Unusual fact about the c4 corvette, the tape decks will only play Van Halen's 1984 album, at full blast. The fiberglass weave is also impregnated with cocaine.
It was annoying hearing Matt take subtle shots at this car the whole time. It was like his inner car snob was coming out which is weird considering some of the cars he's owned. Case in point...Asking this cool guy if girls hide their heads in shame when they ride with him.
He was kind of snarky. Which is not his norm. i am thinking the kid might have run his mouth and ticked Matt off a little off camera. i was watching a number back to back and he was vary kind to even a couple of shit box owners.???...
Matt’s weird about corvettes. I think because he had a C5 for so long he looks down on C4’s for some reason. I remember seeing him do a review of a C5 that made more power than his and he was just being a butthurt little hitch
C4's brought Corvette to where it is today and deserves a lot of respect. F1 suspension, real traction control, and '92 to '96 had 300 hp in a 3,000 pound plus vehicle gave it a great power to weight ratio for it's time, and made it a lot faster than virtually all previous small block Corvettes. The C4 with ZR-1 option set the world record for speed and endurance. It went 175 mph for like 10,000 miles. They only stopped there because the driver's had had enough. The cars were still preforming perfectly. They still look good and are a great road racer bang for the buck. Lots of fun to drive.
I think the C4 is actually aging quite well. Simple, distinctive lines. I think the cockpit actually looks better than the C5/6. Would do without the hash marks but to each his own.
These L98 Corvettes are one of those "best kept secret" cars. Especially the later ones. Both the C4 Vette and the L98 are very overlooked motors with more bad stigma surrounding them than fact. Truth is these C4s have some pretty mean handling, they're light, they fit big tires, they're actually a really good platform. The L98 is also great. Easily/cheaply modded cause it's still just a Chevy 350 at heart, makes amazing torque, gets great mileage, and they're just rock solid cause, aside from the reliability of the SBC, the TPI system, computer, sensors, and all that work independently so if one fails the whole motor doesn't get thrown out of whack like the newer motors. In fact I've yet to own an LS that wasn't finnicky like that. This guy is like my Corvette brother haha. I do Irocs/GTAs myself but I'm always annoying my buddies with all the anal info im always going on about xD Its awesome seeing someone who knows their stuff about these cars, it's rare these days with LSs taking over so much. Keep it up man! Your car rocks!
+Evan B Thanks evan we everything on this car works on irocs also and yea the block in these cars are just the same as the ones that came out of the 60' and 70' in fact my car has a plate covering where the mechanical fuel pump is supposed to go haha
Cool that he's very knowledgable about his car and C4's in general! I had a 1986 Z51 automatic, which I loved but had too many problems (now have a 2010 GTI). C4's are finicky, but handle great and are fun to drive. My father has a 1994 ZR1 with 14,000 miles, awesome car.
Let the kid speak. You ask him a question, as he tries to answer, you cut him off. Not cool man. Obviously he's very knowledgeable and wants to talk about his car but you don't give him a chance to finish..
Nick Chapin Wow, really? I've had Cherry Bombs on stuff, they sound good, but usually COMPLETELY different than that. I've had them on old carbureted stuff with fairly low compression (anything good got Flowmasters, haha!) and no converters or anything, that must be the difference.
This is a true Corvette enthusiast. He really knows his Corvette (unlike some owners that claimed to have build their car but didn't know anything about it).
So 1991 was the oddball year that the facelifted bumpers and dash where added but the old L98 was still under the hood, I personally think the L98 looks better than newer engines, 240 horse sucks but if you tune it to 350+ which is easy for a tuned port chevy 350 then it could be a really fun torquey car to drive, kinda like a 90s Viper with ABS for 1/4 the cost.
Another great Matt Ferrara video. I love the C4 design, sitting in the subframe, gauges, lots of torque, targa top, and tons of modifications available. I bought the last year C4 model - the LT4 for 12k with 49k miles.
In 1991 there were only 2 transmissions: 6 speed and 4 speed automatic. The Doug and Nash 4+3 last year was 1988 as 1989 was the first year of the ZF 6. Also LT1 first year was 1992, 1991 was the last year of the L98.
Typical C4 basher preconceived notion of how terrible a car he's never driven before is going to be. The Cadillac comment based on the fact that caddy came in to soften the stiff ride which the sport package in this car retains. Shit GM dashboards, yes like every domestic car of the era. Kudos to the kid who is the real car enthusiast in the video.
Nice, I own a 93 ZO7. ZO7 were available as automatics also. I bought my first 93 C4 when i was 16. I just drove a C7 and I felt like I was driving a modern a C4.
So happy to see a C4 one-take! The C4's don't get the love they deserve, they're fun cars and super cheap to get. Nice to know Matt would like my car (I have a '90) Also, nice to hear affirmation that the C7 dash resembles the C4's. That's the first thing I noticed when I saw the C7 dash.
It's most likely floaty if the suspension system isn't operating. They softened the ride through the years of the c4. My 87 rides like a lumber wagon. Very stiff suspension. Love it. Stock L98 so far. Still good amount of torque. Fun to drive.
I had three c4s 93,95and 96 ..this paticular one made 245hp stock..92 went to the lt1 which made 300..what is so nice with the tuned ported engines was all the bolt on performance items you can add..god this brought back old memories..lol
And for everyone questioning the reliability of these Vettes read about all the FIA world speed endurance records Morrison Motorsports set in 1990 with one of these (an L98) and a ZR1. Not Porsche, not Ferrari, not Lambo. They were 50 year old records set by race cars, beaten with barely modified production cars. And they've only been beaten since by a one-off prototype race car. Never been beaten by another production car.
I'm sorry, but this was the most biased, unprofessional, and grossly inept "car review" I have ever viewed. The kid comes off as a class act and true motoring enthusiast, while the host comes off as an arrogant middle aged car snob who simply parrots age old cliches he's read on the internet...while looking to troll a proud owner and his "crappy" car. The kid knows C3's specs inside and out and is very proud of his car. A true car geek. The host doesn't know much about these cars, but the hate and bias bleeds through from the start. The kid starts off by listing out the performance parts (heads, cam, .30 bored, hi-po radiator/wp, etc), and the host can only respond with, "Oh, so you've got some parts". The kid is then talking about the L98 characteristics, and the host derails to gibberish about which car is more "80s" (let's empirically quantify that?) The kid is proud of how rare the option combo is, and the host goes on to insult the buttons. The BUTTONS. The kid patiently sits there while this buffoon goes on insulting the buttons, with a clear bias on just bashing this car, period. He then goes on to harp on the A/C and the seats like a typical American driver. How about a review of the cup holders? Does the host know he is reviewing a tuned 350HP performance car, not an SUV? The host can do nothing but spew the same stock cliches...The ride is "floaty" yet he's done nothing but drive in a straight line. Car turns out to have a sport suspension, the kid patiently reveals later. The kid tells us the car is a genuine ZL7. Host responds, "Really?? Wow!! Wait...what does that mean?" Kid talks about the "4+3", and host replies with some vague, "LOLZZZ, the 4+3!! Are there any of those left??" The kid informs him the gearbox is German, and was used in the E30. Host replies with, "Yes, this feels like a BMW now". Placebo effect going full throttle, he goes on to compliment the gearbox, just like the internet trained him to do, b/c "German engineering FTW", while bashing all else about the C3. "I expected it to be crappy" was the first genuine thing the host says at the 5:22 mark. He finally admitted his knows jack about this car except parroting the same tired BS he's read about C3's on his computer. Having nothing of value to discuss about the actual car driving dynamics (as you would in a real car review), the host can only talk about how much the car costs, and how cool it ranks in teenage popularity contests. He then resumes insulting the kid by asking if girls hide when people see them in his car. No tact while the kid maintains his composure. One person in this video is a true car nut who is damn proud of his car. The other is a walking car forum meme generator who adds nothing to any discussion of cars. Kid is a class act the entire time, while enduring this clown who is not fit to review anything beyond SUVs. "I kind of liked it, actually". Newsflash, if you had put aside your lifetime of car magazine groupthink brainwashing, maybe you could have objectively test driven this tuned C3, and added something of value to the internet, instead of spending 11 minutes insulting both car and owner without any validity beyond parroting what you've read. Educational, indeed. I'm hoping the host reads this and learns to improve his craft. Disclaimer: I am not a C3 owner. I do not own a Corvette, nor have I ever even owned a Chevy.
Harry Felmeth thank you for the complement i just want to clear the air about what i was saying about the car. I was speaking about the whole generation of c4's not just my car i was talking about the what was given between 1984 to 1996 yes ill admit there were some faulty information given and you guys corrected me thanks for the corrections.
Harry Felmeth Ha, I just read your vitriolic takedown of the driver/narrator. Yep, I'm guilty as he is of just dismissing the whole thing with "yeah yeah, whatever, kid". The dude IS funny, tho. "Would you just look at the OPTIMISM of these buttons!". You see, Felmeth, having had many GM products of that and many other eras I can tell you with authority that it's funny because all those crappy plastic buttons eventually have the little icons rub off and leave their purpose a mystery, they misalign, or they just fall right the hell off. The most amusing thing about those buttons is most importantly, they eventually fail to do whatever it was they were supposed to do Stray observations: - Driver mentions that the key is still exactly the same as his grandmother's Delta 88, except it's got the little resistor pellet built in for anti-theft. "I don't think those ever worked" /"Sure they did!". If you recall, I ordered a set of resistors off Ebay for $4 delivered that BYPASSED that little key pellet. So yeah, all those pellet keys ever succeeded in doing was stranding the owners of the car, not preventing theft. - If that were mine, the toolbox in the back would be replaced by a subwoofer of some kind and the stock head unit would certainly not still be in the dash, 1991 GM stereos aren't old enough to have any "antique appeal" - I would manage somehow to squeeze that extra horsepower out of that 350 while still keeping the A/C functional - I would be endlessly aggravated by two things: a) The plastic-ey RATTLING (to say nothing of the leaking) of the targa top b) The fact that as soon as I re-glued/reupholstered/replaced something in the crappy interior. something ELSE would require re-gluing/reupholstering/replacing Bear in mind, this is coming from someone who for many many years considered himself a "GM Guy"
This was a pleasure to read, and I fully agree with your comment. This host, in which I just became familiar with today, if having any sponsors needs to be notified and requested to drop this clown. The Corvette owner has passion, and truely deserves having the opportunity of sponsors if at all possible. Thanks for the comment, I to do not own one nor a Chevy at all, but from this kid, tomorrow I will buy a C4!
This is a C4 Corvette, manufactured through 1984-1996. I don't know why everyone in the comments are talking about it being a C3 Corvette, I guess some people need to do their own homework! FYI there are a few 4+3 manuals on the road, they have the Z51 package. I know because I own one, and it runs great!
Instead of bitching about the buttons how about mentioning for those who don't know how L98 Corvettes wiped the floor with Porsche and everyone else in SCCA Showroom Stock, going undefeated for 3 years (29-0) from 85-87. They got so butthurt they banned Corvettes and forced them to race against themselves in Corvette Challenge.
When you are pre disposed to not like something, it shows. There's nothing new here. We c4 owners know our cars are cool. And a great value. That's why we
Same! But my dad had a newer model. So many good memories with the targa top off and blasting down the freeway! By far one of the greatest highlights of my early childhood.
You should get the suspension fixed. If I remember correctly I read some where the suspension was originally designed and engineered built by bilstein for the Porsche 959. I could be wrong but I think it is worth investigating on your part.
Saying C4 Corvettes are "crappy" has become a thing over the last twenty years. But that doesn't actually mean it's true. Did they have the coachwork quality of a contemporary Porsche? No, but what else did? These WERE the fastest and best all-around sports cars you could buy for the money during their heyday. In fact, usually the more expensive alternatives were not as good. I'm kinda glad few people understand this, because it allowed me to buy one DIRT cheap. Like worn-out NA Miata cheap.
Just got my first Corvette. 1990 convertible. Very fun and affordable. I'm not that knowledgeable about it yet, but learning. Looking for tips on now to beef it up.
My car uses one of these keys he is talking about. There is actually a resistor in the shaft of the key, if you put a meter on either side of it it will give you a specific resistance. If the car doesnt see that specific ohm value it wont start. People have gone as far as soldering regular resistors into the ignition wiring in the column just so they can start with a normal key. Pretty neat stuff for the early days
TheSmokingTire There's a few fixes for the positive pressure in the C5 so you won't have to mention it anymore. I had one for a few weeks & it was a pain! I just let the window down whenever I needed to load/unload the thing.
Where to start...the owner has no idea! A 1991 was the "new" body that would last through 1996. It was the first year for that dash. It had the L98 where the LT1 came out a year later. There was only 2 transmissions for the car, the 4 speed auto or the 6 speed manual. There was NO 4+3 in 1991! Also there was NO Z51 option. There was the Z07 which came with engine oil cooler, selective ride control, heavy duty springs, shocks, stabilizer and bushing, and heavy duty breaks plus the manual transmission was the only one available for that package. By the way, I'm not just a Corvette fan but I also own one.
+David Fullerton, thank you for correcting that misinformation about the 4+3, but I gotta correct you a bit too.....the new dash actually came out in 1990, pre-facelift.
And he said the ZF 6spd was an option in 1991??? The ZF 6spd replaced the 4+3 in 1989. There was NO 4+3 after 1988...of which owner makes it sound as if it was an option in 1991.
The driver keeps comparing the handling and ride to a CADILLAC !!!??? What CADILLAC , a new CTS-V ? If he thinks it handles and rides like a 91 Cadillac he must be high.
well the c4 handling in stock form is not good at all.Its floaty and there are a lot of body rolls,it feels pretty much like a light cadillac of that time lol.
Honesty? How can he be honest when he doesn't know jack shit about the car or it's history? He just regurgitates some bullshit he heard somewhere else from someone else who doesn't jack shit about these cars either.
SnowBanditt I noticed that too. :) I presume its a detail kit. But even if it is tools; not a bad idea when you track race your car to bring plenty of basic tools with you, just in case. I've rarely needed mine, but damn sure good to have when it's your only ride home.
+SnowBanditt they are tools and yea bette safe than sorry the engine at that time only had 1000 miles on it so i was doing a shake down with it and not only that i drove from san jose CA to Malibu which is a hell of a drive its like crossing a small country
Real men carry some tools in their rides at all times ready for anything . You have to know your car inside and out. Not like those fruit cakes that just jump in their cars and go and don't have the know how to check fluids and end up putting coolant in the brake fluid reservoir...
close but its not a genuine one i wish i had an actual C4GS the actual ones are rare and came in royal blue with a white stripe down the center with the red fender stripes. they also had the LT4 in them which made them absolute monsters back in the day. my car only had the stripes as a sign of respect for the actual c2 GS which is a historical piece of machinery
Love it when an ols vette is fine tuned to be just as good as a recent one, wish the suspensions and breaks was done. Many look a old corvettes and wouldn't consider it a proper project car.
This kid reminds me of my friend who drives a 2012 Mustang GT just like mine but he actually knows his stuff about hit car really good. This Vettes are not something I would drive but for that much money you do get a lot of car for sure.
L98s made Massive amounts of torque. just not much power. His set up is most likely making 300 horsepower due to the TPI system. it wouldn't surprise me if it was making 420lbft+
The 4+3 Doug Manual Transmission was available for the 1984, 85, 86 and 87 model years. In 1988 the Gertrag 6 speed became available. It's likely got shocks that are worn out, for the soft ride. the Z07 had issues with the dynamic shock valving working, as the car aged. Out "80's car... "what is his deal.
