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Saw this really cool graphic that I wanted to share. I always hear that the C4 was the least desirable Corvette, yet according to this, total C4 sales are greater than total C6 and total C7 sales COMBINED!!
When the C4 was released it was very popular, it was the car to have. It also set the bar for performance for the time. I think right now they're on the lower end of the desirability scale, but they're starting to come around. That body had a long run, so of course sales for the C4 will be higher. By the end of that body style, there was lot of competition, but they were still selling and they were nice cars. I was selling them in '95/'96 and drove every one that we got. I wanted a silver '96, manual with red interior, and there were big rebates and dealer cash at the time too. I should have just bought one.
It seems to be a function of the fact that the c4 was in production for more years than the c6 or c7. If you do the math to compare sales per year, it appears that the c6 enjoyed a bit of an uptick over the c4 and c7, but not much. All three cars sold at a rate of around 21,000-22,000 cars per year.
Didn't realize Zchris had already made the same point. I guess we were responding around the same time, with a bit of an internet delay. I didn't see his response until after I posted mine. Oh well...
Yes, that's usually what happens when your car is for sale for longer. Also, the performance differences in the muscle car category is less today than it was then. Furthermore, when you calculate for inflation, the C4 base price was lower than that of the C6 or C7.
So, a cheaper, longer-running car that had less competition sold more? Not all that surprising. And the C4 is still hideous.
I went back into Corvettes because of the C4. Owned four of them - trouble free - and LOTS of miles - averaged 140K miles EACH on those four. Skipped C5 - looks - bought C6, put LOTS of miles on it, traded for a C7, LOTS of miles on it too. Traded my '15 for a '19 a month ago.
It’s a great graphic, but nothing really surprising considering the amount of cars sold/produced for each generation. The C3 had a remarkable 15 year run that produced over half a million cars. The C4 followed up with a 13-year run so two generations of Corvettes covered 28 production years. I find it interesting that the C5 outsold the C6 even though the C6 had a longer production run by one year and also included the Grand Sport and ZR1 models. Most likely due to the recession and GM bankruptcy.
...Most likely due to the recession and GM bankruptcy.
Ya think? If the economy didn't collapse and recover at a snail's pace, there is no reason why Chevy couldn't have sold 25-30k vettes from 2009-2013, instead of 12-17k. In other words, at least 50,000 cars.
I went back into Corvettes because of the C4. Owned four of them - trouble free - and LOTS of miles - averaged 140K miles EACH on those four. Skipped C5 - looks - bought C6, put LOTS of miles on it, traded for a C7, LOTS of miles on it too. Traded my '15 for a '19 a month ago.
I should have skipped the C5. Most people had good luck, but my 99 was practically haunted. Sold it right before meeting my ex-wife. I might have avoided two bad decisions by keeping my C4....
Ya think? If the economy didn't collapse and recover at a snail's pace, there is no reason why Chevy couldn't have sold 25-30k vettes from 2009-2013, instead of 12-17k. In other words, at least 50,000 cars.
The C6 platform was also extended at least two years which delayed the C7 and subsequently the C8. The GM design team mentioned earlier that the disputed C7 tail lights which many complained looked like Camaro tail lights at the time we’re actually designed for the Corvette first but due to the delay, the Camaro tail lights appeared first.
I think you're missing his point.
The C6 + C7 combined had more production years total than the C4, but sold fewer cars total.
Yes that is my point - thank you... COMBINED the C6 and C7 were in production 15 years where the C4 was produced 13 years...and the C4 sold more cars than the C6 and C7 combined.
The C6 platform was also extended at least two years which delayed the C7 and subsequently the C8. The GM design team mentioned earlier that the disputed C7 tail lights which many complained looked like Camaro tail lights at the time we’re actually designed for the Corvette first but due to the delay, the Camaro tail lights appeared first.
I won't dispute that was said, but I think it's a BS reason. Fifth Gen Camaro came out in spring of 2009, so according to the designers, the C6 should have run for 3-4 years? Doesn't fit GM's M.O. at all.
I should have skipped the C5. Most people had good luck, but my 99 was practically haunted. Sold it right before meeting my ex-wife. I might have avoided two bad decisions by keeping my C4....
I put more than 40,000 seat miles on C5s, just didn't own any of them. - for me it was looks: front looked like a Fiero and rear end was just to friggin' big and out of proportion.
I sold my C5 because my local dealership were such a$$holes. I had a rattle in my drivers door that had been fixed under warranty a few times. Before the warranty was set to expire; it happened again, and I tried to make an appointment; but they were booked up solid (according to the service writer) for over a week. I told him that I needed to get this done before the warranty expiration; and that since they couldn't (wouldn't) accommodate me in time, I asked for some sort of reassurance that it would still be covered. The service writer looks at me and says "What don't you understand about WARRANTY EXPIRED??" I know that GM would have taken care of it under goodwill, and I could have gone to the general manager etc. but they were so bad; so I traded it in on an Audi for my wife. That particular Chevy dealer (Fletcher Jones) is long gone.
I asked my mechanic best and worst versions to buy strictly for reliability, cost to own; his best was the C5 and by far the worst he said was the C4, specifically electronic/electrical issues. He said problems with that space age dash was a nightmare alone....
I asked my mechanic best and worst versions to buy strictly for reliability, cost to own; his best was the C5 and by far the worst he said was the C4, specifically electronic/electrical issues. He said problems with that space age dash was a nightmare alone....
Back in 2012 I was returning to Corvette ownership after 12 years away and was looking for a used Corvette. I was considering a late C4 or an early C5. A Chevy mechanic told me the same thing, buy the C5, preferably a newer C5 and not a C4. Mentioned the same issues along with the distributor system. Landed up buying an 04 C5 that was a very good Corvette.
04-26-2020, 09:16 AM
C4 total sales > C6 + C7 combined
- bought C6, put LOTS of miles on it, traded for a C7, LOTS of miles on it too. Traded my '15 for a '19 a month ago.
- for me it was looks: front looked like a Fiero and rear end was just to friggin' big and out of proportion.
