After yesterday's discussion about going 10's, I was driving around and stumbled upon a mint '93 converible, 63,000 miles, dark green, tan interior, automatic, chrome stock wheels...a real creame puff. It could have just rolled out of the showroom. God, it is pretty. My '88 coupe is fast closing in on 170,000, but it still runs and looks good, but who knows for how long. One of these days I will flunk the physical for my NHRA comp lic and the light went on in my head: Buy the '93 for a daily driver and hold the '88 for a hot street dedicated racer (like stick in a Shafiroff 434, glide and Ford 9") and have some more fun in my old age. But I digress.

My question is, is there any inherent weaknesses in the '93 I should be wary of? This would be a pure daily driver, no undue abuse. Are convertibles noisy with the top up? Are convertibles leakers in the rain? What level of sunblocker should I put on my bald head?

 

I have a 93 vert 6spd.

The fact that vert is an automatic makes it worth LESS than a stickshift -regardless of condition. Stickshift C4 convertibles were more rare.
First off, forget any plans of ever road course racing it if its an automatic.I saw a C5 vert wreck at nelson ledges when it unexpectedly downshifted mid turn.


Heres what the differences are:

The 90-93 cars have the coolest interior of any C4s. They still have the 'fighter jet' seats that wrap around you. In 94, due to the obesity problem in the united states, they got the 'fat mans' seats that seem to be less durable(Everytime Im looking at a C4 with one I see busted seams), and worse looking.

THe LT1 cars didnt get the better brakes (J55) until 1995. Also, the ASR system got upgraded in 94 to be less intrusive. In 95+ the ABS and ASR systems were upgraded too for better performance.

That car has the non-vented optispark. Plan on replacing it. My car was so cream puff when I bought it at 28,000 miles. Id go to stomp on it and it would sputter and hesitate occasionally. I never thought at 28000 miles Id have a bad distributor, but sure enough my optispark was toast.

You can easily upgrade this to a vented style by following tech tips on this site.


I know you are looking at a 93, but remember In 1996, 6spd cars got the LT4. Which will support higher RPM/horsepower than the LT4. One thing to remeber is the special piston rings to prevent blowby, bigger injectors, and better timing chain. Also, the higher flowing LT4 heads are way better with bigger valves, etc.
Autos got the LT1


Best piece of advice- be prepared to do some of the work yourself or be ready to spend thousands in repair bills.

Oh yeah and the sunscreen is a better piece of advice.


Although I hear the C5/6 convertibles are quieter, Im really amazed how quiet my C4 is topdown. Its a very smooth fun car as a convertible.

 

Oh yeah....1994+ got a glass rear window which will be much nicer.

 

Thank you for a lot of really good information. High performance is really not an issue for me on the replacement car as I just want a fun, nice looking, reliable C4 to bomb around in. So the later-year improvements would be nice, but are not deal breakers for me.

I have seen a lot of posts here about opti-spark problems but never paid much attention because I did not have one, so it sounds like I would have to deal with that. (I have had a terrible time trying to find anything in this forum's search function. Most of the time I get nothing. Probably not keying info in right). As long as the '93 optispark is fixable with a dead-reliable system for something less that the national debt, I am a happy camper. And put on a '94top when the current one starts to fail. I would think the glass window convertible top ought to be interchagable on the '93.

This sounds pretty good so far. I might have to put up or shut up over this car. The asking price is $11,500, like below low-book.

 

It being an automatic, I would not want to pay high $ for it.

Sounds like a good car.

 

That sounds like a more-than-fair price to me. I have a '93 vert with 60K miles on it. So far no problems with opti-spark, rides quiet top up or down (except for my B&B exhaust). I've never had any leaks in the rain, but do when I wash it. I think you would enjoy it as a daily driver.

 

Agree with all the comments about the different years. Re the less intrusive ASR beginniing in '94 - the first thing I do after starting my '93 is ALWAYS turn off the ASR. One button, one push, enjoy the ride. If I happen to get caught out in the rain (rarely) I'll turn it back on.

If it is really as nice as you say I'd buy it in a flash - if you want a '93 automatic.

 

Six speeds may be fun to drive and may have the edge in a road race but........

Automatics rule at the dragstrip!

 

Corvette Magazine just did an approximate C4 value thing.
The 93 auto vert is:
Crummy $6,900
Decent $9,000
Great $11,000
Fabulous $13,400
Add up to $2,000 for 40th Anniversary Edition.
This will give you something to barter with.
Good luck
Fred

 

my favorite color and my favorite year... to bad its not a 6 speed.

 

Thanks guys. I would rank this one as "great" so the price is still right. Kelly BB values '93 vert's in "Excellent" condition at $13,845 in private party sales, so I think it is priced right. I asked why the low miles. Apparently it belonged to a widow who left it in the garage most of the time after her husband died. Not to be glib, but at least he got to own a Vette during his time here on earth.

I appreciate the 6-speed LT-4 comments too. Those are the only ones giving me a little pause on the '93. That and fiddling with the opti. Still this is one beautiful hard body beckoning to me! It's like Christy Brinkly smiling and telling me she's mine for only $11-g's and she promises to be GOOD! I suspect she might be a little weak in the dishes and housecleaning department and is not telling me. But who cares!