When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Just sold my C6. My son is buying his own car, so I'll get my daily driver back. I was looking for another C6 or a C7 when I realized that I can finally indulge a little and get myself a purely fun Vette. I love the GS, and I love the ZR1. I REALLY love a B2K with aero, but I'm not rich nor did I hit the lotto. So, sell me: ZR1 or GS and why (please pretend that C5-C7 is completely off the table)?
Both are wonderful C4s and I doubt you could wrong with either.
The reason I own is a ZR-1 is partly due to its history (the Corvette that started them down the road to supercar status) and partly due to looks. I find my 1990 the best looking vette with the "old" front and the "new" rear, but looks are personal preference. Oh, and open up the hood of each and see which one draws a crowd
I was recently contemplating the C4 ZR1 vs. C4 GS.....
The two issue that I would have with owning a ZR1 would be the ability of finding a skilled local mechanic (as needed) that would be familiar with a C4 ZR1, and the parts availability now and down the road if I were to keep it long-term.
Also, I think the GS stands out more in its paint scheme which I have always liked......parts and a professional mechanics (as needed) should be more readily available as well as the GS is a more limited production number.
At the end of the day, like ChumpVette said, "Drive both and make a decision."
I don't know about you, but I have to "feel it" when I drive it, or it's just not the car for me....I don't mean just the power, but the overall whole package.....,
Hands down the zr1, they are really something special, the GS is a very nice C4 but nothing special about them, just a 96 coupe painted Admiral Blue with the LT4 engine option.
Both are wonderful C4s and I doubt you could wrong with either.
The reason I own is a ZR-1 is partly due to its history (the Corvette that started them down the road to supercar status) and partly due to looks. I find my 1990 the best looking vette with the "old" front and the "new" rear, but looks are personal preference. Oh, and open up the hood of each and see which one draws a crowd
The two issue that I would have with owning a ZR1 would be the ability of finding a skilled local mechanic (as needed) that would be familiar with a C4 ZR1, and the parts availability now and down the road if I were to keep it long-term.
Somebody recently was looking for a LT5 shop in San Diego, and somebody casually said, “just send it to Marc”. I always have to laugh when I see something so stupid as a recommendation to ship your car 3,000 miles to get it worked on.
Honestly, if you are depending upon any mechanic, you should not be owning a C4 long term.
Drive both and make a decision. I have owned multiples of each and sold multiples of each.
And B2K cars are not that out of reach if you are cross shopping ZR-1’s.
Unfortunately neither is available close to me that I can find currently. I'm not in a huge hurry, but the weather is turning nice! I will keep an eye out for a B2K, but if I can't get the aero I don't want it lol!
If you're actually going to want to drive it, I'd lean towards the Grand Sport.
The ZR-1 is an exotic. The LT5 is extremely durable and doesn't have a lot of problems. But if you do have problems, finding somebody that knows it well enough to work on it is going to be hard and you could be down for weeks waiting on parts. That engine is a unicorn. It's not like the modern C6 and C7 ZR1 where the powerplant is based on the primary architecture and you can get it worked on. The LT5 is completely unique. I think the the only parts is shares with a normal C4 powerplant are the alternator and the A/C compressor. You need a thingamajig while on the road, and you're not getting it at Autozone.
While the the Grand Sport is just another Gen II small block.
But that's just me. The ZR-1 is cool, I don't think you'll go wrong with one. I've just been driving junk for so long the "can I get parts quickly?" factor is deeply embedded in my thinking.
There are a lot of special parts on the ZR1. Such as rear qtrs, bumper, doors, ZR1 motor, ZF transmission, wheels, etc.
GS shares most parts with base C4's, but still some differences such as wheels, fender flares, LT4 motor, etc.
The LT5 is a great engine for performance and reliability and is great to drive. However, the LT4 is also a good motor and performs pretty well.
I looked at options I would have if something bad happened such as a wreck, or a motor failure. There are a lot of LT1's that could swap in a GS, and there are many more standard C4 parts available for them.
It is a tough choice, but for me, I went with a Collector Edition LT4. Performance is the same as the GS. There are several specialty items on it like calipers, wheels, badging, etc, but most can be replaced with common parts if needed.
I guess the bottom line is to drive them and see which one you like the best. It may be hard to choose, but there are no bad choices here.
I was recently contemplating the C4 ZR1 vs. C4 GS.....
The two issue that I would have with owning a ZR1 would be the ability of finding a skilled local mechanic (as needed) that would be familiar with a C4 ZR1, and the parts availability now and down the road if I were to keep it long-term.
Also, I think the GS stands out more in its paint scheme which I have always liked......parts and a professional mechanics (as needed) should be more readily available as well as the GS is a more limited production number.
At the end of the day, like ChumpVette said, "Drive both and make a decision."
I don't know about you, but I have to "feel it" when I drive it, or it's just not the car for me....I don't mean just the power, but the overall whole package.....,
This is an old wives tale.......I've owned my ZR-1 10 years now, and have never had one issue finding any parts for the LT5. That is in part due to the stellar ZR-1 community, which is one reason I chose the ZR-1....... And finding a great mechanic is always a good thing, they don't have to be fimilar with the LT5. If it's something I can't do myself, I have very limited tools and skills, then the mechanic I use loves working on the car. He has a collection of Corvettes himself, and always asks if it's for sale when I bring it in.
I chose the ZR-1 after a long research of cars. Sure the Grand Sport was on that list, but I can't get past that color scheme and the fender flairs To me the ZR-1 is iconic. Besides one of the most beautiful engines ever put in any car, it just sings. The Grand Sport wasn't the King of the Hill, the ZR-1 was.........When I was in high school, it was THE car. On every magazine cover, the performance numbers were insane for that time, and still hold up. The attention my Z gets when I bring it out is amazing.....From "Wow, I've never seen one in person before" to the always given " Can I see the engine? " It is actually one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned.
With both cars, you can't go wrong. The LT-4 is a stout, reliable, powerful engine. If you have the chance, take a test drive in a Z and a LT4.......I would take both cars, but would choose the ZR-1 first everytime.
I merely stated that ZR-1's have many fewer skilled local mechanics, and many fewer vendors for parts AS COMPARED TO A 1996 C4....I would almost think this to be common knowledge.....I'm not sure how this is "an old wives tale", but hey believe what ya like...As for me, I'm sticking with the "old wives tales"...LOL LOL
If I were you I would be out driving that Beautiful ZR-1!!!.....They're an amazing machine!!! Enjoy!!!
This is an old wives tale.......I've owned my ZR-1 10 years now, and have never had one issue finding any parts for the LT5. It is actually one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned.
In that ten years of ownership, how many miles have you piled on the ZR-1? 5,000? 10,000?
DEFINITELY the ZR-1.
The GS is great and all but the ZR-1 is and always will be the King of the hill. That engine is phenomenal. GM/Lotus designed, Mercury Marine built. It’s bulletproof.
It set records…something like a couple days, nonstop-except for fuel-flat out at 175mph. There’s a lot of weight behind that badge. It’s mythical. When I set out to get a C4, I didn’t want to spend much more than $10k…I found a honey for $13. However, I did come across two clean 90/91 ZR-1’s for $20k…if I was stateside I would have made the jump for sure. I see GS’ with insane asking prices too. ZR-1 definitely best bang for the buck. Legendary.
It is a tough call for sure; the GS only had 1000 made, so finding them nowadays is getting harder and harder. Being the last C4 generation and the rarity of production, along with the one-time LT4 upgrade, most are turning into garage queens now. I actually don't even recall the last time I saw a GS in the wild; now it's just at car shows. I still run across ZR-1s, though not as much as before...actually, even seeing C4's in general is getting rarer...LOL.
Of course, as already mentioned, there is a uniqueness to the LT5, but the LT4 is no slouch either. The two are damn close in 0-60 MPH times, really coming down to the driver!
Personally, I'd go for either a '95 ZR-1 or a '96 C4 manual (not GS) that would also have the LT4 in it, especially if you're just looking for a fun car to jump into and cruise around. Still, even finding C4's with the LT4 is getting harder as well.
I would lean a bit more towards the LT4 because you'll find more mechanics who can work on them being a good old fashion Chevy small block.
05-05-2024, 03:30 PM
ZR1 or Grand Sport?
To me the ZR-1 is iconic. Besides one of the most beautiful engines ever put in any car, it just sings. The Grand Sport wasn't the King of the Hill, the ZR-1 was.........When I was in high school, it was THE car. On every magazine cover, the performance numbers were insane for that time, and still hold up. The attention my Z gets when I bring it out is amazing.....From "Wow, I've never seen one in person before" to the always given " Can I see the engine? " It is actually one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned. 
