scrolling thru this thread again just now reminded me of one of my coolest encounters with a C4 Corvette... back in '88 or so, i was just a bored kid sitting on the picnic table in front of the Tom Thumb store in my sleepy little town in the middle of MN drinking my fountain pop.. this really cool looking black Corvette with huge wheels and flared out body work came rumbling in and pulled up to the gas pumps. i walked over to check it out, and the older guy (maybe 45- that was old to me then..) that was driving it asked me if i wanted to see the engine... i said yes.. he popped the hood, and what i saw was this weird looking black engine with huge valve covers that had 8 red spark plug wires poking out of the middle of each one and an intake manifold with 16 runners- i thought it was a V16 and i swear my pants got a couple of sizes tighter..
i looked at the interior, and it was pretty basic, but had some racing seats with 5 point harnesses and a roll bar..
the car had Michigan manufatcurer plates on it, and the guy said he was a writer for a big car magazine that he wouldn't tell me the name of and he got to drive it cross country to California.
i found out about a year later what i had seen- it was a ZR1 prototype. that "V16" engine was the DOHC LT5.. i forget the guy's name, but i found out later that he was a writer for Motor Trend. really cool guy that got to drive a really cool car cross country about a year before the public knew it existed.
Of all the cars I ever got rid of, I miss my '86 Corvette the most. At 200,000 miles, it wasn't holding up too well to putting 400-500 miles on it a week, and I needed a new daily driver (Ironically, the "practical" Civic I replaced it with proved even worse). If I'd had the space and budget to keep it as a toy, I'd still be out autocrossing it and maybe have made it into a track day car by now.
OK, I'll admit that I've thought about a C4. They're priced low, upgrade easy, have enough room for me and get decent mpg. Lots better than my old F150 and better than my RX8. This thought came up again recently when a C4 ZR1 that autocrossed locally came up for sale. Did manage not to consume the bowtie juice though. Never really thought of myself as a `Vette guy. Did drive my daughter's boyfriend's C6 Z06 and it did spark evil thoughts in my head. Loud aftermarket exhaust did tone down the thoughts though.
Put me in the C4 over the C5 camp, I just can not get over the rear of the C5.
wlkelley3 wrote:
OK, I'll admit that I've thought about a C4. They're priced low, upgrade easy, have enough room for me and get decent mpg. Lots better than my old F150 and better than my RX8.
So that is why you are selling me the F150 cheap. 
Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote:
Put me in the C4 over the C5 camp, I just can not get over the rear of the C5.
IMO that's the best part of the C5's body. It's downforce, very simple in design, and doesn't need a wing or spoiler.
The rest of it is just a continuation of the C2-3-4 progression.
Knurled wrote:
Ranger50 wrote:
This. Unless you really want to buy that 84 or 85 for $2500....
I know someone who bought an immaculate LT1/6-speed for... well, I won't say, but a lot closer to $2500 than a C5 will command.
It's a BEAUTIFUL car.
Agreed, plus other than the zo6 I dont like c5s
Gasoline wrote:
No stupid body kits for me!
We've had an '87 convertible for about 2 1/2 years now and while I like driving it, I'm also getting a little annoyed at it - it seems to have developed a lot of faults over the last year or so and the parts that have given up the ghost recently took a long time to source as NOS parts from specialists (like a new intake manifold) or are only obtainable used (like the windshield wiper switch in the door that's currently playing up.
I think parts supply for the second series C4 (91-on) is better, though.
alex
UltraDork
10/1/12 6:21 p.m.
So, when my dad finally outgrows his '96 C4 (LT1, auto), what should I do with it? I actually don't mind the auto in that car, since the torque makes everything pretty effortless. It's about as fast as is reasonable for a street car, but it could stand to be a bit stiffer (especially with the roof off) - it feels like the chassis is used as a piece of the suspension.
IIRC the convertibles have a crossbrace under the car (well, ours does...) and I don't think the Coupes got that. Fitting one of those should make a difference.
dammit y'all, now I'm scouring CL ISO C4s.... 
Ours might be for sale. Ex-Las Vegas car, so the frame is still in very good condition 
.
^ Yep.... and floor pans. You have to watch for rust on them both. Mine was an Arkansas car. It was dirty but rust free. Thankfully their DOT has never heard of salt.
Gasoline wrote:
Did Larry come with the car?
Bobzilla wrote:
^ Yep.... and floor pans. You have to watch for rust on them both. Mine was an Arkansas car. It was dirty but rust free. Thankfully their DOT has never heard of salt.
The frame is galvanized and panted, the floors are fiberglass, the suspension parts are AL. The seat brace is metal however.
I DD my '89 one winter, and other than almost killing myself due to inappropriate tires, the only thing the salt hit was the chrome plating on the wheels and the fuel/brake lines.
Other than fasteners and steel fuel/brake lines, they are the perfect car to resist salt. I would not go so far as to say perfect to drive in the snow however.
Klayfish wrote:
Go for it.
C4 driver's wear blouses?
daytonaer wrote:
Bobzilla wrote:
^ Yep.... and floor pans. You have to watch for rust on them both. Mine was an Arkansas car. It was dirty but rust free. Thankfully their DOT has never heard of salt.
The frame is galvanized and panted, the floors are fiberglass, the suspension parts are AL. The seat brace is metal however.
I DD my '89 one winter, and other than almost killing myself due to inappropriate tires, the only thing the salt hit was the chrome plating on the wheels and the fuel/brake lines.
Other than fasteners and steel fuel/brake lines, they are the perfect car to resist salt. I would not go so far as to say perfect to drive in the snow however.
Well, in that sense they're very similar to the galvanised 911s - they resist rust a lot better than most cars, but eventually the frame will start to corrode.
It's been a good truck, just don't use it anymore and would like to see it go to someone that will do it justice. Give it what it needs and use it as it's intended to be used.
