Mixednuttz

Around me? Price really. I had a budget I wasn't willing to go over. I didn't want an 84 because I wanted he TPI motor, 85 really was ideal as I dislike ABS. The later car would have been nice as I would have been able to get a 6 speed instead of my 4+3. (Nothing wrong with it, it's just taken a while to get used to. Plus, I can convert it to a TKO later.)
That's the great thing about the production changes as the years progressed - the differences mean there are enough small things that you can pick what you like best.

juni78

I love the video game dash 84-89. It has unique design and by my opinion it greatly represents the spirit of the eighties. Unfortunately it has some issues and I feel a bit safer I have 1995 dash.

95LT1ZF

I'm an 80's nerd and love the digital dash, but I like the interior in my 95 because of what it is attached to. I had an S-10 with the digital dash and loved it though.

Benny42

I have a love-hate relationship with my 86 dash. Its cool but i've rebuilt it twice and the tach panel went wonky
a few days ago. It seems to hate me. The VetteAid dash starts looking better every day to me.

auburn2

In terms of form and function there is no question the 2nd generation is a "better" interior - the dash, the finish and the rest of it.

That said I "prefer" the 1st generation. My car is a 1989, and I specifically wanted the first gen "video game" dash. I wanted because this is a toy for me and it is so 80s. It is essentially nostalgia.

84 4+3

I personally think the 90s interior aged a little worse than the 80s interior but that's just me. Looking into an early C5, that looks worse though imo. I prefer the flat dash of the earlier cars but I think I like the later seats better. All preference but the 84 digital dash was the best looking of all of them, I prefer the small numbering and graphics to the overtly large and cartoonish looking ones on the later cars and the tach shape is better at showing you where you should shift. (In stock form that is.)

JungleCat

I bought my '86 for the nostalgia, so I like its digital dash. The later dash is cool in its own way too, though.

GRIS

I like the early cars, outside and in. The interior seems a little austere, more like a real sports car. The exterior lines are sharper and more defined.

ErrrrCar205

This.

I've said it a bazillion times, but with the mix of digital/analog gauges and the curving cowl, the later version feels fighter-like and that floats my boat.
Spaceships are cool too, so I really like the Atari dash gauges - it's just the rest of the dash that I don't love. With that said, if I could get the money/space to have another Corvette, a late 80s vert with the Atari dash would be high on the list. (Right after a ZR-1).

JP90

First gen C4. To me the seats are more comfortable, the dash looks alot more special and the steering column comes out and down to exactly where I want it. I have an 88 my dad has a 91, can never get truely comfortable in his car, mine I can drive around all day in.

marines

I just do not like the instrument cluster color of the light on my 96. Yellow or gold...ugh

Gibbles

I like the early interrior in my 84, simple design, simple seat design that i think has aged very well.

I have a love hate of the digital dash, i love the atari style dash since i grew up in the 80's, but it's slow...

I can easily confuse the dash while accelerating, it will skip like 30 digits when I'm really on it.

Once it showed 65mph, then jumped to 110mph...

ZHammer

This right here. ...95 owner and I think they have the best interior.(90-96)

convas

I have an ‘87, for years I wanted an ‘90, I wanted the new style interior with the original exterior. Fast forward 20 years and now I prefer the Atari version, so my ‘87 stays

juni78

20 years ago I wanted any C4 Corvette, even without interior

crowz

Atari. Love em.

crowz

The Atari dash is actually pretty easy to work on. Its old school circuit board design and size. Which means even when you get very old and very blindish you can see the huge board traces to fix stuff.

Plus there are good sources for parts.

Digidash

Prefer the early dash. Next I like the 94-96. The ‘90-93 is my least preferred because of the orange script and graphics. That said, I had a ‘94 before my currently owned ‘89, and I think the later interiors function better as to legibility and ergonomics. I just like how the early dash lights up at dusk, and it speaks to that era.

Digidash

I agree. The seats in my ‘89 are softer and snugger than in my old ‘94. The ‘94 had the regular seats though, so I can’t comment on the sport versions. The ‘94 rode better and was quieter for longer trips, though.

1985 Corvette

I like the 90 - 93 interiors and was pleased to see the C7 seemingly pay homage to the isolated pilot styled interior. They tried to refine the look with 94-96 but I think it lost some of the edge.