VOLguy

What is your opinion on the purchase of a 70K mile 94 C4 or a 100K+ 98 (or newer) C5 for about $3K more? I've found several of each. Are there any pros or cons with either, or just a matter of taste?

H P Bushrod

I'd stick with the C4, if it's been maintained properly. The early C5's had some bugs, but I'm sure they've been corrected by 100K. It comes down to personal preference. Drive both and see what you like. Good luck with your purchase.

RollaMo-LT4

Comes down to a matter of taste, and overall condition of each car.

A well maintained excellent condition '94 would be a better buy than a average high mileage '98.

But if both cars are in identical condition, the C5 should be the choice.

Bottom line:
Buy the best condition car you can afford.
You will be money ahead and much happier in the long run.

dizwiz24

Either one of the cars...you need to be prepared (garage, service books, tools, etc.) to do the work yourself.

If you dont, you will pay big bucks for some generic mechanic to do a sub-standard job that needs done again. It can be very frustrating.

Realy, its going to come down to personal preference and whether you want auto vs. stick.

I mention this because stick corvettes seem to be more 'rare' in the c4 world. So even if I liked c5, but wanted stick, and I found a rare stick c4 vs. an auto c5. I would go with the stick c4. Thats my personal preference.

Now....if you are all about mods. Go C5. Theres so much more cheaper, off-the-shelf go-fast kits and turnkey shops with great reps, like ECS , LPE, and A&A.

It doesnt mean you cant do the same thng on the C4. But you better better do your homework, know how to weld, fab some of your own parts, make friends with some of the C4 forum members who can make you parts, etc. You will probably spend more in the process.

VOLguy

Good thoughts, thanks. The C4 is at a dealership I know well and will let me take it home to check it out. The C5's I've found are over 100 miles away. I am hoping to sell my '66 Dodge to make room in the garage for it. While I can turn a wrench, there is a world of differece in tech from 66 to 94, no matter the vehicle. Mods would be modest as I'm buying it for cruising and overnight trips. My wife doesn't do sticks, so it will be an automatic (she doesn't ride with me on my motorcycle, so this is more for us as a couple). Again I appreciate your thoughts.

91 black convert

My guess would be that you would like the C4 better and your wife would like the C5 better.

rhinoevans

Sold my 03 Z06 C5. Picked up a 1994 Z07 C4. No regrets

PLRX

Its your money; you are the one that needs to make the decision.

roadbike56

You owe it to yourself to drive both models, then pursue the type you prefer. I went through a very similar decision about 1 1/2 years ago and elected to go with a higher priced C5, but after driving some C4s I could see why others would prefer it, especially the way the tires chirped just a tad coming out of a hard turn with the power on, really fun. I really wish I could afford both, but decided to go with one Vette and keep my marriage.

cv67

Id trust the C5 on long trips before the C4 if it was well maintained.
Lsx are way easier to work on too.

VOLguy

Thanks again for everyones insight. I'm feeling better about the C4.

aboatguy

rocknroller

Really? Ouch! I assume you came out way ahead in cash.

TP98

I've owned both, and if it was just a few grand in difference, the extra horsepower and additional refinement of the C5 would win, not to mention that LS motors are bulletproof. That said, I have just as much fun in my C4, you really can't go wrong.

dukeallen

If it's for both, let her have a say or you'll never hear the end of it.

Pics and details of '66 Dodge?

astepup

If you're considering an earlier C5 I'd suggest spending time in both the C5 tech and general discussion parts of CF. From what I've gathered the earlier C5's...up to 2000 or 2001 I believe had quite a few issues and all of the manual transmissions have some design flaw concerning the throw out bearing seal that allows brake dust to somehow get into the clutch slave cylinder thereby necessitating you replace the fluid around every 2500 miles or so. If I'm not mistaken there's also an issue with the earlier computers (ECM or PCM maybe?) that can't be replaced if they go bad. I was looking at an '04 with 5K miles on it so I started doing my research mostly on CF and that's what I learned. Problems with the column lock were also present on a lot of the manual optioned cars.

astepup said that

FOURSPEEDVETTE

You should consider not spending the $3000.00 more for a 100,000 mile plus early C5. My opinion is you'll be sorry. They are nothing special and many seem to be reporting lots of problems with them as they are getting older. Parts and reliability especially. Stick with a C4.

MZee

Hi, I have a 90 C-4 stick with 72000 on it. It runs trouble free.Driven it 500 miles on it's first trip.Almost never see C-4 sticks for sale, I
drive it every day as the weather holds , putting it away in a few weeks.Total trust in it starting and driving anywhere.
I too, was thinking of selling it and buying eventually a high mileage C-5 stick 98-99-2000.A few thousand more.But I am driving a trouble free car and it came from the original one owner,afraid of getting stuck with a problem car.Nothing I detest more than constantly having mechanical problems and not enjoying it, so if it was me,I can;t fix anything, I'd take the C-4.
MZee

NVMYRC51

I was in a similar situation here in the last couple of months. I wanted a reliable C4 or C5 as a weekend/recreational/general use car not necessarily a daily driver. I looked at many C4's and C5's, drove both, and ultimately decided to go with a C4 ZR-1. The reason for the ZR-1 was I happened across a great deal and jumped on it. The reason I was going to choose a C4 period was basically looks. I think the C4 has classic lines that I really like. The C5 just doesn't do it for me. It wasn't about HP or track prowess, truly it was asthetics. Depending on who you speak to you will hear good and bad about both. If I were you, ask the wife what car she would rather drive. Letting her be part of the decision will put you in her good graces.

vetteLT193

The C5 is a totally different beast than the C4.

The C4 you fit in snugly. It feels like a race car wrapped around you. The C5 feels like a cadillac. The C5 seems loaded with electrical gremlins. There are fixes for all of them, but be prepared to fix them. The C4 has its share of issues too but they seem easier to fix and less prone to get them in the first place.

IMO, 6 in one, half a dozen in the other. Buy what you like best.

I have owned both. Nothing beats the feel of the C4. The ride of the C5 is nice. My pick is... C5 auto convertible or C4 6 speed coupe. The C5 for cruisin' around and the C4 for tearing up the back roads.