Hey guys, my name is Alex. I'm 19 years old and own a 1996 corvette. I actually made this decision with a lot of Retro Cars Forever's videos in mind, and ive had it for about 3 months. I wanna give my two cents on the car. Im sure that most people looking to buy a car like this, or a car similar like this from a similar era, are into the sporty styling, 90s quirks, and underrated power of the time. Thats definitely why I wanted it, plus who doesnt wanna say they bought a corvette at 19 lol! But truth be told, buying a car like this isn't a bad decision its an impractical one. I cannot tell you how many people have come up to me so far wondering why I would get such a small car, that only carries 2 people and some groceries at most, or why I would get such an old (26 years and running...!) car However, once you feel what its like to drive this car, how low you sit, how torque-y and responsive it is, how well it handles, and all the stares you get... This car doesnt just feel amazing to drive, it makes you feel amazing driving it. I anticipate every time I need to take my car out, because its just so much damn fun!... I personally feel like, if youre going to get a car like this, you have to keep this in mind: These cars are old, icons of their own era. Things WILL break, things WILL go wrong, and you WILL find trouble along the road. For example, my car's trim paneling on the passenger door was coming off, and I had to find my own solution towards fixing and bonding it. Furthermore, my fuel sending unit is messed up and tells me my tank is always full. Thankfully, little problems like this are easy to fix and diagnose if one is decently handy, and has time to fix them Another point that Brad brings up would be the safety and driving-difficulty of this car. My father owns a truck, and parking (despite being like half the size), this corvette feels and drives like a fullsized truck in parking lots. There WILL be lots of 3+ point turns. Furthermore, the hood of this car has a pretty steep slope. So, if youre low enough, you will have to just know where the end of your hood is, aswell as where the front air damn sits before you go off hitting parking spots with it. Although, the seats do offer a decent range of height and motion, so after driving a little high for a while, you sorta get a sense of where the nose of the vehicle is. This car is very comfortable and relatively modern, coming from someone whose never driven in powered-sport seats. It's very adjustable, even the steering wheel moves which is just awesome As for safety, I cannot really say much here. Keeping traction control on is a good way to keep your head level, but turning it off every once and a while is plenty of fun, if done safely and secludedly.... Realistically, this car isnt crazy in terms of power (compared to modern cars, that is), but it WILL send you into a ditch if you dont respect it for what it is. Airbags on both sides is a major plus, so definitely would recommend 1994+ models (not to mention various other improvements on later year models!) This car will lose traction on you if you dont drive it with respect, or if you dont have a tight grip on it when going at higher speeds. Once you get used to how the car responds and drives on the streets and highways though, youll see just how fun it is to drive. This car feels like its cutting through air when im on the freeway, and cruising through the street (especially with the top off!) is plenty of fun! As for pricing, I bought mine for 10.5k It has around 70k miles. It's in really clean conditon, just minor interior scratches and missing doodads that one can easily fix. Mine does have an aftermarket stereo with a rear camera, which definitely makes life a lot easier. However, the original stereo and sound system are nothing to scoff at, definitely cool too stick some cassetes into and jam out with. With gas as it is now... this car will drink a bit of gas on the streets in traffic, but as long as youre driving down longer paths of emptier road, or if youre on the freeway, youll get decent gas mileage. I turn my cruise control on and it helps me get around 20-24+ on the streets and freeway! The last thing I will note about this car is image. This car is a BEAST! With a little exhaust modifications and cleaning, your car will snap necks. After driving this car, I feel like a total badass. Entering, exiting (which are both things youll need to get used too if yours sits low like mine... trust me its a whole process getting in...) and drivin around town makes you feel like the coolest guy in town. I actually live in a pretty nice part of southern california, near South Coast Plaza mall, where a buncha rich snobby guys take their porsches, lamborghinis, ferraris, etc. While this corvette may be no ferrari, itll make you feel like it is. Everytime I drive there to work or go through a drive through, everyone will stop and stare at my car. Ive gotten plenty of compliments the past few months from various strangers ive never met before. It's definitely an interesting talking point. And, although its a little shitty to ride on your own cloud-9, this car is definitely the ego-boost a teenager might need growing up in the world ;) Apart from that, I cant really think of much else This car was my dream car the moment I saw it when I was 16, and Ive been studying about it ever since. I recommend one study every aspect of this car, every single production year, so you can know which year best suits you. Ive spent countless hours reading through owners manuals and watching repair videos online. Know the common issues (optispark lol) and know what your car is capable of, what legacy it holds, and what it really means to you. I hope this comment would help solidify someone's decision on buying one of these gems, its a tragedy that many owners of these cars rarely take them out anymore, so please do the world a favor and get another c4 corvette on the road
Wow, thanks for all your thoughts! Awesome to hear my videos were a helpful resource to you, and that you've been enjoying your car, including its quirks!
Im trying to convince my dad to allow me to buy one when i turn 16 in january. The insurance isnt even that awful compared to some newer sportyish cars.
I am 16 years old and got my first car, a 1986 corvette. You are spot on with the "image" idea, love owning the coolest car in school. Not a practical car at all, but its reliable, looks cool, and pretty comfortable. Love this video
@Tankmaster 160 excuse me? i paid for it myself, i pay for everything. People so rude for no reason. And i have yet to encounter any wiring problems, so idk where you got that from if you dont even own one.
@Tankmaster 160 To be fair, ANY generation of Corvette that you buy with 125k+ miles for five grand is gonna have its share of issues these days! Especially earlier model years of the C4. Reliability generally improved in later years.
@Tankmaster 160 buying a car after it being only 2 years in production is quite naive. Those 2 years are the time when the company is still figuring out the kinks of the car, so yes I can see why your 85 had issues. 86 is when the car is starting to get better. Not a perfect car but a solid one nonetheless.
I turned 16 and got my first car pretty recently, and it is a 1994 c4 corvette with a manual trans. It is impractical as heck, but after 3 months I already love it to death and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I'm currently seventeen. About a year ago I decided to look for a first car. I've always been an American Muscle fan. I eventually found a manual 1985 C4 in great condition that I got down to $3500. Your videos were actually a great guide to finding one.
I got my C5 at 18 as my second car, I think it’s a tad bit too much power for most novice drivers. A lot of my friends drove like idiots (and promptly crashed their first cars) and if they were in a corvette chances are they would’ve gotten in a whole lot more trouble. I personally would advise against it as a first car, sure it looks super sexy and cool to have a corvette and show off… but you in a hospital bed with a mangled lump of metal and fiberglass is wayyyy less sexy lol. Get a fun first car (I had a BMW 3-Series that I loved) and after a year or two sell it and get a vette. I was so much more confident driving after the first 2 years, so the instant power and speed the corvette can provide was much easier to handle. I can’t speak to C4s, but the early year ones have about the same power as my 3-series so I’d imagine they would be a much better starting car. I love my vette, and like you said, there is no other car that can match it’s performance for the price (at least before the car market went insane).
Love the video. My 1995 C4 was my first car at 17. It can definitely be a restoration effort and takes good mechanical skill. I recommend having a budget daily driver on the side, but the C4 can definitely be an everyday car for some. 4 years of ownership so far and never letting go of it!
Awesome, thank you for sharing your experience, love hearing first hand from young owners who have actually had one of these as their first car. I do love the idea that a retro Corvette can be a side "project" car that you dont have to depend on, if you have that luxury!
Not just for young drivers! At age 50+, just Bought an immaculate example of the 1998 C5, my first true sports car. An incredible car for the money. Hard to find an example of mine for the money but if you can find one I HIGHLY recommend it! Incredible handling and power!
Bought a c6 last year for 19k, 51k on the clock. Car has been reliable and a blast to drive. Keep to spots you know and try to keep it less than 20 mph over the posted limit.
Young C4 owner here, bought my LT4 about two months ago and so far it's been a great first car, I've learned so much just from fixing various things that stopped working over the years.
@@RetroCarsForever Sure is. I don't really push it too hard, sometimes if I've got an open straight road I'll drop the hammer a bit but I don't have the driving skill to be flogging it around the backroads.
@@joburgoof9404 Sounds like a good idea! And honestly if you keep your ASR on that can help keep the car under control, at least until you feel confident enough to turn it off. Glad you're enjoying your LT4!
When my daughter was 17 we bought her an LT4 car. Paid $2750. Drove it home. Was a mold farm inside due to rear hatch seal leak... She removed entire interior-- even threw out the seats and all sound deadener. She loves it!
I am 20 and I own a C5 Z06 as my second (technically third) car. My first car was a 1986 Pontiac Trans Am that I ended up just giving to my dad because he was much more invested in the project than I was (he bought it anyway, so I figured it was really his anyway). My second car was a 1989 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28 with the 350 TPI L98 motor. It's pretty much the same as a C4 as a lot of the parts are hand me downs from it (as GM did a lot with their performance cars back in the day. They would basically gift stuff from the corvette). I bought the 2004 C5 Z06 Le Mans edition because I wanted: A. a Corvette, my dream car and B. a manual car to learn stick. Now that I have all of that out of the way, let me explain through personal experience why they are not good first cars. 1. Corvettes are very expensive to not only buy but to maintain. Definitely not for some teen on a tight budget minimum wage job. Reasons are: A. Parts are more expensive than really any other domestic "because corvette." Tires alone set me back almost $1500 so good luck convincing yourself to do burnouts. B. Gas is brutal. My corvette gets 13 MPG around town and around 18-20 on the highway. With the prices per gallon, especially premium, which is the only fuel they will take, you will find yourself paying well over a hundred at the pump every week or two. C. Insurance is ludicrous. It easily doubles your rate if you add a teen driver with a vette on it. 2. New drivers are just learning to drive. They do not need 300-400 horsepower and more importantly 400lb of torque. The C4 is mostly exempted from this as the L98 with stock exhaust and factory emissions is a dog and is fine to learn on. 3. This car will get you in trouble. I am not just talking about the law either. Other drivers will want to race you all the time. This is a problem for teen drivers, especially new drivers as they will most likely wreck if they do. 4. Prepare to become a mechanic. These cars require a lot of maintenance and love. You will spend months in your garage working on your vette trying to make sure everything works right. I recommend every owner of a car that requires in depth maintenance to get the shop manual, not just a Haynes manual. It is what repair shops use and has everything you would need to know. It is very important as the Haynes manuals miss a lot of details. Now is owning a vette a bad thing? Absolutely not. I love mine and my Camaro. Both are very fun and very much head turners. However, for a first car, it is one of the worst decisions you can make. Just get a honda civic or some other basic beater to get you from A to B to learn on. Or if you live in the south like me, get a pickup truck. You will thank me later and be able to by the fun car after.
@@goatg2747 its a good car, but a maintenance nightmare. Im glad we bought the shop manuel for it as we probably wouldn't have been able to fix half the problems on it. Its not that its a lemon, but the tech is right between the eras of old muscle and no electronics and modern tech. Basically worst of both worlds as nobody works on these cars in my area. We basically had become our own mechanic shop as we rebuilt the suspention, exhaust, top end of the engine, and electronics. Tldr is that its a good car, but you need to know what you are doing. Honestly would have swapped the motor for a carbed one or got a 2nd gen if I knew the computer nightmare I was walking into.
Thanks so much! I have a bunch of Corvette videos that I've made over the years, here's a full playlist if you're interested... ru-vid.com/group/PLZVytpvgg5yfaAocNPR3Zu-ckM5DAAgk0
Started watching your videos today. I have to agree, I own the much hated 1984 model at 23. My first car was a Chevy avalanche which I still own and then my daily a Saturn aura which I still own. I love all 3 of my cars but my corvette is what gets me most excited to drive. It’s makes such little power it can’t hurt itself and I’ve absolutely loved fixing it and learning all of its odds and ends. And I still get lots of looks from passerby’s. Love the videos and the c4
Thanks Stephen! Owning a rad 80s car like yours is a great experience, ESPECIALLY if you enjoy fixing them from time to time. At this point anything made in the 80s is going to need frequent attention and love to keep running at its best. Glad to hear you're enjoying your C4!
I’ve had my first car a year now, an ‘06 XLR. Basically a Corvette but less reliable… and Northstar powered. But, I will say, drives 10x better than a C5 I drove. Has the handling of a Corvette but still rides like a Cadillac… also the hardtop convertible never gets old. Probably still wouldn’t recommend it as a good first car though simply because parts are very pricy. That’s why they’re infamously known as the $6,000 tail light car. Loved the video!
For me, C4 over C5 & C6, but the C7 has my attention, especially with the Batmobile tail end. My Favorite C7 is the 2019 ZR1, but then, it's a ZR1. I own a 96 CE LT1 with Auto. It's got all the performance I really need, and then some. Sebring Silver in the sunlight, it just glows and The Clamshell Hood... Coolest engine bay cover for any car ever, imo.
Awesome video and good thoughts. My 16 year old next month daughter is wanting a c4 badly. We currently are redoing a 79 C3 for her and she has a Miata that will be her daily for now. Kid took her driver's test in my C5, and has grown up in sportscars. Good to see the younger set in the comment section to tell me I'm not the only insane parent. I expect the Miata will suffice for this year- but as soon as the appropriate C4 shows up, she will wind up with it to supplement the C3.
Thanks, awesome to hear! Sounds like you agree with my conclusion at the end of the video in regards to the Miata, I think that's a great "stepping stone" up to a C4.
Hey RC4E ... I had a 94 C4. Throughly enjoyed it. May get another one. I really like your C4 videos. I hope you keep making them more often. It's a great Corvette that needs more attention!
Iv owned a 95 GT, and 04 GT in the past they were definitely great cars, but my 86 corvette is way more fun. Im 27 and i daily drive it, super reliable, maintance is cheap, and working on it myself sure there are things that may be more time consuming or difficult but for those who are handy, its easy to learn the ropes, the community is also pretty nice and helpful with most things too for those considering getting one.
Amazing video as always! Got my first Vette, a 1992 6 speed at age 19. It was my second car after my 05 Impala SS. Now I’m 21 with a beefed up 1996 LT4 Coupe. Won’t ever regret getting one at such a young age, it was a stellar driver. Just one suggestion: since we are talking Corvettes for new drivers, chances are it’ll be their only car. Would love to see a segment on their drivability in inclement weather. Not an issue for you with your California weather, but us Pennsylvania drivers gotta deal with everything!
Thanks! And you bring up a very good point about all-weather drivability. Clearly the Corvette would fare much worse than most cars, considering its fat tires and low ground clearance. The Mustang actually has decent ground clearance and would do a lot better. Just throw some sand bags in the trunk to give the rear tires some extra weight!
Great suggestions! I might add one more to the list, a Nissan 350z. My first “sports car” was a 350z that I bought way back in 2005 and I loved everything about it (including the swampy smelling AC). These little torquey GT’s can be had under $10k all day long and even under $6k for beat up ex-drift-king examples.
Thanks, and that Z is a great Corvette first car alternative as well. I thought about including it but at least in my area (LA) GOOD 350Z's seem to go for quite a bit more than what you mentioned these days ($10k to 16k, which is about what the Vette is worth). But yes, ragged Zs can be bought for $6k ish). And its definitely worth considering!
And the thing is those VQs definitely will take on the GT and maybe even the C4 Vette with no issue. My 2006 Nissan Altima SE 3.5 V6 absolutely demolished my Dad’s 2002 Mustang GT convertible on the highway. He couldn’t touch me, said it himself. Oh and very reliable, 210k miles on mine. My Grandma’s 03 Maxima SE had 255k on hers. Quite a good option!
Spot on! I’m telling everyone to get SN95 Mustangs now before they go up…. Best deal around and I’m a Vette/Camaro guy… Great advice but I’d say depending on the kid…. When I got my 5-speed IROC in the 90s I had to learn to drive stick on an Accord first before I could even start driving the car I just bought, but I really wanted to drive stick. I also saved money for years working at a restaurant because I wanted a nice IROC. So when I finally got my dream car I babied it and having a stick I was more cautious getting used to the car. All kids are different though. Hopefully parents will know if their kid is full of mischief or if they enjoy taking care of their stuff…. You can definitely get hurt romping around in these cars and not understanding how front engine/ rear drive cars handle and lose traction very easily. Driving in rain can take mindfulness and it’s tough to watch people in newer cars zooming by you at high speeds on wet roads. Don’t try it in a rear drive sports car! Also consider in colder climates you may need access to a cheap winter beater because these cars can be quite useless in winter conditions until roads are plowed and dry. I remember asking my parents to take their car to work in winter and my dad saying, “why did you buy that stupid car if you can’t drive it?” Lol
Great points! I do think a Mustang can handle winter weather...It has pretty high ground clearance, just needs sand bags in the trunk. And perhaps you're onto something talking about stick shifts and the extra caution/attention they need...Distractions are a huge cause of accidents for beginning drivers, so if it keeps them off their cell phone while driving, that could be a bonus!
Such a good video, one I wish had existed back when I was in high school! My parents still would have bought me the Volvo wagon, but it's nice to know that this video exists for the young gearheads of today! Thanks for letting me preach the gospel of the NC Miata and giving it a feature role in this video! For the money, I really think it's the best choice of the three, and because it's not getting the love it deserves just yet, they're still cheap when you consider what a clean NA or NB goes for!
Thank ya Adam! I think if I had a kid I'd most likely be prodding them towards an NC as well. But honestly, I dont think ANY of the vehicles featured in this video get the love that they deserve, and all are therefore great performance bargains that are easy and cheap to own.
Our youngest daughter started with our old Volvo. It was a v70t5 with turbo. She always like the shape of a c4. The wife was not real sure about the idea. The facts convinced her. Volvo top speed was 155, vette 175. Insurance was only $100 more for a year. The biggest gain was because the daughter is just over 5 ft with short legs. Sitting in the vette was the only car where she isn't against the steering wheel. That was her graduation present ( college associates the week before high school ceremony) Down side, it has been a pain to keep running. Just put in 3rd opti. Still not running right.
Had a hand me down Honda crv for my first few years but as of last year a 2003 c5 is my first purchased car. Ive loved it so far, as far as c5s go they work pretty well as daily drivers. just don't drive it to its limits the moment you get it, take some time to learn how the car handles and its not hard to understand what you can and can't do.
Congrats! And agreed on learning the limits on these cars, even for seasoned drivers...Take your sweet time learning how it handles before pushing it too hard.
I had a 1989 C4 when I was 19! No traction control and no airbags! It was Bright Red with a Red interior. Fun times. I’m still alive and I never got a ticket! If you choose a Corvette set money aside for Brake Pads and Tires! Never let your friend or girlfriend drive it. Also, purchase Mass Airflow Sensors in bulk!
at 14 I saved all the money I got from working and got myself a 1999 c5 best decision I have made very reliable fun to drive and clean I still own it today I'm 17 now
Awesome video Brad! Always love your camera-work and editing. So polished! But what comes through most is your enthusiasm. Your videos always put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.
I can't say much for a 'Vette as a first car, but I started with a Third Gen Camaro RS (5.0 V8), which is a much cheaper car overall, while still sharing most of the DNA of the 'Vette. 1) Old-school cars take a lot of money to keep running, compared to purchasing costs; if the purchase was a stretch, it will be hard to maintain. I kept my Camaro for around 5 years, racking up 40-50k miles on an already old car. When I had bought it, it was in show-car condition (literally was a show-car), but with all the miles and the hard driving I did, it was beginning to show. The fact that I couldn't keep it in a garage also meant that the interior was showing significant signs of aging. 2) Despite its V8, my Camaro was not a fast car. at 170 HP, it was only a little more horsepower than an ordinary econobox (Focus, Civic, etc) at the time. That lack of acceleration, and lack of spin, probably kept me out of a lot of trouble. Still, it was a solid chassis for learning to drive with, and had very wide tires. This combination (good stiff chassis, solid grip from the tires, and mediocre power) is a good combination for being fast on a windy road; I regularly out-drove cars that were much faster than mine. 3) Although the interest-groups are different, the Camaro with T-tops shares similar celebrity with the Corvette; and having experiences like people posing for pictures with your car can be very flattering when you're young. It can also be troubling, though, when strangers are too full-contact for your comfort level. Driving with the T-tops down was also definitely a blast, and made for some fun times. Now on to Corvette C4s... 1) I've had a '95 C4 automatic for about a year, putting on around 10k miles. In that time, I've spent thousands on maintenance, partly to do the maintenance that had not been done by the prior owner, but also partly because of unexpected major repairs (Transmission went out without any warning). It's one thing to buy a car for $10k, but another altogether thing if you're going to dump $6k more over the first year+ of ownership. 2) Aside from that, the C4 *is* still a fast car; not super-fast, but as fast as a fairly new base Mustang/Camaro. 300 HP in a car that has a very short chassis can prove troublesome from time to time. I've had the car in the snow (I knew I might get stuck driving it home through snow, so considered it best to learn how it drives in the weather beforehand), and it spins the back end around very easily. By comparison with my earlier cars, the C4 is far more capable, but also far more capable of biting the owner. 3) The sense of minor celebrity from random strangers does feel very nice, though, as does the friendly camaraderie with other Corvette drivers. I have had many people engage me about my car, since owning it. I've also enjoyed the occasional drive with the targa roof off, although it's not nearly as easily removed as the T-tops in my Camaro were. In total, then, I would suggest that the Corvette is probably not the best old-school car for a young/new driver to have; but there are related cars, that can fill almost the same niche as the 'Vette.
Great thoughts, I agree! Good point about the sun damage that can happen as many first cars don’t get a garage space (mine sure didn’t). I feel like C4s in particular can easily bake if left uncovered for long periods.
Well done video with great information. My daughter bought her first car, a '96 LT1 roadster, when she was 13. We rebuilt the engine and got it ready for when she started driving. I wanted her in an automatic 2 seater with the safety stuff that she could be proud of and would hold its value or increase with time. The Vette checks all the boxes. The low center of gravity ensures she's going to have a better chance of making the turn if she's coming in hot than if she were in a SUV. Plus, having done the work on her car she has bonded with it and really, really takes car of it. I must add that she is a very responsible kid. The other benefit from her getting the Vette is that she is now a 100% car crazy and now tells me when the shows are.
That's awesome to hear! Good point about being able to AVOID an accident in the first place being a great safety feature with a sports car that can handle. In any case, sounds like you came to some of the same conclusions that I did picking a late model/automatic. Glad it worked out!
In 2001 I was 22and had my first decent paying job. A coworker there was selling a 96 polo green 6spd vette and I wanted it bad! I couldn’t buy it because I lived off the paved road. Ground clearance was a must to get home. I’m getting the itch to look for one again after seeing this video.
I got a rough 1988 c4 4+3 Z52 for 3k and I’m happy with it. Very happy with it in fact. I’m pretty mechanically inclined but honestly I haven’t even put what you said a rough one would cost into it yet (6k you said) and it’s running very smooth and well.
As a 16 year old myself. No 16 year old should have a Corvette. You gotta learn how to drive first before you get a car like this. There are still plenty of other cool ass cheap and fun cars that will teach you how to drive well. Personally I wouldn't trade the world for my 2001 Saab 9-3
Great video! Now all we need is the younger generations take heed. Having owned both, in the long run the VETTE is definitely king of “bang for the buck”. But the Mustang is a much safer beginner’s car all around. Thx for a great and thoughtful video.
I'm 20, I just got my first car as a christmas gift from my uncle. 1986 Vette. Its a project car engine good but needs some repairs before it hits the road, and all the fluids changed out. but im excited to take it out on the roads. I've been driving since I was 16, even younger if racing sims count. Driven abunch of cars, mostly trucks with the exception of a 2014 Jeep Cherokee and 1969 Ford Mustang. Gas is probably going to be cheaper for me no matter what, since I've been driving big beefy trucks all my life with 100L gas tanks. and I want to be a mechanic one day, so this is going to be great to learn. I dont have much to input, just wanted to say thank you for the video!
I have learned quite a lot about C4's thanks to your awesome content! I recently picked up a 1996 C4 LT1 (auto) painted with bright aqua metallic as my new daily driver. It has put a smile on my face every time I get into it! I absolutely dig the fusion of 80's and 90's design and feel. The amber lighting, the mix of analog and digital gauges, the driver-oriented positioning of the buttons...it truly feels really special. I swear I hear Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" playing in my head every time I go start my car 🤣 Even with it being a 26 year old car with 100k miles, it sounds very healthy and has no problem pushing you back into your seat when you want it to! I have surprised a few friends on how quickly this car can still move. The C4 is no slouch! I bought the car with blown shocks and worn rotors/pads but once those were replaced, it completely transformed the car and I couldn't believe how nice it drove on the road. It is the most comfortable sports car I've owned to this day. I'm glad C4's are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying your new ride. That’s my fave C4 color. I also love hearing “Danger Zone” in my C4. Really throws me back. These are time machines that can still move fast. Very special cars. Enjoy it!
I’m 17, and I bought an 02 C5Z as my second car last year. I would highly recommend against getting one as a first car, or even a second if you don’t have some sort of motorsports background (I started racing go karts years ago). 405hp, but more importantly, 400ft/lbs of torque, Is WAY too much power for a beginner to handle. You really need to learn how cars perform at the limit before driving one with any sort of power. I’m (arguably) pretty mature for my age, so I have been able to stay out of trouble just fine with mine. However, with a C5 Corvette, the average teenage driver would either 1) wreck it or 2) get into some serious trouble with the law. Additionally, they are pretty reliable cars, but when something does go wrong it’s usually expensive, so they aren’t super budget friendly. I can’t say anything about owning a C4 Corvette since I don’t, but I would imagine that it’s mostly the same story with those. In summary, a beginner driver CAN drive a C5 Corvette, but had really ought to already know what they’re doing car control-wise and have lots of self-control, which are two things that cannot be said about the vast majority of teenagers.
Love your videos but then again I've told you this before. At 40 years old I now own the exact same car you have. 96 Collector's Edition. But my 1st car was a 91 red with red/blk int 5sp Ford Mustang. Man I loved that car. But you definitely hit on the right points for this video. Great job as always.
I used to drive my 2001 and 1993 on the very same roads you showed in this video. I recognize Sand Canyon/Litte Tujunga Canyon road when I see it. Amazing roads, amazing cars. Great video!
I highly recommend the C-4 Corvette for seniors who have never owned a sports car.. or even those who have in the past.. like me.. I had a Triumph Spitfire as a teenager when everyone else was doing drag racing. The independent suspension was made for cornering.. not drag racing or drifting. My little car was made to hug the road.. so I got no respect. Now I have a C-4 base corvette.. as well as an '05 Pontiac GTO. Seniors should be the ones driving these cars now. They are more careful... and if they fup.. no biggie. Chances are they don't cause as much damage as if they were driving a Hummer. I AM a senior. Leave the dangerous old cars to us... we've lusted for them since before you were born. What are the chances that a teen will run into ME with his Corvette.. opposed to the odds of HIS being run into by mine? 50/50?
Like my father, I moved backwards. Dad had a 1986 C4 and I a 1996 CE LT4 like yours. Dad bought a 2001 Roush Stage 2 Convertible with an automatic new when I was in high school and passed it down earlier this year. That and my 1990 Ford Bronco are our families Retro Cars forever, which will be passed down to my son. I was 31 when I bought my Vette and owned many other cars and hundreds of motorcycles prior. I did have a 1972 Camaro with a 383 Stroker and Munchie 4-speed when I was 19. I got it after my buddy crashed my 1990 GSXR-750. Kids on a budget need to look no further then 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s Superbikes. I had many before the cars I play with now, pushing 40 years old. I use to chase down rich guys on Ducati 916/996’s in those very canyons on my 11 year old Suzuki, when I was in high school. When I was 25, I purchased a pristine 2000 Ducati 996sps for less then half of what I paid for my Vette. Ironically enough, I still have the Duc and it’s worth 3x what the Vette would be worth. Still, I miss my CE LT4 every day and so does my wife. These are not a good first car bus would be a good car for someone in their mid 20’s to early 30’s prior to having kids or for someone whom has done the family thing. They are definitely RAD and undervalued, but I fear not for long
If you are willing to put up with some of the unexpected things that come up with old cars and live in a semi-dry climate I would say go for it. Although I think a Miata would be a great experience while getting better gas mileage, CHEAPER TIRES!, and probably cheaper replacement parts.
Agreed! A Miata is a terrific budget alternative to the Corvettes, and the one I recommend to anyone with a stretched budget who still wants a fun, easy car.
People are finally looking past the “boomer with new balances” stereotypes and actually looking at how awesome these cars are, not to mention their great of value they are right now.
I own and daily an S8 D2, but just recently got to drive a C4. Awesome car, I really enjoyed it and if I have some spare money I would buy one as a special occasion car.
Awesome video brad. Yea I gotta agree, as a first car, not really a good idea. As an aspirational car to work toward, yes absolutely. Further I think, if a vette is the aspirational car then I think a late model f body is actually the way to go. You get most of the performance, same mechanical components so you will be familiar with gm architecture and it is relatively safe and capable. As far as cost, just stay away from the top models, ie. Ws6 and SS. You can find lt1 z28s all over for less than 5k and beaten up examples will teach a work ethic to get them running. I think 90s f body is the gateway drug.
12:47 I touch on the F Body after recommending the SN95 Mustang near the end! In my research it was difficult to find clean F bodies for anywhere near the value of a Mustang...An equivalent F Body goes for just as much if not MORE than a Corvette these days! Three years back when I got my Corvette, I did cross-shop the Trans Am/Camaro, and while I liked the extra space and the TTops..my conclusion was I paying the same amount for a car that handled much worse and was way harder to work on. So I chose the Corvette. Still love F Bodies tho!
I found the holy grail because I found a decent running corvette for 2700 and really the only major things wrong with it are the engine leaks a bit and the weather striping also leaks
@@blank3406 Living in a sunshine state, I wish I would've mentioned winter driving in this video. Of the three cars here, the Mustang would be the clear winner for winter driving. The Corvette is way too low to the ground and has super wide tires, so would easily get stuck or slide. The Miata would be okay if a hard top but not very warm otherwise. The Mustang would be a bit tricky but throw some bags of sand in the back for weight and its at least manageable.
@@RetroCarsForever Honestly after looking at everything, I've fallen in love with the C4 Corvette. Waiting until next summer for prices to fall hopefully! Will probably buy a winter car too!
My dad has a C4 and C5 vette. The C4 has been sitting for a few years on old tires, and isn’t registered. The C5 is sometimes a daily driver. I wish my parents would let me daily drive either of them, but they won’t. The good news is, my dad bought me a 240Z! It’s still in the shop though. We’ve had it for a while and never were able to get it running. We didn’t have the time. In the meantime, I’ve been driving my dad’s W124. Love that car, it’s solid, but I am itching for something a little more sporty!
I'm 15 and got my 94 a couple months ago. (You might've seen it on FB) So far so good. I knew what I was getting into so I tried to save as much money as possible. But wow, I didn't expect just the C4 corvette logo to be $40 itself. Mine is a manuel and because of it I never really get bored enough to start speeding. The car scares me so I'm not gonna push it. I'm currently making 7 mpg around town(probably just because of my poor shifting). 🏁
Hi Stephen! Thanks for sharing your experience here. Forty bucks for a car logo is actually pretty normal...I was afraid of Corvette parts being stupid expensive when I got mine, but turns out most parts seem to be about average in cost. Glad to hear you're taking it easy with your Corvette!
@@RetroCarsForeverthank you retro, a mustang is a better first car. The 2002 Mustang GT I have is reliable, insurance is good, cheap parts, easy to work on, and a lot more sensible. It’s also nice being able to stuff a couple friends in the back.
Bought my Supercharged 01 C5 Z about a year ago right after I turned 18 and in my opinion.. I don’t think it’s a good idea for a first car unless you have a good bit of knowledge on how to work on cars because they definitely come with their fair share of old car issues and you’re gonna have to step up to the plate and fix them. And like he says in the end of the video, you’re gonna need a good budget and be able to pay the price when things break. Another thing is an inexperienced driver could just so easily kill themself driving like a fool either around town or on the highway. If someone does get a corvette as their first car just remember to learn the car and treat it with respect and it will respect you back. With that being said, it’s pretty damn cool having the fastest car in your car friend groups and high school at 18 years old.
Well said! Tho to be fair the supercharged Z06 you got is a LOT faster than any of the Vettes I was recommending here…glad to hear you’ve been treating it with respect!
I always love your videos, Brad. I think a stick is a great option for a first car. My first car was a manual Firebird after all! Also, the later C5s suffer from the module problem as well FYI. My Dad's '02 is going through it right now!
@@RetroCarsForever yessir 😎 I like your C4 corvette too. Kinda want a C4 Corvette too. My uncle has a 94 with a Blown motor but he doesn’t wanna fix it.
@@300boyMOTION Hmm might be worth getting the motor fixed on his C4 if the rest of the car is in good shape. The longer it sits the worse it'll get for him!
@@RetroCarsForever that’s true. It only has 38K miles on it too! His son was messing around with it and doing burnouts and blew a rod out of the block. So it would need a new LT1 Block.
I have a huge soft spot for that year and color, as that was the “launch model” that we saw in all the car magazines back in the day! Plus you hardly see them anymore. Cool car!
Really? When I did the research for this video last year, the S197's seemed to be at least three grand more for equivalent examples. But you're right, they're certainly in the same class and worth considering...I just assume most drivers don't have too much money for their first car, and a difference of three grand can be quite a lot.
@@RetroCarsForever I took a look around on Cargurus for Mustang GTs for under $10k and found a mix of SN95s and S197s, but oddly enough, mostly S197s. These were nationwide listings btw.
My 1984 Corvette is technically my first car since most of my driver life has been truck ownership. I did have a killer 1978 VW Super Beetle convertible as a first car but that was neither fast or safe and I didn't drive it for very long before selling it to get my first truck. So far, Corvette ownership has been a love/hate relationship dealing with gremlins since the car I got was kind of neglected when I got it and even though it's "low mileage," a lot of the original components are still almost 40 years old. I still have yet to push the car to it's limits and the closest canyon roads to me are in LA or Azusa
Yeah you wouldn't want to push ANY car hard in the canyons until you have total trust in it! Especially as many of them (out here in LA area anyways) dont have cell service.
I am 21 and looking for a more daily drivable car and I think I found the sports car section I want, I learned all about the C3,C4,C5, and C6 and I really was looking into a more modern car like a gr86 for my daily driver but in all honesty I want something more aggressive and more fun to drive I have had two cars now and I now am in such a great financial situation where I can buy a second car like this and daily drive it in the fall, some bit in winter, and spring and summer, and I have a backup so I think this would be worth a grab, I would recommend for myself is to get the C5 as I have learned the after market world for that car and fixes are more available then a C4 when it comes to practicality, also 400hp sounds perfect enough for me at this moment until I am moved out of where I am now in a year or two my girlfriend can drive my other car and I can drive the corvette all year round im going somewhere warm all year so I won’t run into any issues there. Anyways I love your videos please do a C5 video and such cause I think that would be amazing
Cool, best of luck with your search! A C5 would make an ideal second/sometimes car for sure, especially in warmer climates. I'd love to a C5 video in the near future, stay tuned!
Great video Brad, keep them coming! I must say as a somewhat youngish bloke now in his early 30s I was lucky enough to purchase my first Corvette at age 29 just 2 and a half years ago. Before the Corvette i owned some really hot V8 Holden Commodores and Caprices all of which would have left the Corvette in their dust......in a straight line. I personally think a Corvette or even the V8 Holden's I have owned are really unwise choices for a first car they are just way too much car to handle for inexperienced drivers. my first car was a V6 Holden Commodore from the mid 90s and I got into way more trouble with that than I can mention.
Ha ha, i had that cougar, was going to use it for a donor for an old classic falcon. Decided i wanted more power. Then i got the vette, falcon is still on the back burner.
93 lt1 c4 corvette owner here, I got mine for $4800 with only 74k original miles! But I gotta say, my favorite part is only paying $11 a month on the cheap insurance due to the age!
Best of luck to you! Those earlier C4's can be pretty tricky to keep running well, so I hope you're mechanically inclined (or know someone who is!) They're awesome cars when running well, that's for sure.
Love the video, I do have to say though, my Vette gets better gas mileage than any other car I own lol. Yes it takes premium, but if I'm easy on the gas and just drive it like a regular car I get damn near 30mpg. Alternatively I have a GMC canyon I daily that gets 16mpg lol.
Thanks! I've personally never seen better than 26 mpg on the highway in my 1996, but then again I dont exactly hypermile it. And in town, that mileage drops like a ROCK!
@@RetroCarsForever In town I barely touch the gas pedal. I get up to 30mph and let it idle through town. I goose it when I feel the urge, but recently I've just been really really enjoying the cruises with my gf. I have a BB exhaust and she loves relaxing to the sound of the engine, frankly so do I. Recently took a buddy of mine out for a cruise with the targa top off, nothing like the wind in your hair and that burbling exhaust behind you. Man I love this car 😋
Good video! I wasn't thinked about automatic transmissions being better for beginners before. And while ı agree that Corvette isn't really a beginner car it's still better than a Viper right? :D But man in the end it's always the Miata.
Thanks! I'm personally glad that my first car was an automatic...I had a hard enough time not getting into an accident without having to split my attention towards keeping the driveline moving! Just figured it was worth mentioning as "automatic is better" is just something you'll NEVER hear from automotive RU-vidrs 😆 And yes, I think ANY car would make a better first car than a Viper 😅
@@RetroCarsForever Yeah usually all car RU-vidrs tell the manual transmission is better. They're kinda right but having one less thing to worry about is a pretty good thing for a first driver for sure. And this one actually is helpful to me because ı plan to get my driver license soon and ı wasn't thinked about that before. To be honest while ı really like cars ı never drived one before and kinda nervous about the traffic. But ı hope it will be alright. Sooo any advice for a new driver? :D
@@truck-kun5924 Hope this helps then! My advice to a young driver is do whatever you can to avoid distractions when starting out. Find a car that's easy to drive (probably NOT a Corvette) with an automatic. Dont have the music blaring. Dont have your phone within site. Dont drive with too many friends in the car who could distract you. Just worry about focusing on all the task of driving and you'll be fine!
@@RetroCarsForever Ok thanks! Then it's a good thing that the car ı will learn how to drive is a automatic Corolla. Kinda the perfect car for learning how to drive.
I technically got my corvette my second year of driving I own a c5 1999 I still got it and I’ve had it over a year now depends on the person I guess respect the car, I didn’t really get it for performance as much as I just like riding in style
I had both a 1990 convertible and 2004 Z16/Z06. Both were great cars, but the C5 was much better, if with less character. If you have any questions, maybe I can help.
So im looking at a c5 or c6 as a second car im currently 16 and been driving for around a month and thought i should get a honda civic first then maybe a c5 or c6. Should i work my way up or just buy one if so which one. Btw i come from a family of car lovers
I’m split between a 1996 mustang cobra convertible with a manual and 179k miles for $4000 and a 1990 corvette convertible with an automatic and160k miles for $5900 as my first car Or my parents will say no to both and tell me to find something safer
Tough choice! I’d talk with your parents first if they’re part of the decision. And the condition of the cars in person could be wildly different, I’d check them both out in person before thinking too hard about either.
How about a FWD S/C Saturn Ion Redline or a Cobalt SS. Both cars can be found fairly cheap, and with the aftermarket following, many of them are faster than that era Mustang and even the Vettes.
Great suggestions! I do find that they’re hard to find clean examples anymore, much rarer than Mustangs and Miata’s anyways. But they’re awesome “forgotten” cars.
Correction/addendum about the C5 and the EBCM module (TCS/ABS computer): So, the way it goes is that 97-00 EBCMs are epoxy potted whereas 01-04 EBCMs are not. The result of this is that later ones are repairable because there's no epoxy in the way, but they also fail more (arguably near 100% failure rate with enough time/miles as it fails FROM vibration due to lack of epoxy). On the other hand, there are still many (most?) 97-00 drivers that have never had an issue with their EBCM. So, at the end of the day, you're either signing up for a guaranteed failure if it hasn't been fixed before with an 01+ but *can* be serviced, or possibly never having an issue with the 97-00. If the price is right on an otherwise good car, I wouldn't worry about it. Some people are working on fixes for the 97-00 boards as well, most likely by reverse-engineering them as they don't appear that complicated. IMO, the ideal C5 years are 99-03. 97 and 98 have some weird parts that are different from all other years and are more rare when it comes to replacements and therefore can be harder to find and more expensive. 04 is known to have a gas tank leak issue (yikes!) but hopefully by now most if not all have been fixed, but there's no guarantee if the seller can't confirm it. 04 with magnaride suspension also cannot be programmed out, so you either have to buy expensive magnaride replacement suspension when it fails or install a simulator or take apart the shocks and plug a module in (I haven't researched this much as I don't own this year nor have magnaride, this is just what I've heard). If you have to pick a single year, most would pick 03, but many 03 owners "know what they got" nowadays and you're better off with a less pretentious seller of another year and just pocket the money for any repairs down the line. Overall, C5s, if properly looked over, are very reliable. It's worth spending a little more for a really well kept example that hasn't been in a major accident as previously wrecked cars tend to have ongoing water leak issues and clean title cars are less likely to have electrical gremlins. Almost nothing on the car tends to go bad other than electrical things, and that's usually just because the rest of the car is so robust they are still on the road long after any other car would've died and been sent to the scrap yard.
@@RetroCarsForever Used ones are what most go for, I think there are a small handful of new ones left, but they are expensive. But, again, it's not as big of a deal as people think it is. The 01-04 fail commonly, so lots of people talk about it, then people find out the 97-00 are not serviceable* and freak out that they will soon have a dead ABS/TCS module, but unlike the 01-04 it's not very common as the 97-00 are epoxy potted and that prevents the vibration that makes the 01-04 fail. The best analogy I can give is that it's like hearing about XBOX 360 Red Ring of Death failure rates and then worrying your original XBOX (which is a tank) is going to have one because they're both XBOXes. Two different generations of hardware with completely different failure rates. And the 01-04 can still be non-repairable, if it's not just broken solder joints then it will likely need a replacement just the same. Also, ABS/TCS failures aren't always the EBCM, it can be caused by wheel speed sensor failures and somehow even an older and corroded ignition switch (there are EBCM pins in the ignition switch, no idea why, I guess so it doesn't draw power when the car is off). Bottom line, there were 250k C5 Corvettes made and a few get totaled and parted out every day (don't worry, drivers are fine, it's just easy to total it if a lot of body panels get damaged), so there will be used parts for these things till probably all of us are dead from old age, which is a big reason I chose it over many Japanese and European performance cars of the same era with much lower production numbers. Try to find some non-tune up parts for a 2002 Lotus Esprit, for example. *As I said in my previous post, the 97-00 has hope of serviceability. Supposedly someone repaired one for a 98 C5 but I don't recall seeing the followup of if it was successful or not. Based on what I've seen of the PCB board, it's very simple and should be easy to replicate and will be cost-effective as used modules become more scarce. I anticipate people will start reproducing at least replacement boards within the next 5 years.
Get Hagerty insurance not regular it's way cheaper, not to mention when they have classic car insurance theyre nkt required to have emmisions therefore you can take all that emmision crap off and then you got way more power. My 17yr old is on my insurance I only pay 600 per year, and they get better gas mileage than that more like 26 to 30 on the highway and 18 to 24 around town. If im taking it easy like 45 on the road i get 25 around town. I have a 86 corvette convertible. C4 is better in the fact it's way easier to work on than a c5. More room to work under the hood. Fords are way more expensive to fix parts are usually double the price of a GM
The prices I quoted for insurance were assuming its under the teen's name, not the adults...But yes, getting Hagerty and putting it under your name is a great way to save money! As for parts prices, I've owned several Fords and several GM vehicles, and havent noticed a major difference in parts costs between them, seem about the same in most cases. I do wish the C5 had the same clamshell hood that the gives the C4 such amazing underhood access...A product of unfortunate cost cutting, from what I understand.
What about the Saturn Sky or Pontiac Solstice? Handling characteristics with the electronic stability control is phenomenal, even better than my 96 C4. Just for information as to how old I am, I'm 81 going on 18.
Those are good options as well, but for most people I'd still recommend the Miata over the GM twins. Miatas have proven to be more reliable, they're much lighter so sharper handling, and they have a much bigger trunk. And because Miatas are more common, they have a much broader aftermarket resource when it comes to finding parts. Still, those GM convertibles are very cool looking and worth considering.
@@RetroCarsForever , having driven both the Miata and the Sky, I chose the Sky because I fit in it more comfortably and it was a much more comfortable to drive. It was also much quieter at expressway speeds and the engine RPMs were much lower at the same speed. Yes, the Miata is fun to drive around town or on twisting turning roads but driving any distance, I'd prefer the Sky. Of course, I'm not a young man and I've had my Sky since November 2009. I'm 81.
@@ernestbrodie6601 Cool to know that the GM twins were more comfy an quieter than a Miata, I could see that. Highway driving is where any Miata starts to become tiresome, and its a tight squeeze for anyone over 6 feet inside.
Hell id even recommend a crown Victoria (police interceptor) for a first car, 4.6 liter v8 under the hood with plenty of room inside and in the trunk for friends and cargo and enough power to have fun with. The driver assist features leave a lot to desire as they're nonexistent on PI models but they're great cars for the money, I got mine for 3500 but you have to be ready to repair the transmissions as most are barely holding on and overdrive WILL fail at some point, however it is a very decent car for the money and you'll get around 20mpg highway which considering that at around 80 mph you're revving 3300 rpm isn't terrible mileage at all
Great first car recommendation! I had a 2007 P71 years ago and loved it. Didn’t include it as an alternative in this video because I was focusing more on sports cars. But agreed that a P71 is a terrific first car alternative.
@@RetroCarsForever hey Brad I just bought a 1994 6 speed corvette Sunday and I'm having one small issue with it, the headlights work but I can't turn the high beams on. Have you ever heard of anyone having this issue? And if so what was the fix? Thanks in advance
@@lynnweimorts9385 Hi, congrats! Not familiar with that specific issue. Do a thorough Google search and I’ll bet you’ll find an old forum post with some ideas. Also join a few C4 Facebook groups and post the issue, lots of knowledgeable owners out there. Best of luck and enjoy your ride!
I've been noticing that too! Early Miatas are starting to be seen as collectibles. While a Miata might have a similar purchase price to a C4, it's still going to be friendlier on the wallet...They're more reliable, simpler, easier to fix, and get much better gas mileage.
@@RetroCarsForever true! that's what's making me lean towarda a miata as my second car (currently in an 08 prius with 278k miles. gets good mpg!) as it'll be eaiser to learn stick on and MUCH eaiser to maintain than the 'vette.
@@luciab4331 I love the idea of starting with a Miata as a fun car and then graduating to a Corvette as you get older. That's what I did and I'm thankful for that progression!
