Claremont open day 2nd Jan

[Vet Guru]

The yearly Claremont open day is from 10am this Monday.

[roscobbc]

See you there if weather is OK!

[niall1717]

Almost headed down for this but roads too damp. I have the car so clean for winter storage that it looks as though it's never been used at all so couldn't bring myself to do it

[ZR1cliff]

Gave the Z a quick wipe over, checked the oil etc and enjoyed the drive down. As usual the hospitality offered by Claremont was A1. Good to catch up with everyone and chew the fat about cars and stuff.

[Gixer]

Good to see you Cliff. Great to see and hear that ZR1. Can't wait to get mine back together.

[NervySi]

I went along to find out a bit more about C4s, having never owned a Corvette. Thanks to those who offered useful advice, and to the chap who let me sit in his Collector's Edition. Was really nice to see some C2s and C3s in use during the winter too.

[anonymous-user]

NervySi said:

I went along to find out a bit more about C4s, having never owned a Corvette.

I've never owned a C4 but AFAIK it's difficult to go wrong. It's a properly engineered and developed car with good reliability. Such glitches as exist will be well known on the forums. I imagine the post-1992 models with LT1 engine should catch your attention. Nothing wrong with the older ones though.

[NervySi]

Thanks for that feedback, it's really the older C4s that float my boat, with the big parking lamps and squared-off rear with circular tail lights. Plus it seems a fairly accessible way to put a proper American V8 on the drive in a fairly compact bodyshell. The only thing is, I have been told that I will find the ride pretty hard after my Jaguar X300.

Sorry to go off topic - it was great to have a look around at Claremont.

[rubyragtop]

NervySi said:

Thanks for that feedback, it's really the older C4s that float my boat, with the big parking lamps and squared-off rear with circular tail lights. Plus it seems a fairly accessible way to put a proper American V8 on the drive in a fairly compact bodyshell. The only thing is, I have been told that I will find the ride pretty hard after my Jaguar X300.

Sorry to go off topic - it was great to have a look around at Claremont.

I have owned a 1986 and a 1993 in the past. I admit that I preferred the look of the rear on the earlier C4's but having owned both found the later with the LT1 the better car. Ride is subjective. The Jag is a luxury saloon and consequently has a soft suspension to coccoon you and give a comfortable ride. The Vette is a sports car and has a much firmer suspension, This is compounded by the use of run-flat tyres. Some people remove these and fit ordinary tyres which does improve the ride, however the downside is no spare in case of a puncture so a puncture repair foam is a must. Its personal choice, but IMO the later Vette is nicer to own and live with. You get used to the firmer ride with time, I used both of mine as daily drivers doing in excess of 10,000 miles a year. Get to a local meet, chat with owners there and see if they will give you a ride in each so you can feel the ride and make up your own mind.

[malc350]

Yes I agree about later C4s. Having owned an '84, 90, 93 and 96 (mine was the other Collector Edition at Claremont on Monday) I have to say that as C4s get newer they get better. The ride gets better and better and the ergonomics improve and the car gets more refined as you'd expect as the manufacturers develop the car more and more.

The dash and cockpit overall from the 90 model is a major leap forward in my opinion.

The ride or refinement will never approach a Jaguar in a million years, it's just not that kind of car. Keep the X300 for nights out to the theatre and get a Corvette for doing what a real sports car does!

Malc