I'm back to wanting a C4

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
01/25/2015 at 08:44 • Filed to: None

Last year I thought I'd moved on to the C5. I said I'd buy a C5 by the end of this year. I think I'm going to go for a C4 instead

I've always liked the look of the C4. Then Friday night I went to a garage owned by a car collector which contained an absolutely stunning C4 ZR1 and I fell in love with them all over again.

Obviously a ZR1 would be nice, and I would love to find one in need of some work for cheap and fix it up, but even the cheapest decent examples are a bit too expensive.

My target car will be a 92 or newer with the LT1 and a 6 speed. A perfect car would be a 96 with the LT4. I wouldn't turn down a good deal on an earlier model, but I won't go earlier than 86 (?) because I don't want the Doug Nash 4 + 3.

I think this is actually the smarter way to go for my first Vette. Even in really good condition moderate mileage C4s are typically for sale around the $10k range, and higher mileage cars are downright cheap. If I kept my 70k mile or less target from the C5 I would hopefully find the right car for less than $10k. Then I can spend the $5k+ I'm saving from my C5 target cost improving the car with suspension/chassis/seats/power etc.

Also, going cheaper means I could get it sooner...so I'll be keeping a constant vigil for the right C4.

DISCUSSION (42)

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 08:50

I think that's the right choice. I've only ever sat in a C5 once, it was on our lot back when I sold Lexus, and if I had to describe the interior in one word, it would be "OHMYGODTHERESSOMUCHCHEAPSHINYPLASTIC". The C4 always felt higher quality inside to me.

E. Julius > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 08:51

Please keep Oppo updated. This sounds like something I might do in the future, so I'm curious to see how it goes. Best of luck, love the C4s!

Flavien Vidal > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 09:08

You won't regret the lt1. After having driven a NSX last week end, the lt1 is better and faster. Only thing the NSX had, was a better more responsive steering.

The lt1 Corvette is awesome, easily daily drivable and you can sleep in the trunk. Go do that in an NSX lol

So yes you can buy a terribly fun fast car for 10000$ or less and it will do 30mpg on the freeway. Don't think twice, do it!

EDIT: forgot to mention it's a very reliable car... Get a 1994 or after though as they have vented optisparks which are quite a bit more reliable. Once you've done it once you can change an opti in 4 hours though and that with no mechanical knowledge. It's fairly easy albeit a bit long

KatzManDu > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 09:16

I owned both a 1995 C4 (LT1, MN6, used) and a 2000 C5 (LS1, MN6, new) Both cars are amazing and fun. I liked some things about the C4 better; you had to climb down into it and it had the feeling of climbing into a cockpit. I liked the ugly orange C4 dashboard better than the more modern look of the C5 white LEDs.

Runflats suck. Both cars are equipped with them (usually.) They make the ride worse and more noisy.

The C5 is far more refined (if you can call a Corvette refined.) You'll find the C4's flaws endearing (don't take the targa top off. don't get the optispark wet.)

Also, if you date women who wear skirts, get the C4. Just make sure you're a gentleman and open the door for them.

Cé hé sin > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 09:21

oooh, a C4! I hired one once but it looked a bit different.

Kinja'd!!!

PS9 > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 09:23

Kinja'd!!!

But if you wait a few years more...

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 09:24

The C4 is all that is right about 80s GM styling... Get one.

SlickMcRick > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 09:27

We share the same want. I know the C5 and subsequent Vettes are better in every way but the C4 is the first Vette I saw in person growing up and I love it.

Here are two 96 models below your 70k mileage bracket that I found with a quick search

http://www.carsforsale.com/used-cars-for-…

Jayhawk Jake > PS9
01/25/2015 at 09:37

I'm not waiting a few years more, but my first Corvette will not be my last. I'm hoping C6ZR1 prices continue to trend downward over the next 3-5 years so I can snag one.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 09:37

Awesome! They used the 4+3 through '88. Its problems are greatly exaggerated and it's a lot of fun to use, but it's a bit higher maintenance. I honestly wouldn't trade for the ZF6 aside from the financial reasons. Keep your eye out for an LT4—that would be awesome. You get C5 performance in an interesting package. I'd worry more about what's been replaced or rebuilt rather than miles considering that they are older cars, but be sure to drive as many as possible.

ly2v8-Brian > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 09:38

I know I like those, especially the pre 1990 body style. And the aftermarket on these is quite strong.

Jayhawk Jake > Flavien Vidal
01/25/2015 at 09:39

Thanks for the advice. The good thing is it won't be my only car so I'm not terribly worried about optispark taking it down for a bit. It's partly going to be a wrenching learning experience as well

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 09:40

I always loved that clamshell hood.

Kinja'd!!!

Jayhawk Jake > SlickMcRick
01/25/2015 at 09:41

That black one is an auto. The red one though...there must be a typo or a catch. C4s are cheap, but that thing is immaculate. No way is it only $6500.

Jayhawk Jake > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
01/25/2015 at 09:47

I couldn't remember if it was 86 or 88 that they replaced the 4+3.

I'm not dead set on miles. Obviously there's cars with 100,000+ miles in better shape than 60,000 miles. Do you know of a good resource for 'things to look for' and typical maintenance intervals? I know when I was trying to find a miata I found a 'buyers guide' that had typical issues and a list of things that should be replaced at X mileage to check with a seller.

Jayhawk Jake > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
01/25/2015 at 09:48

All corvettes have it, but the fact that the C4 exposes the top of the wheel is HNNNG worthy

Jayhawk Jake > E. Julius
01/25/2015 at 09:49

Of course I will! Earliest I'd expect to buy would be midsummer, July-ish.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 10:00

a chick up the street from me had 1. I think it's the Grand Sport. I like this generation s design

Kinja'd!!!

quarterlifecrisis > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 10:35

Have you been in a C4? They're....eh. I'd go C5. Values are dropping. Hell, I'll sell you my C6 in a year.

Jayhawk Jake > quarterlifecrisis
01/25/2015 at 10:56

I've sat in one, haven't driven one. There's one at a dealer here I'll go check out soon

quarterlifecrisis > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 11:27

The pedal box is so damn small, and the sills are a bit ridiculous too. There are 2 C4s I'd get rid of my car for. a '93 40th anniversary ZR1, or a '96 GS with red guts.

Kailand09 > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 11:27

Holy cow I'm so jealous. The day I get to begin the search for my first corvette will be so intensely satisfying.

C4 isn't a bad choice. Personally I'd still prefer to go c5 for performance and exterior looks, but it's all personal preference. That and the c4 can be had for such a reasonable price it's absurd.

Make sure when buying to head on over to the good guys at corvette forum. You should be able to use the search tool and just general browsing to get a good idea of common issues with each year.

PS9 > SlickMcRick
01/25/2015 at 11:33

$6-7k? Holy shit... I could buy one of those this year...

um...

Jayhawk Jake > quarterlifecrisis
01/25/2015 at 11:33

I like the door sills, it feels special. I didn't feel bothered by the pedal box in the one I sat in, but obviously I need to drive one to really get a feel.

The thing is my first Corvette won't be my last. The idea of getting s C4 for cheap, even one that needs some work, seems like a good way to get started. As long as I'm smart about it I won't lose any money down the road when I resell it, and I can have some fun and get some good wrenching skills along the way

Jayhawk Jake > Kailand09
01/25/2015 at 11:34

Realistically my search isn't beginning in earnest for at least 6 months. Although if I get a good raise with our annual raises it could be sooner...

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 11:45

These are ones I could find online. Grassroots Motorsports did one at some point but I can't find it right now on my phone. A good book for C4 ownership is 101 Projects For Your Corvette 1984-1996 by Richard Newton.

http://www.carsandparts.com/Articles/Tech/…

http://www.superchevy.com/features/vemp-…

http://www.hemmings.com/hmn/stories/20…

There

blacktruck18 > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 12:00

DO IT!!!! DO IT!!!!!!!!!

Kinja'd!!!

Yes, I am using this as an excuse to post pics of my LT4. The real fun of an LT4 is beating up on unsuspecting C5 owners. I think we have talked about this before but, unless you want to do a crazy twin-turbo 600-700hp motor I would take the LT4 all day.

blacktruck18 > quarterlifecrisis
01/25/2015 at 12:05

I have the exact opposite opinion. I feel like the interior of the C4 is way better then the C5. To me the C5 interior is just bluh. The C4 is awesome it wraps around the driver perfectly, everything is laid out perfectly. I have driven both, C4 more because I owned 2 of them, but I like the C4 interior way better.

What kind of C6 do you have?

dr861 > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 12:09

If you're looking for an LT4 your options might be rather limited given that they only produced around 6000. I'd still go with the C5 given the LS1 is the minimum amount of power you're going to get. My Dad's had one since 2003 (convertible), it's a 99, and it's never had any power plant issues at all.

blacktruck18 > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 12:10

Buy this one. mmmm........ Black on Chrome C4 mmmmmmmmm......

The miles are a little higher than you wanted but it is a pretty good deal.

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…

quarterlifecrisis > blacktruck18
01/25/2015 at 12:12

I wasn't comfortable in the C4. Wouldn't mind having one as part of a collection, but not as a primary toy.

Just a base model. It's an 05, I've put Z51 brakes on it, but that's it. Bought it as a DD, have put nearly 50k on it in 3 years.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 12:28

The front wheels are great for sitting on when tinkering.

crowmolly > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 16:22

Opti problems are somewhat exaggerated.

I would be far more concerned about either of the manual transmissions.

Flavien Vidal > crowmolly
01/25/2015 at 19:50

The lt1 has a zf6 transmission which is no problem at all. It's not like the Doug Nash. And opti problems are not exaggerated. Water or humidity on it and you're good to change it. That's the reason why having a vented opti is quite important.

crowmolly > Flavien Vidal
01/25/2015 at 20:19

When I was looking for stuff every trans builder I spoke to said it's getting harder and harder to find ZF6 parts (which are also getting more expensive) and that many of the places that list them online don't actually have the parts in stock. It is the same situation with the overdrive unit for the 4+3.

Good point on the Opti! I was taking about vented units (95+) not the non-vented. If you poke around LS1LT1 and places like that you'll see how the opti situation is kind of self-feeding. If you blow it out and put in just a cap and rotor (like many people stupidly do) or you put in a cheap replacement it will go out again in short order. Also, if you blow it out and don't address anything going on near the water pump (like the seal or weep hole) your replacement will go out again quickly.

Flavien Vidal > crowmolly
01/25/2015 at 20:35

The Zf6 is an expensive gearbox indeed. But it's reliable as long as you know how to drive (always rev-match on downshifts for exemple). Mine has worked like a charm and changing it, despite the whole thing being crazy heavy (200lbs) was fairly easy and changing a clutch took less than a day.

It's a car that is easy to work on and that's what I liked about the LT1 Corvette... And vented untis appeared on '94 models :)

It's still fairly sensitive though as I had a '95 and blew a radiator hose that was too old... quick fix and it was fine until 3 hours later when the opti gave in despite having been cleaned up...

crowmolly > Flavien Vidal
01/25/2015 at 21:09

I think the platform itself was maligned for a while for no reason. They are great cars and are still good bargains in many cases.

I really like the ZF6 but it's servicing and upgrading that pushed me away.

Flavien Vidal > crowmolly
01/25/2015 at 21:13

Really, as someone who has worked on one myself, servicing it is very easy and accessible and it did not need any upgrade :)

And my car had 170.000miles :)

crowmolly > Flavien Vidal
01/25/2015 at 21:27

What power level were you putting through it?

Kailand09 > Jayhawk Jake
01/25/2015 at 21:35

Congrats man, keep us updated so I can live vicariously through you.

At least you can see the light... I don't have any clue when I will even have an idea of when I can start looking. Ugh.

Flavien Vidal > crowmolly
01/25/2015 at 22:25

Completly stock. It's a daily driver, that I used also in the snow... No need for more power either... It had more torque than a 997 GT3 so it doesn't really need anymore of that when daily driven...

Article I wrote on it and how it is to deal with it in winter in Montreal.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/living-with-a-…

crowmolly > Flavien Vidal
01/26/2015 at 07:46

Gotcha. Yeah, the ZF is rated for something like 100 lb-ft more than the LT-1 puts out. It was just dicey for where I was going to use it.