The C4 boldly went where it had never gone before

"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty) 07/26/2014 at 21:58 • Filed to: None

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It traveled around 100 miles, give or take. Shitty drivers and a somewhat strong sun sans AC aside, it was glorious: on the highway and down some twisty rural roads to a crab place on a river where two bros in a wrangler said something nice about my car that may have been sarcastic, and on to the Chesapeake Bay bridge. Along the way, I came face to face with a C1 that I lost my wave virginity to. It got 20+ MPG in 4th overdrive at 75 MPH and actually likes 93 octane better than 87 (because of some sort of primitive variable engine timing apparently). In overdrive, it likes to be at 80+ MPH. When you roll into the throttle in overdrive, it automatically kicks down in a not-so-pleasant way to 4th and takes off after the V10 M6 that just took off in front of you in a feeble effort to recreate WWII. I turned off the highway after arriving on the eastern shore to look at a very late model C3 corvette and feel more confident in my 230 horses (perhaps more with the cam and intake, perhaps less because of wear) and took off back to lovely VA and encountered a white C6 on the highway who proceeded to honk and give the wave. I chased him for a while, decided I didn't want a ticket and/or hospital visit after he sped up thanks engine that doubles the output of mine, and played some period-correct tunes until going over the river, taking a wrong turn, and having a late-model mustang try to race me at a stoplight in front of the other cars. I pushed the car somewhat to 40 and was ahead thanks to low-end torque, but thought better of going faster for legal purposes. I couldn't have had him for much longer, but the L98 is magnificent in compliance with speed limits. It would still propel the car to 60 in 5.7s when new despite the 4 speed and all the way to 150, but it's a great motor for tooling around. Anyways, it's been about 200 consecutive trouble free miles in the corvette, no doubt a good sign. There is not a smidgeon of body roll on any sharp corner or on-ramp, which is almost surreal. I really need a targa too brace or AC conversion because when it goes topless things get sketchy over bumps. Here's a very potatoesque picture in a neighborhood.

Brian Silvestro > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:01

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Damn, I guess driving around in a Corvette is really eventful!

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Brian Silvestro 07/26/2014 at 22:13

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Everyone tries to race you , happened 4 times today and once yesterday. It gets interesting when the top is off when every road imperfection is a sinkhole. They seem to haunt us. It's fast on the highway in regular 4th gear, which makes it hard to go slowly when two 370Z Nismos fly by followed by a slammed STI on white steelies who you want to teach a lesson. I saw both a stanced STI and E46 M3, both driven by siblings of scumbag Steve. The wave is neat, but if the person you pass is in a C7, C1, or C2 they will probably be snobs about it. And anyone who isn't in a sports car has to be a dick. RX350 has to clear you and cut you off for getting in front of them at a reasonable distance, the C class grandma honks when you don't burn rubber from the stoplight, and the environmentally conscious who look down upon classic cars but think they're doing the earth a service by driving an accord hybrid look down upon you. Then you kick down into third and, in a cloud of smoke, disappear into the horizon.

Brian Silvestro > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:15

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Wow. I really want to own a Corvette sometime in life now. Sounds like a bunch of hilarity. And the WAVE

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:15

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Whoooo!!!!

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 07/26/2014 at 22:18

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You, sir, are the master of C4 burnout pictures. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to take one myself!

jkm7680 > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:19

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Ah, the Corvette wave. One just can't drive a Corvette without it. Most drivers wave back, no matter what kind of Vette you're in.

For instance, I "Borrowed" my father's C5. I gave the wave anyways. (It's a 50th anniversary, OK shape.)

Slave2anMG > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:19

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Cool piece. But too many cops on US 13 to speed much once you get into VA...I drove up that way last week and the cops were thick as flies on poop.

hike > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:21

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I get a lot of the same crap in my C4. I've never had wave issues with drivers of older Corvettes though, most common is C5 and C6 Vettes not waving, usually with aftermarket chrome wheels. I also get some funny looks in my car cause I look pretty young and people like to just assume my car is actually fancier than their 30k Camry.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:24

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HEHEHEHE i like c4 vette. I kinda want one to beat on and drop a ls3 into but keep the body rough.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Brian Silvestro 07/26/2014 at 22:29

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I believe there is a book called save the wave. It was endangered when late model owners wouldn't wave at early model owners because they didn't care about classics, early model owners ignored the late model owners because they weren't in old cars, and no one would wave at the late C3s or C4s because reasons. '75 through '82 are embarrassments, though, and the '84s were kind of dogs and give round-taillight C4s a bad name (but I'll still wave at even the weakest C3 or a wagon wheel slushbox C5 with chrome slapped everywhere because I'm so kind and just). The 4 speed manual is actually neat and is pretty rewarding when you get it right and makes you enjoy every gear while not requiring much shifting, so I actually like it. It's a mix of love, hate, people that may or may not be making backhanded compliments, smoke, waving, engine burble, chirping the tires by accident and people being nice when parking with your huge turning radius, which makes it a really fun time. And dodging potholes. Especially dodging potholes.

Brian Silvestro > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:31

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I hope it stays around forever, it's just one of those things that would make me lose faith in humanity if it were to go away.

By the way, no one in a 911 will wave back at you if you're in a Boxster.

Flavien Vidal > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:34

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I havent had ONE person ttry to race me... Nobody. Not that I would race them anyway as I'm not really like that but still... no one cares. Pretty happy about it that way to be honest lol

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Brian Silvestro 07/26/2014 at 22:40

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911s of the same era look upon my car in disgust, as I often observe from the rearview mirror. I feel bad for any Boxster guys who are genuine car guys. I knew a Porsche 356 mechanic, ex-cop who loved air cooled 911s and 356s and saved up for a 356C and bought one. He moved to be replaced by an old colleague of his, seemingly a pompous guy living on a trust fund. I tried to make conversation for 15 minutes after he wrongly corrected me on my calling a 912 a 912, and then drove his son's automatic F30 off because he'd just gotten a job on Wall Street and had no use for the yuppie-mobile. So there's my classification of the different porschephiles. If the corvette wave goes away, there's something wrong with the world. Luckily it seems that the C7 is a hit with enthusiasts judging by 7MT take rate (a revival of the 7 speed vette, I see?) so it should go on for a good deal longer. The guy in the C6 went out of his way big time to wave at my bargain basement '85, so it seems that all's right with the world ('Murcia) for now.

Brian Silvestro > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:42

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Good! I think the revival of the wave has to do with more actual enthusiasts buying the car because it's such a good performer. They're not just rich old douches anymore.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Brian Silvestro 07/26/2014 at 22:47

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The 1955, 1984-85, and 2014 have kept the corvette name in the enthusiast eye for sure. Every once in a while, it takes huge changes to revitalize the base, and the C7 is successful so far. I just wish they'd keep offering the 6AT so there's less incentive for the buyer to drop a pedal lol Any 65 year old guy who hears "state of the art" is sold on the product as I've learned on N54 vs N52, DCT vs 6MT Bimmerforum shitstorms.

Brian Silvestro > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 22:48

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LOL that's the only reason to keep that POS transmission around. And a good reason too!

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Brian Silvestro 07/26/2014 at 22:53

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Yeah, the DSG, ZF 8 speed, and BMW DCT have turned many a midlife crisis buyer's mind through the power of the sales pitch. Same with AWD cars that should be RWD and turbocharged cars that should be naturally aspirated. And automatic-start cars that should be crank start, of course.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Flavien Vidal 07/26/2014 at 22:57

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Street racing really is stupid. I live in land of the assholes where every hotshot in a bro-car needs to prove he (or she, possibly) faster than your stock 30-year-old car with a 4 speed and TPI. Luckily, I feel no temptation to accept the challenge.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > hike 07/26/2014 at 23:05

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Haha the tacky late models are everywhere too. Also, woman in the Camry, it's not wise to trade and no, my car is not 2x faster or more luxurious. I think C1 guy looked upon my 85 in shame but I was in an area where I was liable to hurt property values haha

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Slave2anMG 07/26/2014 at 23:14

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Thanks! You're right about cops, my neighbor's an Alexandria police sgt or something and he said they're looking to bring in as much revenue as possible with speeding tickets. Speaking of poop, the SE freeway's a minefield of pot holes! Once you get out of MD, everything's just horrible driving-wise. I was cruising down the 75 MPH portion of 66 a while back at 85 behind a 911 3.2 Carrera having completely forgotten that's misdemeanor reckless driving despite the speed limit...

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 07/26/2014 at 23:18

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They are big brawlers when you're driving them, little old red cars on the outside. The L98s are like underdogs that keep on impressing you, and they seem to have an attitude that makes you have to try to hang with every big dog. With an LS3 and exactly twice the power, mine could live up to its character in this day and age, so I'm all for it! Just need about $10,000... Okay, let's take the TPI to 300HP and call it a day.

Frank Grimes > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 23:35

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I think there are a lot of people who had a corvette in the past and get a new one with each generation. just a theory but it does seem that way.

Frank Grimes > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 23:37

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a C1 as in 53-54? I love the way they look but that I6 must be terrible!

Shifty > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/26/2014 at 23:45

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I really loved my 89...I was about 90% done with the 421 that I was building for it when I wrecked it. Only three months before, I had converted to Vansteel/Hyperco coil-overs, and the girl handled like a demon...

BTW: I'm a C5 driver now, and I do the Wave just fine, thank you.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Shifty 07/26/2014 at 23:48

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Man, that sounds incredible. It's a shame about the wreck, but it seems that you have moved up the vette ladder. I have met 3 C5 owners, all of them very into the cars. I have no doubt in your ability to wave haha

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Frank Grimes 07/26/2014 at 23:54

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It was a late quad-headlamp model that seemed modified slightly, so it would have a small block. Those blue flames were so finicky with 3 carbs for not-so-much power.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Frank Grimes 07/26/2014 at 23:55

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I agree. Maybe they should buy into every other generation and give me the in between ones so they have, you know, more time to get acquainted!

Frank Grimes > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/27/2014 at 00:42

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I think it was a truck engine crazy.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Frank Grimes 07/27/2014 at 01:00

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Nothing like a pushrod I6 from a truck mated to a 2 speed slushbox in a sports car with a suspension design from... a truck! They are great looking, though. Make mine a 4 speed hardtop with a Rochester fuel injected 327. That car matches the performance of an '85 corvette with a 3.07 differential.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/27/2014 at 01:09

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Cams, bigger injectors, bigger fuel pump, exhaust, intake,

That should do it

DanZman > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/27/2014 at 02:15

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The wave is such a strange thing to me... maybe its just because I'm so used to it. I guess that I used to assume that all enthusiasts waved to similar cars. There are a few groups that do it and I have been a part of three; corvettes, "Z" cars, and jeeps. But then there are other really loved cars that don't do it(i'm looking at you s2000 owners). Is it a thing with Miata owners?

For the record, I wave whenever possible, to every generation, in any condition.

Brian Silvestro > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 07/27/2014 at 06:39

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I wouldn't have it any other way! That'll change the trend.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Brian Silvestro 07/29/2014 at 22:54

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Crankvette! I stand by RWD, NA, MT cars... crank starting maybe not. A 130i with a crank starter would be interesting though.