lt4dogman

Day before yesterday I stopped by American Sports Car Center in Atlanta to show my new LT4 (16,400 miles) to the salesman Darren who had been very helpful when I was looking for a Vette. He had taken pretty much a whole afternoon with me, letting me drive this car and that car to see which type I liked.
Well, I ended up buying a LT 4 from a private party, so I figured I should stop by and show the car to Darren and thank him for his help. We got to talking and I told him that I was not beyond trading up for C-5, especially a hardtop. So, be careful for what you ask for .... you might get it!!! Today he called and said they had a '99 hardtop black/ black with 50,000 miles in very good condition............. would I be crazy to trade my (new to me ) Lt4 with 16,000 miles in near showroom condition for the '99 hardtop? This has somewhat taken me by surprise, I have really fallen in love with this LT4 this week,. but I really like the C5s also. What I am wondering is, if the two cars are of pretty much equal value on the market or would I be making a big mistake??
Any and all opinions are welcome. Thanks in advance!

luvmy92

Drive that 99 and I think that will answer your question. I think the answer will be no. I know there is no way in hell I would trade a 16k mile LT4 for a 99 hardtop with 50k miles, but to each their own.

Mike

GS057

n1kki6

nope, wouldnt do it, but then again i love c4's and would never replace mine with a c5. I would however buy one to keep my c4 company.

I guess it al depends on what car you like better, but just realize over the next few years when the c6 becomes the norm, the c5's value is going to keep dropping, not that you would buy it for an investmant, but you would maybe to grab on in a few years without selling the lt4, also at that point your lt4 will be kind of a rarity. Plus the fact that all i see is c5's, i barely ever see c4's on the road anymore, so have a lt4 with 16k is something special, having a c5 isn't. Plus they will be widely available over the next 10 years at low prices, where that lt4 you have with those kinda miles wont.

In the long run i think you would reget it.

QuikZilver

For a FRC, no way, keep your LT4. Now if it was an 01+ Z06, in a second! The Z06 is an awesome piece of machinery.

all4c4lt4

No way in hell would I trade a 16k mile LT4 for a 50k mile 99 C5. Now if it was a Z06 we could talk...

n1kki6

The z06 is awsome, and it would be damn hard not to, but i still wouldnt do it, again i would wait a few years when the prices come down even more and then decide. Thats just my opinion and i am sure many would disagree with me.

lt4dogman

My LT4 has 16,500 miles on her today , last Wed. she only had 15.200 on her. I bought it to drive and I can't keep my butt out of it. Seems like I can always think of an excuse of why I have to go here or there, I really LOVE driving that car. I have driven a couple of C5s (not this FRC) and I really like them too. Why does life have to be so hard!!!!???
Keep the advice coming!!!!!
Dan

n1kki6

Drive the crap out of it, i bought my car with 67k three years later 116, its in better condtition ow and runs better than when i bought it. For me i never want to sell any ot the vettes i will buy, especially not my first, to much sentimental value. DOnt get caught up in newer is better, but more what one makes you feel better and you like drving better. Personally i would take the lt4.

n1kki6

Plus your will have plenty of opportunities to get into a c5 now since the c6 if you decide you want one. I wouldnt jump at the first thing you see. Give it some time, their are going to be tons of c5's up for sale over the next year or two, and at great prices.

Mikez40

A friend of mine traded his LT4 in on a brand new 03 Z06. He regrets it. He even went as far as going back to the dealer and try to trade it back, but they already had sold it.

Scorpion Dude

I had plenty of offers to trade my C.E for a C5, and even though the C5 is a great car, I LOVE my C4. I would definetly keep the c4, especially one that only has 16K on it!

lt4dogman

I think I'll post this on the C5 board and see what they have to say.

TM-Z06

We (C4 owners) all know what they're going to say.


As for trading in an LT4 for a 99 C5 with over 3 times the mileage -

bizaro

Ask them if they'd trade their 2002 with 16500 for a C6 with 55000
Do what makes you happy, I wouldn't

H P Bushrod

I'd keep the C4.

BILLY D

Keep the LT4.

xs650

Only you can answer that question. Drive the C5 and decide. 50k miles is low enough that it shouldn't be a concern. The only thing that should matter is which car lights your candle the best. Don't try to over anylize the situation, in the long run the money, reliability and performance won't be all that different so go on emotion.

I have a low milage LT4 that I bought last November that is rapidly racking up miles. I wouldn't do the trade, but what I would do should have no effect on what you do.

94RAG

Glad I'm not you! This is going to be a tough one. I'll bet that LT-4 still smells new with only 16K on it. I bought my '94 w/only 34K on it, it felt like brand new. I dunno, FRC? Automatic or Manual? I think the sales guy is going to get the deal if you make the trade. It seems possible a low mileage LT-4 may be more desireable and worth more in two years than an average mileage run of the mill C-5. Drive the hell out of that C-5 if you get a chance though, and if you really feel it'll make you happier, go for it and don't look back.

xlr8nflorida

Depends on what you want to do.

The decision really depends on what you are going to do with the car. Right now, your LT4 still has pretty good value because its faster then most C5's and you have low mileage.
As you pile on the mileage, the C4 will really drop in value. The C5 will drop in value as well though.

In the long term scheme of things the LT4 is the more desirable car since the motor is a 1 year run. That is a special car with low mileage- If you don't plan on piling the miles on, I would say keep the LT4, if you are going pile the miles on then I don't think it matters in the next 5-10 years which route you choose.The LT4 cars will come into their own but its going to be down the road a long long time.

Do you want something that has a special motor or do you want one that drives more comfortable and looks like one of the newer vettes - a dime a dozen. I like to be different myself.