Wasn't it also a knock out in the price point compared to the group you mentioned?

 

IIRC a fox body or third gen could be bought for 5 grand or so in the 80s used... sticker was 12-20 or somewhere there abouts. The base vette was starting at low to mid 20s as time went on and iirc used prices held a lot better... mainly because it wasn't owned by a 20 year old doing burnouts for distance every chance he had. But you paid a premium too. And it does show. It was the best performing and built of the 3 and thus you paid more.

 

You sure the difference is so slight? IIRC, MSRP was significantly higher for a base C4 in 91 vs a base 3rd Gen with a 350. At least 50% higher and not a couple grand. With the 350,i do not recall significant power difference, do you?

When I priced out the F-body vs Y-body new in 91, it was a huge difference.

 

It doesn't matter. That wasn't the discussion. The statement was made that:
I don't agree. There was no "handicap" to having a C4 'Vette at the drag track compared to other cars of the time.

Now if you want to bring cost into the conversation, (as opposed to starting your own thread about the value of a C4 for drag racing), then I'd submit this as a response;
"Yes the Corvette did cost much more than other cars, and that is because...
So...for the money, you were also getting a LOT more, of everything else.

 

How much more performance for how much more money than a F-body with a 350?

 

Is this for real?

You should start a new thread; "'84 'Vette vs; '84 350 Fbody" Oh wait, they didn't put a 350 in an F-body in '84. O.K. Start a new thread; "88 'Vette vs. '88 350 F-body"....
...wherein, I can reply and say; "All this information has been available to us for decades, from car mag tests...."
and then you can google search those tests and read 'em yourself!
...while people continue to debate the already known performance of these 30+ year old cars.





.

 

Who said that and what publication again? I'm trying to see why they thought so I can see how they came out with that opinion and how the percentage of performance difference justified the extra cost seeing as how it was the same transmission using almost the same engine.

 

Well, keep read'n, Aklim. I mean, you already own a Corvette, but maybe one day, you'll figure it out.

Note that no one in this thread said anything about costs. The thread is about Corvette's most Dominant performance.

 

my cousins window sticker on his 89 GTA was 21k or there abouts... my 84 is also the same... we lined up a couple times when mine was still stock and even with a 40hp disadvantage (the GTA got all the vette engine parts. The other third gens got iron heads and different manifolds but I don't think they made any less power.) I took him off the line, around every corner, stopped better, launched harder and ran faster than he did. A lot of it I'm sure is that gearing and suspension setup is substantially more optimized on the vettes. As far as sticker on a c4 in the 90s, I'm pretty sure it went up. But stock for stock on an older car I ran better period. If an 89 was 9k more for the same options is it 9k better? That I can not be sure of. $ per performance isn't exactly linear so it is hard to say. I will agree. But the price difference to get into the good third gens got greater as time went on though. At the same time, the market for each car was entirely different so you really can't compare them apples to apples. Just like the mustang vs C8 shootouts... like they're not even in the same league of vehicle. Camaro/stang is the the A/B... but **** happens.

Too long version. I'm not sure if the increase is worth it. But it does do everything markedly better. And for the price is an exotic even better... I feel you hit diminished returns after x amout. But that is mostly due to driver competence as well...

 

Aklim has his Aklimy-go-'round blinders on b/c he's only considering $/performance....which isn't what this thread is about. But, since he hi-jacked this **** out of this thread for Aklim-only reasons, I'd point out that when you spend or spent (back then) more money for a Corvette, (than for a Mustang/F-bod etc) you got better performance....AND:
If all one cared about was performance/dollar (not what this thread is about), then one would likely be better off with a crotch rocket or a shifter kart. Great for dates and road trips.

 

If you are talking in the 80s when they were new, I think you have to say road racing. The SCCA kicked them out of endurance racing because they won all of the races. Hence we had the Corvette Challenge series. For their time, the cars had plenty of power and handled fantastic. I still enjoy carving corners in my 88, but it doesn't perform anywhere close to my 01 Z06.

 

All the girls like mine for is the fact it has a third pedal. Not a single care what it looks like. They just want to cruise top off with a clutch in shore traffic... hence why I've not let anyone else drive that car or had a passenger or date with it. I only speak of it.

And in his defense he raises valid points because it's still a comparison as to what you could get for what at the time. For the price difference you got a car with a **** ton better fit and finish and a much stiffer chassis. It just happens.

 

Well, it won't be from you, if I figure whatever "it" is since you obviously are no help seem to know less than what you elude to.

I must have quoted somebody else then. My bad.

 

https://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/1989...k-Coupe/Values

32k for the 89 C4

 

Not all but what I pay for what I get is a consideration. Of course, if money were no object and you want a C4, that is another story. Good straw man point, though.

 

The wife isn't that keen on that sort of car and as a rule, the wife and/or I drive the car only. Besides the mechanic who needs to verify his work, that is. It was a rude shock when I got the C4 that just about everybody and their brother wants to ride in it or drive it once they see me drive up even in stock form. More in modified form. The F-body was nicer in that respect. Much fewer people even cared that it was modified and you don't get people off the street talking to you about it regardless of whether you wanted to or not.

I will admit though that 3 things sold me on a C4 back then. Someone just totaled my F-body with a fresh motor because they needed to get from one mall to the other in a hurry and I needed a platform to stick the 700R4 and the 383 into with minimal tuning adjustment, the ABS that the F-body didn't have and the fiberglass body so I can have less rust issues.

 

Yeah it went up much more than I had thought. I know dad was looking in 86 and he said they were affordable. Looked up an 86 MY and it was 25 to 27 depending on where you look. 87 MY jumps up to about the same as 89. (All for the vette) seems with a quick peek the price difference stays about the same. Oddly enough you look at buying one now and the C4 (around here in the rust belt) is the cheaper buy. Nostalgia drives a premium I suppose. That and I'm sure a lot more third gens got rotted and trashed out.

 

That wasn't my point. It wasn't anyone's point. You took a decent thread, headed down to Aklimy-town and were the only one who brought money, into a discussion that had absolutely nothing to do with....money. Good straw man point though. Geezus.

 

I would prefer not to buy one around the rust belt, whatever the car. So I were to pay $20K for a car in the rust belt, I'd definitely go at least 10% more if the car were in a nicer area with less extreme temperatures like the heat and cold. IIRC, someone said that the 2000ish ML vehicles in the colder climates were OK but the hot areas like TX had more wiring issues.

 

I guess you are right. When it comes to a C4, it doesn't matter how well it stacks up money wise. I should have realized that people will pay for the Corvette badge whether it makes sense or not and it is heresy to even question the worth of any improvements. It should be taken as a gift from a god at any price.

So happy I moved off the merry go round into the town. It's kinda late in the year now but maybe, a post X'mas miracle will occur and I will be elevated by new year to county status.