Do I want a Corvette.

Probably a C4 because they are getting cheap. Maybe a C5 if the price is right. Primary use will be autocross, track, and cruising. This would take the place of the Abomination as my autocross car. My wife would be co-driving it. 

Any years to avoid? How much better is a C5 over a C4. Comfort and ease of working on it is as important as performance, maybe more important. 

These are getting cheap. Like $5k-$8k cheap. 

C5s are at least twice the money or have a pile of mileage on them. Most of them also seem to be automatics. 

So any good advice? Any bad opinions?

Any other cars I should consider in a similar price range?

Yes. Yes you do. Get a special one and they wont even depreciate. Callaway or ZR1 or something, but you may have to spend a bit more to get there.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/1990-1994-c4-zr-1-a-future-classic-1779364619

Yes.

Meh?  I mean, it’s going to be slower than a c5 but it’s a much more unrefined visceral experience, so coming from the abomination that might suit you better.

i love and hate c4’s.  I think i love them when someone else owns them, i had mine for about 10 years and it was a thing of beauty to look at but i fell out of love pretty quickly when i started modifying it and the reliability went out the window.  

C5 Z06/FRC’s are an insanely good deal...and V1 CTS-V’s. My brother is putting a 416 stroker in my old V. 

Do you want to win in life?

Everybody needs a Corvette so when you get old a lot of stories can start out with; “back when I had my Corvette.....”

Yes.

I have always loved this body style. Maybe one of these instead. 

C4 the leg and foot room is atrocious so if you are a tall guy or have even average sized feet it might be fairly uncomfortable.

I've never driven a C5 but the LS is worth the money you'll save in oil dry and leak trays to say the least.

Datsun310Guy said:

Do you want to win in life?

Everybody needs a Corvette so when you get old a lot of stories can start out with; “back when I had my Corvette.....”

I think that only works when you were young and single with a Corvette.

I'd go for a C3 because, while it's probably a terrible car, it has a drama to it that the C4 and C5 lost. Toyman knows what I'm talking about.

I'd hold out for a C5. The C4 is horribly uncomfortable and a real pain to get in and out of. Also, found through my work, that the C4 falls into the "too old to be new and too new to be old" situation as far as parts availability. We had one come in a couple months ago and there was a bunch of small bits (door switch, EGR valve, some weatherstripping, etc) that were no longer available from the usual sources and the restoration market hadn't picked them up yet either. Also, the C4 has some pretty idiotic engineering. For example, need to replace the battery? Prepare to remove the left front fender and the entire rocker panel

That's when cars are cheapest, though. The valley of depreciation coincides with the abyss of parts availability.

Toyman01 said:

I have always loved this body style. Maybe one of these instead. 

Yes, Yes, and we need a long distance drive home, through 10-12+ states and and epic thread to go with it, like Sandford.

I also like the C3 body style. 

On another note I dont think C4s can get any cheaper, thus are bound to start going up in value, like the C3s 10-15 years ago.  I think you can get a cheap C4 and drive the wheels off it for 10 years and sell it at a profit.

Keith Tanner said:

Datsun310Guy said:

Do you want to win in life?

Everybody needs a Corvette so when you get old a lot of stories can start out with; “back when I had my Corvette.....”

I think that only works when you were young and single with a Corvette.

I'd go for a C3 because, while it's probably a terrible car, it has a drama to it that the C4 and C5 lost. Toyman knows what I'm talking about.

There is a lot of truth to this. Half of the appeal to the Abomination is the drama it engenders in just about everyone that sees it. It will never be a boring car. If I replace it with a boring car, I'll end up hating whatever I buy no matter how comfortable it is. At the moment, C5s are boring. Fast as hell, but really mundane in the autocross world. C4s less so. C3s are a whole different level.  

One of the most popular cars that shows up at our autocrosses is a 58 Edsel. It's a horrible car but everyone loves to see it run. 

Yes, you want one, most of us do.  A friend of mine found a C5 for $10k, it did have miles on it, but the bones were solid.  Having driven a C4 and C5 in anger, I'd save my pennies for a C5 or newer; C5 was the more fun at an autocross.

Here is a bizarre cross shop. How about a Cobalt SS? Are they as horrible as I imagine they are? 

There's a C2 convertible that used to show up to the Corvette autocrosses. Under full power, you could see the hood and the windshield twist mightily in opposite directions. It was awesomely terrible and I wanted it.

A c3 was just posted in the $2018 classifieds closeish to you btw https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/201x-classifieds/1975-corvette-c3-2000-cumming/141548/page1/

Having owned a 85 C4, they are a fun to drive car.   Working on them was not too terrible.  However...... Getting in and out was, fall in, crawl out.   Not easy if you are older, and chubby.   Also, as stated, 45 minutes into a drive, and you don't know what to do with your feet.  Very small foot box.  Maybe the later ones are more comfy.

In reply to MrChaos :

That's tempting. 

My vote would be a C3 or C4. While the C5 is the most capable performance package from the factory I've ever driven, it's missing that certain thing that makes me like driving a car. Whatever that thing is.

Having put extensive seat and wrenching time in every generation of corvette, excep c1 and c7, i think i can help and be objective. 

Buy a c5. It is much faster, more comfortable, easier to service, easier to modify. Ingress and egress are worlds better than previous generations. 

C4: 88 up got a revised suspension and brakes that made the car worlds better. Service is tough at best, and an absolute berkeleying nightmare at worst. Lt1 six speed was best combo in my opinion.  Theyre a stone cold bitch to get in and out of, and my booted feet hit all the pedals.

C3 is a nightmare in every regard. Service, driving experience, etc. They're the best looking. Thats about it.

C2 is an investment.  Not a car.

C6 ut out of budget, and have electronic demons in a not insignificant number when driven in anger.

Definitely not. Unless you hold out for JG’s Z06 when he’s done with it. 

Edit: To give a little detail to my “no” answer, spend some time around Corvette owners - a Vette-only show, or if you really want to be scarred for life, join the Corvette Owners, Wives & Girlfriends secret Facebook group...

There are a lot of seriously creepy Vette owners out there, that go way beyond the stereotypes. Oh sure, there are cool ones & racers too, but it’s a minuscule number compared to the rest. I do not want any association with that mess...

In reply to Pete Gossett :

Ooo... good point.  Gives me a year or so to save up. 

So... why exactly are you selling the Abomination? 

My C5 coupe (hatchback) was very good - comfortable, great MPGs before the serious mods, really nice on the highway, tons of cargo space, great looks (better than the C4 or C6 in my opinion), and fun with the roof off.  Reliable even with ridiculous modifications.  Only sold it because it was so good it was boring.  

Had an E55 AMG after that.  Even better than the C5 in terms of fast and boring, but unreliable and bad on gas.  

Now I have a Viper, which is also super reliable and bad on gas but definitely not boring.

Short answer is buy a Viper.