Ok, first a little background information. Right now, I'm 17 and I'm going to be at college this fall. At the moment I drive a Porsche 951, and I'm thinkin I would like to leave that car at home, and get a 94ish C4 vette to take to college.

Basically, I don't know alot about vettes, I'm pretty much a european car freak, but I happen to like the body of the 94-96 vettes, and I think it would be a fun car to drive. So basically what I'm asking is for some general information on these cars. Are they reliable? Is the engine a typical bullet-proof Chevy type? How is the ride - comfortable for me would be a stiff suspension but plush seats. I definately want a coupe, so how is that glass top - squeaky/wind noise? What sort of things should I look for when buying a used vette? I **MUST** have a manual transmission...does the clutch wear out easily? Will I need to have it replaced soon if I buy a c4 with 80-90K miles? Any common high-priced problems with these cars? How is the sound system, and what are the speaker sizes? ummm...thats all I can of right now....anything else you think a vette newb should know?

- Thanks

PS I'm thinkin since I'm not the stop light racing type, I don't really need a ZR-1 or LT4...so how is the LT1 engine? which is the best in terms of reliablity? Also, how is the handling of these cars? I'm used to a perfectly balanced car that I can thrash about the twisties at ungodly speeds; is this something that a vette is capable of. Maybe someone out there has had the privilege to drive both c4 and 951 and can compare the handling of the two...


[Modified by aeronautica86, 5:01 AM 3/9/2004]

 

First of all welcome to the forum. You stay right here and you will get all your answers. This is the best Corvette forum going. They are so many good and knowledgeable people in here you cant go wrong. You have a keen eye wanting the C4 type Corvette. So if you don't mind I'll just sit back and see some of the great responces you will be getting. :lurk:


[Modified by Stv50, 7:40 AM 3/9/2004]

 

951?
never heard of this model :nonod:

 

Hey and welcome..... :thumbs:

 

Hey there, ;) good choice and welcome :cheers: this is the BEGINNING. I think you'll get almost everything you're looking for, although the vettes won't out corner the Porche. Cost of maintainance if you're good with a wrench will in my humble opinion will be less. I think you will find the ride and sound to be great. :seeya

 

:iagree: :confused:


The Lt-1 is fine on power. Its is also good on handling. The main problem is the Optispark Distributor system. Just check and Make sure the car you are buying has had it serviced or replaced. Then you wont have to do it. :yesnod:

 

Aha! a 951 is a 944 Turbo.... I learn new stuff everyday. :lol:

 

:withstupid:
The factory specs for the 951 include a 217-bhp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a KKK turbo pumping out 11 psi of boost.
Larry :steering:

 

:iagree: what he said!

 

Welcome aboard. :seeya

 

On my way to college I thought I was going to take my 85 S-10 with road signs welded in for floorboards.... :crazy:


ANYWAY...my graduation present was a 97 S-10...so I can't complain...
Don't rule out the early 90's too, great cars, body style is just the same. The L98 is still fun....

WELCOME :seeya

 

WOW, thanks for the.....lack of insight LOL. Sorry, I'm most certainly not trying to be rude, but most of those were rather vague...anyone care to elaborate?

Either way, it seems from your responses that the general consensus from the owners of the C4s is that they are good cars, so that is a good thing.

BTW, the '86-'88 951s had 217 hp, but ya gotta go with the '89-'91, which was when they increased the power to 250 hp :D

 

1.I think that you are a troll.
2.So your 17 and you can afford a Porsche, never mind the Porsche Maintence Bills.
On top of that you are thinking of an LT5 or LT4 car.
3. How are your insurance rates at 17? Who pays your insurance. I'm surprized someone will even write you a policy.
4. Ungodly speeds in the twisties :lol: I'm sure at 17 - you are a pro driver.
I know I was or at least I thought I was but then again I grew up and got smarter :lol:
5. I'm sorry but I have to :bs too many digs about the corvette in your post.
Nope, the Corvette can't handle worth a poopie, buy another Porsche :lol:


[Modified by xlr8nflorida, 6:41 PM 3/9/2004]

 

LOL, well you do have the right to believe whatever you would like, which is one of the great things about the country we live in.

As for your questions, yes, I am 17. No, I couldn't afford the Porsche or its maintance or its insurance - which is why my parents do all of those things for me; I know not everyone out there has/had parents that are willing and able to do this, but I guess I am one of the lucky few, and I do not take it for granted, I appreciate my parents and what they do for me very much.

At 17, no I am no pro driver, nor do I even claim to be a great driver or whatever. I have however had a bit of practice on the track, and I am confident that I am a better (performance) driver than the majority of my peers (ie friends at my age with no track experience).

Finally, I would like to point out that few people are interested in hearing someone attempt to bash a teenager or prove their "superiority", so I would like to ask that we all stay friends here, and offer only constructive replies that will help in answering the questions put forth in my original post.

- Thanks

 

[QUOTE]LOL, well you do have the right to believe whatever you would like, which is one of the great things about the country we live in.

As for your questions, yes, I am 17. No, I couldn't afford the Porsche or its maintance or its insurance - which is why my parents do all of those things for me; I know not everyone out there has/had parents that are willing and able to do this, but I guess I am one of the lucky few, and I do not take it for granted, I appreciate my parents and what they do for me very much.

At 17, no I am no pro driver, nor do I even claim to be a great driver or whatever. I have however had a bit of practice on the track, and I am confident that I am a better (performance) driver than the majority of my peers (ie friends at my age with no track experience).

Finally, I would like to point out that few people are interested in hearing someone attempt to bash a teenager or prove their "superiority", so I would like to ask that we all stay friends here, and offer only constructive replies that will help in answering the questions put forth in my original post.

Well it must be nice to have parents like that............ here are your answers.

Yes, they are reliable
Yes the engine is pretty bulletproof unless you beat the poopie out of it daily.
They are comfortable.
The Top is fine -- a good fitting top makes no squeaks, an older one or poor fitted one will squeak or worse yet leak
No the clutch does not wear out easily unless you burn rubber or drag race alot -- my 92 had 134,000 miles on her when I sold her and it was the original clutch and I was experiencing no clutch issues

Chances are if you buy one with an original clutch at 90 then yes you may have to replace the clutch. Chances are though that the original driver may have replaced at 60 or 70 so then you would have a free ride for awhile - get records and see if it is highway/city driving

Optis, waterpumps, weatherstrips, seats, tires are all pricey items

The stereo sounds good but if you are a real audiophile you may want more. The bose system works as one unit so you have to basically change alot of stuff out if you want to go aftermarket
Not sure of speaker sizes prolly 6X9 though

 

I'm sorry but I have to :bs too many digs about the corvette in your post.
Nope, the Corvette can't handle worth a poopie, buy another Porsche :lo I agree,your not Corvette worthy.Buy another Porch..........The license plate frame on my car says,PORSCHE MY D*CK,MAKE MINE A CORVETTE. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

If you haven't guessed, you will be hard pressed to beat the total package of the 951. I had an 86, and it is still my favorite car I have ever owned.

Performance wise, you are stepping into the exact opposite power band. Where the 951 didn't even start to make any power until around 3000, you are almost through the power curve in the Vette.

One thing you will like better is the tail of the Vette is much more predictable when breaking loose. The 951 gave little to no warning when the back was letting loose in a turn.

While you will lose a little refinement from the 951 to the Vette, you will gain a whole lot more speed through the twisties. A 951 feels more like you have to set the suspension between curves, the Vette feels like it is on a rail.

Maintenance issues: Compared to the 951, the Vettes are cheap as dirt. More than likely, your most expensive maintenace areas will be new tires. As far as the clutch goes, a new clutch installed in the Vette will most likely be less than the 951 parts alone.

The seats are going to be a whole more glove like in the Vette, especially if you didn't have sport seats in the 951. Ride will be a whole heck of a lot stiffer, and you will have much more road feedback.


That's all I can think of at the moment, but IMHO, the Vette would make a nice school car.

Don't worry about the troll comments. I was 19 when I bought my 951. It had 34000 miles and I picked it up for 13000. As you have figured out, when you tell people you drive a Porsche they automatically assume it's a 60k car. No worries though. It's 90% jealousy. In case you hadn't noticed, a lot of the people on this board think that the Corvette is the best car ever made, and the year they have is the fastest, and can beat any car in a race. If you can look past all that crap, there is a whole lot of great information on this site about the C4 Vette.




[Modified by Chosen Won, 3:26 PM 3/10/2004]

 

Hi Cosen Won,
thanks for the polite comparison. That's why we like it here. :cheers:

 

Thanks to all for the good information, I appreciate it greatly. I will start looking for a nice C4 sometime during the summer, as I don't really want to have one just sitting in the driveway for the next few months. Where might I look for a good used vette? I have heard of Vette Hound, and there is a dealership called "Corvette Country" in Austin, a few hours from my location, so I guess I will start looking into those....

- Thanks again

 

Well spoken, young man - and... welcome to the Forum!

:grouphug: