I'm sure there's lots of other threads on this but this is my experience on it!
Bought my C5 in January so I've not driven my C4 since October last year. Finally put it up for sale last week. Anyways, I thought I'd put it on the road for 2 days to work out any bugs it may have and blow out any spider webs before the emissions test (current one expires next month) - plus I had a day off and the temps were to get up to 85F.
What a beast! I remembered that my '88 has a very stiff clutch and a very small sweet spot and it took a while to get used to it again. The exhaust is pure heaven! It's loud, proud and yes it drones in the car but it sounds awesome - something I'll never have with my '98
So, what other things do I like about my C4? The seats! When you're in you're ready to drive. I just kind of ooze into the C5 seats. The center console lid works - no pulling up on the lid after you have it open to get it all the way open. Flip-up lights. C4s have the absolute best flip-up lights and they are lower profile (from the drivers perspective ) than the C5. I also like that the important gauges (oil, temp etc) are in the center of the cluster instead of the sides like the C5. Makes it easier to glance at them (no HUD in my '98). I love the cushy steering wheel too! Entry and exit is a toss up but the C4 high sill acts like an extra bar to push against to get out. As much as the 4x3 trans has such bad press, I love the fact that I can punch it on the highway and the car will gear down on it's own - no shifting to pass.
I had an absolute blast driving the C4 the last two days! The C5 has among other things, better performance, handling and.... a trunk! But if you're ever looking for a second Vette, the C4s are cheap, plentifull and ALL Corvette!



My gf '90 GT in the mix.

 

I feel the same when I take my 84 Transam HO out once in a blue moon. The C5 will never compare to that old muscle sound. Its crap next to the C5 performance wise, but it turns as many heads. I dont think Ill ever have the heart to sell it. It was my first car at age 15

 

I've recently become interested in getting an old C4 and turn it into a cheap weekend racer. There are loads of them out there and from what I've heard, they make excellent race cars with the right suspension mods.

 

I had a '94 for almost 9 years. Loved it. Never had a problem with it. Can't match the C5's, but still a very fun, comfortable ride.

 

I just can't get past how much better I feel the C5's are.... we had a really well taken care of 60k mile "collectors edition" at work the other day, and it just feels so dated to me for some reason. Beautiful on the outside, but there are too many drawbacks to the interior styling for me to be able to enjoy one. As an aside, I drove a 77 last night as well, and now know that I could never own a c3 either... I feel like I had way too intimate of a relationship with the driver door panel, and the steering column was horrendous!!!

 

Good info, thanks for sharing!

 

I just bought my C5, but I had looked real hard at C4s. Some really nice, LT-1s were out there for half the price of a C5. The deciding factor was age. No not the age of the car, but my age. Being an older guy, getting in and out of the C4 was a little difficult. But passing up a 94, LT-1 with only 70K on it for $7500 was not easy. Driving the C4s was really fun and the power was WAY better than the 79 we used to have. I can understand why some prefer the C4, it's a fun car.

 

[QUOTE=airbrush1;1581766444]I just can't get past how much better I feel the C5's are....

You feel that way because they are! I've owned 7 c-4s in the past and I would NEVER go back to one after owning a c-5!

 

Cool post.

 

Could you explain why you'll "never have" awesome sounding exhaust on your C5? That doesn't make sense to me. I think C5s with exhaust sound better than C4s. Mine sounds "like heaven" to me.

 

I love the smooth growl of my Corsa Indys & x-pipe.

 

The LS1 produces its own unique sound that is great in its own way. But myself like many others have a preference for the LT1 and Gen 1 sound. Much more of a muscle car sound. Its got to have to do with the different firing order... My 84TA has cutouts after the collectors and before the cats. The sound produced is "pure heaven". A sound that an LS1 cannot match. It can get as loud, but not as muscular. Just my opinion.

 

Great story, but C5 for me....

As far as muffler growl on muscle cars, or stockers running on the street, to me, nothing beats that damn growl of a Mustang 5.0. I've never owned a Mustang, but that growl always gets my attention.

 

I agree with everything the OP says about the C4. The C5 is a much better car all around, don't get me wrong but the C4 had things about it that I miss. In addition to the steering wheel, flip up lights and seats I miss the clamshell hood. When you opened it it really exposed everything and was really nice to have no seams when closed, also I miss when pulling into a gas station you didnt have to worry about which side the pump was on. I loved the C4's that I've had and they are still great cars, but I would never give up my C5.

 

I previously owned 4 C4s (84, 89, 94 and 95) and quite honestly, I liked each one of them. A lot of people here rag on the C4s, but they were fun even with the lesser performance compared to the C5. The C4s are a Corvette in every sense of the word and some real bargains can be had if someone is looking to get a Vette at a very decent price.

I really did like the C4 headlights and the clamshell hood made working on those cars very easy. Plus the fighter like cockpit was nice.

 

Interesting thread.

I have had a few C4's and C5's. They are different. I think the C5's have some improvements (like the LS motors), but the C4's are still very good. They have a different feel.

I love the fast ratio steering on my '85 Z51, and I like the late C4 seats better than the C5's.

I agree that there is a difference in exhaust sound. I had eliminators on my last '94 and got to love the sound. The most notable difference was at or near idle it was a deep sound for each pulse that made it sound strong. Maybe it was the firing order difference like NukeC5 said. I have Borla's and LG lontubes with B&B on my C5's now and they sound good, but different.

 

 

I owned a 93 40th Anniversary C4 prior to my current C5. Personally, I can't think of a thing I miss about the C4, except possibly the seats, which gave more lateral support than the ones in my C5.

Phil

 

i would like to find a nice C4 with a blown engine and toss in a ls1 6speed for a daily driver

 

I miss my C4 but I wouldn't get rid of my C5 to go back to one. I would however like to add a C4 someday for real car trips like the HRPT and things like that.

But I must say to whoever said it, no, the C5 is not a superior car to the C4. It out performs it in almost every way, as it should. But build wise? No, it's not superior, it's probaly inferior to the later C4's, IMO and from my experiences.

But my favorite vette of all time is the C5 FRC/Z06. If I could I would have one of every generation to include changes in every generation.

hey, a guy can dream can't he.