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The C4 has generally been derided by the Corvette community, at least the guys I hung out with, which I always thought was interesting given how massive a step up the overall package was from the late model C3s.
I've noticed that prices seem to have bottomed and have been pretty flat for the last 4 or 5 years or perhaps are inching up just a touch on good C4 cars.
Additionally, some of the bad mouthing I used to hear at local car events, seems to have started to simmer, similar for derogatory comments online. Instead clean C4s are starting to get a lot of looks and positive comments that simply didn't occur 4, 5 or 6 years ago. These cars represent tremendous performance bargains, yes the C5 is built better but its a far new chassis/platform so it should be. The parts for most C4s are also dirt cheap. Working on an L98 is relatively easy and cheap. LT1 and LT4 parts are a touch more expensive but still cheap. LT5s...do they break?
I'm likely going to another local event next week and there's usually a few C4 guys there.
Is the C4 finally going to be looked at in a positive light?
Crazy thing fox bodies were less approx 1/2 the cost of a C4 new and today are worth 2X as much. Go figure!
Clean third gen F bodies are going for more than C4s at the moment. I would suspect that the C4 will appreciate, especially the LT4 and LT5 cars...the others maybe not? But still great fun cars that are cheap to keep running
I've come across my fair share of articles written in the last year or 2 about how great a bargain the C4 is. They have all been pretty positive articles but not sure if they are changing any stigma attached to the car. I have only been waved at once by the many fellow Vettes I've seen on the road.
The C4 has generally been derided by the Corvette community, at least the guys I hung out with
You're hanging out with the wrong people true vette owners appreciate all years. Every now and then I think about upgrading to a C7, but end of the day I like my C4. As former race car driver, it just feels like a true race car when I get into it.
Is it the best handling, fastest corvette? The answer is clearly a "no", but for me it's about the driving experience, what others think or whether they depreciate or appreciate is a moot point to me.
Actually the early c4's killed the rep of the c4. Plus technology moved quick during the i90's world. They still produced the hell out of them though.
Values up? no. People wanting to ask more and kid them selves? yes.
Is a foxbody going up? yes... Why? memories, proven cheap fun platform.
C4's known as complex PITA.
Just read all the new owners stories here.
C5 sucks too... EXCEPT the LS and the chassis,
Very weird, but true about the foxbody. They aren't a better car than a C4, that's a fact. Same with the 3rd gen fbody. If someone says they are better cars, they are blind. A C4 being complex? Sure, to somone with no mechanical knowledge. Compared to today's cars, simple as fck.
This past week was Cruisin the Coast here is South Mississippi. I brought my 88 35th and had it parked next to my brothers 64 Chevy pickup. His truck is really nice but we were surprised that I got as many comments on my Vette as he did on his truck. My 88 is a work in progress and is no garage queen by any measure but was still appreciated by most people. We even made the New Orleans news in an article about Hurricane Nate coming in.
Foxbodies have their share of issues also. I had a 1990. Bought it new. Put on sub-frame braces from Saleen. What I didn't get at the time and really really needed, was a complete front strut brace assembly including plates to bolt to the strut and the strut mounts, and then to the body itself to keep the damn struts in place.
If you hit a dip in the road just right while turning, the top of the struts would move and then back to the alignment shop. The wheel would be 90 deg off center. I even drilled and tapped screws down through the plates to try and anchor it.
Was it a nice car ? Yes, with 93 Sunoco, an MSD-6A box and a light foot, it would get 27/28 mpg all the time. The seats were better than in my 1996.
But they rust and their bodies are very flexible also. Ever see one launch hard ? (with a serious motor). The right front wheel is over a foot up in the air from the body twisting. With just the normal 5.0 you could get sheet metal bends in the pillar behind the door from the twist.
It was essentially a 6 cylinder platform that had an 8 stuffed into it.
The advantage to me at the time was a back seat. With 2 kids, one in a car seat, it afforded me a performance car at the time.
Comparing the 2 together, a 1990 5.0 LS with every option except the GT skirts versus my 1996 Vette, the 96 was an overall better car when new (except for the damn Optispark due to the issues for tune ups, etc).
The foxbody is easier to work on than a C4, especially the LTx based ones. That is based on personal experience. The C4 is a better looking car.
Came up from behind a nice looking yellow 1970's T-top yesterday. Sharp looking cars, wouldn't be happy with one unless the motor is built to run like the 1960's.
I've come across my fair share of articles written in the last year or 2 about how great a bargain the C4 is. They have all been pretty positive articles but not sure if they are changing any stigma attached to the car. I have only been waved at once by the many fellow Vettes I've seen on the road.
All I know is my C4 fits me- I like the feel of the car when I am driving it and what a great car to look at from any angle. I understand better now why there are so many that prefer the older generation vettes even though they have nowhere near the engineering of the newer generations.
We who love the C4 vette are witnessing what older generation vette owners saw first hand and that is the C4 vette has been out of circulation long enough that people are starting to take notice again. I still have memories of seeing some of the first C4's on the road. I can remember seeing the first one coming up behind me on the freeway- It looked like a fighter jet getting ready to take off and when it passed me ( which it did with ease ) I can clearly remember how low the roof line and the wide stance looked as it sped into the distance. IMHO as good a looking back end to any vette made.
I am pleasantly surprised at how much attention the C4 gets at shows I attend. Not many cars have the front end tilt up backwards. I will post a few photos of my C4 taken at a car show I attended yesterday. Plenty of people took the time to really check out the car from older veterans to young kids.
10-07-2017, 08:59 PM
Is the C4 respect finally starting to increase?
