Picked Up My New (to me) CE LT4 - Thrilled!
04-19-2014, 11:40 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Picked Up My New (to me) CE LT4 - Thrilled!
Flew up to San Francisco this morning to pick up my new '96 CE LT4 I purchased from member SharkB4C4. He picked me up at the airport in the car and we drove to an open parking lot to look the car over and test drive.
The car was everything he said it was, in excellent condition and offered at an outstanding price. Drove it around surface streets then jumped on the freeway and back to the lot. Went and had some breakfast while waiting for the bank to open then did the paperwork and money transaction.
Said our farewells and I jumped in the car and headed south. I had intended to take highway 1 back but have a busy day tomorrow so just stayed on 101 but did take a pass road farther south (more on that later).
A little back ground first. I've owned several Corvettes, from a '62 C1 to a bunch of C3's and then a '93 C4 and a '98 C5. I bought the '93 off a friends wife as she had purchased a C5 and had to get rid of the C4. I figured I'd help them out by taking it off their hands otherwise I wouldn't have bought an auto trans car. I went through the car and fixed everything and it was a decent car but ultimately sold it to get a stick shift car and bought the C5.
After getting the C5 I discovered what a great improvement they were over the C4. The car just did every thing better than the C4 (except for the seats). After have some financial issues I sold it about 4 years ago.
Now I was ready to get another car and wanted a C5 again but also wanted to keep my budget low as I'm building my '63.5 Galaxie (427/4 speed car) and also have some house projects. I found that I could get a high mileage, low end C5 or I could get a lower miles, really nice C4. I debated this issue for some time when SharkB4C4 contacted me about his car. He sent a ton of photos and long explanations of what was done to it and it's condition. Because it was such a clean car and it was a '96 and it was an LT4 car and it was a CE I figured it was the best of the C4's (along with ZR1's and Grand Sports).
So that being said, I was a little apprehensive going into the deal about getting a C4 instead of the C5. What if I drove it and realized that I really should be getting a C5? I* was worried needlessly. When I was exiting the airport the car was parked at the pickup curb and looked stunning! My last C4 and C5 were both Torch Red and that is my favorite color but the silver in person looks very classy and the shines like new.
Driving the car was not a disappointment. It felt tight and the LT4 motor pulls like a freight train! Once we got the deal done and I was on the road I got to really analyze it and here are my findings:
Took me a little while to remember all the switches and do dads in the car. I actually pulled off the freeway to sit and look everything over. It has some features my '93 didn't have.
My C5 had a Hurst shifter in it so I was kind of expecting the shifter in this car to feel the same. At first I though I'd be changing it out as it felt kind of lose with a much wider shift gate. After 400 + miles in one day I got used to it and actually like it better now than the Hurst.
This car has really good power! It feels just as fast as my C5 was. It is all stock but Chevy did a really good job with the LT4. I had Flow masters on my C5 and thought this car was too quiet at first but again, after all day in it I think I will leave the exhaust alone.
The car is a little noisy inside. Mostly tire noise and changes depending on the freeway. Concrete creates a lot of noise but black top isn't so bad. I have to check the tire pressures as it felt a little high but it might just be the low profile tires that I'm not used too (I drive a Chevy pickup as a DD).
This car (as my last C4 and C5 did) makes a great grand touring car. Effortless cruising at 75 MPH in 6th gear, getting 26 MPG. Looking forward to making some long trips in it. My butt did start to get a little sore after about 6 hours though. The seat is a little slippery and I tend to slide forward. I used the Cinch button and tightened up the seat belt to keep me back but thinking maybe a suede insert would be better (?).
I decided to cut across the mountains from 101 to the 5 freeway so took highway 166 to 33 south to Lockwood Canyon road. 166 is a two lane and although it's usually pretty empty, had some weekend traffic on it. No problem with this car! Downshift to 4th gear and I could pass several cars in one swoop hitting 100 MPH in seconds without it breathing hard!
Turning south on 33 and on Lockwood, I started into the twisties. My God, this car is fun! Plenty of power and got dialed in to the shifter so I could really take advantage of the torque monster motor. Not pushing extremely hard, just kind of spirited driving to get the feel of the car. Did not see a single car in my direction or the opposite way so had the road all to myself. This car is such a joy to drive on the back roads.
Overall, I couldn't be happier. Thanks to SharkB4C4 for selling me such a great car at such a great price!
Here are some photos:
The car was everything he said it was, in excellent condition and offered at an outstanding price. Drove it around surface streets then jumped on the freeway and back to the lot. Went and had some breakfast while waiting for the bank to open then did the paperwork and money transaction.
Said our farewells and I jumped in the car and headed south. I had intended to take highway 1 back but have a busy day tomorrow so just stayed on 101 but did take a pass road farther south (more on that later).
A little back ground first. I've owned several Corvettes, from a '62 C1 to a bunch of C3's and then a '93 C4 and a '98 C5. I bought the '93 off a friends wife as she had purchased a C5 and had to get rid of the C4. I figured I'd help them out by taking it off their hands otherwise I wouldn't have bought an auto trans car. I went through the car and fixed everything and it was a decent car but ultimately sold it to get a stick shift car and bought the C5.
After getting the C5 I discovered what a great improvement they were over the C4. The car just did every thing better than the C4 (except for the seats). After have some financial issues I sold it about 4 years ago.
Now I was ready to get another car and wanted a C5 again but also wanted to keep my budget low as I'm building my '63.5 Galaxie (427/4 speed car) and also have some house projects. I found that I could get a high mileage, low end C5 or I could get a lower miles, really nice C4. I debated this issue for some time when SharkB4C4 contacted me about his car. He sent a ton of photos and long explanations of what was done to it and it's condition. Because it was such a clean car and it was a '96 and it was an LT4 car and it was a CE I figured it was the best of the C4's (along with ZR1's and Grand Sports).
So that being said, I was a little apprehensive going into the deal about getting a C4 instead of the C5. What if I drove it and realized that I really should be getting a C5? I* was worried needlessly. When I was exiting the airport the car was parked at the pickup curb and looked stunning! My last C4 and C5 were both Torch Red and that is my favorite color but the silver in person looks very classy and the shines like new.
Driving the car was not a disappointment. It felt tight and the LT4 motor pulls like a freight train! Once we got the deal done and I was on the road I got to really analyze it and here are my findings:
Took me a little while to remember all the switches and do dads in the car. I actually pulled off the freeway to sit and look everything over. It has some features my '93 didn't have.
My C5 had a Hurst shifter in it so I was kind of expecting the shifter in this car to feel the same. At first I though I'd be changing it out as it felt kind of lose with a much wider shift gate. After 400 + miles in one day I got used to it and actually like it better now than the Hurst.
This car has really good power! It feels just as fast as my C5 was. It is all stock but Chevy did a really good job with the LT4. I had Flow masters on my C5 and thought this car was too quiet at first but again, after all day in it I think I will leave the exhaust alone.
The car is a little noisy inside. Mostly tire noise and changes depending on the freeway. Concrete creates a lot of noise but black top isn't so bad. I have to check the tire pressures as it felt a little high but it might just be the low profile tires that I'm not used too (I drive a Chevy pickup as a DD).
This car (as my last C4 and C5 did) makes a great grand touring car. Effortless cruising at 75 MPH in 6th gear, getting 26 MPG. Looking forward to making some long trips in it. My butt did start to get a little sore after about 6 hours though. The seat is a little slippery and I tend to slide forward. I used the Cinch button and tightened up the seat belt to keep me back but thinking maybe a suede insert would be better (?).
I decided to cut across the mountains from 101 to the 5 freeway so took highway 166 to 33 south to Lockwood Canyon road. 166 is a two lane and although it's usually pretty empty, had some weekend traffic on it. No problem with this car! Downshift to 4th gear and I could pass several cars in one swoop hitting 100 MPH in seconds without it breathing hard!
Turning south on 33 and on Lockwood, I started into the twisties. My God, this car is fun! Plenty of power and got dialed in to the shifter so I could really take advantage of the torque monster motor. Not pushing extremely hard, just kind of spirited driving to get the feel of the car. Did not see a single car in my direction or the opposite way so had the road all to myself. This car is such a joy to drive on the back roads.
Overall, I couldn't be happier. Thanks to SharkB4C4 for selling me such a great car at such a great price!
Here are some photos:
04-19-2014, 11:47 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Burnt section of Lockwood. I didn't get any other photos of Lockwood because I had to keep busy driving. Lots of 10 and 15 MPH turns but great fun.
The last photo is gassing up in Frasier Park.
The last photo is gassing up in Frasier Park.
04-19-2014, 11:50 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Saw this TR3 cruising.
Hit traffic a little east of Pasadena. The car did great in stop and go even with the stick shift. Just pop it on neutral when traffic stops.
Hit traffic a little east of Pasadena. The car did great in stop and go even with the stick shift. Just pop it on neutral when traffic stops.
04-20-2014, 08:03 AM
#11
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Enjoy the ride, and have fun.
04-20-2014, 10:57 AM
#13
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Just checked the tire pressure. They were set at 40 lbs! No wonder the thing rode rough and had tire noise. Reset to 30 and will go for test drive later.
I wish I had brought a tire gauge with me but didn't want to deal with airport security. Looking through the box of goodies the seller included in the car this morning and found a tire gauge!
I wish I had brought a tire gauge with me but didn't want to deal with airport security. Looking through the box of goodies the seller included in the car this morning and found a tire gauge!
04-20-2014, 12:32 PM
#14
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
Congrats from a fellow CE owner.
04-20-2014, 12:32 PM
#15
Burning Brakes
Awesome! Looks clean. Glad everything went well. And 
at 40 psi. Jeese. Enjoy your new toy!
As an aside, looks like were traveling the same day yesterday (I was sans Corvette). The wife and I were heading back up from Newport Beach to Vegas (was in Riverside for a concert on Friday, then down to Newport Beach Saturday). One fun thing about road trips is the occasional cool cars you run into. I ended up cruising on I-15N next to a little caravan of two C6 verts, a mustang GT and a Porsche Carrera. I see you had a little fun as well.
at 40 psi. Jeese. Enjoy your new toy! As an aside, looks like were traveling the same day yesterday (I was sans Corvette). The wife and I were heading back up from Newport Beach to Vegas (was in Riverside for a concert on Friday, then down to Newport Beach Saturday). One fun thing about road trips is the occasional cool cars you run into. I ended up cruising on I-15N next to a little caravan of two C6 verts, a mustang GT and a Porsche Carrera. I see you had a little fun as well.
04-20-2014, 09:53 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
That looks like both a great car and a great trip home 
For awhile now I've been debating on getting another vette, either a clean C3 or a C6...looks like I might have to add an LT4 into the mix as well. Thanks for the great pics. What are some specs on the CE? Miles, options etc etc?
astepup said that
For awhile now I've been debating on getting another vette, either a clean C3 or a C6...looks like I might have to add an LT4 into the mix as well. Thanks for the great pics. What are some specs on the CE? Miles, options etc etc?astepup said that
