About to purchase a C4 Vette...anybody know anything about them?
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From: Seneca, SC
2006 C55
About to purchase a C4 Vette...anybody know anything about them?
The wife is keeping the C55 and I'm buying a 1996 C4 LT1 Vette. I've wanted one for some time and I'm seriously excited about it. This is going to be my daily driver and it has 88k miles. From what I hear they get pretty good mpg, like 25 on the highway, which is what I typically drive to work 20 miles each way. I'm thinking I'll be a little disappointed with the 300hp since I'm use to the 360+ of the AMG, but it should be a lighter, better handling car, right? Anyway, if anybody has experience give me some tips, thoughts.
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The wife is keeping the C55 and I'm buying a 1996 C4 LT1 Vette. I've wanted one for some time and I'm seriously excited about it. This is going to be my daily driver and it has 88k miles. From what I hear they get pretty good mpg, like 25 on the highway, which is what I typically drive to work 20 miles each way. I'm thinking I'll be a little disappointed with the 300hp since I'm use to the 360+ of the AMG, but it should be a lighter, better handling car, right? Anyway, if anybody has experience give me some tips, thoughts.
Last edited by Newzchspy; Dec 8, 2010 at 12:31 PM.
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From: Seneca, SC
2006 C55
Thanks...I actually think this car has exhaust mod already. The car is a salvage title built back in '05. I've only got $4500 to put in one and that's right where this one is. I don't care about the salvage title cause I'm just going to get it and drive the crap out of it. Probably put 200k miles on it and sell it for $1000 and get something else. Everything else in my price range is the old 240hp pre 1991, thus the reason I'm opting for the salvage title '96.
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Thanks...I actually think this car has exhaust mod already. The car is a salvage title built back in '05. I've only got $4500 to put in one and that's right where this one is. I don't care about the salvage title cause I'm just going to get it and drive the crap out of it. Probably put 200k miles on it and sell it for $1000 and get something else. Everything else in my price range is the old 240hp pre 1991, thus the reason I'm opting for the salvage title '96.
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V8, Flat 6, V6, & Turbo flat 4
I was looking at picking up one, and have not heard of any major issues with them. Plus parts are cheap on these cars, so no worries with maintenance. Is it an automatic? Not too many manuals for sale around here in Chicago.
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The wife is keeping the C55 and I'm buying a 1996 C4 LT1 Vette. I've wanted one for some time and I'm seriously excited about it. This is going to be my daily driver and it has 88k miles. From what I hear they get pretty good mpg, like 25 on the highway, which is what I typically drive to work 20 miles each way. I'm thinking I'll be a little disappointed with the 300hp since I'm use to the 360+ of the AMG, but it should be a lighter, better handling car, right? Anyway, if anybody has experience give me some tips, thoughts.
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From: Tucson, AZ
C63 AMG
The 1996 were rated at 330 and were not a LT1 instead were a LT4. Chevrolet made a miscalculation on production and the C5 wasn't ready thus they prolonged the C4 production by doing a few tweaks on the cylinder head(mainly) to get 330hp out of it until the C5 was ready.
For many years I was after a C4. Af first it wa a C4, then I found a few ZR1s(385 and 405 hp versions) but I was told the Lotus engine was delicated and expensive then I never bought one at all..
I driven at least 2 C4s(300hp) and one ZR1 and I love the seating position. I think even the 300 hp feels fast. The only vette I ever had though was my new 08 Z06 which I traded in for my C63 AMG, now, that was fast!!.
if you are looking for a C4 try to get the 92 or newer, they changed the interior dash and also the front end. The 93' model was the 40th anniversary and has some wider rims and moniro accents like embroidering on the seats.
For many years I was after a C4. Af first it wa a C4, then I found a few ZR1s(385 and 405 hp versions) but I was told the Lotus engine was delicated and expensive then I never bought one at all..
I driven at least 2 C4s(300hp) and one ZR1 and I love the seating position. I think even the 300 hp feels fast. The only vette I ever had though was my new 08 Z06 which I traded in for my C63 AMG, now, that was fast!!.
if you are looking for a C4 try to get the 92 or newer, they changed the interior dash and also the front end. The 93' model was the 40th anniversary and has some wider rims and moniro accents like embroidering on the seats.
Last edited by C63newdude; Dec 8, 2010 at 04:32 PM.
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C63 507 AMG DA Car #19
##
If you're not fixed on the C4 looks..... go for the C5..... better platform for handling/stiffness............. and still very very reasonable.
I had a 2001 Z06 385HP..... and it was VERY fast stock, and handled great.
Good luck and enjoy cheap performance.
I had a 2001 Z06 385HP..... and it was VERY fast stock, and handled great.
Good luck and enjoy cheap performance.
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2016 Chevrolet SS, 2006 Cadillac STS-V
They go through suspension parts like crazy, ball joints are usually done a 40k and rear hubs wear out and get loose shortly after. The Saginaw column tilt gets loose and that is just annoying (but can be fixed with a slight tear down). The VATS wires will break at some point on the car won't start and you'll need a new lock cylinder to put that right. Decent enough engine, but there isn't very much room around them to work on and even just a tune up is a pain in the ***. Opti-Spark is crap and will need to be replaced if the water pump starts leaking. If it has the selectable ride the price of the shocks is ridiculus. I personally wouldn't buy one, I'd at the very least get a C5.
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They go through suspension parts like crazy, ball joints are usually done a 40k and rear hubs wear out and get loose shortly after. The Saginaw column tilt gets loose and that is just annoying (but can be fixed with a slight tear down). The VATS wires will break at some point on the car won't start and you'll need a new lock cylinder to put that right. Decent enough engine, but there isn't very much room around them to work on and even just a tune up is a pain in the ***. Opti-Spark is crap and will need to be replaced if the water pump starts leaking. If it has the selectable ride the price of the shocks is ridiculus. I personally wouldn't buy one, I'd at the very least get a C5.
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From: Seneca, SC
2006 C55
Well, I would love to go C5...I'd love a 2011 Vette...but my $$$ will only allow for a C4, hence that's what I'm looking at.
***** would have finished 5th in the West...Tigers would have finished last.
***** would have finished 5th in the West...Tigers would have finished last.
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+1 looks plus if you're an everyday driver, it's a much better car to put miles on. LS1's work magic idk how to explain it any other way than that.
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From: Seneca, SC
2006 C55
Finally got my C4 Vette! A 1994 w/77k miles in Bright Aqua Metallic. I'm not a big fan of the color, but I got a steal on the car at $5000 so I had to do it. Figured I'd drive it for a while and try to trade/sell and get a black one (which is what I really want). Anyway, $5000 was the very top dollar I could put into a Vette and I think I got the most for my money. 300hp and this thing is fun to drive! Take the traction control off and smoke both rear 285's while fish-tailing down the road. The car handles like a freakn' dream too! Best handling car I've ever been in. You can't take a curve too fast in this thing. I replaced a wore out 350k mile 1995 Taurus SHO with this as my daily driver so you can imagine the smile I have on my face.
The car has great power but it just seems like its all stuffed up, if that makes sense. I'm guessing a new exhaust system would do wonders as all the stock cats, mufflers, etc are still there on this thing. Anyway, pics to come.
The car has great power but it just seems like its all stuffed up, if that makes sense. I'm guessing a new exhaust system would do wonders as all the stock cats, mufflers, etc are still there on this thing. Anyway, pics to come.
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From: Seneca, SC
2006 C55
Yes...I've had the front wheels swapped (they are going the wrong direction in the pics).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317046805/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317046805/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317115715/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317115715/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317689158/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317689158/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317677238/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317677238/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317665178/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317665178/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317057401/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317057401/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317568318/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317568318/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5316922181/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5316922181/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5316942973/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5316942973/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317046805/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317046805/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317115715/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317115715/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317689158/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317689158/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317677238/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317677238/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317665178/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317665178/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317057401/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317057401/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317568318/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5317568318/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5316922181/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5316922181/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5316942973/http://www.flickr.com/photos/50710256@N06/5316942973/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/50710256@N06/, on Flickr
Last edited by clemson_tiger; Jan 2, 2011 at 09:22 PM.
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C63 507 AMG DA Car #19
You might throw it on the a dyno... if you cats are stuffed up (bad) you will see a pretty sig drop in RWHP. It's also nice when getting a used car to dyno it to see where you stand... make sure there are no issues. That's what I do when I get something used that has some performance.
