lt4dogman

Day before yesterday I stopped by American Sports Car Center in Atlanta to show my new(for me) '96 LT4 to the salesman Darren who had been very helpful when I was first 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 '96 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 '96 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( I just bought it last Wed. and have put over 1200 miles on it this week and it is my first Vette) ,. 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!

geerp12

I guess it would depend on which model you like better, only you can decide that!! As for value a dealer is going to make money or they are not going to sell the 99, keep in mind though that the dealer paid less for the 99 than it is worth with makeing a profit in mind!! Hope this helps!!

Mean Green

I'd keep the GS and find a way to get the FRC if you want one that bad, LOVE the GS

Crushinator

Tough call. If it were a Grand Sport, I'd definitely tell you to keep it. But since it's not, I'll just say to get which one you like better. The LT4 is a very potent motor. The '99 hardtop will be about the same as far as acceleration, but will handle better and in my opinion, look better too. But then again it has 50,000 miles and your '96 like you said is in showroom condition. Persoanlly, I'd look for a lower mileage C5. Good luck!

wildman378

Keep the c4 it's a sleeker better looking machine IMO and still outrun the c5 frc.

CarsRFun

I would keep the C4 with less miles can always bolt stuff on to make it go go go, cant take miles away! Plus us C5 guys are not the new kids on the block anymore

right before I bought my 99FRC w 46kmiles I had the chance to get a 96 LT4 with 18k miles org owner 6speed, I almost wish I had bought the C4 now, but I love my C5.

Slash

Sure. That is what I did.

I traded my hunter green LT4 for a 99 nassau blue hardtop.

Wadoka

Not even on its best day. I had both, and my '99 is much faster, a half-second better in the 1/4. Yeesh.

***

If you go from the C4 to the FRC, you may end up missing the pop-top. That's the only thing I miss about my C4. Well, that and the seats. C4 seats are better.

What's he trying to sell that FRC for? '99 with 50K is/should be in the neigborhood of $20,000 right now.

SmoknLT4

Hey man, I have had both. The LT4 is actually just a tad slower (stock to stock) than the 99 FRC. I have had both now. I would keep the LT4 for a while and enjoy it. You will always be able to get a C5, they are only going to get cheaper. LT4 is somewhat rare. Put your miles on it and then trade up. Win Win situation IMHO.

wildman378

Hmmm most lt4's when compared to your run of the muck 345-350hp c5's win in the 1/4. They are capable of 12.9 stock saw it myself and the car was bone stock! My 95 vert has got 13.2 bone stock and I know a lt4 SHOULD be able to do a little better than that with the right driver. My 99 didn't get but 13.4 so I don't see a frc being faster, it' just a c5 with the z06 look doesn't even have z06 suspension.

PaceThis

Personally, I think the FRC is a better car...and I had a 96lt4...and an frc.

lt4dogman

Thanks guys,
SmoknLT4 idea seems to be the best to me, keep the LT4 for now and put some miles on it then trade up, the C5s will be around for while.

lt4dogman

"What is he trying to sell the FRC for?"

I think they are asking 23 or 24k which imo is too high, of course they are a used vette dealer, and thats how they make their living. I bought the LT4 last week from a private party for $18,500 with 15,300 miles ( i've put over 1200 miles on it this week, they were made to drive, weren't they??) and I have fallen completely in love with it and can't stay out of the drivers seat!!!

JCR_Indy

Keep what you got!!! '96 w/16K miles? Must have been kept in very good shape whereas a '99 w/50k???

Just my .02

JCR_Indy

Wadoka

My home track is Beech Bend. Fastest stock LT4 car I ever saw at BB pulled a 13.5 flat. I get 13.1 - 13.0 in my '99 with Nitto street (non-runflat) tires.

There's a guy over in C5 Tech that pulled off a 12.5 in a stock FRC. Probably that same magical track where the stock Z06s get down into the 11.99s.

Wadoka

LT4 fourth-gens are great cars. Classic profile, low production numbers. Take good care of it and it'll do ya. Get some seat covers and a steering wheel cover, maybe a cargo mat and a bra, and it'll stay beautiful.

The ZF transmission is better than the T56 in the C5. Maintenance is easier if you turn your own wrenches. Nothing like sitting in the wheelwell to tinker with the engine.

The C5 is put together better, is stiffer, is a little faster, has worse seats.

My C4 was a high-mile car when I bought it (65K) and started getting really annoying with all the little problems that kept cropping up.

My C5 is the most reliable car I've ever owned to this point. And it's the most fun I've ever had in a car.

93Polo

I disagree with this and I have owned a C4 ZF6. The T56 shift smoother handles just as much power and is much cheaper to rebuild.


I would keep the GS if you want a fun car with good resale. If you want a car to mod get the FRC. The GS will also get more attention that the FRC.

TIKTGTR

Keep the C4 and keep your eyes open for a lower milage C5

Cajun99

More

napacruzerc5

The FRC may be a little rare too, but the I would rather look for a Z06. The LT4 is the last of the C4 breed adding value to it along with the low miles. Next to a ZR1 I would look for a LT4 if I were in the market for a C4.