C4 Reliability
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,362
Likes: 3,255
From: Hartford WI
For "reliability", an automatic Coupe with an L98 engine is a good choice for a DD C4, because it is a simple car. I'd probably pick 88-89 in order to get the better brakes, front end geometry, and 17" wheels and tires. The PA-20 A/C compressor begins in 1988 as well which makes the A/C more reliable when used daily in Los Angeles. (The 90-up has the different interior, the CCM, and some other annoyances such as the remote-CDM stereo system. Electrical is more complicated in 90-up.).
I've never owned an opti-spark car. I've seen the horror stories about reliability of optis. I'm also aware that zillions of opti owners have never had trouble with their ignition system. Parts availability and QUALITY discussed above is a concern when it comes to opti-spark system and components. Tough to get good parts. If reliability is a concern, I'd suggest avoiding an opti-spark car. You can't have trouble with a known to be problematic system, if it isn't on the car in the first place. I've never seen ANYone bitch about chronic problems with the HEI in their L98.
I've never owned an opti-spark car. I've seen the horror stories about reliability of optis. I'm also aware that zillions of opti owners have never had trouble with their ignition system. Parts availability and QUALITY discussed above is a concern when it comes to opti-spark system and components. Tough to get good parts. If reliability is a concern, I'd suggest avoiding an opti-spark car. You can't have trouble with a known to be problematic system, if it isn't on the car in the first place. I've never seen ANYone bitch about chronic problems with the HEI in their L98.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 394
From: Rocky Mountains
It's all down to your priorities. If you don't need a backseat, i think a Corvette, even a 20+ year old one, can be a good daily driver. But you can't expect the same running costs as a new Corolla. And you have to be aware of the low ground clearance. (But it's all worth it)
But that might not apply if someone lived in a climate with a lot of rain or snow.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 504
Likes: 82
From: Melbourne Victoria
When I was 20 years old, I can do anything. If it takes me 3 days of backbreaking work to save a few hundred bucks, why not? I had time and the body to do it with. Today, I pick and choose my jobs. If I have to reinjure my back or go for another arm surgery, I'll pay for it to be done and let the other guy take the risk. If it needs a lift like my starter did (clearance and height because of the headers) , no thanks. It is cheaper to get someone to do it than to try push that limit and get surgery and be off work. Up to a head job, I'll play along. Now, as what I am, saying with the shop, if my AC pulley bracket breaks by the roadside, I have neither the tools nor the garage to work on it so I farm it out. If everyone doesn't want to do it and I am far from home, what to do? Again, I don't care how big a gun you have at home. The question is what you have when you need it.
If it breaks on the roadside far away from home, how manageable is it? The wife's MB or the trike or my truck? No problem. Ford, MB or CanAm will work on it. Have the truck tow it there. I have literally been told at a couple of speed shops "We might work on it but to be honest, we prefer not to.". The dealership gives me their "Expert" aka the guy who drew short straw. Kinda why I don't go past 100 miles with it.
So farm it out. Why do you want to break yourself at home? I'll supervise, read up beforehand what needs to be done. I'll be glad to let you break your back on it, pay you and drive it off after I am sure you did it right. I froze my *** off to change a distributor in the apartment complex when I was young. I took the entire garage to pull a motor and trans, reinstall the motor with a different trans, build a custom mount for the trans in the winter and the wife had to roadside park which she wasn't pleased about. I really don't want to do it anymore. I have limits. More than the head, I pass. Out of the house with no tools, I'm done. I got way more money than I got body.
If it breaks on the roadside far away from home, how manageable is it? The wife's MB or the trike or my truck? No problem. Ford, MB or CanAm will work on it. Have the truck tow it there. I have literally been told at a couple of speed shops "We might work on it but to be honest, we prefer not to.". The dealership gives me their "Expert" aka the guy who drew short straw. Kinda why I don't go past 100 miles with it.
So farm it out. Why do you want to break yourself at home? I'll supervise, read up beforehand what needs to be done. I'll be glad to let you break your back on it, pay you and drive it off after I am sure you did it right. I froze my *** off to change a distributor in the apartment complex when I was young. I took the entire garage to pull a motor and trans, reinstall the motor with a different trans, build a custom mount for the trans in the winter and the wife had to roadside park which she wasn't pleased about. I really don't want to do it anymore. I have limits. More than the head, I pass. Out of the house with no tools, I'm done. I got way more money than I got body.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,362
Likes: 3,255
From: Hartford WI
I don't let people play with my stuff but I'm ok with them working on it with some checks and balances. Either I trust them or I watch to ensure things are done right. At the end of the day, it's still an expandable item and I can get another one, should I desire. Another body, not so easy. Working without the proper tools presents a bigger risk that I can't afford for something as replicable as this
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 326
From: Central Pennsylvannia
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
I'd rather drive my car than work on it, I'll admit its satisfying to accomplish a job on the corvette, simple maintenance and such, but to actually tear into it, and start un-bolting ****? Ugh, A day at the dentist sounds better. If older guys like me think its rough getting in and out of the car? imagine sliding in and out from underneath the damn thing?
I'm no mechanic, but out of necessity I've had to work on my cars over the years, i just never liked it. I'm really happy there's guys that do.!
I'm no mechanic, but out of necessity I've had to work on my cars over the years, i just never liked it. I'm really happy there's guys that do.!
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 504
Likes: 82
From: Melbourne Victoria
I don't let people play with my stuff but I'm ok with them working on it with some checks and balances. Either I trust them or I watch to ensure things are done right. At the end of the day, it's still an expandable item and I can get another one, should I desire. Another body, not so easy. Working without the proper tools presents a bigger risk that I can't afford for something as replicable as this
I am a 57 year old IT guy, basically sit on my **** all day but I don't have any problems getting in and under my car, although a Lift would be nice.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,362
Likes: 3,255
From: Hartford WI
I'd rather drive my car than work on it, I'll admit its satisfying to accomplish a job on the corvette, simple maintenance and such, but to actually tear into it, and start un-bolting ****? Ugh, A day at the dentist sounds better. If older guys like me think its rough getting in and out of the car? imagine sliding in and out from underneath the damn thing?
I'm no mechanic, but out of necessity I've had to work on my cars over the years, i just never liked it. I'm really happy there's guys that do.!
I'm no mechanic, but out of necessity I've had to work on my cars over the years, i just never liked it. I'm really happy there's guys that do.!
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,362
Likes: 3,255
From: Hartford WI
I have a mechanic who is pretty **** with stuff. He even takes his lug nuts off in a star pattern and uses torque wrenches for many things other people deem unnecessary. I test mechanics with small jobs before I give them bigger jobs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
As stated, the C4 can be very reliable and that is entirely dependent on how it's been maintained. I have owned two 1995 C4s with the LT1 6-speed combo, and they have both run perfectly all the time including several long road trips. Never a hiccup, rock solid. Both received decent care through their lives, and came to me in good/great condition and I kept them up very well. But as much as I love my C4, I also think a C5 would make a better "fun daily driver" for the OP. You can get a very nice C5 for $14k, they have higher performance and are considered more comfortable, kind of like a GT car. So the C5 feels more civilized and the C4 feels less refined and more raw sports car, which some people really like. So it depends what you are looking for. Also be aware the C5 is not without its flaws too, specifically the EBCM (electronic braking control module) in early C5 models can be a nightmare or downright impossible to repair, and replacements are not available to my knowledge. But I guess that's not an issue for those who don't need anti-lock brakes. Also I wish people who post "LA" would specify Louisiana or Los Angeles if the info is not in their profile -- market prices can differ quite a lot.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,362
Likes: 3,255
From: Hartford WI
Also be aware the C5 is not without its flaws too, specifically the EBCM (electronic braking control module) in early C5 models can be a nightmare or downright impossible to repair, and replacements are not available to my knowledge. But I guess that's not an issue for those who don't need anti-lock brakes.
Not sure why someone would NOT want ABS unless they believe they can do the job it does better AND consistently. I'll be the first to admit that I can't.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
Yeah I know my feet can't modulate brakes that well either. Although most people do want antilock brakes, I'm sure a lot of C5 bargain shoppers would be happy to drive such a sweet car even without antilock brakes. And people buying a C5 just for track use might not care about failing EBCMs, in which case an early C5 would be a great choice.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,362
Likes: 3,255
From: Hartford WI
Off the top of my head it's the 1997-2000 (maybe 2001) C5 models with EBCM issues. For some reason the FRC (fixed-roof coupe) models come to mind.
Yeah I know my feet can't modulate brakes that well either. Although most people do want antilock brakes, I'm sure a lot of C5 bargain shoppers would be happy to drive such a sweet car even without antilock brakes. And people buying a C5 just for track use might not care about failing EBCMs, in which case an early C5 would be a great choice.
Yeah I know my feet can't modulate brakes that well either. Although most people do want antilock brakes, I'm sure a lot of C5 bargain shoppers would be happy to drive such a sweet car even without antilock brakes. And people buying a C5 just for track use might not care about failing EBCMs, in which case an early C5 would be a great choice.
Things not working in the car would drive me nuts so not fixing it is not an option. Also, I would want to keep all my cars uniform with ABS since the wife would not be able to adapt to it for one car and not the other. So unless I were going track it ONLY, broken ABS would never stay broken.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 326
From: Central Pennsylvannia
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
I'll keep this in mind for the future if I still would be looking at the C5.
Things not working in the car would drive me nuts so not fixing it is not an option. Also, I would want to keep all my cars uniform with ABS since the wife would not be able to adapt to it for one car and not the other. So unless I were going track it ONLY, broken ABS would never stay broken.
Things not working in the car would drive me nuts so not fixing it is not an option. Also, I would want to keep all my cars uniform with ABS since the wife would not be able to adapt to it for one car and not the other. So unless I were going track it ONLY, broken ABS would never stay broken.
Chris
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,362
Likes: 3,255
From: Hartford WI
about the only thing that worked on my 89 was the drive train, she leaked oil from damn near every spot under the car, the dash was dim, the after market radio was total junk, the seats had holes the size of coffee cans, the carpet stunk, because the top leaked, the rubber was shot in every corner, the side window sweeps were non existent, She had no heat, [heater core bypass] no air con, about the only thing that worked in the damn car was the cigarette lighter. Man i loved that car.
Chris
Chris
Last edited by aklim; Mar 20, 2021 at 11:26 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 326
From: Central Pennsylvannia
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
If it were my car in that condition, I'd have sent it to the scrapyard. My 99 E300 Turbodiesel was in way better shape than that and it is already gone. 2 other cars were upgraded to something newer. I never get emotionally invested in my cars. They are just a thing, an inanimate object. I'd either fix it up if it was worth it or send it to the yard.
Chris