ajerimez
New member
Hi, new member here. I've always liked the look of late-model C4s and just test drove a 1996 Collector's Edition with 111k miles, LT4, 6-speed.
I love the design and the manual trans but had some serious concerns after the test drive. I'm used to smaller engines (V6s and turbocharged 4s) and have zero experience with Corvettes so I could really use some advice.
1) It made a lot of noise but felt much slower than I'd expect for 300+HP. Looking through the service records there were some receipts from about 10 years ago that showed zero compression on two cylinders and subsequent work on valve seats. Records also showed replacement of several synchros in the gearbox. Are these common problems? For a car with just over 100k miles this seems like a lot of work, and I've heard these V8 engines are supposed to be reliable.
2) Fit & finish just felt off in a lot of ways - the driver door wouldn't fully close unless slammed, the rear hatch would pop but wouldn't lift open, driver door panel was loose, interior trim panels didn't seem to fit right, the plastic trim on top of the transmission tunnel was sticky, the center storage compartment lid rubbed against the driver's seat when opening & closing, etc. I've heard older Corvettes had interior issues but these seem above and beyond squeaks & rattles. Are these problems considered typical?
3) The front end sits a couple of inches lower than the rear, which is visible in the photos. Looking at the shocks they were yellow Delcos - is that factory or has the car probably been lowered? Would it be expensive to return it to stock ride height?
4) Carfax shows no accident history but it does have 6 prior owners - is that a typical number of prior owners for a mid-90s C4?
Sorry if these concerns are ignorant or overblown, I really wanted to like this car but the way it felt during the drive was a far cry from what I was expecting and some advice would be greatly appreciated.
I love the design and the manual trans but had some serious concerns after the test drive. I'm used to smaller engines (V6s and turbocharged 4s) and have zero experience with Corvettes so I could really use some advice.
1) It made a lot of noise but felt much slower than I'd expect for 300+HP. Looking through the service records there were some receipts from about 10 years ago that showed zero compression on two cylinders and subsequent work on valve seats. Records also showed replacement of several synchros in the gearbox. Are these common problems? For a car with just over 100k miles this seems like a lot of work, and I've heard these V8 engines are supposed to be reliable.
2) Fit & finish just felt off in a lot of ways - the driver door wouldn't fully close unless slammed, the rear hatch would pop but wouldn't lift open, driver door panel was loose, interior trim panels didn't seem to fit right, the plastic trim on top of the transmission tunnel was sticky, the center storage compartment lid rubbed against the driver's seat when opening & closing, etc. I've heard older Corvettes had interior issues but these seem above and beyond squeaks & rattles. Are these problems considered typical?
3) The front end sits a couple of inches lower than the rear, which is visible in the photos. Looking at the shocks they were yellow Delcos - is that factory or has the car probably been lowered? Would it be expensive to return it to stock ride height?
4) Carfax shows no accident history but it does have 6 prior owners - is that a typical number of prior owners for a mid-90s C4?
Sorry if these concerns are ignorant or overblown, I really wanted to like this car but the way it felt during the drive was a far cry from what I was expecting and some advice would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited: