Anybody with Corvette experience around here?
Discussion
Specifically late C4s with the LT1 or LT4 and the 6 speed manual. Is the handling and experience more GT or more sports car? More 350Z, more MX5 or more TVR?
P.S. I originally posted this in Car Buying. It was moved here. Which is why the title now sounds strange. I would gather in the Corvette forum, there will be certainly people with Corvette experience.
But I didn't even realize there was a dedicated Vette forum.
P.S. I originally posted this in Car Buying. It was moved here. Which is why the title now sounds strange. I would gather in the Corvette forum, there will be certainly people with Corvette experience.
But I didn't even realize there was a dedicated Vette forum. Edited by TJveloce on Tuesday 7th June 20:44
I owned a 1985 C4 TPi from 1994 to 1997.
Used as a daily over about 25000 miles but hardly the best built car in the world. Liked to squeak and rattle but all part of its charm. Mine was auto.
I always enjoyed driving it. It was loud and lairy and handled well enough but it's no MX5 and I've never driven a TVR. So perhaps more GT but rock solid at speeds far in excess of 100.
The C5 Z06 I had was far better built but, in a way, had far less character and the rear mounted gearbox was a pain.
Used as a daily over about 25000 miles but hardly the best built car in the world. Liked to squeak and rattle but all part of its charm. Mine was auto.
I always enjoyed driving it. It was loud and lairy and handled well enough but it's no MX5 and I've never driven a TVR. So perhaps more GT but rock solid at speeds far in excess of 100.
The C5 Z06 I had was far better built but, in a way, had far less character and the rear mounted gearbox was a pain.
LuS1fer said:
I owned a 1985 C4 TPi from 1994 to 1997.
Used as a daily over about 25000 miles but hardly the best built car in the world. Liked to squeak and rattle but all part of its charm. Mine was auto.
I always enjoyed driving it. It was loud and lairy and handled well enough but it's no MX5 and I've never driven a TVR. So perhaps more GT but rock solid at speeds far in excess of 100.
The C5 Z06 I had was far better built but, in a way, had far less character and the rear mounted gearbox was a pain.
Yeah, I'm not expecting the best finish. It's an 80s or 90s GM car. But when you say the build quality is not the best, do you mean things wear out prematurely and fall off or apart?Used as a daily over about 25000 miles but hardly the best built car in the world. Liked to squeak and rattle but all part of its charm. Mine was auto.
I always enjoyed driving it. It was loud and lairy and handled well enough but it's no MX5 and I've never driven a TVR. So perhaps more GT but rock solid at speeds far in excess of 100.
The C5 Z06 I had was far better built but, in a way, had far less character and the rear mounted gearbox was a pain.
In comparison to the C5, I have heard many times that the C5 is the more competent car but the C4, specially LT1 or LT4 or ZR1 is more fun. The C4 is more of an event and feels more special. Would you agree with that?
TJveloce said:
Yeah, I'm not expecting the best finish. It's an 80s or 90s GM car. But when you say the build quality is not the best, do you mean things wear out prematurely and fall off or apart?
In comparison to the C5, I have heard many times that the C5 is the more competent car but the C4, specially LT1 or LT4 or ZR1 is more fun. The C4 is more of an event and feels more special. Would you agree with that?
I mean things aren't that well made to begin with. So they can look tatty. Much is cured by regular tightening if the screws - maybe some mild loctite would have helped. The targa seals and window seals weren't great and the car leaked onto the driver's seat but I never did replace them. I should add mine was hardly pristine and had 53k on it when I bought it.In comparison to the C5, I have heard many times that the C5 is the more competent car but the C4, specially LT1 or LT4 or ZR1 is more fun. The C4 is more of an event and feels more special. Would you agree with that?
That said, mine was fairly reliable but what went wrong - stripped headlight cogs ( cheap enough to replace), heater matrix leaked (hard to get at but do-able), digital instrument pack failed (replaced but may be cheaper these days). My smoked targa top blew off one day (my fault) and I was lucky enough to get hold of a decent priced ONS roof instead of having to pay nearly £3k.
Couldn't get 255 tyres so changed them to 245s.
The C5 was far better built and developed but equally lost the clamshell hood that gave such good access. It's hard to compare like with like, though, because the Z06 is a fixed head coupe and I really did miss the targa.
The best distinction I can make is that the C5 was a serious and pretty well resolved sports car. The C4 was far more raw, loud, vibratory and therefore characterful. It made you smile, even when you were miserable. It encouraged hooliganism.
LuS1fer said:
I mean things aren't that well made to begin with. So they can look tatty. Much is cured by regular tightening if the screws - maybe some mild loctite would have helped. The targa seals and window seals weren't great and the car leaked onto the driver's seat but I never did replace them. I should add mine was hardly pristine and had 53k on it when I bought it.
That said, mine was fairly reliable but what went wrong - stripped headlight cogs ( cheap enough to replace), heater matrix leaked (hard to get at but do-able), digital instrument pack failed (replaced but may be cheaper these days). My smoked targa top blew off one day (my fault) and I was lucky enough to get hold of a decent priced ONS roof instead of having to pay nearly £3k.
Couldn't get 255 tyres so changed them to 245s.
The C5 was far better built and developed but equally lost the clamshell hood that gave such good access. It's hard to compare like with like, though, because the Z06 is a fixed head coupe and I really did miss the targa.
The best distinction I can make is that the C5 was a serious and pretty well resolved sports car. The C4 was far more raw, loud, vibratory and therefore characterful. It made you smile, even when you were miserable. It encouraged hooliganism.
Thanks. I think getting a later car, such as 94-96 might solve some of the problems you pointed out. I have heard that the sweet spot is a 94-96 or if you like the L98, a 1991.That said, mine was fairly reliable but what went wrong - stripped headlight cogs ( cheap enough to replace), heater matrix leaked (hard to get at but do-able), digital instrument pack failed (replaced but may be cheaper these days). My smoked targa top blew off one day (my fault) and I was lucky enough to get hold of a decent priced ONS roof instead of having to pay nearly £3k.
Couldn't get 255 tyres so changed them to 245s.
The C5 was far better built and developed but equally lost the clamshell hood that gave such good access. It's hard to compare like with like, though, because the Z06 is a fixed head coupe and I really did miss the targa.
The best distinction I can make is that the C5 was a serious and pretty well resolved sports car. The C4 was far more raw, loud, vibratory and therefore characterful. It made you smile, even when you were miserable. It encouraged hooliganism.
I was hoping to get some opinions on the driving and handling compared to other more commons cars such as the 350Z, MX5 etc. Just to see how the 90's C4 places. But so far in the Corvette forum I have not had much on that. When I posted here in the general section this was exact my intention. I though on Pistonheads I would have a better chance than in a Corvette forum as people who have only driven but not owned or owned them but no longer do, will not hang around in the Corvette forums. Thing is, a C4 is not a car I can just go and try for myself anywhere. Specially that I'm thinking about importing one from the U.S. So all info I can have on the driving and handling upfront helps.
So your feedback is very useful.
Matt_Tomlin1982 said:
I used to own a tuscan which was a bag of s
t worst car I ever bought
I purchased a c6 z06 in 2012 it was everything the tvr tried to be, fantastic car in every way
They are great cars and can be modified very easily
I did exactly the same. Tuscan pile of turd. So disappointing Wanted since I was 17. t worst car I ever bought I purchased a c6 z06 in 2012 it was everything the tvr tried to be, fantastic car in every way
They are great cars and can be modified very easily
C6 z06. Awesome machine. Super car really. Should never have sold it!
UTH said:
I own a C7 Z06 so not sure how much help that is to you?
Is that the model with 7 litres and 505 bhp? I enjoyed that car more than the (admittedly much faster) supercharged 6.2 i drove the same day in USA 2 years ago. I believe the engine was quite a good spec. from the factory. The sound at higher revs was addictive.Electrics not for me said:
UTH said:
I own a C7 Z06 so not sure how much help that is to you?
Is that the model with 7 litres and 505 bhp? I enjoyed that car more than the (admittedly much faster) supercharged 6.2 i drove the same day in USA 2 years ago. I believe the engine was quite a good spec. from the factory. The sound at higher revs was addictive.UTH said:
Electrics not for me said:
UTH said:
I own a C7 Z06 so not sure how much help that is to you?
Is that the model with 7 litres and 505 bhp? I enjoyed that car more than the (admittedly much faster) supercharged 6.2 i drove the same day in USA 2 years ago. I believe the engine was quite a good spec. from the factory. The sound at higher revs was addictive.They also have the 7 litre in the Camaro Z28, alongside the supercharged ZL1.
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