nailed this. Love my C4 ZR1 but it is what it is. they are supposed to get better over Gen’s just like us! haa! great vid, top notch edits and entertaining. glad I sub’ed
I've had 2 C4s. The LT4 is a much different car than a crossfire. It's a very capable and fun car to drive. I think they deserv respect because of one main reason. They were the rebirth after the anemic years of the C3. The C4 is the first Gen of the modern corvette platform. For that, it deserves respect.
That's the c4 I'd buy. The C4 is a good car. The prices are so low that it would make a fun car to play around with. I don't know about 800 HP but everyone has their own project.
There will never be anything like the C4, it’s like an amusement park ride that you would pay money to ride in. It’s very much the most cockpit like interior there is IMO. It’s the American Ferrari. I bought an 89 convertible for $3k and a 91 coupe for $1000. Both cars needed a fuel pump and a little tinkering and are bad ass drivers/touring cars. So much fun for very little money.
Thanks for the vid! I watched you before I even got a Vette and was actually looking at a C5 before i realized i couldn't afford one, so I got attached to the C4 instead and LOVE it. I still want a C5
96's are not obd1, they're obd2. If you plan to modify a lot, you can convert to torqhead which runs on ls3 computer and you still have abs, traction control, and functioning stock instrument panel. Love my 96 lt4 and 92 zr-1
1:30. Agree with everything you said. You missed the 96 tidbit in the upper left hand corner. They are OBD2, but try to find a tuner software package that will work is really hard to do.
I like the c4 era of Vette. It's a classic design that still looks good today. I know there's chassis braces for the roof mount locations so get that when you purchase your c4. Plus the LT series of engines are phenomenal for making power. Especially if you like the iron blocks. Good luck and I am excited to see what you do with the car.
@@Toys4Life TorqHead and EFI Connection are the two main players. TH for thoroughness of the kit, EFI-C probably if you’re on a budget. Ellwein Racing Engines has quite a few videos showing what some of these setups look like, including my DRM450 with EFI Connect.
@@varmastiko2908 I don’t have any particular issues with my EFI connection. I guess the only downside is the electronic display for my gauges doesn’t give me oil or coolant temp, nor the fuel economy. But my Vette isn’t really built for fuel economy anymore, so…
My 89 Corvette is 35 years old and a 1954 Chevy is 35 years older than my 89. I’d never try to compare the two & likewise it’s foolish to try to compare newer vettes. Every generation should be an improvement over the prior, if not then that will be the end of the Corvette. “People love to hate” is what it really boils down to & so by hating on a C4 they think it makes them & their corvette better. If it wasn’t for the highly successful C4 there wouldn’t be generations to follow. I’ve had my 89 Corvette for 23 years & still love autocrossing it. Chassis flex… ever seen a Miata run autocross?
While I agree with most of what you're saying, if somebody was looking to buy their first Corvette right now, how would they know which one to buy if they didn't compare the c4 to the C5? Maybe the differences are marginal, maybe they're significant? It kind of depends on what the individual is looking for in the car and in my opinion a comparison is necessary at times. I certainly wouldn't say it's foolish. It might be foolish not to compare before you put down your hard-earned cash perhaps.
@@Toys4Life Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying comparing a C4 to C5 is foolish, it’s a natural thing one would do when looking at a C4 vs C5. I’m trying to point out that each Corvette generation is unique & builds on the prior generation/years thus when individuals beat down an older generation, I think they are missing what that generation accomplished during their prime. When one thinks of the C4 one should really think of why The Corvette Challenge Series was created. It was because the pre-88 Corvettes were crushing Porsche, Lotus, etc in SCCA road racing & the manufacturers were threatening to pull out of racing because they couldn’t compete with the corvette. So the SCCA banned them & they were forced to compete only against themselves. This has never happened since & showed just how dominant the early C4 Corvettes were during their prime compared to anything else made at that time!
I love my C4. Found a 30k mile mint 40th 6-speed from the original owner. Have to say it pulls nice for the LT1 considering all 6-speeds got the ZR1 transmission and rear end. I find the interior and driving experience more unique than the C5 and the styling of the car to be better even though people were beat to death by seeing 350k of them like you said. The C5 is cool but always seemed a little stylistically cheesy from some angles. I’ve also not found a single person off of the internet that had an Optispark issue and I own two LT1s, and know several people that owned LT1 cars from new. If you have a mint, garaged car with low miles you may not have to worry about it for some time… I was told they should be serviced with the water pump every 80k miles and then you won’t get stuck. It is what it is. The bang for the buck of a late 6-speed C4 is makes it a winner to me. You can get a concourse car for 50% less than a C5 but I’d say a C5 is only 12-15% more car. If you want to mod a car and have high horsepower you definitely want an LS but if you remember when the C4 was new and it was kicked out of SCCA racing for being too good and kicking Porsche butt, why wouldn’t you buy a car that out performed its six figure peers. Stop comparing it to later Gen Vettes. It’s the wrong comparison. And with classic cars IROC Zs with tons of flex and 200hp sell for more than C5s There’s a lot more to buying old cars than comparing performance numbers from decades apart. And a stock 6-speed LT1 ran numbers like old big block cars. The LT1 Camaro SS was the fastest Camaro ever at the time. First to break 100mph trap speed from the factory since 1967. LT1s weren’t so bad…
I agree with everything you're saying, I'm just trying to find the highest amount of performance for the dollar. Don't have to be some assumptions made so people will disagree with me and that's cool, there can be more than one right answer to this equation in my opinion!
@@Toys4Life yes there’s different types of car people. There’s people that customize and race, there’s collectors that like pristine concourse cars that never get driven, people that like fixing up and driving barn finds, etc… Some people get a kick out of driving a quirky old car in remarkable condition and some people think if they can’t get 1000hp out of it, it’s junk… I think a better buy than the C4 or C5 is probably a 1998-2002 Camaro SS. Not the most loved Camaro but you get a discount and an LS1…
I just don't think the rigidity issue affects performance. There is some flex with the 91 ZR1 I have and it is noticeable when approaching a larger slope at an angle for example a sharp driveway. There is some torsion in the top at the joints to the frame. Don't notice it when driving. Yes, the upgrades are limited and outside of the ZR1s I prefer the dashes of the early years of the C4 over any C4 or C5. C5 internal materials leave much to be desired. After using the ZF clutch with the ZR1 I can say the 4+ overdrive of the Dough Nash is much more difficult to use. However, my 86 gold convertible is simply stunning with its shark gill air slots and streamlined linear styling.
The C4 is the perfect Corvette for Generation X, which actually grew up with the car itself; overlooked, taken for granted, but generally easy to get along with and competently reliable while not prone to the irritability of those that came before it or the drama of those that came after. It gets the job done without fanfare and remains immune to the opinions of others. This probably applies more so to the earlier pre-facelift models w/ full digital dashboards and the L98 mill than the more powerful LT-1 editions that came out later, but “horsepower isn’t everything” applies without irony in the C4, as opposed to the last decade of the C3, where “horsepower isn’t anything”.
Hated to see all the negative feedback on your last video about the best value corvette to buy currently. Those C4 guys sure came out whining in force! My "favorite" generation is C4. I bought a new 6 speed manual C4 back in 1990. At that time, what an awesome car! It was my daily driver, bright red / black interior. I LOVE the styling of these cars to this day. Remember, cars at that time were very slow and ugly, this car was stunning compared to everything out there. And fast - I had mine up to 157 so I guess I will never consider that car slow, even with the modest HP rating. I traded it in for a new Silverado out of frustration after the Halloween blizzard (us midwest guys of our age know what that was) 'cause my older winter pickup kept breaking down & I needed reliable transportation, I found out C4 not good in 30" of unexpected Halloween snow with old pickup in the shop waiting for transmission to be replaced for the third time for some reason. Still miss that Vette! Chicks loved that car in 1990, even though that's not why I bought it - pretty cool for a 28 yr old single guy. Fast forward 33 years to last fall. I had been eyeing a used Corvette for awhile, my new catch phrase has become "if not now, then when?" Trying to decide what generation would be the overall best value for the $, as your last video addressed. No tracks, no drag racing, just something quick and nice looking that the wife and I can cruise around in and take on shorter trips, comfortably and reliably. "Grand touring" is more my intended use, as opposed to racing of any sort (had my fill of that back in my '69 Chevelle glory days!). I'm not independently wealthy but had enough $ laying around for a $25K car. OR, a $15K car that needs a $10K reserve fund just to keep it on the road. Suburban sucks up the rest of my overall vehicle budget. I also know my limitations mechanically, I am not a seasoned mechanic and do not want to pretend to be one. The car needed to be turn the key and go, within reason. Everyting breaks but I didn't want an antique car with continuous failures. Not looking to be a wannabe mechanic who does more harm than good trying to repair and maintain a 40 year old car. At 62, in my limited spare time I get joy out of cruising around and enjoying the sights, not being covered in grease with bloody knuckles. Been there / done that. That's how I ruled out the C4's. Yes they were cheaper, but these are OLD cars at this point, just about everything is fair game to failing at the worst possible time on 30-40 year old cars, that's just the way it is. I found that a nice C4 in great condition & problem free is not that much cheaper than a technologically superior (seems to be the general concensus) and newer / fresher C5. SO I shopped for clean C5's, until I came to similar conclusions as yours - a C6 makes more sense overall. The exterior styling of each generation is very subjective, I could go C5 or C6, but the interior of the C6 was more appealing. Personally I think the C4 interiors (1990 and up) are the most appealing Corvette interiors until maybe the C7's, very tastefully done. C8 interiors have a high quality feel but are just strange in my opinion, sounds like this will be addressed soon with a refresh. The mid engine / no hatchback takes away the brilliant utility of the prior hatchback versions though, not sure I could ever get past that for functional reasons. Again, guys who don't use these cars for functional transportation at times would not care about this, or would get by with the front and rear trunks. Convertable owners have gotten by without the hatchback all along of course. We are always throwing stuff back there & grabbing stuff that's back there, so handy when you get used to having that huge area right behind you. Anyway, after watching many of your videos and others, and driving a few cars, it became apparent that for a little extra money over a C5, a C6 is the clear choice, dollar for dollar. Newer / improved mechanicals, more modern interiors & creature comforts, the awesome LS3, the 6 spd automatic (wanted an automatic this time so the wife could drive it in a pinch), and just the way the C6 resolves the C5's quirks and problems. I ended up with a 2008 C6 Base with an automatic. Love the car so far! The past owner, who appears to have been very meticulous, had a Pioneer infotainment unit installed, so backup camera, Android Auto, nav, etc... Seems almost as up to date feature wise as my '21 Suburban when driving it. To be completely honest, a C7 was even more appealing... Last fall in Minnesota here I couldn't find one for much under $50K, decent ones were all over $50K. These are still high priced cars, still on their way down price wise. With the C8 situation stabilizing now, it looks like decent low mile C7's are in the $40K's now, seeing many listed in the low to mid to upper $40's in MN. But when I was shopping, any C7 I could find was almost double the cost of a comparable C6, which put them in a whole different category and ruled them out for me. As for all the complaints about leaving out a C6 ZO6 in your comparison - way too much $, and given the well documented problems with that motor - those were not on my list, you're well into C7 pricing for the C6 ZO6's I found. That car doesn't appeal to me when looking for comfort / convenience / reliability for the money in a Vette, as I wasn't looking for maximum HP. You were absolutely right to leave them off your list. For a certain, more narrowly focused buyer with different criteria than the typical buyer, they could be a good buy. Interesting topic though, thanks for what you do! Maybe run into you somewhere in the area.
I understand it - we are all going to defend our favorite Corvettes against any perceived negativity - so I don't take offense to it nor do I intend to be offensive in any way to any C1-C8 owner PERIOD. I remember the MN/WI Haloween blizzard like it was yesterday - I was at UWRF at the time and drove home the next morning! I appreciate your analysis and rationale as to how you ended up withe a C6! See you at the Corvettes at Stillwater MN car show 8/17/2024??
@@Toys4Life Well said, there are certainly compelling reasons to appreciate each generation. One could make a case for each, and a case for multiple models within each generation for that matter. Thanks very much for the heads up on the Corvettes at Stillwater Car Show in August, found further info on it on the Stillwater Motors website. Hope to be there, will look you up!
Thanks for answering my supercharger questions last video but now seeing the supercharger kit cost damn near $7000. I might just be buying a c4 or cheap c5 for my parents
@@galencaudill6462 I have one right now. I only have noticeable flex on a steep change in a driveway at an angle. No problem throwing tight circles or anything that you would want the car for. Perhaps you had one with defects. Further the wider body should limit those issue.
the Optispark in the 1995 and 96 C4s is ventilated and is much less sensitive to moisture than previous years. I've hit plenty of puddles with mine and had no problems. Yet anyway.
I just want my 92’ LT1 on the road. I don’t care about more power. Just restoring it for reliability and cruising. Maybe also for racing Honda cr-v’s in Nashville.
There is a modification that Gordon Killebrew who worked at Bowling Green for GM developed that stiffens the chassis it is sold by a company called vette2vette
For years and years I wanted a '92-'96. And I mean I wanted one for 20 years, badly, and then when I bought a Corvette, it was a C5- didn't even hesitate or really consider that what I really wanted was a C4. The decision was that easy because I knew that it was ultimately the better car for about the same price.
Feel kind of the same way but older I get the greater I get I guess and I want to experience all Corvettes. C4 is on the bucket list to add, but I feel like the challenge is to try to improve it using all the tricks learned to date by everybody plus maybe a couple of my own?
If it wasn't for the utter success of the C4 we wouldn't have the newer cars and that's that. This was the generation that told the world the Corvette IS and has been a world-class sports car. And they have unique quirks and features no other Vette has. Need proof? All you need to do is watch the headlights" operation. The intimate cockpit style of the interior among others. And they built more than 300 thousand of them so it's affordable to anyone who wants to get in the hobby and they're fun to drive and with some upgrades handle even better than they did when new and make awesome highway cruisers with their great mileage. And other than the big tank 36 gallon cars of the 60s ( NO4s and the original ZO6s ) it has the biggest tank of them all at 20 gallons. And they still look great to this day. And there's treasure out there to boot. Besides in 1996 they became OBD-II.
Agree with everything, including the OBD2 statement. It is corrected in the video, I thought of it as I was editing it and if you look at that part of the video it clearly states 96 was kind of an oddball OBD2, you can't program it with HP tuners and I don't even think you can tune it with OBD1 software so I'm not really sure how anyone tunes the one year 96 OBD2. But yes, c4 was a giant improvement and set the stage for everything we enjoy that came after.
My 86 Z51 is modified but street drivable and makes 400+ hp and and 325+ average TQ, no turbo, just heads and valvetrain mods, an L98 that started with 230hp.
I've learned so much from Goat Rope garage, low buck LS, Blazerbuilds, The driveway engineer for tuning with Hp tuners takes time but if your willing to learn you'll find it on here.
Compared to an 1996 LT4 with 9.5in fronts and 11in rears they pull 1.1 lateral G, have nearly the same reliability, and 80% of the LT4’s are proven to make more Hp stock than first gen LS1’s. And with the better interior of a C4 and driving position, and the better steering feel of the C4 I’d say a C5 isn’t anything to brag about compared to the ‘96 LT4… and definitely isn’t a ‘much better car’ from a ‘drivers’ standpoint.
In my experience the late C3 are least respected vettes, but all vettes over all are loved by most. I had, drove C4s and love them but my C5 is of course better. For performance late C4s are more than good especially grand sports, collector editions and ZR1s.
Anyone bashing the C4 anything besides the 84 flat out don't know anything about them and obviously have no experience with them!! And the 96 C4 has obd2.
What's wrong with the 84? Also the video does point out that the 96 uses a 1-year only OBD2 of sorts that doesn't really help for tuning at all but technically it's OBD2.
@Toys4Life the 84 is just way under powerd, and the suspension is rock hard. But still a very capable platform. Also I thought the early obd2 was kinda like the obd1 with the tune with chips thar have a tune built in depending upon mods for different chips that plug into the obd port! The obd1 I have different chips that actually go inside the ECM itself not plugged into the port.
Far too many people care about reviews and opinions of cars they like. I prefer the styling of the C4 over the C5. The C5 has always looked a bit melted and chunky but that's my opinion. There are plenty of parts to make a C4 what you want it to be. The point is drive what you like and don't worry about what anyone thinks.
I agree that you should be attracted to whatever you think looks good. I also think you should look at the facts about performance and reliability and efficiency and price and those should be a rational consideration before spending your money based on emotion.
@@Toys4Life Absolutely! I figured all of that goes without saying. Make an informed decision and at the end of the day get what you like because you like it and it suits your needs, not because it has a better stat sheet. Thanks for the response and content.
Pretty much any decent condition 4-8 would work great for a daily IMO - just don't lower it to the point it gives you fits with speed bumps inclines etc that are in your daily route. Good luck!
I have a c4 complete turd and I frickin love it.. my c5 is my money pit. Completely diffrent experience but the c4 is a total 80s all feel no appeal fun.. if they ever make a back to the future with a c4 it's value will fly off the scale.. look at the DeLorean complete valuable piece of worthless junk..
You can explain away all day long about why you chose C5 over C4, but it still doesnt change the fact that the C5's time has come and gone. It's cheap, dull Tupperware quality looks get boring very quickly. My red '91 ZR1 turns heads every it goes and is rare. C5s are everywhere, but nothing special. At least C4s still have character and sleek styling. Oh, and the C4 is still the only generation with the awesome "clamshell" hood.
Now make a video defending the C7 cause you clearly left it out of a few talking points like the removable targa top also being like the C5s and C6s smh
nailed this. Love my C4 ZR1 but it is what it is. they are supposed to get better over Gen’s just like us! haa! great vid, top notch edits and entertaining. glad I sub’ed
Thanks! 👍
I've had 2 C4s. The LT4 is a much different car than a crossfire. It's a very capable and fun car to drive. I think they deserv respect because of one main reason. They were the rebirth after the anemic years of the C3. The C4 is the first Gen of the modern corvette platform. For that, it deserves respect.
Agreed and GM gave it the LT5 and LT4 engines. Both were amazing at the time.
The LT4 with the 6 speed was a great car that can still compete!
Agreed, no question!
That's the c4 I'd buy.
The C4 is a good car. The prices are so low that it would make a fun car to play around with. I don't know about 800 HP but everyone has their own project.
Most people who criticize C4s have never owned or driven one. I particularly like the early, angular bodystyle.
Likely very true.
There will never be anything like the C4, it’s like an amusement park ride that you would pay money to ride in. It’s very much the most cockpit like interior there is IMO. It’s the American Ferrari. I bought an 89 convertible for $3k and a 91 coupe for $1000. Both cars needed a fuel pump and a little tinkering and are bad ass drivers/touring cars. So much fun for very little money.
Yeah , I have a nice 13 GS, but I can't seem to put my old LT4 on the block. Its a lot of fun to drive. 26 mpg and pretty quickety still.
Life short, throw it into the mix of what you're going to drive and the contrast between vehicles keeps things interesting and fun!
Thanks for the vid! I watched you before I even got a Vette and was actually looking at a C5 before i realized i couldn't afford one, so I got attached to the C4 instead and LOVE it. I still want a C5
96's are not obd1, they're obd2.
If you plan to modify a lot, you can convert to torqhead which runs on ls3 computer and you still have abs, traction control, and functioning stock instrument panel.
Love my 96 lt4 and 92 zr-1
1:30. Agree with everything you said. You missed the 96 tidbit in the upper left hand corner. They are OBD2, but try to find a tuner software package that will work is really hard to do.
If you have a 96 you can convert it to the 95 computer which is obd1 but very easily tuned unlike the 96
I like the c4 era of Vette.
It's a classic design that still looks good today. I know there's chassis braces for the roof mount locations so get that when you purchase your c4. Plus the LT series of engines are phenomenal for making power. Especially if you like the iron blocks. Good luck and I am excited to see what you do with the car.
My ‘95 LT4 is updated to coil pack ignition and an LS1 Camaro ECU. Super tunable and not expensive at all to update.
I have a buddy that needs to do this. What kind of conversion is it? is there a kit - link please.
@@Toys4Life TorqHead and EFI Connection are the two main players. TH for thoroughness of the kit, EFI-C probably if you’re on a budget.
Ellwein Racing Engines has quite a few videos showing what some of these setups look like, including my DRM450 with EFI Connect.
These conversions have been available for a while but do we know yet if they bring with them any new issues?
@@varmastiko2908 I don’t have any particular issues with my EFI connection. I guess the only downside is the electronic display for my gauges doesn’t give me oil or coolant temp, nor the fuel economy. But my Vette isn’t really built for fuel economy anymore, so…
There's a Corvette shop in Mie, Japan called WEST and those dudes went all out with their C4s as soon as the cars arrive at their doorstep!
My 89 Corvette is 35 years old and a 1954 Chevy is 35 years older than my 89. I’d never try to compare the two & likewise it’s foolish to try to compare newer vettes. Every generation should be an improvement over the prior, if not then that will be the end of the Corvette. “People love to hate” is what it really boils down to & so by hating on a C4 they think it makes them & their corvette better. If it wasn’t for the highly successful C4 there wouldn’t be generations to follow. I’ve had my 89 Corvette for 23 years & still love autocrossing it. Chassis flex… ever seen a Miata run autocross?
While I agree with most of what you're saying, if somebody was looking to buy their first Corvette right now, how would they know which one to buy if they didn't compare the c4 to the C5? Maybe the differences are marginal, maybe they're significant? It kind of depends on what the individual is looking for in the car and in my opinion a comparison is necessary at times. I certainly wouldn't say it's foolish. It might be foolish not to compare before you put down your hard-earned cash perhaps.
@@Toys4Life Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying comparing a C4 to C5 is foolish, it’s a natural thing one would do when looking at a C4 vs C5. I’m trying to point out that each Corvette generation is unique & builds on the prior generation/years thus when individuals beat down an older generation, I think they are missing what that generation accomplished during their prime. When one thinks of the C4 one should really think of why The Corvette Challenge Series was created. It was because the pre-88 Corvettes were crushing Porsche, Lotus, etc in SCCA road racing & the manufacturers were threatening to pull out of racing because they couldn’t compete with the corvette. So the SCCA banned them & they were forced to compete only against themselves. This has never happened since & showed just how dominant the early C4 Corvettes were during their prime compared to anything else made at that time!
I love my C4. Found a 30k mile mint 40th 6-speed from the original owner. Have to say it pulls nice for the LT1 considering all 6-speeds got the ZR1 transmission and rear end. I find the interior and driving experience more unique than the C5 and the styling of the car to be better even though people were beat to death by seeing 350k of them like you said. The C5 is cool but always seemed a little stylistically cheesy from some angles. I’ve also not found a single person off of the internet that had an Optispark issue and I own two LT1s, and know several people that owned LT1 cars from new. If you have a mint, garaged car with low miles you may not have to worry about it for some time… I was told they should be serviced with the water pump every 80k miles and then you won’t get stuck. It is what it is.
The bang for the buck of a late 6-speed C4 is makes it a winner to me. You can get a concourse car for 50% less than a C5 but I’d say a C5 is only 12-15% more car.
If you want to mod a car and have high horsepower you definitely want an LS but if you remember when the C4 was new and it was kicked out of SCCA racing for being too good and kicking Porsche butt, why wouldn’t you buy a car that out performed its six figure peers. Stop comparing it to later Gen Vettes.
It’s the wrong comparison.
And with classic cars IROC Zs with tons of flex and 200hp sell for more than C5s
There’s a lot more to buying old cars than comparing performance numbers from decades apart.
And a stock 6-speed LT1 ran numbers like old big block cars.
The LT1 Camaro SS was the fastest Camaro ever at the time. First to break 100mph trap speed from the factory since 1967.
LT1s weren’t so bad…
I agree with everything you're saying, I'm just trying to find the highest amount of performance for the dollar. Don't have to be some assumptions made so people will disagree with me and that's cool, there can be more than one right answer to this equation in my opinion!
@@Toys4Life yes there’s different types of car people. There’s people that customize and race, there’s collectors that like pristine concourse cars that never get driven, people that like fixing up and driving barn finds, etc…
Some people get a kick out of driving a quirky old car in remarkable condition and some people think if they can’t get 1000hp out of it, it’s junk…
I think a better buy than the C4 or C5 is probably a 1998-2002 Camaro SS. Not the most loved Camaro but you get a discount and an LS1…
The C4's are the red headed stepchild of the Corvette community, the Grand Sport, ZR1, & the LT4 cars are an exception
I just don't think the rigidity issue affects performance. There is some flex with the 91 ZR1 I have and it is noticeable when approaching a larger slope at an angle for example a sharp driveway. There is some torsion in the top at the joints to the frame. Don't notice it when driving. Yes, the upgrades are limited and outside of the ZR1s I prefer the dashes of the early years of the C4 over any C4 or C5. C5 internal materials leave much to be desired. After using the ZF clutch with the ZR1 I can say the 4+ overdrive of the Dough Nash is much more difficult to use. However, my 86 gold convertible is simply stunning with its shark gill air slots and streamlined linear styling.
The C4 is the perfect Corvette for Generation X, which actually grew up with the car itself; overlooked, taken for granted, but generally easy to get along with and competently reliable while not prone to the irritability of those that came before it or the drama of those that came after. It gets the job done without fanfare and remains immune to the opinions of others. This probably applies more so to the earlier pre-facelift models w/ full digital dashboards and the L98 mill than the more powerful LT-1 editions that came out later, but “horsepower isn’t everything” applies without irony in the C4, as opposed to the last decade of the C3, where “horsepower isn’t anything”.
That guy that blew his C4 up should be ashamed. With the limited availability of parts for the C4, it's disgraceful to do just for clicks.
Hated to see all the negative feedback on your last video about the best value corvette to buy currently. Those C4 guys sure came out whining in force!
My "favorite" generation is C4. I bought a new 6 speed manual C4 back in 1990. At that time, what an awesome car! It was my daily driver, bright red / black interior. I LOVE the styling of these cars to this day. Remember, cars at that time were very slow and ugly, this car was stunning compared to everything out there. And fast - I had mine up to 157 so I guess I will never consider that car slow, even with the modest HP rating. I traded it in for a new Silverado out of frustration after the Halloween blizzard (us midwest guys of our age know what that was) 'cause my older winter pickup kept breaking down & I needed reliable transportation, I found out C4 not good in 30" of unexpected Halloween snow with old pickup in the shop waiting for transmission to be replaced for the third time for some reason. Still miss that Vette! Chicks loved that car in 1990, even though that's not why I bought it - pretty cool for a 28 yr old single guy.
Fast forward 33 years to last fall. I had been eyeing a used Corvette for awhile, my new catch phrase has become "if not now, then when?" Trying to decide what generation would be the overall best value for the $, as your last video addressed. No tracks, no drag racing, just something quick and nice looking that the wife and I can cruise around in and take on shorter trips, comfortably and reliably. "Grand touring" is more my intended use, as opposed to racing of any sort (had my fill of that back in my '69 Chevelle glory days!). I'm not independently wealthy but had enough $ laying around for a $25K car. OR, a $15K car that needs a $10K reserve fund just to keep it on the road. Suburban sucks up the rest of my overall vehicle budget. I also know my limitations mechanically, I am not a seasoned mechanic and do not want to pretend to be one. The car needed to be turn the key and go, within reason. Everyting breaks but I didn't want an antique car with continuous failures. Not looking to be a wannabe mechanic who does more harm than good trying to repair and maintain a 40 year old car. At 62, in my limited spare time I get joy out of cruising around and enjoying the sights, not being covered in grease with bloody knuckles. Been there / done that.
That's how I ruled out the C4's. Yes they were cheaper, but these are OLD cars at this point, just about everything is fair game to failing at the worst possible time on 30-40 year old cars, that's just the way it is. I found that a nice C4 in great condition & problem free is not that much cheaper than a technologically superior (seems to be the general concensus) and newer / fresher C5.
SO I shopped for clean C5's, until I came to similar conclusions as yours - a C6 makes more sense overall. The exterior styling of each generation is very subjective, I could go C5 or C6, but the interior of the C6 was more appealing. Personally I think the C4 interiors (1990 and up) are the most appealing Corvette interiors until maybe the C7's, very tastefully done. C8 interiors have a high quality feel but are just strange in my opinion, sounds like this will be addressed soon with a refresh. The mid engine / no hatchback takes away the brilliant utility of the prior hatchback versions though, not sure I could ever get past that for functional reasons. Again, guys who don't use these cars for functional transportation at times would not care about this, or would get by with the front and rear trunks. Convertable owners have gotten by without the hatchback all along of course. We are always throwing stuff back there & grabbing stuff that's back there, so handy when you get used to having that huge area right behind you.
Anyway, after watching many of your videos and others, and driving a few cars, it became apparent that for a little extra money over a C5, a C6 is the clear choice, dollar for dollar. Newer / improved mechanicals, more modern interiors & creature comforts, the awesome LS3, the 6 spd automatic (wanted an automatic this time so the wife could drive it in a pinch), and just the way the C6 resolves the C5's quirks and problems. I ended up with a 2008 C6 Base with an automatic. Love the car so far! The past owner, who appears to have been very meticulous, had a Pioneer infotainment unit installed, so backup camera, Android Auto, nav, etc... Seems almost as up to date feature wise as my '21 Suburban when driving it.
To be completely honest, a C7 was even more appealing... Last fall in Minnesota here I couldn't find one for much under $50K, decent ones were all over $50K. These are still high priced cars, still on their way down price wise. With the C8 situation stabilizing now, it looks like decent low mile C7's are in the $40K's now, seeing many listed in the low to mid to upper $40's in MN. But when I was shopping, any C7 I could find was almost double the cost of a comparable C6, which put them in a whole different category and ruled them out for me.
As for all the complaints about leaving out a C6 ZO6 in your comparison - way too much $, and given the well documented problems with that motor - those were not on my list, you're well into C7 pricing for the C6 ZO6's I found. That car doesn't appeal to me when looking for comfort / convenience / reliability for the money in a Vette, as I wasn't looking for maximum HP. You were absolutely right to leave them off your list. For a certain, more narrowly focused buyer with different criteria than the typical buyer, they could be a good buy.
Interesting topic though, thanks for what you do! Maybe run into you somewhere in the area.
I understand it - we are all going to defend our favorite Corvettes against any perceived negativity - so I don't take offense to it nor do I intend to be offensive in any way to any C1-C8 owner PERIOD.
I remember the MN/WI Haloween blizzard like it was yesterday - I was at UWRF at the time and drove home the next morning!
I appreciate your analysis and rationale as to how you ended up withe a C6! See you at the Corvettes at Stillwater MN car show 8/17/2024??
@@Toys4Life Well said, there are certainly compelling reasons to appreciate each generation. One could make a case for each, and a case for multiple models within each generation for that matter.
Thanks very much for the heads up on the Corvettes at Stillwater Car Show in August, found further info on it on the Stillwater Motors website. Hope to be there, will look you up!
Thanks for answering my supercharger questions last video but now seeing the supercharger kit cost damn near $7000. I might just be buying a c4 or cheap c5 for my parents
I am not exactly connecting the dots - but that wouldn't be the first time (:-)
Don’t forget, the 84 Z51 was capable of 1 g but was a very hard ride, they subsequently softened them up!
I’ve had a C4 ZR-1, and it’s a great car. I wished I had never sold it.
I need to get a ride in a C4 ZR1. If anyone own's one here in MN - hit me up PLEASE!
@@Toys4Life if you are going to get a C4, make it a ZR-1. Very reliable and powerful.
@galencaudill6462 I haven't studied the ZR1's extensively but it would seem to me that they would need to beef the chassis up a little bit 😕
@@galencaudill6462 my experience was different. Loved the car.
@@galencaudill6462 I have one right now. I only have noticeable flex on a steep change in a driveway at an angle. No problem throwing tight circles or anything that you would want the car for. Perhaps you had one with defects. Further the wider body should limit those issue.
the Optispark in the 1995 and 96 C4s is ventilated and is much less sensitive to moisture than previous years. I've hit plenty of puddles with mine and had no problems. Yet anyway.
Excellent point, thank you!
I just want my 92’ LT1 on the road. I don’t care about more power. Just restoring it for reliability and cruising. Maybe also for racing Honda cr-v’s in Nashville.
Sweet, perfect car for cruising and having a little pep!
There is a modification that Gordon Killebrew who worked at Bowling Green for GM developed that stiffens the chassis it is sold by a company called vette2vette
Indeed. Have you used it by chance?
@@Toys4Life Not personally
For years and years I wanted a '92-'96. And I mean I wanted one for 20 years, badly, and then when I bought a Corvette, it was a C5- didn't even hesitate or really consider that what I really wanted was a C4. The decision was that easy because I knew that it was ultimately the better car for about the same price.
Feel kind of the same way but older I get the greater I get I guess and I want to experience all Corvettes. C4 is on the bucket list to add, but I feel like the challenge is to try to improve it using all the tricks learned to date by everybody plus maybe a couple of my own?
If it wasn't for the utter success of the C4 we wouldn't have the newer cars and that's that. This was the generation that told the world the Corvette IS and has been a world-class sports car. And they have unique quirks and features no other Vette has. Need proof? All you need to do is watch the headlights" operation. The intimate cockpit style of the interior among others. And they built more than 300 thousand of them so it's affordable to anyone who wants to get in the hobby and they're fun to drive and with some upgrades handle even better than they did when new and make awesome highway cruisers with their great mileage. And other than the big tank 36 gallon cars of the 60s ( NO4s and the original ZO6s ) it has the biggest tank of them all at 20 gallons. And they still look great to this day. And there's treasure out there to boot. Besides in 1996 they became OBD-II.
Agree with everything, including the OBD2 statement. It is corrected in the video, I thought of it as I was editing it and if you look at that part of the video it clearly states 96 was kind of an oddball OBD2, you can't program it with HP tuners and I don't even think you can tune it with OBD1 software so I'm not really sure how anyone tunes the one year 96 OBD2. But yes, c4 was a giant improvement and set the stage for everything we enjoy that came after.
My 86 Z51 is modified but street drivable and makes 400+ hp and and 325+ average TQ, no turbo, just heads and valvetrain mods, an L98 that started with 230hp.
Oh and I forgot to include, the true dual exhaust, and programmable GM based speed density computer!
I've learned so much from Goat Rope garage, low buck LS, Blazerbuilds, The driveway engineer for tuning with Hp tuners takes time but if your willing to learn you'll find it on here.
Sweet! Not familiar with Blazerbuilds - link?
I bought a '96 LT4 last year. I wasn't looking for a C4 but then I drove one lol. A lot of car for the $!
Absolutely!! 😁
I prefer the C4 exterior design, but it's a fact that the C5 is a much better car.
Agreed!
Compared to an 1996 LT4 with 9.5in fronts and 11in rears they pull 1.1 lateral G, have nearly the same reliability, and 80% of the LT4’s are proven to make more Hp stock than first gen LS1’s. And with the better interior of a C4 and driving position, and the better steering feel of the C4 I’d say a C5 isn’t anything to brag about compared to the ‘96 LT4… and definitely isn’t a ‘much better car’ from a ‘drivers’ standpoint.
@@DHolmquistDesigns As a C5 owner that's been in plenty of late C4 models, I agree.
Good point about how good the 96 is, thank you.
In my experience the late C3 are least respected vettes, but all vettes over all are loved by most. I had, drove C4s and love them but my C5 is of course better. For performance late C4s are more than good especially grand sports, collector editions and ZR1s.
That green c4 literally has green overspray on the tire 🙄
I noticed that too - wasn't sure if it was overspray or from wet sanding. I am pretty sure they cleaned that up before it left the shop (:-).
I can’t unsee it now.
the early c4s were under powered and that's where the dis respect comes from 84-89 90-96s are different .
Anyone bashing the C4 anything besides the 84 flat out don't know anything about them and obviously have no experience with them!! And the 96 C4 has obd2.
What's wrong with the 84? Also the video does point out that the 96 uses a 1-year only OBD2 of sorts that doesn't really help for tuning at all but technically it's OBD2.
@Toys4Life the 84 is just way under powerd, and the suspension is rock hard. But still a very capable platform. Also I thought the early obd2 was kinda like the obd1 with the tune with chips thar have a tune built in depending upon mods for different chips that plug into the obd port! The obd1 I have different chips that actually go inside the ECM itself not plugged into the port.
Far too many people care about reviews and opinions of cars they like. I prefer the styling of the C4 over the C5. The C5 has always looked a bit melted and chunky but that's my opinion. There are plenty of parts to make a C4 what you want it to be. The point is drive what you like and don't worry about what anyone thinks.
I agree that you should be attracted to whatever you think looks good. I also think you should look at the facts about performance and reliability and efficiency and price and those should be a rational consideration before spending your money based on emotion.
@@Toys4Life Absolutely! I figured all of that goes without saying. Make an informed decision and at the end of the day get what you like because you like it and it suits your needs, not because it has a better stat sheet. Thanks for the response and content.
Amen sir 🙏
The C7 is my favorite of the modern vettes. Best bang for your buck right now is the C5.
I'd say the C6 dollar for performance and quality.
I love the styling of the C4, but wet noodling chassis and the wheezy cast iron 350 keeps me away
GM does that stuff with coolant on so many cars if they did it once it ok but all them cars yeah on purpose
I Still stand behind your statement. the c5 is a better car all round than the c4. dollar per dollar would go c5 every time.
I think part of the conclusion would be what generation you like aesthetically the most and what your intended use is and of course budget as well.
So as a soon to be Vette owner ( looking to buy ) what would you say would be the best series to buy as a daily driver ?
Pretty much any decent condition 4-8 would work great for a daily IMO - just don't lower it to the point it gives you fits with speed bumps inclines etc that are in your daily route. Good luck!
Comparisons to later generations are unfair. Why not compare the C4 to the C3? What Corvette other than the C4 dominated the European competition?
I have a c4 complete turd and I frickin love it.. my c5 is my money pit. Completely diffrent experience but the c4 is a total 80s all feel no appeal fun.. if they ever make a back to the future with a c4 it's value will fly off the scale.. look at the DeLorean complete valuable piece of worthless junk..
You can explain away all day long about why you chose C5 over C4, but it still doesnt change the fact that the C5's time has come and gone. It's cheap, dull Tupperware quality looks get boring very quickly. My red '91 ZR1 turns heads every it goes and is rare. C5s are everywhere, but nothing special.
At least C4s still have character and sleek styling.
Oh, and the C4 is still the only generation with the awesome "clamshell" hood.
That clamshell hood is very cool indeed!
Don't forget c4 doesn't have an upper control arm in the rear. Really bad suspension design
Must be out of your mind I will take a 96 Grand Sport and outrun all the c5's
1. Yes, I am out of my mind - that is not disputed.
2. My money's on the 2002 C5 Z06. That having been said, the 96 Grand sport is pretty awesome too.
96 Corvette are obt 2
Look on the screen where I said that, I stated the 96 is where a one-off OBD2 but not tunable.
Now make a video defending the C7 cause you clearly left it out of a few talking points like the removable targa top also being like the C5s and C6s smh
I'll put it on the list.
i say stop apologizing on videos let folk get butt hurt and ignore them or troll them a bit like Mr T why not lol
But I'm not mean 😞
#C4stillrealavent
4 sure 😁
1:29 Incorrect the all the 1996 cars are OBD 2.
Look in the upper left corner 😔
@@Toys4Life brave of you to assume I can read. lol
I couldn’t agree more! C4 the worst gen corvette.
For the record, I don't think the C4 is the worst generation (:-). That having been said, I will never disclose which gen I like least.
I personally think the malaise era C3s (1975-1982) were the worst Corvettes.