"Axial" (axial)
03/22/2014 at 03:23 • Filed to: None
2
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"Axial" (axial)
03/22/2014 at 03:23 • Filed to: None | 2
| 21 |
It glows. It is beautiful. I want it.
I found !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! while looking for ZR-1 doors for a potential wide-body conversion (that idea is a non-starter), and I thought these were some amazing photographs for !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Have some more pictures:
TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 03:32 |
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Not a huge fan of Corvettes, but man is that immaculate.
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Axial
> TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma
03/22/2014 at 03:34 |
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216 miles immaculate.
It just drives home to me that I really really need to save up for and get one of these before they start averaging greater than $25,000. They bottomed out like, 6 years ago and have been on the rise ever since.
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TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 04:05 |
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It has surprised me that once lesser desirable Corvettes have increased in value.
Kailand09
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 04:18 |
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That is absolutely stunning. I will say, I couldn't imagine paying $50k for one. Not that it isn't worth it, but still.
I can see only the ZR1 and GS becoming worth anything in the future for the C4 gen, but I would really really love either of them. I am not huge on the base models of the c4 gen, but they are alright and of course still corvettes.
That being said, I predict the C5 gen to become a major classic. Hopefully, when I can afford one, they should be hit a bottom of their value cycle as well. They are pretty reasonable right now, hoping they come down a little bit more as C7 matures. Wholly expect them to appreciate quite a bit though.
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Axial
> Kailand09
03/22/2014 at 04:33 |
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'89 C4s are sought after in manual because they make the best autocross vehicle out of all C4s since this MY maintains the stiffer suspension bits from the earlier cars, weighs less than the later cars , and comes with the more durable 6-speed instead of the 4+3 trans. Bonus points for Z51. '96 cars in nice condition are also sought after, merely for being the newest and having all of the bugs worked out. The 1988 Collector Edition is worth a lot of money if it's a manual; $20,000 range. Those are rare birds.
Grand Sports regularly go for ZR-1 prices already; if you have a red guts example in good shape, you can command between $30,000 and $40,000. If you have a red guts convertible Grand Sport, you are in the $50,000 range. Even 1995 ZR-1s with Dunn heads seldom get that high.
I want a ZR-1 for the wide-body. I already drive a 1996 with the LT4 engine in it, so the Grand Sport wouldn't be much of an upgrade to me and is merely a unique appearance package. I was looking into doing a wide-body conversion using ZR-1 components (it has been done before), but there aren't enough components to make that a viable option. So...I must save and buy a proper ZR-1.
The C5 I don't actually see becoming a classic. The FRC/Z06 variants, sure, but as a styling exercise the basic C5 is a bit of a let-down since it is not much more than a blunting and stretching of the C4's figure. It has little definition and there's nothing particularly stand-out about it. That said, you should rejoice because you can get a nice C5 in the mid-upper teens right now. I expect them to regularly reach the mid teens within a year or two, but don't count on them ever being as inexpensive as the C4 has been since a C5 is still faster than most cars on the road..
PS9
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 04:40 |
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You can get a Camry for that.
With that said, Why the fuck is anyone still buying camrys??!
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Axial
> PS9
03/22/2014 at 04:49 |
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Inorite!?
Flavien Vidal
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 06:46 |
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Not a fan of the basic C5 also... Too.... plain. The C5Z is a whole other story though. Anyway, off to change the clutch on my LT1 now... Gonna take the whole day to do so...
Takuro Spirit
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 07:18 |
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Faceman agrees.
crowmolly
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 09:20 |
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Not much to say other than that in my opinion you nailed it.
1337HPMustang
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 10:23 |
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dat OHC
mr2gud2u
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 10:53 |
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That intake manny is dead sexy
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Kailand09
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 12:33 |
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Great points! Great to hear you drive an LT4, I'd really love any corvette to be honest. I'm actually debating on getting a cheaper 70's stingray that needs a little TLC first to save on cash, or just going straight for saving up for the C5Z. I'd like both at some point, the classic and the more modern.
I certainly agree on all points C4, it's impressive the prices some of those GS's are getting, but it's great to see the corvette market thriving. Good luck grabbing a ZR-1, it's one of my favorites, above the C6 ZR1 for sure. That engine is just something else. I mean, 24 hours endurance 175mph??
The base C5 is a bit bland, especially compared to the Z06 and FRC. I suppose those are the two models I think of more when it comes to future classics, that and the 24 hours commemorative edition Z06. I'm not really sure what I feel about the base models in that regard, but you are likely right that they aren't future classics.
Either way, I'm definitely glad to see C5 prices in low teens, it's motivation to keep chugging along in this damned job search.
Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 13:13 |
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Corvette's top speed key, that turns on the LT-5's second set of fuel injectors for full power.
...24 years ago.
...suck it Veyron. ;)
I've coincidentally been thinking of C4s lately, and looking at some used ones. Nothing like a Zr-1 or Grand Sport, just a regular C4 for something to have some fun with. Any recommendations on years to look at? What do you think of the early C4 (Pre-'89) cars vs the refreshed post-'90 versions?
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Axial
> Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
03/22/2014 at 13:49 |
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Heh, Veyron...I've seen people with "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT" ribbons attached to that second key. Like here:
The years you want to look at depend on what you want. Some people really like the Crossfire cars, and a well-kept example can be worth quite a bit while still being fun. That said, most people want the '89, '90, '95, and '96 cars. The '89 is the first year for the six-speed but otherwise maintains all of the other early C4 traits. The '90 is the first year for the revised interior, but keeps the early exterior. '95 is as late as it gets and only misses out on OBDII, which some people like. '96 is the final year and gets you into the LT4 game if you buy a manual, but no ZR-1 option. If you want to autocross, get an '89 and try to get it with Z51. You won't need to do much to the car beyond safety points.
Personally, when I surf I look at cars between 1987 and 1989. The 1985 was technically the fastest of the L98 cars, but 1987+ guarantees aluminum heads (which started in the middle of MY1986) and the '87 and '88 cars have more reliable 4+3 transmissions than '84-'86. The only time I look at newer cars is when I look for a 1990 ZR-1. I only want a 1990 ZR-1, the atmosphere of nostalgia gets lost with the newer ones.
I adore the early C4s. I absolutely love the black rub strip contrasted against a brightly-coloured body (red, white, yellow), but they also look very sinister in all black and the various blues are all pretty...especially steel blue metallic. I am also a sucker for that 80s digital dash; it's terribly slow compared to today's digital technology but I don't even care. The red interiors on the early cars are killer. There's nothing wrong with the newer cars which are, in fact, better in every way, but I just like the way the early cars look and feel.
That said, I drive a black '96 LT4. At the time, I was a neophyte and just wanted the fastest and the newest. Still, it's a very nice car and the power delivery is excellent. Acceleration is very good; it keeps up with base C5s and dusts the 996. The transmission is so smooth you can operate it with the tips of your fingers, and it offers a positive snap into place at each gear. Clutch is on the stiff side, but I actually prefer it that way. Its action is nice and linear, but its entirely dependent on you being able to hold your knee steady with such a heavy feel. It is squeaky inside, and squeak is dependent on temperature. Replacing spark plugs is a chore, but it's not as cringe-worthy as the same job on a third-gen F-body.
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Axial
> 1337HPMustang
03/22/2014 at 13:50 |
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The one and only!
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Axial
> Takuro Spirit
03/22/2014 at 13:58 |
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That's actually a really cool paintjob. It just...works...on the C4.
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Axial
> Flavien Vidal
03/22/2014 at 13:59 |
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Happy wrenching on that one! I'm at almost 96,000 miles on the original clutch and no slippage yet!
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Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
> Axial
03/22/2014 at 14:37 |
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Awesome super helpful!
I have a little experience with these cars, but this was a great overview of the differences over the years of this generation.
I tend to like the earlier car's styling better as well, but they all look good to me, haha. I actually learned to drive stick in a 1993 ZR-1, if you can believe it. It wasn't mine though, and now I'm just looking for a car to have some fun with. Ideally it would be as much a daily driver as possible, with a couple very casual autocross/club track days a year. Reliability would be more important than outright performance numbers, but "fun to drive" would obviously be utmost priority. :) I think I'm split on the Pre/post 90 dashboards and interiors, though I'm not a huge fan of the early 90s steering wheels. (Airbags we an ENORMOUS technology in that era haha)
The LT4 has a nice charm of its own though. :)
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Axial
> Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
03/22/2014 at 15:42 |
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You got to drive a ZR-1? Jealous. Very jealous.
Airbag is lol-huge on all of the post-89 C4 Corvettes. I actually like the '90-'93 wheel better than the '94+ one since it has four spokes instead of two, meaning more anchor points for your fingers.
All C4s are actually fairly reliable. On the early ones, what you need to look out for are electrical issues with the gauge cluster and Bose Gold audio equipment , head gasket failure on aluminum head models, and failure of the Overdrive on 4+3 models. People don't know how to properly use and maintain the 4+3; it's pretty stout if you use the clutch when cycling the OD unit on and off and when you make sure to change fluids and seals regularly.
For later C4s, be on the watch for a loose steering wheel caused by people using it for leverage. The OptiSpark distributor unit is also a common point of failure, but it's not as fragile as many would make you think it is. The '94 and later cars have a vented model, which helps remove moisture and keep it alive longer. I'm at 96,000 miles on the original unit, so make of that what you will.
Common to all C4s are broken antenna units (they are stuck in the active position), worn headlight bushings, worn side bolsters, and leaky seals. All of those are pretty easy to repair, if not necessarily inexpensive.
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Axial
> TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma
03/22/2014 at 17:13 |
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Well-kept examples are hard to find; most seem to have been treated with the same level of respect shown the majority of third-gen F-bodies. Even a good 1984 is worth greater than $10,000.