Should I purchase 93?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,423
Likes: 6,539
From: Melbourne, FL
IMO, there are no bad years of C4. They all can be reliable, they all can handle well, and they all wee fast in their day. None of them are fast by today's standards, none of them will set record times at road courses today, and none of them are as reliable as they were new.
Bottom line is, it's all in how well the car has been treated. Even beyond that, at some point, even the best cared for car ages and needs parts replaced due to age/mileage wear. If you want a car to look at, buy the one with the shiny paintjob. If you want the car to DRIVE, buy the one with the maintenance and parts replacements.
Don't know enough about the options of the particular car, where you're located, r anything like that to give an accurate price, so I would recommend against paying anything more than $20k, or anything less than $2k.
All jokes aside, I don't think you will be satisfied by an LT1 car if the '84 was too slow for you. Your wallet may not be deep enough to satisfy your desire for speed.
Bottom line is, it's all in how well the car has been treated. Even beyond that, at some point, even the best cared for car ages and needs parts replaced due to age/mileage wear. If you want a car to look at, buy the one with the shiny paintjob. If you want the car to DRIVE, buy the one with the maintenance and parts replacements.
Don't know enough about the options of the particular car, where you're located, r anything like that to give an accurate price, so I would recommend against paying anything more than $20k, or anything less than $2k.
All jokes aside, I don't think you will be satisfied by an LT1 car if the '84 was too slow for you. Your wallet may not be deep enough to satisfy your desire for speed.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 20
Likes: 2
From: Hebron Kentucky
I purchased my 93 a few months ago and haven't had any issues (so far). I paid 14k and the car only had 18,500 miles. I agree with FAUEE, if your looking for speed, the LT1 is okay but certainly not fast and the targa top is a pain to remove. Overall it's still a beautiful car and fun to drive, but sinking lots of cash into it for increased horsepower would quickly equal what they're worth.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,588
Likes: 976
From: Communist Colorado
Honestly, you're looking at a near 100,000 mile Chevrolet. You should expect to have things go wrong and they will inevitably. On top of that, its a sports car and sports cars are built to drive.... sometimes hard. don't blame an 84 Vette with a bunch of miles on it and 30 year old technology for not being as fast as a new sedan of present day.... Thats just the reality of things.
If you are patient, you can find the right car... If not, its a crap shoot. Look for maintenance records with any car you buy. Look for an enthusiast selling a car, shy away from dealers....
Good Luck!
If you are patient, you can find the right car... If not, its a crap shoot. Look for maintenance records with any car you buy. Look for an enthusiast selling a car, shy away from dealers....
Good Luck!
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
I purchased my 93 a few months ago and haven't had any issues (so far). I paid 14k and the car only had 18,500 miles. I agree with FAUEE, if your looking for speed, the LT1 is okay but certainly not fast and the targa top is a pain to remove. Overall it's still a beautiful car and fun to drive, but sinking lots of cash into it for increased horsepower would quickly equal what they're worth.
Well I wish I had money to get one with such low mileage! I did not mean it as though I was looking for the fastest car I could find. 300 hp is plenty for me. Just looking for a nice vette for my boring drive through the mountain roads to work. Would it help if I post some pics of the ins and outs of the car? thanks so much.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 609
From: Minneapolis Mn
Good luck however it turns out.
Last edited by hcbph; Sep 26, 2017 at 08:22 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 47
From: Minneapolis MN
IMO, there are no bad years of C4. They all can be reliable, they all can handle well, and they all wee fast in their day. None of them are fast by today's standards, none of them will set record times at road courses today, and none of them are as reliable as they were new.
Bottom line is, it's all in how well the car has been treated. Even beyond that, at some point, even the best cared for car ages and needs parts replaced due to age/mileage wear. If you want a car to look at, buy the one with the shiny paintjob. If you want the car to DRIVE, buy the one with the maintenance and parts replacements.
Don't know enough about the options of the particular car, where you're located, r anything like that to give an accurate price, so I would recommend against paying anything more than $20k, or anything less than $2k.
All jokes aside, I don't think you will be satisfied by an LT1 car if the '84 was too slow for you. Your wallet may not be deep enough to satisfy your desire for speed.
Bottom line is, it's all in how well the car has been treated. Even beyond that, at some point, even the best cared for car ages and needs parts replaced due to age/mileage wear. If you want a car to look at, buy the one with the shiny paintjob. If you want the car to DRIVE, buy the one with the maintenance and parts replacements.
Don't know enough about the options of the particular car, where you're located, r anything like that to give an accurate price, so I would recommend against paying anything more than $20k, or anything less than $2k.
All jokes aside, I don't think you will be satisfied by an LT1 car if the '84 was too slow for you. Your wallet may not be deep enough to satisfy your desire for speed.
I don't know, I've got a 92 auto with a 3:07 axle and the car is pretty quick, even by today's standards.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 435
Likes: 22
From: Ellenton Florida
I was impressed with the LT1 as far as HP went. I still had to go for the ZR1 however. For $5k, looks good. LT1's are pretty bulletproof and read about their cooling system which is one reason they last.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 363
From: Central Alabama
High beams are likely a 30 minute fix. The switch gets out of adjustment and won't "click In"
If you mean the steering wheel can be moved around while sitting still, it's either the bolts holding the tilt mechanism, or the mechanism itself. Caused by people using the steering wheel to get in and out.
Valve cover leak is an easy fix.
If those are all that is wrong I don't see any real issues
92 and 93 have the in-vented opti-spark. I figure if mine goes bad, I'll replace and add the venting kit.
If you mean the steering wheel can be moved around while sitting still, it's either the bolts holding the tilt mechanism, or the mechanism itself. Caused by people using the steering wheel to get in and out.
Valve cover leak is an easy fix.
If those are all that is wrong I don't see any real issues
92 and 93 have the in-vented opti-spark. I figure if mine goes bad, I'll replace and add the venting kit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 40
From: Osage Beach,MO,USA
Don't forget to budget for getting the rear wheels corrected - they are presently on backwards - if tires are unidirectional, may have to be remounted to the wheels when corrected.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,501
Likes: 3,302
From: Hartford WI
Before we go there, why don't you go get a corvette shop you trust to do a Pre Delivery Inspection where they check everything out? Drop trans pan, check fluids, compression, history codes and what the repairs cost to bring it up to spec? Too many idiots get starry eyed and buy the car, any car, only to find it is a POS after a detailed inspection.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
Before we go there, why don't you go get a corvette shop you trust to do a Pre Delivery Inspection where they check everything out? Drop trans pan, check fluids, compression, history codes and what the repairs cost to bring it up to spec? Too many idiots get starry eyed and buy the car, any car, only to find it is a POS after a detailed inspection.
Also, define "wobbly."
The later C4s have better performance than the earlier models, primarily due to the LT1 engine. Everything got better, more refined and more reliable over the 13-year run, but that is true of any generation of any car... as is true to avoid the first year or two of any new car (or next generation/full redesign). The early C4s are good cars but the later models are better.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,501
Likes: 3,302
From: Hartford WI
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 5
Likes: 1