I lusted for a LT4 in 1996, but had a mortgage and a baby son. He graduated college in 2017 and I retired. Found a nice lo mile example in Florida .Flew down to Ft. Myers and bought it. Drove 850 miles home to NC. She 's in the garage now. 26mpg sticks like glue and fairly quick for the year. A lot of bang for the buck and I can work on it myself.
Thats awesome, mines from Florida too. I guess thats definitely something to note about the later C4s is how much better they are on mpg. I average about 17 lol
@@reecelogan8266 Reece, my 86 with just 1k short of 200,000 miles consistently gets 25 to 27 on road trips. Around town and local runs it usually gets 17 to19 - and this is having fun with it. I've never been shy about " jumping on it" or running it all the way out in drive(3rd) from 0 to 135. That 4th gear will get you into the Buck-50 Club. Just remember, KNOW YOUR ROAD,, that includes traffic, time of day, or night, police patrols, and danger from large animals, such as deer elk antelope or farm animals. There's a time and a place for everything, and you will want to drive your car the way it was designed to be driven. Unfortunately we Don't have a European style Autobahns in the United States. Enjoy!
@@richardcoram1562 Makes sense, I guess I drive much more often on roads than the highway. It is more fun to have the top down and without excessive wind form highway speeds. Also in general ill avoid the highway knowing that my c4 doesn't have airbags.
@@williamw3559 dude I’ve been peeking the market the past month, the mini inflation started just 2 weeks ago. From 6-7k to 10-12k 🥲 i hope I have enough time to buy one, I’ll be ready to buy one next month
@@terpman6665 I’m looking at getting a ‘92 LT1 6 speed with the Z52 package or a ‘96 LT4 6 speed Z51, and both are well over $10k right now, though they both have around 50k miles
I bought one for 3k (1988 Z52 4+3 91k miles) 6 months ago and that was when the car prices went up. They’re below that now. Don’t worry man, you can still get one.
I just got my first corvette. Got her for $6000. 1989 C4 L98 automatic 245HP 340TQ. Red on red leather. Setting on 207680 miles and still gets 25+ MPG and runs great. Now that i have one. Nothing unless stupid money will get that car out of my hands. Nice video brother.
The C4 is an undervalued gem. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great sports car. EDIT TO ADD: The CFI is a very reliable fuel delivery system. Knocks on the 84 are unwarranted, and unfounded, usually made by people who have little or no experience repairing or maintaining cars. Every generation, of every car is supposed to make improvements year by year, the C4 is no different.
" Every generation, of every car is supposed to make improvements year by year, the C4 is no different." That sounds like "design flaws are justified by the existence of design flaws".
@@siler7 Confusing a design flaw, with the progress engineers make in automotive manufacturing, with every car produced, in every generation shows you may lack a basic understanding in automobile manufacturing. The Pinto gas tank blowing up, that was a design flaw. Improving engine performance, fuel delivery, horse power etc, that is called engineered progress, and should be expected. The C4 is the best bargain sports car on the market. It's given untold thousands of vette fans a chance to get in to the market, and enjoy these great cars.
Just bought an 80k mile 84 z51. CFI has been ported within an inch of its life, has about 10 degrees of timing. It's absolutely killer. Not fast....yet, but officially a good time. Really stoked on it. Can't wait to see how it handles with modern tires on 18 inch wheels and coilovers. It's good now but the zf1 springs are too stiff and the 16 inch wheels give it too much sidewall. Also gets 24+ mpg on the highway, shes a peach!
c4 is the best car to buy right now, sit on them 5-10 years you'll double your money if you keep up the maintenance. Not getting into investing in cars, because that's a pretty bad idea. But it's a great car to own while appreciating. Nothing feels better then having fun and driving a car that you're earning money on.
Thank you for a very informative video. My grandpa had an '84, an '85 and an '87 (the '85 was stolen :( ) so this brought back TONS of good memories. I want to get one of these in the future. I don't care about power--I just love the nostalgia!
Very good presentation, I love Corvettes, and Corvette C4 is very special, a beautiful American sportcar classic, investment grade definitely, it aged gracefully. It is a symbol and icon of a very great era in time, the 1980s, Reagan Era America. :-)
I had 2 of them. One black ( my baby I rebuilt myself with a friend ) and my white one ( got stolen ) I love them both, but OH MY BLACK ONE! Nothing like it! I couldn't SLEEP till I got my hands on one. I had a Camaro '72 before then, after driving C4, I couldn't deal with anything else. Then the DASH CLUSTER went down... and that was a situation apparently in the 90's NOBODY could fix, so after 3k in repairs... that was the end of my baby. The suspension on these things was a dream come true. Doing a buck 25 with one hand was no problem.... Sometimes I wonder if I should get another one. IF I knew where my car guy was to do another rebuild..... I'd do it again
This is perfect timing for me to watch this. I just bought a 1994 LT1 and I'm really excited about when I go to pick it up. At first I decided to go for it because it was one of the few enthusiast cars I could afford but now I'm even more thrilled I chose it.
I have an '85 that I call my "Silver Bullet!" It has a 4+3 manual transmission. I am the 3rd owner and my vette is beautiful and "very" fun to drive! It has been well taken care of and I am proud to own it! It's sound when idling is music to my ears and it's power is impressive! I don't drive it hard but just simply enjoy it! It is an extremely amazing car! If you can find one that has not been trashed out, you will have youself a fantastic car that you can be proud of too!
My uncle gave me an 89 for 1500$. I50k and decent shape. It got smashed not long after i got it and insurance totalled it and gave me 8700$ for it. I waited around for a deal and just stumbled on an old white lady with a clean 95 with a 6 speed and 130k in great shape and paid 9k for it.
I just got my hands on a 96’ Collector’s Edition w/ the LT4 and only 76k miles on the clock, I am utterly smitten with every aspect of the car. The C4 offers one of the best (if not the best) values in the car market right now, period. Drive one!
Well, I just woke. Flipped on my iPad - hit the TH-cam channel and saw a beautiful C4 just begging to be rode hard. Beautiful and largely unappreciatrd machines. I personally, really never had a desire to own a Corvette through most of my earlier years, but I always had a big motored hot rod. 2001 I got a chance to buy a 1986 with 77,354 miles. It "was" a two tone Silver Beige over metallic brown. Today I'm still driving it, and have a bottle of champagne in a box I'm carrying to celebrate 200,000 miles. This engines the original, never cracked open, same as the TH700 slush box. Just regular service and FULL fluids gaskets seals 0 rings flush and fills about every 4 years.My baby is better today than when I first got it 21 years ago. I'm subscribed. Looks like YOU'RE a newbie, so I'm along with you for the ride. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.
I bought a 1984 Corvette it had 56 thousand miles 4500.00👍 I know the 84 is a worth anywhere from 6000to9000.. but really what it comes down to is how much you want to pay for it. Meekum and Barrett-Jackson ruined it for everybody.😮😢
Nice video, I bought a 1990 ZR-1 in 2018, 74k miles and she runs and drives great. She had been sitting for several years and I had work to do. Got tags on her in May 2020 and have driven her over 6k miles so far. Well engineered machines, and a blast to drive. I plan on driving the wheels off this bad boy. I'm not the least concerned about putting miles on mine, I bought her to enjoy and believe me she is happy to be back in her element. If you like, you can see her and several progress vids on my channel under my name. Great work. 👍👍🏁🏁
Thanks!! Thats cool i always thought the 1990 is special since it has the original front with the rounded back end and newer interior. Nice ill check it out in a bit!
I just bought a 1987 Blue on blue and it is having a new targa blue tint top, new steering wheel and stick, new blue leather seats, new weatherstripping and all new LED lights in the dash and all around lighting. I am thinking of having a new LT1 Borla Cat back exhaust system installed to make it sound louder. The orignal exhaust is underwhelming to say the least. Absolutely in love with this car!
I bought my high school dream car. 1995 polo green C4 corvette. I’m happy to see all the positive comments. People used to dog them. I paid 10k with 37 k one owner
I was a teen when the C4 was launched. At that time it seemed to be nipping at the heels of Porsche and Ferrari - for a fraction of the price. Great styling and road presence.
It killed those other cars and was banned from racing in the Escort Endurance series because it always won . They had to make The Corvette Challenge so people could still keep racing the C4 Corvette ;-)
@@trip5003 Yes and the Escort Series that C4 dominated had both Porches and Ferrari and the C4's that ran in that three year series were the lower horsepower L98 versions.
In the late 90s, the Corvettes were out running Ferraris and Porsches, and Lamborghinis. That's why the ZR1 was called the King of the Hill. Some of the special edition Factory ordered Callaway cars without running F40 and F50 Ferraris. I could Link videos if you would like to see!
My dad owned an 89 Corvette and daily drove it for years. He did a few modifications to it to pump up the power and he put a shift kit in it (it was an auto) so it shifted really hard and fast. He sold it many years ago and I've always loved the C4 body. My uncle owned a 96 Grand Sport actually which I got to drive and that was an awesome car. It is a good time to buy one of these, I'm actually looking into it right now and there are some really nice, low mileage examples out there. You can pick up a decent condition one that's been driven for a very fair price and it could make a nice car that you can restore a bit.
Exactly I got mine for $6500 has about 85k miles. Which i wouldn't even consider high milage so was a really good deal I think. I basically just have it fixed up when I have to. Its been really reliable for 37 year old car
94 with 32k original miles paid $12.5 for it. Amazing car in excellent condition. Agree with everything you say. Keep the miles down if you want to collect it. Otherwise drive and enjoy it.
I prefer the later models for the reasons you’ve stated. But all the C4 models would make wonderful weekend cars. Good video and I hope you enjoy your Corvette for many many years.
I kind of want a 93 because I was born in 93. But the digital dash from the 84-89 is so damn cool that I think if I do ever buy a C4 it'll be one from those years.
89 Automatic convertible, black top, black leather, white body, 70k miles, 17" ZR1's, owned 22 years. Replaced the water pump and changed the fluids, trouble free. Been sideways going into 2nd at 55 mph more times than I can count.
Always enjoy these. I found a white on red 93 coupe (year I was born) with 46k on it for $8800 at the end of 2020. By far the most fun I've had in a car. To anyone on the fence, I highly recommend pulling the trigger!
I am on my second C4. I had an 86 and now I have a 95. The later years are so much more refined. The digital dashes were cool but I like the newer cockpit design much better. You get much more horsepower with the LT1 and you get the ASR system. The stock Bose stereo is excellent, just get a cassette adapter and Bluetooth dongle.
For the price the C4 can't beaten. I have owned a 94 convertible for 7_years now and this car puts a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel. Wrap yer ass in fiberglass!!!!!!
Own the last year of the ZR-1 , 1995 . It has doubled in value since it was purchased in 2016 .and never going to sell it because it drives so good and sounds even better with the LT5 , and tops out at over 200 mph . What more could you want in a car ;-)
I invest this year in a 90 C4 with the “classic” body , L98 motor and the best transmission - the ZF 6-Speed manual💪🏻also have the FX3 adjustable damping and Z51 package with the big brakes 330 mm from the ZR1…
Owned an 85, 89, 2000......The 85 was the first year for TPI. Gave $8500 for the 85 in 1992. It was a fun car but needed a lot of updates from being beat up by the Texas Sun. The 89 was a bit nicer and the 2000 I purchased new for $43,500 in September 1999. All Dallas area owned cars. I liked them.
In March of 1983 the first C4 that I saw was what I thought at first glance to be a 1982 Firebird. It was red and almost a maroon red and very nice to look at. The Window Sticker said $24,000.00 at the time a C@ Corvette was $8500.00 in Mint Condition !
I bought a 90 last year as a daily driver knowing what needed to be done to it, what I wanted to do to it and what my projected total cost would he invested into it. My reasoning for a vette was rust issues living on Maui. I love it as my daily, it is fun to drive and I get alot of people asking questions about it.
I just bought an 84 with 39k miles on it I couldn't pass it up was like 10 houses down the road from me. I paid 4 grand. but I am a professional body man and I could save a lot of money doing anything the car needs myself instead of buying it. Its silver right now I am going to paint it green and already bought everything for the interior from carpets to speakers and even an upgraded stereo with a touch screen navigation screen. When I sell the car, it will come with 2 sets of wheels the original and a newer slicker set.
@@1984C4Corvette_DIY_Garage yeah nobody wants the Crossfire motor lol but i don't care I am changing the cam shaft and boring out the intake with a bola exhaust and that's all I am doing will have has much horsepower as the 96
When I looked at getting another Corvette 5 years ago, I zeroed in on the C4 because I like the body style. It didn't take long to discover the problems with the early C4 years: Low HP, quality issues, fuel injection problems, ignition system problems, and that awful 2+2 transmission/overdrive kluge. I got an '89. All original, dark red color, 68k miles. First year they got the ignition system and the fuel injection perfected. And that awesome 6-speed manual ZF transmission. Got it for $7500. I've had lots of fun with it and there is no other way you are going to get that much car for $7500. An 8-yr old used Honda econobox goes for more than that here. Add Hagerty insurance and for what it costs to maintain this vehicle, it is a bargain. Won't win any races but I don't care; it has plenty of power to be fun and sounds healthy plus 25 mpg in overdrive at 70 MPH on the highway. Take it out whenever I feel like driving a toy with little impact to the wallet. And this one will never go down in value, which fits my first rule of classic/collectible car buying or restoration: NEVER get in upside down. The later C4s, imo, are the best overall combination of looks, performance, styling, and value you can get in a sports/performance veh.
I have an 84 and i love it. Only paid 7Gs for it. Put A 383 stoker in it and now its A real VETTE. Had to do the trans too. And 2.5 in. exhaust with hooker headers. My toy.
My 92 is so damn low. When j finally get down it it, feels like im in an 80’s video game. Really don’t want to get out. Seats are so comfortable. And the speed is peppy as hell. Being as “assertive” as I need to be in city traffic
Nice assessment. I’m a original owner of a 1990 red 6 speed Corvette coupe. Even though I have put 94K miles on it in last 32 years it still looks like a new car inside and out. I will never sell it. It will be handed down to my son one day. Who knows what the next 30 years will bring cars like these.
Original owner of an '84 Z51 optioned Coupe with a Doug Nash 4+3 transmission. This is the rarest of the C4's, possibly outside of the ZR1's. Less than 7k were made in '84. The suspension set factory records not just in America, but in Europe as well. It manage .9g on street tires. No other car made, yes... including Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini could not match that number. The drawback many thought was the lower horsepower L83 Crossfire engine. Simple porting of the intake and some minor mods pushed the output to around 240 hp. It has more torque than the L98 and LT1. It is more reliable than the L98 and the LT1 as well. Any engine with the OptiSpark always developed issues. With the advent of programmable computers you can easily build engines that put out over 300 hp and similar torque. I would not own a later model C4. The quality is not near as good, the only exception is the ZR1. Thanks for the video I love my '84 and I'm restoring and modifying it, by "GM" design, which were not implemented due to EPA BS. The potential of the '84 and it's general perceived value is the best one to purchase and fix up. It's also easier to maintain.
Nice video! I have an 85 and I love it the most from the earlier C4 because it didn't have the crossfire, and it didn't have the 3rd light on the body. And I absolutely love the dash and retro styling. I feel like many cars with that style are going to shoot up in value, Corvette being one of them at the top. I plan to get a late C4 as well, but for now dreaming of that.
We sold one exactly a year ago. What we noticed with these cars is the supply of low mileage examples is somewhat ample. Still, we made %27 net on a 132,000 mile red 1986 that was in good condition. The big turnoff is the L98 motor which is not a powerhouse. The 1992 and later C4 with the LT1 was better but I personally like the early C4 and have owned both the early and later C4.
You guys in the Midwest and Southern states really have it nice on prices... Northeastern states these things are expensive. My '95 C4 auto was $10k, for a mechanically and cosmetically sound car; one with bad interior and exterior, plus a misfire and some other mechanical issues was asking for $8k... -_- Mine still needed some work (and still needs some work), but we'll get there. Of course, once it's all sorted out I plan to start modding it (sticking with the LT1, but I hope to get mid 300 whp eventually while staying NA)...
Yours looks like a medium blue. I have an 85 project car in light blue metallic. Personally, I prefer the early C4 angular bodystyle. With the high torque L98, these cars are a blast to drive.
Good video mate! For anyone considering doing this, I would stay away from ‘84s unless you’re a pretty good mechanic. ‘86 was the first model with anti-lock brakes. ‘90 has allot of parts that are ‘90 only (can be a headache to find parts). Keep Corvetting and save the wave!
The c4 is actually the last of the driver's Corvette. The ONLY nannies/driver aids it got was ABS starting in '86 and the primitive traction control [ASR Acceleration Slip Regulation] starting in '92 with the LT-1. No stability control or other aids.
Yeah I like the c4 a lot!! A family friend took me for a ride in his ‘84! At 16 I thought it was sooo cool!! Well lo and behold 31 years later finally purchased one! It’s a’93 40th anniversary edition with only 23k on it!! It’s really nice! Pretty much a #2 show car!! After pricing others I think I got a pretty good deal on it at $15k!! It has some custom hand painted gold accents throughout!! I just love staring at it in my garage!!🤣🤣🤣 And I love driving it too!!🤣 PS gonna post some videos of it soon!!
I had a new 1987 Corvette that I enjoyed. I had very little trouble with it in the 17 years I owned it. I went to purchase a new Corvette but discovered they now have Forced Lighting. You do NOT control the lights in the car. The 20 year old programmer at GM does. I purchased a Mustang GT convertible instead, not as fast, but I can turn the lights off. One more thing, GET A HAIRCUT!
No mentioning of the ultra rarest, and not just C4’s but any modern day sports car. The Callaway Twin Turbos. Sanctioned by GM with the RPO code B2K. Produced from 87-91. These are basically modern day Yenkos. Imagine driving a car with over 500 ft. Lbs. torque in 1988? Last year of production was 91 with over 500 ft. Lbs of torque and over 400 Hp. My 91 sold for just over $121k in 91. Try applying todays inflation numbers to it. The super rarest were the six original Aerobody cars. A body design that helped the Callaway Sledgehammer break 254 mph, in 1989, when nothing else came remotely close. These are super gems if you can find one. I own two. One of them is the ultra super rare one of six 91 Aerobody convertible. That feeling of being sucked into the seat due to the monster torque, puts a smile on your face that’s hard to remove.
I bought a '94 in 2007 for $11k, 62k miles. I have sat on it for 17 years, they went down to $3,000. They are going for 13 - 15 grand now. It has 82k miles.
@@reecelogan8266 Yes, that white really pops. In the past , those anniversaries not only held their price but were selling for close or more than sticker at one point. Been into C4's most my life and always have one or two in my collection. I kept the my original first vette (2nd owner) . Early vettes don't take a lot to run a solid low low 13. Problem is , the early C4's they aren't very kind to them, to a point when it comes to dropping in an LS or LT (L98 was limited with its long runners though they made after market ones) Just came across your channel. Going to go through your other videos. I agree with what you said about the C4s in the video.
Just a couple of minor comments: 1) The transparent top option isn't "glass." It's definitely plastic. 2) I guess anybody can "invest" in anything they want. But, by and large, Corvettes are lousy investments. I mean, ok, they do better than most other cars, but, really, that just means you tend to lose less than you do on other cars. Cars are usually terrible investments. Anybody who makes money on cars as investments does so on pure luck alone. It usually takes more money to keep them in good shape, insured, repairs, etc., than you can ever get back when you sell them. I couldn't really articulate why, but, yeah, my 1989 C4 is my favorite. My other Corvettes are certainly superior in value, more collectable, better performing, etc. But, the C4 is so wonderfully campy and ugly, I just love it like crazy. I certainly put more miles on my 89 than my other Corvettes, mainly because I love it so much. It's amazingly comfortable, the seats are perfect. I don't really speed (I drive like an old man, probably because I'm an old man), so, the 1989 is perfect for me, because it's all low-end torque, and no high end. I have the Z52 package, which makes it very perfect for me. It's a pleasure to drive, like a big go-cart, but, not so crazy like the earlier C4 Z51s that would rattle my teeth out of their sockets. I really hope you hang on to your 85. It looks nice, and it'll be harder and harder to get a new one in the future. From the tone of your video, maybe you just bought it to sell it later? (I hope not, because you might find yourself missing it.) If you ever get a chance to pick up the transparent top, please be aware that they made a blue-tint top and a brown-tint top, and you'd really need the blue one on that car. Don't buy the wrong one by mistake. But, it will get a lot hotter inside with the transparent top if you live in a place with warm weather. I basically can't even use mine when it's 95 or above outside, because my phone overheats just from sitting on the leather, and, the pass-key system tends to freak out when it gets that hot (the steering column turns into an oven). So, in hot weather, you're better off with the body colored top. But, really, it's truly fantastic to have the transparent top also. If you get a chance to try it out, you might find yourself interested.
Totally agree and thanks for the advice 👍 The main reason I use the term "investing" was to fit a particular format. This video was originally as a project in my writting class at my University, so relating the topic to investing gave it a more appropriate direction. I think the word investing only makes sense in the right context. Like you said, generally cars are a huge liability, but a car like this i think isn't the biggest money pit. Buying a brand new car, which will depreciate, will cost you way more money than a c4 like mine. Not to mention how much worse leasing is, literally throwing money away. Even with the cost of repairs, daily driver or not, im still paying less than what the average person spends on a car. Plus, I shouldn't have an issue reselling the car for at least the same price that I paid, when the time comes. In which case the only money I lost were repairs. But yeah I definitely didn't buy it just to sell, I love my '85 its literally a dream car! The top I have is actually the clear one. The person I bought the car from didn't have the painted panel unfortunately. I live in Florida so it does get pretty hot lol, but honestly it isn't too big of an issue with the blue leather. My last car was a Firebird with black cloth seats, and that was hell. I think I naturally said "glass" because the vintage commercial i used said "glass" haha
Ah, you have the "glass" top already. I guess I didn't pay close enough attention, and your other clip of the top being removed was a body-colored top, so, I imagine my brain somehow remembered it wrongly, as if your blue one was magically the red one in the video, or some other human-memory malfunction like that. My bad. Nice to hear that you weren't buying it for the purpose of selling. As for new car depreciation, well, present state set aside, yeah, you'll definitely lose a lot more on a new car than an old car. Of course, in today's crazy car market, all of the normal rules don't apply. I bought a 2021 Tahoe for my wife, for example, and paid $80K for it (brand new), and was offered $89K from CarMax just a few months later, even though it was now used!! And, new Corvettes are like that. If you can find a dealer to sell at list price, you can buy a new one, and get $30K more to sell it used. It's an absolutely crazy world right now. But, that aside, yeah, you're not really losing a lot on a 1980s Corvette at this point. But, you might find that it needs more repairs than you anticipated. I can't remember the 1985 tuned port injectors, but, the 1989 injectors don't like modern gas very much, and you almost always have to swap them out for some aftermarket ones, or try to stay far away from today's ethanol hybrid gas blends (if that's even possible). And, yeah, there's always some little fidget that needs something. The fuel pumps are a bit notorious for dying out too soon, perhaps because they run at much higher pressure than the other cars of that time period. But, yeah, as far as having a 1980s car, well, sure, you can't do much better than the Corvette. I guess I'm just spoiled, because I tend to just have new cars. But, Corvettes are something else, and my newest one is about 17 years old (bought it new, my only one I bought new). I can't really see buying a new Corvette nowadays because the prices are insane, and, even though I guess I could technically afford it, I'd seriously rather have a bunch more old ones rather than one new one. These are just toys, after all, not really daily drivers (at least not for me). I have one Corvette that I bought about 32 years ago, for example, and all it does is sit there. I think I put around 4,000 miles on it in 3 decades. I bought my C4 around 8 years ago with around 20K original miles, and now I've got around 32K on it. I just love that thing. For me, 12K miles in 8 years is A LOT for a toy. Anyway, I'm rambling. I love your car and video. I really wanted an 89 for myself, so, that's what I got, and I searched for about 15 years for the perfect one to exactly my specifications. But, I definitely appreciate the 1985 a lot, wonderful wheels, a little bit more "pure" to the original intent of the C4, super nice. Keep that thing. Give it to your kids someday.
The 84' sucked, everyone knows that. 85'-89' were amazing cars, beautiful design, reasonable performance. 86'-91' are going to be the best bet if your looking for a daily. 92'-96' had very poor design regarding water pump placement and opti spark placement that requires extra attention and restrictions on what kind of car washes you can go to/driving when there is rain out. I own an 86' its my first car and I couldnt be happier with it. Although it needs a little bit of love, it is still an excellent car that starts up every time without fail.
the C4 looks waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than the C8, there I said it, looks sexier and still looks like a 'vette should the C8 looks more like some bastardized version of an Audi R8, euro-trash, it's way too radical and that stupid hood flying open problems they've had is a true embarrassment, I mean why not leave at least the 'frunk' open from the windshield like the C7 but no, no they went mid-engine, and way to radical with it was that really the 'holy grail' of 'vettdom or where we just told that, notice that the midengine cars are prone to overheat more, gee what a shock with it being jammed in the rear where the air can't rush over it.... I'd take the C4 over the C8 anyday
i just bought a 1985 C4. its going to be my first project car, and i bought it for only $2,900 USD. im only 15, and i have quite a while to get it in better condition before i get my lisence
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"it doesn't have an airbag, it has a bag of air"... lol... love it and love my C4.
The c4 will always be a step child in the Corvette world. Having said that, it is a good value.
Have any trouble with the digital dashboard?
Why do you think it will always be a stepchild?
I'm 16 and I want the C4 to be probably the car I buy after I've been driving for a while. I feel like it would be something some to just keep
I lusted for a LT4 in 1996, but had a mortgage and a baby son. He graduated college in 2017 and I retired. Found a nice lo mile example in Florida .Flew down to Ft. Myers and bought it. Drove 850 miles home to NC. She 's in the garage now. 26mpg sticks like glue and fairly quick for the year. A lot of bang for the buck and I can work on it myself.
Thats awesome, mines from Florida too. I guess thats definitely something to note about the later C4s is how much better they are on mpg. I average about 17 lol
@@reecelogan8266 Reece, my 86 with just 1k short of 200,000 miles consistently gets 25 to 27 on road trips. Around town and local runs it usually gets 17 to19 - and this is having fun with it. I've never been shy about " jumping on it" or running it all the way out in drive(3rd) from 0 to 135. That 4th gear will get you into the Buck-50 Club. Just remember, KNOW YOUR ROAD,, that includes traffic, time of day, or night, police patrols, and danger from large animals, such as deer elk antelope or farm animals. There's a time and a place for everything, and you will want to drive your car the way it was designed to be driven. Unfortunately we Don't have a European style Autobahns in the United States. Enjoy!
@@richardcoram1562 Makes sense, I guess I drive much more often on roads than the highway. It is more fun to have the top down and without excessive wind form highway speeds. Also in general ill avoid the highway knowing that my c4 doesn't have airbags.
@@reecelogan8266 Ok , I copy all that - you're the Captain of your Vette!🤗.
@@richardcoram1562 I had two 96 Lt4s, a black, and Grand Sport #901.
The C4 is the absolute most special feeling car you can get for the price.
Well said
In my personal opinion I believe it's the most underrated sports car in the world!
@@JDeubel I second that!
Please don't give anyone ideas. This is my favorite generation And I still have yet to buy one. Last thing I need is inflation...
LMAO my bad
you may be too late, theyre already going for well over 10k for decent coupes and nearly 30k for a low mike ZR1
@@williamw3559 dude I’ve been peeking the market the past month, the mini inflation started just 2 weeks ago. From 6-7k to 10-12k 🥲 i hope I have enough time to buy one, I’ll be ready to buy one next month
@@terpman6665 I’m looking at getting a ‘92 LT1 6 speed with the Z52 package or a ‘96 LT4 6 speed Z51, and both are well over $10k right now, though they both have around 50k miles
I bought one for 3k (1988 Z52 4+3 91k miles) 6 months ago and that was when the car prices went up. They’re below that now. Don’t worry man, you can still get one.
I just got my first corvette. Got her for $6000. 1989 C4 L98 automatic 245HP 340TQ. Red on red leather. Setting on 207680 miles and still gets 25+ MPG and runs great. Now that i have one. Nothing unless stupid money will get that car out of my hands. Nice video brother.
I just bought my 1987 2 weeks ago! Love every minute of driving and owning it
The C4 is an undervalued gem. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great sports car. EDIT TO ADD: The CFI is a very reliable fuel delivery system. Knocks on the 84 are unwarranted, and unfounded, usually made by people who have little or no experience repairing or maintaining cars. Every generation, of every car is supposed to make improvements year by year, the C4 is no different.
Gotcha good to know 👍
Spot on about the 84, i'd be quite happy to buy one if i saw one i wanted, i don't care how it is running, i can easily fix it.
" Every generation, of every car is supposed to make improvements year by year, the C4 is no different."
That sounds like "design flaws are justified by the existence of design flaws".
@@siler7 Confusing a design flaw, with the progress engineers make in automotive manufacturing, with every car produced, in every generation shows you may lack a basic understanding in automobile manufacturing. The Pinto gas tank blowing up, that was a design flaw. Improving engine performance, fuel delivery, horse power etc, that is called engineered progress, and should be expected. The C4 is the best bargain sports car on the market. It's given untold thousands of vette fans a chance to get in to the market, and enjoy these great cars.
Just bought an 80k mile 84 z51. CFI has been ported within an inch of its life, has about 10 degrees of timing. It's absolutely killer. Not fast....yet, but officially a good time. Really stoked on it. Can't wait to see how it handles with modern tires on 18 inch wheels and coilovers. It's good now but the zf1 springs are too stiff and the 16 inch wheels give it too much sidewall. Also gets 24+ mpg on the highway, shes a peach!
c4 is the best car to buy right now, sit on them 5-10 years you'll double your money if you keep up the maintenance. Not getting into investing in cars, because that's a pretty bad idea. But it's a great car to own while appreciating. Nothing feels better then having fun and driving a car that you're earning money on.
Just scored an 88 Corvette black with no wear on the under body or paint job. 9,702 miles on it. To say I hoped on that deal is an understatement 😊
I had a 82 Z28 when the C4 was introduced. I’ve loved this car from the day it was launched. Now at 57 I’m looking to acquire a 93-95ZR1
Thank you for a very informative video. My grandpa had an '84, an '85 and an '87 (the '85 was stolen :( ) so this brought back TONS of good memories. I want to get one of these in the future. I don't care about power--I just love the nostalgia!
Very good presentation, I love Corvettes, and Corvette C4 is very special, a beautiful American sportcar classic, investment grade definitely, it aged gracefully.
It is a symbol and icon of a very great era in time, the 1980s, Reagan Era America. :-)
I had 2 of them. One black ( my baby I rebuilt myself with a friend ) and my white one ( got stolen ) I love them both, but OH MY BLACK ONE! Nothing like it! I couldn't SLEEP till I got my hands on one. I had a Camaro '72 before then, after driving C4, I couldn't deal with anything else. Then the DASH CLUSTER went down... and that was a situation apparently in the 90's NOBODY could fix, so after 3k in repairs... that was the end of my baby. The suspension on these things was a dream come true. Doing a buck 25 with one hand was no problem.... Sometimes I wonder if I should get another one. IF I knew where my car guy was to do another rebuild..... I'd do it again
This is perfect timing for me to watch this. I just bought a 1994 LT1 and I'm really excited about when I go to pick it up. At first I decided to go for it because it was one of the few enthusiast cars I could afford but now I'm even more thrilled I chose it.
I have an '85 that I call my "Silver Bullet!" It has a 4+3 manual transmission. I am the 3rd owner and my vette is beautiful and "very" fun to drive! It has been well taken care of and I am proud to own it! It's sound when idling is music to my ears and it's power is impressive! I don't drive it hard but just simply enjoy it! It is an extremely amazing car! If you can find one that has not been trashed out, you will have youself a fantastic car that you can be proud of too!
Well said
My uncle gave me an 89 for 1500$. I50k and decent shape. It got smashed not long after i got it and insurance totalled it and gave me 8700$ for it.
I waited around for a deal and just stumbled on an old white lady with a clean 95 with a 6 speed and 130k in great shape and paid 9k for it.
My aunt would let me drive her c4 corvette to high school a few times a year. Man…. Those cars were fun!!!
I have a 1987 C4 Vette & I love it!!!It was my mom’s car when my parents bought it brand new at Bass Chevrolet in Longview, TX 😎💯🔥
Damn thats cool, so you remember when it was brand new?
I just got my hands on a 96’ Collector’s Edition w/ the LT4 and only 76k miles on the clock, I am utterly smitten with every aspect of the car. The C4 offers one of the best (if not the best) values in the car market right now, period. Drive one!
Well, I just woke. Flipped on my iPad - hit the TH-cam channel and saw a beautiful C4 just begging to be rode hard.
Beautiful and largely unappreciatrd machines. I personally, really never had a desire to own a Corvette through most of my earlier years, but I always had a big motored hot rod.
2001 I got a chance to buy a 1986 with 77,354 miles. It "was" a two tone Silver Beige over metallic brown. Today I'm still driving it, and have a bottle of champagne in a box I'm carrying to celebrate 200,000 miles. This engines the original, never cracked open, same as the TH700 slush box. Just regular service and FULL fluids gaskets seals 0 rings flush and fills about every 4 years.My baby is better today than when I first got it 21 years ago.
I'm subscribed. Looks like YOU'RE a newbie, so I'm along with you for the ride. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.
Thanks so much glad you liked the video. Yea I've only had this car for about 4 months now. Had a 2000 Firebird before it as my first car.
Beautiful car no one knows how awesome this car is till you get one. I own 1992 all original 80k miles
I bought a 1984 Corvette it had 56 thousand miles 4500.00👍 I know the 84 is a worth anywhere from 6000to9000.. but really what it comes down to is how much you want to pay for it. Meekum and Barrett-Jackson ruined it for everybody.😮😢
Nice video, I bought a 1990 ZR-1 in 2018, 74k miles and she runs and drives great. She had been sitting for several years and I had work to do. Got tags on her in May 2020 and have driven her over 6k miles so far. Well engineered machines, and a blast to drive. I plan on driving the wheels off this bad boy. I'm not the least concerned about putting miles on mine, I bought her to enjoy and believe me she is happy to be back in her element.
If you like, you can see her and several progress vids on my channel under my name. Great work. 👍👍🏁🏁
Thanks!! Thats cool i always thought the 1990 is special since it has the original front with the rounded back end and newer interior. Nice ill check it out in a bit!
Great video, I was a kid when this generation came out and blown away! It was so futuristic and modern. Love at first sight.
I just bought a 1987 Blue on blue and it is having a new targa blue tint top, new steering wheel and stick, new blue leather seats, new weatherstripping and all new LED lights in the dash and all around lighting. I am thinking of having a new LT1 Borla Cat back exhaust system installed to make it sound louder. The orignal exhaust is underwhelming to say the least. Absolutely in love with this car!
I bought my high school dream car. 1995 polo green C4 corvette. I’m happy to see all the positive comments. People used to dog them. I paid 10k with 37 k one owner
I was a teen when the C4 was launched. At that time it seemed to be nipping at the heels of Porsche and Ferrari - for a fraction of the price. Great styling and road presence.
It killed those other cars and was banned from racing in the Escort Endurance series because it always won . They had to make The Corvette Challenge so people could still keep racing the C4 Corvette ;-)
@@trip5003 Yes and the Escort Series that C4 dominated had both Porches and Ferrari and the C4's that ran in that three year series were the lower horsepower L98 versions.
In the late 90s, the Corvettes were out running Ferraris and Porsches, and Lamborghinis. That's why the ZR1 was called the King of the Hill. Some of the special edition Factory ordered Callaway cars without running F40 and F50 Ferraris. I could Link videos if you would like to see!
@@JDeubel You the owner of the highly modified green 383?
@@JDeubel Yes! I recall seeing those articles. Amazing cars
I owe A 1987 c4.. I did some Videos on mine. Corvettes of this era are special sports Cars.
My dad owned an 89 Corvette and daily drove it for years. He did a few modifications to it to pump up the power and he put a shift kit in it (it was an auto) so it shifted really hard and fast. He sold it many years ago and I've always loved the C4 body. My uncle owned a 96 Grand Sport actually which I got to drive and that was an awesome car. It is a good time to buy one of these, I'm actually looking into it right now and there are some really nice, low mileage examples out there. You can pick up a decent condition one that's been driven for a very fair price and it could make a nice car that you can restore a bit.
Exactly I got mine for $6500 has about 85k miles. Which i wouldn't even consider high milage so was a really good deal I think. I basically just have it fixed up when I have to. Its been really reliable for 37 year old car
if you had to choose a year which one would you pick. An 89 or 96 ?
I’ve owned an 87 and a 94 and they’re both the best car I’ve ever driven. The 94 is still my daily and is so easy to work on
94 with 32k original miles paid $12.5 for it. Amazing car in excellent condition. Agree with everything you say. Keep the miles down if you want to collect it. Otherwise drive and enjoy it.
I prefer the later models for the reasons you’ve stated. But all the C4 models would make wonderful weekend cars. Good video and I hope you enjoy your Corvette for many many years.
Completely underrated I fully built mine and the results are phenomenal what it does to other New Generation sports cars
just got my 93 c4 40th anniversary metallic rose yesterday, 100% worth it.
I kind of want a 93 because I was born in 93. But the digital dash from the 84-89 is so damn cool that I think if I do ever buy a C4 it'll be one from those years.
89 Automatic convertible, black top, black leather, white body, 70k miles, 17" ZR1's, owned 22 years. Replaced the water pump and changed the fluids, trouble free. Been sideways going into 2nd at 55 mph more times than I can count.
Always enjoy these. I found a white on red 93 coupe (year I was born) with 46k on it for $8800 at the end of 2020. By far the most fun I've had in a car. To anyone on the fence, I highly recommend pulling the trigger!
I love the C4 I’m looking for a 1989 with a stick
I am on my second C4. I had an 86 and now I have a 95. The later years are so much more refined. The digital dashes were cool but I like the newer cockpit design much better. You get much more horsepower with the LT1 and you get the ASR system. The stock Bose stereo is excellent, just get a cassette adapter and Bluetooth dongle.
For the price the C4 can't beaten. I have owned a 94 convertible for 7_years now and this car puts a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel. Wrap yer ass in fiberglass!!!!!!
Own the last year of the ZR-1 , 1995 . It has doubled in value since it was purchased in 2016 .and never going to sell it because it drives so good and sounds even better with the LT5 , and tops out at over 200 mph . What more could you want in a car ;-)
I invest this year in a 90 C4 with the “classic” body , L98 motor and the best transmission - the ZF 6-Speed manual💪🏻also have the FX3 adjustable damping and Z51 package with the big brakes 330 mm from the ZR1…
Me too! I recently bought an 89 Z51 ZF6 FX3 👌😎
The good ol L98. Same motor that's in my 89 Firebird Formula . Nothing looks better than the L98. And it's got good torque too.
Owned an 85, 89, 2000......The 85 was the first year for TPI. Gave $8500 for the 85 in 1992. It was a fun car but needed a lot of updates from being beat up by the Texas Sun. The 89 was a bit nicer and the 2000 I purchased new for $43,500 in September 1999. All Dallas area owned cars. I liked them.
In March of 1983 the first C4 that I saw was what I thought at first glance to be a 1982 Firebird. It was red and almost a maroon red and very nice to look at. The Window Sticker said $24,000.00 at the time a C@ Corvette was $8500.00 in Mint Condition !
Meant to say C2 Corvette in mint condition.
When I get in this car it takes me back to the 90’s ❤️
The corvette is the one sports car I loved every gen of, im more of a mustang guy, I have a 2001 mustang bullitt but I would love to have a c4 as well
I bought a 90 last year as a daily driver knowing what needed to be done to it, what I wanted to do to it and what my projected total cost would he invested into it.
My reasoning for a vette was rust issues living on Maui.
I love it as my daily, it is fun to drive and I get alot of people asking questions about it.
I just bought an 84 with 39k miles on it I couldn't pass it up was like 10 houses down the road from me. I paid 4 grand. but I am a professional body man and I could save a lot of money doing anything the car needs myself instead of buying it. Its silver right now I am going to paint it green and already bought everything for the interior from carpets to speakers and even an upgraded stereo with a touch screen navigation screen. When I sell the car, it will come with 2 sets of wheels the original and a newer slicker set.
84 is the best C4 bargain out there.
@@1984C4Corvette_DIY_Garage yeah nobody wants the Crossfire motor lol but i don't care I am changing the cam shaft and boring out the intake with a bola exhaust and that's all I am doing will have has much horsepower as the 96
When I looked at getting another Corvette 5 years ago, I zeroed in on the C4 because I like the body style. It didn't take long to discover the problems with the early C4 years: Low HP, quality issues, fuel injection problems, ignition system problems, and that awful 2+2 transmission/overdrive kluge. I got an '89. All original, dark red color, 68k miles. First year they got the ignition system and the fuel injection perfected. And that awesome 6-speed manual ZF transmission. Got it for $7500. I've had lots of fun with it and there is no other way you are going to get that much car for $7500. An 8-yr old used Honda econobox goes for more than that here. Add Hagerty insurance and for what it costs to maintain this vehicle, it is a bargain. Won't win any races but I don't care; it has plenty of power to be fun and sounds healthy plus 25 mpg in overdrive at 70 MPH on the highway. Take it out whenever I feel like driving a toy with little impact to the wallet. And this one will never go down in value, which fits my first rule of classic/collectible car buying or restoration: NEVER get in upside down. The later C4s, imo, are the best overall combination of looks, performance, styling, and value you can get in a sports/performance veh.
C3 Corvettes are the ones to invest in they have the looks
This is such a well balanced design.
I have an 84 and i love it. Only paid 7Gs for it. Put A 383 stoker in it and now its A real VETTE. Had to do the trans too. And 2.5 in. exhaust with hooker headers. My toy.
Nice I paid just about that much as well
Same paid 2k for mine
My 92 is so damn low. When j finally get down it it, feels like im in an 80’s video game. Really don’t want to get out. Seats are so comfortable. And the speed is peppy as hell. Being as “assertive” as I need to be in city traffic
Nice assessment. I’m a original owner of a 1990 red 6 speed Corvette coupe. Even though I have put 94K miles on it in last 32 years it still looks like a new car inside and out. I will never sell it. It will be handed down to my son one day. Who knows what the next 30 years will bring cars like these.
Nicee, thats the spirit
Original owner of an '84 Z51 optioned Coupe with a Doug Nash 4+3 transmission. This is the rarest of the C4's, possibly outside of the ZR1's. Less than 7k were made in '84. The suspension set factory records not just in America, but in Europe as well. It manage .9g on street tires. No other car made, yes... including Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini could not match that number. The drawback many thought was the lower horsepower L83 Crossfire engine. Simple porting of the intake and some minor mods pushed the output to around 240 hp. It has more torque than the L98 and LT1. It is more reliable than the L98 and the LT1 as well. Any engine with the OptiSpark always developed issues. With the advent of programmable computers you can easily build engines that put out over 300 hp and similar torque. I would not own a later model C4. The quality is not near as good, the only exception is the ZR1. Thanks for the video I love my '84 and I'm restoring and modifying it, by "GM" design, which were not implemented due to EPA BS. The potential of the '84 and it's general perceived value is the best one to purchase and fix up. It's also easier to maintain.
awesome, I still got my 89 look at the icon picture
Yep You did a great job on this video narration and editing. I agree so much that I have 2 of them and a whole playlist of Corvette repair videos.
Nice video! I have an 85 and I love it the most from the earlier C4 because it didn't have the crossfire, and it didn't have the 3rd light on the body. And I absolutely love the dash and retro styling. I feel like many cars with that style are going to shoot up in value, Corvette being one of them at the top. I plan to get a late C4 as well, but for now dreaming of that.
just snagged a 94 in showroom condition for 6k it's a car that keeps giving I love my fighter jet lol
I've been wanting to buy one for the past 2 years, the plan is to hopefully buy one January 2023
We sold one exactly a year ago. What we noticed with these cars is the supply of low mileage examples is somewhat ample. Still, we made %27 net on a 132,000 mile red 1986 that was in good condition. The big turnoff is the L98 motor which is not a powerhouse. The 1992 and later C4 with the LT1 was better but I personally like the early C4 and have owned both the early and later C4.
Great Video. I have a 1996 C4. It gets a lot of looks and is a blast to drive !!
I have a 1995 C4 with 50K miles original. I love that car! Bought it for $9,500.00
You guys in the Midwest and Southern states really have it nice on prices... Northeastern states these things are expensive.
My '95 C4 auto was $10k, for a mechanically and cosmetically sound car; one with bad interior and exterior, plus a misfire and some other mechanical issues was asking for $8k... -_-
Mine still needed some work (and still needs some work), but we'll get there. Of course, once it's all sorted out I plan to start modding it (sticking with the LT1, but I hope to get mid 300 whp eventually while staying NA)...
Hmm interesting... maybe not the best deal but 10k seems normal i think if it runs good
So true. Here in New England base model 1994-1996s with 50k-75k miles in great shape run around $15k-$18k.
Great video! 😀
I really, really love the C4. 😍
Would be fine to have a C4 from '85 with a LT5 engine built in. 😎
Yours looks like a medium blue. I have an 85 project car in light blue metallic. Personally, I prefer the early C4 angular bodystyle. With the high torque L98, these cars are a blast to drive.
Looking to purchase one in about 2 months. Love the overall look and style of this vehicle
i love my 93 more and more each day
Thx! Am looking at an 85 right now, maybe it's time ...
Good video mate! For anyone considering doing this, I would stay away from ‘84s unless you’re a pretty good mechanic. ‘86 was the first model with anti-lock brakes. ‘90 has allot of parts that are ‘90 only (can be a headache to find parts). Keep Corvetting and save the wave!
Thanks! The '90 is an interesting one...
What about 88?
The c4 is actually the last of the driver's Corvette.
The ONLY nannies/driver aids it got was ABS starting in '86 and the primitive traction control [ASR Acceleration Slip Regulation] starting in '92 with the LT-1.
No stability control or other aids.
Thanks for running up the prices. Appreciate it.
You are right. I have a mint condition 94 with 61k for $5k 4 years ago. Cool car for that price
C4s are a great investment. The L98s and LT1s were great engines. Just stay away from the slug 84 cease fire injection models.
Got the 93 torch red in love.
Out of my price range, but I've wanted one for over a decade.
Yeah I like the c4 a lot!! A family friend took me for a ride in his ‘84! At 16 I thought it was sooo cool!! Well lo and behold 31 years later finally purchased one! It’s a’93 40th anniversary edition with only 23k on it!! It’s really nice! Pretty much a #2 show car!! After pricing others I think I got a pretty good deal on it at $15k!!
It has some custom hand painted gold accents throughout!! I just love staring at it in my garage!!🤣🤣🤣
And I love driving it too!!🤣
PS gonna post some videos of it soon!!
Couple weeks ago I just bought my 96 LT4 (Collector Edition), not that I had any before, but I definitely have no buyers remorse after watching this!
Nice thats the spirit 😎 if you have pictures of it I'd love to see text my Instagram @Blue85Vette
I had a new 1987 Corvette that I enjoyed. I had very little trouble with it in the 17 years I owned it. I went to purchase a new Corvette but discovered they now have Forced Lighting. You do NOT control the lights in the car. The 20 year old programmer at GM does. I purchased a Mustang GT convertible instead, not as fast, but I can turn the lights off.
One more thing, GET A HAIRCUT!
Lmao cool but no! It was windy that day do my hair looked messy but its always gotta be long I play guitar duh
“FEEL THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WROLDS FIRST COMPUTER ACTIVATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION “ when u take your foot off the throttle more or less 😂
C3 is still my absolute favorite for the gothic vibe when it’s in black, but, this shit is fresh
I'm not the biggest fan of C3s but my favorite ones I'd say are the ones from 80-82 cause they have more of that boxy look like the c4.
I had a red 1995 c4 and man was it awesome.
No mentioning of the ultra rarest, and not just C4’s but any modern day sports car. The Callaway Twin Turbos. Sanctioned by GM with the RPO code B2K. Produced from 87-91. These are basically modern day Yenkos. Imagine driving a car with over 500 ft. Lbs. torque in 1988?
Last year of production was 91 with over 500 ft. Lbs of torque and over 400 Hp. My 91 sold for just over $121k in 91. Try applying todays inflation numbers to it. The super rarest were the six original Aerobody cars. A body design that helped the Callaway Sledgehammer break 254 mph, in 1989, when nothing else came remotely close. These are super gems if you can find one.
I own two. One of them is the ultra super rare one of six 91 Aerobody convertible. That feeling of being sucked into the seat due to the monster torque, puts a smile on your face that’s hard to remove.
Great video fellow Rad Wood enthusiast! I own a '90 ZR-1 and an '84 Trans Am. Your '85 is sweet!
Thanks! That's a sick pair of cars
Good video! I own an ‘85 and I absolutely love it!
Thanks!
I bought a '94 in 2007 for $11k, 62k miles. I have sat on it for 17 years, they went down to $3,000. They are going for 13 - 15 grand now. It has 82k miles.
Got myself a 1988 Corvette Z52 (wanted a Z51 but I settled with a Z52 because it was 3k and only had 91k miles) oh and it’s a 4+3 manual
Man, C4s are so rad
The anniversary 88 is going to go up over time for sure. Also, color combos that are rare as well.
I go crazy for that white leather
@@reecelogan8266 Yes, that white really pops. In the past , those anniversaries not only held their price but were selling for close or more than sticker at one point. Been into C4's most my life and always have one or two in my collection. I kept the my original first vette (2nd owner) . Early vettes don't take a lot to run a solid low low 13. Problem is , the early C4's they aren't very kind to them, to a point when it comes to dropping in an LS or LT (L98 was limited with its long runners though they made after market ones) Just came across your channel. Going to go through your other videos. I agree with what you said about the C4s in the video.
Arctic white exterior and red interior convertible is my favorite C4
I think is one of the most beautiful!
Just a couple of minor comments:
1) The transparent top option isn't "glass." It's definitely plastic.
2) I guess anybody can "invest" in anything they want. But, by and large, Corvettes are lousy investments. I mean, ok, they do better than most other cars, but, really, that just means you tend to lose less than you do on other cars. Cars are usually terrible investments. Anybody who makes money on cars as investments does so on pure luck alone. It usually takes more money to keep them in good shape, insured, repairs, etc., than you can ever get back when you sell them.
I couldn't really articulate why, but, yeah, my 1989 C4 is my favorite. My other Corvettes are certainly superior in value, more collectable, better performing, etc. But, the C4 is so wonderfully campy and ugly, I just love it like crazy. I certainly put more miles on my 89 than my other Corvettes, mainly because I love it so much. It's amazingly comfortable, the seats are perfect. I don't really speed (I drive like an old man, probably because I'm an old man), so, the 1989 is perfect for me, because it's all low-end torque, and no high end. I have the Z52 package, which makes it very perfect for me. It's a pleasure to drive, like a big go-cart, but, not so crazy like the earlier C4 Z51s that would rattle my teeth out of their sockets. I really hope you hang on to your 85. It looks nice, and it'll be harder and harder to get a new one in the future. From the tone of your video, maybe you just bought it to sell it later? (I hope not, because you might find yourself missing it.) If you ever get a chance to pick up the transparent top, please be aware that they made a blue-tint top and a brown-tint top, and you'd really need the blue one on that car. Don't buy the wrong one by mistake. But, it will get a lot hotter inside with the transparent top if you live in a place with warm weather. I basically can't even use mine when it's 95 or above outside, because my phone overheats just from sitting on the leather, and, the pass-key system tends to freak out when it gets that hot (the steering column turns into an oven). So, in hot weather, you're better off with the body colored top. But, really, it's truly fantastic to have the transparent top also. If you get a chance to try it out, you might find yourself interested.
Totally agree and thanks for the advice 👍
The main reason I use the term "investing" was to fit a particular format. This video was originally as a project in my writting class at my University, so relating the topic to investing gave it a more appropriate direction.
I think the word investing only makes sense in the right context. Like you said, generally cars are a huge liability, but a car like this i think isn't the biggest money pit. Buying a brand new car, which will depreciate, will cost you way more money than a c4 like mine. Not to mention how much worse leasing is, literally throwing money away.
Even with the cost of repairs, daily driver or not, im still paying less than what the average person spends on a car.
Plus, I shouldn't have an issue reselling the car for at least the same price that I paid, when the time comes. In which case the only money I lost were repairs.
But yeah I definitely didn't buy it just to sell, I love my '85 its literally a dream car!
The top I have is actually the clear one. The person I bought the car from didn't have the painted panel unfortunately. I live in Florida so it does get pretty hot lol, but honestly it isn't too big of an issue with the blue leather. My last car was a Firebird with black cloth seats, and that was hell.
I think I naturally said "glass" because the vintage commercial i used said "glass" haha
Ah, you have the "glass" top already. I guess I didn't pay close enough attention, and your other clip of the top being removed was a body-colored top, so, I imagine my brain somehow remembered it wrongly, as if your blue one was magically the red one in the video, or some other human-memory malfunction like that. My bad.
Nice to hear that you weren't buying it for the purpose of selling.
As for new car depreciation, well, present state set aside, yeah, you'll definitely lose a lot more on a new car than an old car. Of course, in today's crazy car market, all of the normal rules don't apply. I bought a 2021 Tahoe for my wife, for example, and paid $80K for it (brand new), and was offered $89K from CarMax just a few months later, even though it was now used!! And, new Corvettes are like that. If you can find a dealer to sell at list price, you can buy a new one, and get $30K more to sell it used. It's an absolutely crazy world right now. But, that aside, yeah, you're not really losing a lot on a 1980s Corvette at this point. But, you might find that it needs more repairs than you anticipated.
I can't remember the 1985 tuned port injectors, but, the 1989 injectors don't like modern gas very much, and you almost always have to swap them out for some aftermarket ones, or try to stay far away from today's ethanol hybrid gas blends (if that's even possible). And, yeah, there's always some little fidget that needs something. The fuel pumps are a bit notorious for dying out too soon, perhaps because they run at much higher pressure than the other cars of that time period. But, yeah, as far as having a 1980s car, well, sure, you can't do much better than the Corvette.
I guess I'm just spoiled, because I tend to just have new cars. But, Corvettes are something else, and my newest one is about 17 years old (bought it new, my only one I bought new). I can't really see buying a new Corvette nowadays because the prices are insane, and, even though I guess I could technically afford it, I'd seriously rather have a bunch more old ones rather than one new one. These are just toys, after all, not really daily drivers (at least not for me). I have one Corvette that I bought about 32 years ago, for example, and all it does is sit there. I think I put around 4,000 miles on it in 3 decades. I bought my C4 around 8 years ago with around 20K original miles, and now I've got around 32K on it. I just love that thing. For me, 12K miles in 8 years is A LOT for a toy.
Anyway, I'm rambling. I love your car and video. I really wanted an 89 for myself, so, that's what I got, and I searched for about 15 years for the perfect one to exactly my specifications. But, I definitely appreciate the 1985 a lot, wonderful wheels, a little bit more "pure" to the original intent of the C4, super nice. Keep that thing. Give it to your kids someday.
great vid. thanks for posting.
Thanks!!
The 84' sucked, everyone knows that. 85'-89' were amazing cars, beautiful design, reasonable performance. 86'-91' are going to be the best bet if your looking for a daily. 92'-96' had very poor design regarding water pump placement and opti spark placement that requires extra attention and restrictions on what kind of car washes you can go to/driving when there is rain out. I own an 86' its my first car and I couldnt be happier with it. Although it needs a little bit of love, it is still an excellent car that starts up every time without fail.
I still have my 1992 Corvette brochure
the C4 looks waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than the C8, there I said it,
looks sexier and still looks like a 'vette should the C8 looks more like some bastardized version of an Audi R8, euro-trash, it's way too radical and that stupid hood flying open problems they've had is a true embarrassment, I mean why not leave at least the 'frunk' open from the windshield like the C7 but no, no they went mid-engine, and way to radical with it was that really the 'holy grail' of 'vettdom or where we just told that, notice that the midengine cars are prone to overheat more, gee what a shock with it being jammed in the rear where the air can't rush over it....
I'd take the C4 over the C8 anyday
good video - I had a 96 Grand Sport - that camshell hood is a show stopper - should have kept that car - oh well
Nice I remember seeing one on the road once, I heard there were only about 1000 of them made?
i just bought a 1985 C4. its going to be my first project car, and i bought it for only $2,900 USD. im only 15, and i have quite a while to get it in better condition before i get my lisence
God damn that is a remarkably cool plan there ngl
Reasonable insurance might be hard to find for a young driver.
This vehicles are absolute classics in about 50 years
Great video, thanks for sharing !
Of course thank you!!