WHAT’S NEW AT CORVSPORT.COM? A BUYERS GUIDE WHEN CONSIDERING A C4 CORVETTE

Although purchasing a new Corvette may be an unrealistic goal for many consumers, especially given the increasingly hefty price tag that accompanies them, many previously owned Corvettes are available today that offer Corvette enthusiasts the opportunity to own a piece of the American Dream without breaking the bank. While many of the late model C4 Corvettes sold for more than $30,000 when they were new, it has become increasingly common to find used C4’s with reasonable mileage (many under 80K on the odometer) for under $12,000 (or even less), making the C4 one of the most affordable, and readily available of all the used Corvettes on the market today.

When considering the purchase of a used C4, there are a number of key factors that should be kept in mind.  First, it is important to understand the differences between the earlier and later generation C4’s.  While the 1984 C4 is probably the most affordable of all fourth generation Corvettes (often selling for less than $5,000, it is also the C4 most riddled with mechanical issues including a temperamental Cross-Fire Fuel Injection System.  Similarly, the 1984-1988 models all offered an optional 4+3 manual transmission which was cumbersome, difficult to operate, and was not well received by consumers.  On the otherhand, late model C4’s became well respected by critics and enthusiasts alike, especially with the introduction of the ZR-1 in 1990.  While the C4 ZR-1’s still sell for $20k (or more), the accompanying base model coupes and convertibles provided robust power, performance and handling – especially after Chevrolet introduced the LT1 en