Owned by an older lady, garage kept with 35k miles. Cleanest 32 year old car I've come across. All the power options work and everything on the Knight Rider dash works.
Could not pass it up for $4300. So far I'm enjoying the heck out of it.
There are lots of C4's out there for sale, just have to be patient and find the right deal.
I
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 66,706
Likes: 86
From: Santa Cruz CA
St. Jude Donor '15
