TPI C4 Opinions

Keep in mind that this is for way off (1+ year away).

While my Crown Vic is a boatload of fun, I’ve realized that with more and more parts becoming NLA and with metal fatigue starting to settle in, I should be on the hunt for a new everyday car in about a year’s time. I know the TPI C4 isn’t the best car out there, but it’s always held a special place in my heart, and it’s relatively low capabilities (for a sports car at least) would lend it well to daily driving. Now that good ones are down to $6k Canadian, the omnipresence of the SBC and the relatively low mileage of good examples make them quite tempting. So GRM, who here owns one? Is the 4+3 as big of a dog as some people say? How is it for commuting? Who knows, maybe in a year’s time I’ll be driving something with a targa roof everyday.

The TPI 350 makes so much torque you won't miss the horsepower up to highway speeds.  A hydraulic roller cam setup was phased in during 1986 and is worth looking for over an 85 or 86E since it makes better power with improved fuel economy - look for center bolt rocker covers. 

There are other threads with details on what to look for but the Cliff's Notes version is that the 88-91 cars are all winners.  The 4+3 has long throws and I find it too easy to accidentally engage OD.  A functional 4+3 shouldn't keep you from owning an otherwise nice car but the ZF60 is a big improvement.  Also, you would be surprised how well-matched the L98 is to an automatic.  

As far as a daily, comfort and outward visibility are excellent and ingress/egress aren't terrible with a little practice.  The biggest hassles are the longish doors and that the car is hard for others to see in traffic.  Getting in and out of the car when the parking space is narrow kind of sucks, especially with anything in your hands like a backpack or sack of groceries.  Drivers of pickups and SUVs can easily look right over the top of your car so even when they check mirrors there is a hazard of being merged into in traffic and backed into in parking lots.  When my daily commute changed to include 3 major highway merges in rush hour traffic I became much less enthusiastic about dailying the car.  YMMV.

My 3 biggest complaints with the C4 are ingress/egress, heat and lack of foot space. Seriously, if you have feet and a manual trans you will be uncomfortable. 

The engine is a torque monster. Seriously. the 88 was rated at 345ft/lbs and I think they under reported. 

I would spend a few bucks more and get a 92 or later.  Better FI system, more power, and much better analog dash.  They really are a performance bargain.

+1 on small foot box for a manual...tough if you're a size 10 shoe or larger.

FWIW I've never been a fan of the c4 but when I picked up a $500 trashed one for the challenge, I've been impressed with the car's  competency for the money.

In reply to Ovid_and_Flem :

Absolutely a competent platform. I'm an 11.5 EEEE shoe. Yeah..... 

People complain about the difficulty of ingress/egress on the Elise, but the one I sat it was spacious and not nearly as deep a drop as my C4.

In reply to Pete Gossett :

Elise with a top on, this fat guy can't get in it. 

I just finished up a whole crapload of engine work on an 88 C4 TPI 4+3 and in general i think it is a crappy car. If you don't mind the ergonomics and hideous interior design and don't expect it to be fast you will probably love it. Its torquey and has a crapload of front end grip so it's very good at delivering strong immediate responses to throttle and steering. Brakes are good, too. It's not bad to work on, honestly. 

I have driven and worked on many later (LT1) c4s and find them VASTLY better in terms of the engine's performance. They are actually fast cars. The manual trans is also way better. I look at c4 prices pretty frequently and the LT1 cars can still often be found fairly cheap where i am at. If i were buying for myself i'd buy an 84 Crossfire in two-tone blue or brown because i'm me, but if i were anyone else i'd highly recommend trying to get an LT1 car.

Vigo said:

If you don't mind the ergonomics and hideous interior design and don't expect it to be fast you will probably love it.

This line makes me realize that I probably should have said what I want it for. All I'm really looking for is something that looks good, makes a decent noise, feels a bit special, handles fairly well, and I wouldn't be paying a German parts premium for. I might even be perfectly happy with an automatic car, and the most I could really see doing to it is fitting a set of post-facelift wheels, quiet but reasonably sporty mufflers (Summit's house-brand turbo style mufflers are decent for this) and maybe wrapping it in a period-correct color at some point (probably teal or metallic beige).

Weren't the top dog autox c4s automatic?

Some cars are truly better with an automatic. Don't fight it, get a shift kit.

In reply to Robbie :

And faster 0-60 than the 4+3. Saving a couple hundred up front and freeing up more space in the footwell sounds nice, but at the same time, the manual just adds another layer of driver engagement.

Just Build the 700r4 and be Happy,  It  will last years and will snap your neck in every Gear.

I would take a 700r4  over the 4+3.  I'd also take a carb setup over the TPI (at least in my climate..). But id also take an LT1 and 6spd over those so my earlier statements about a later car still stand. 

If you want something old and cool that makes V8 noises. Fox /SN95 Mustang or a 4th gen f-body is probably easier to find for cheap. Nicer as a daily too from what I understand because I was roughly 12 years old last time I climbed into/out of a C4 and thought it was tricky. I still want a C4 though if I'm honest.