When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hi all..new to this forum. I'm struggling with a decision on 2 cars. Bothe are local and I have inspected both. My first option is a 1994 coupe. Red 22,600 miles 6spd car. Have it negotiated to $11,000. My other option is a 1996 coupe LT4 6 speed red with 26,700 miles. He is good at $13,000. These cars identical in condition. I know the LT4 is a one year motor and somewhat special. But having a hard time spending $2,000 more for the car and it has 4,000 more miles. This will be a nice weather car only. Probably 1,500-2,000 miles a year. I know both prices are good so just looking to pick some brains and get thoughts. Thanks in advance.
LT4 has an underrated 330 hp. It's quite a bit faster than a regular LT1. I've never driven one, but I never heard a complaint about performance OR durability well over 100k. Very well engineered engine. The lt4 car will also hold it's value better as they are very desirable, especially low mileage ones.
LT4; six speed ZF transmission, more powerful engine, bigger/heavier duty rear end, bigger brakes, cool red colored intake manifold, "Grand Sport" on the throttle body...now, what was the question again ?
Thanks guys for the replies so far...I am hearing go for the 96 more so. I understand that it's more collectable but I feel over a period of owning either one the miles will add up and at the end of the day say in 10 years either would have 50,000 miles plus miles. Is it really gonna be worth the difference I'm paying now? That's what I'm struggling with.
Another vote for the 96. Aside from the better LT4 engine, think about the Optispark. The 94 still has the old non-vented Opti which is more susceptible to failure, and it's not cheap or easy to replace them. My 96 LT4 is still running it's original Opti with 138,000 miles. I did replace the cap and rotor last year but the inside of it, as well as the optical sensor looked like new. In ten years time, with 50,000 miles, I wouldn't be surprised to see the LT4 car still being worth $2,000 more than the LT1.
I've owned both. Go for the LT4 car, all other things (aside from the price difference) being equal. You won't regret it. The LT1 is a great engine. The LT4 is even better. Bigger brakes. Revised and improved Optispark distributor. Better resale value, even with 50K miles, or 100K miles.
The LT4 is a little newer and has more power. If all else is basically equal I think the 96 would be my choice. Drive them both and see which one feels the best to you. Maintenance records may play a part in my decision as well.
LT4 aside, spending $2k more for a car that is 2 years newer is well worth...at this point the newest C4 is 20 years old and from car point of view 2 years is like dog years!
And if you're buying a Corvette and concerned with $2k you might want to reconsider buying a Corvette. BTW, check tire age on both cars, there's a good chance they are original with the low mileage and driving on 20+ year old tires is scary...so factor that into the purchase price!
All the above aside and to be blunt, you'd be crazy not to buy the LT4...only 6,359 of them in 1996 had the LT4, the car will hold it's value better then the LT1.
08-03-2016, 06:48 PM
94 LT1 or 96 LT4??
Buy the red one.
