@Onion Head you described me exactly. Genxer with money. I just bought my C4 corvette so now I'm in search of my other notebook cars..IROC Z and SVO mustang.
@Onion Head. You're right. Im 50, and Im planning on getting into either a Grand National or a 90 ZR1.....cars I couldnt afford then. Very true point. These are the cars Gen X grew up with but couldnt afford. So true.
They’ve really grown on me. I’ve always been a huge C5 and C7 fan (had a 99’ frc, and 02’ Z06, both heavily modded). Always felt the C4 as my least favorite Vette. As I’ve gotten older, they are becoming one of my favorites. I may actually get one soon.
I was 13yrs old back in 89 and I thought this thing was so bad ass, and in 1990 I thought the C4 ZR1 was incredibly bad ass. I thank God I was fortunate enough to be a kid in the 80’s
Shortly after the bypass pieces came out. Vats was on the list. Left me stranded more than once. NObodys stealign these cars today! BAck then the st rod guys did for the suspensions
I own a 1990 ZR-1, and it ROCKS. The sport seats are very nice, have a Marc Hailbeck chip and the skip shift has been deleted. 70k miles, barely broke in. This LT5 is a work of art. This car still holds the 24 hour world speed endurance record for a mass produced car. Just under 175 mph for 24 hours straight. This engine will turn 7000 RPM all day. And the L98 also holds many records, it was so badass the SCCA outlawed it, so the corvette challenge was created so it could race, much cool history with these cars.
The 80s models of the Corvette C4 were the best looking. They looked so sleek and streamlined. In my opinion they are one of the best looking Corvettes ever.
You’re in the minority sir. These cars are the cheapest to purchase. And the least sought after. The only cars that have any value at all are low mileage anniversary model, Grand sport, and ZR1 models. Plastics in the interior like most 80s and 90s cars are cheap and rattled.
Mark Ball I don’t care about the value they’ve retained, I’m talking about design. And the 80s interior looked amazing. And rattling interiors is an age thing. I’ve driven in one that sounded tight as a drum.
@@connorpusey5912 interiors are amazing? 🤣. You set the bar pretty low, or you haven’t been in very many different years of corvettes. From 55 all the way up to early 70s had beautifully designed interiors. Then they started filling them with a ocean of cheap plastic. The C7 was finally a turning point for a more improved interior. I haven’t seen in person the new C8s interiors yet, but from what I’ve seen on videos and reviews the interior quality is great. Basically you personally have a sweet spot for these C4s. Which is fine. It just isn’t the norm. I use to work for a GM dealership and I a friend of mines father up the road has a corvette collection. So my exposure to all years of these cars is pretty good.
Mark Ball I’m actually not in a minority who thinks the 80s interiors are cool. I’ve heard many people, on the internet included, who say they like them. I think you just look at them as another old car, the way many people have for quite some time. I don’t think of them that way anymore. My favorites are the late 50s C1, C2, 80s C4 and C7.
@@connorpusey5912 you are in the minority. It isn’t about by personal opinions or yours. If you like the C4 that’s fine. I’ve got over 30 years experience on the subject. Prices reflect public opinions of the car. They are the cheapest used corvette you can buy. And that exposes the general public feelings on what the C4 is. The last years of the C3 are also cheap to buy. Lack luster performance do to strict emissions standards stifled performance. It was a low point for all cars of the mid 70s to mid 80s
Even today, you can take a L98 (or even an 84 cross fire) into mountain roads and have a literal blast actually rowing through the gears. What they lack in straight line speed or upper RPM horsepower they make up for it with gobs of torque. Very punchy turn to turn and quite entertaining and fun!
Back in 1989, there wasn't much outside of much more expensive Ferraris or Lamborghinis that were better than this. Some Porsches may have been better but they were also more expensive. A few years later though, Japan unleashed several awesome sports cars on the world that gave the Corvette a run for its money.
As I understand it, this car was a huge leap forward for vettes when it came out. Much more advanced than the c3. I wasn't around back then though so I may be wrong.
Awesome retro review. I always woke up early Saturday mornings to see Motorweek and This Old House on PBS. The C4 in 84 was the coolest thing on the planet, even far more so than the C8 at this time. The C4 with the digidash, sleek body, clamshell hood in 84 was like nothing else out there. Today there are many cool techno sleek cars.
This is my favorite year of the C4, the L98 was at its most refined, still had the full digital guages, and was way less plasticy than its 90s counterparts. Sure the LT-1 had more power but I’d take one of these over it any day. No opti-spark ignition issues either.
Funny I've owned 7 (yes 7!) LT1 powered F-body's and never had an issue with an OS. I replaced one on my Patriot Red '93 with 154k on it. The opti spark issue is more myth than factual.
I can do without the FX-3. Cant get parts for those systems, Bilstein wont rebuild them and Z51 is a little too stiff. My 89 with z52 was incredibly stiff as it was I DO love the quick rack and pinion in them, made it so much more fun to drive
@@Joesmusclecargarage I like the way you think lol, I wish more people in the modern car scene would think this way too. Just my take though and personal taste, I respect all builds
Might it be the giant diameter (for the day) wheels? As I age, that laying on the ground sports car stance sometimes gives way to prying my old butt up out of it when I get where I'm going. At 52, I make noises getting out of the '17 Civic coupe I just bought. Lol!
When I think Corvette, this is the generation I think of. Crazy to think that some family haulers today have as good of performance as this Corvette, if not better, and out of a 4 banger, and not a V8.
I enjoyed my black 89. That 6spd was quite easy to use even when shifting quickly. Only problem I ever had was a thermostat housing that needed replacement otherwise it was a fun quick car
I was waiting forever for this video. Three years ago I bought an 89 red on red 6 speed, much like this but with standard leather seats, regular shocks, and transparent blue roof. Still going strong with 135,000 miles as my 9 months out of the year daily driver. The 1989 is the best C4 in my opinion. You get the original super 80s exterior and interior styling, not the afterthought softer facelift, but you get the much better 6 speed (the 1 to 4 skip is easily bypassed) and improved suspension. Mine is an early C4 which used a sprintier 3.54 rear end which is where I believe the brochure comes up with the more accurate 5.4 0-60 time.
It might be 'only' 245 BHP of MAXIMUM power but it has over 200 BHP on any revs, unlike the modern hot hatches that might have 300+ of maximum power but give you 80 most of the time.
it's the torque number that really matters. they say horsepower is great for advertising but torque is what really moves s car. those l98 had about 340 lb of torque. The modern hot hatchbacks you talkin about probably only have about 200 pound feet of torque
@@darrenporsch That's not exactly true either. Torque depends on what power is generated at what RPMs. It's just a different factor of the very same thing happening in the engine. What really matters in terms of performance, is how much power (which in the following respect is practically the same thing as torque), through the whole range of rpms that is used. Say an abstract idea, that an engine has 1000HP precisely at 7861RPM, and 1HP at any other rev (impossible, but I'm taking this as an example to ilustrate the thing). It would be extremely slow, and practically unable to move anything. In racing and rallying it is important to have the maximum power withing the range of about 1000 rpms, as this is how performance transmissions are set in rallying for example, to use 1k rpms, and the engineers' work is to make the engine deliver eg. 300HP through the range, instead of eg 500HP at peak, but just 200 through most of the thousand rpms that is used. What makes these relatively low-powered 80s cars fast, is that they might have low maximum power, but they deliver like 80-90% of maximum power most of the time, so all the time on any revs the cars have a lot of power to pull on. It also makes them pretty pleasant to drive. A high tech 1 litlre might have as high maximum power as the 80ies restricted V8, but in the little high tech you need to like kick 3 or even 4 gears down, push throttle to the floor, and synchronise the work of stick shift and clutch to get it moving at maximum. In the restricted V8, you just push the throttle, even if its manual, you don't do anything, the engine alone kicks the car ahead.
@@lancairw867 Cease fire huh? I’d bet good money you have never seen one, worked on one, or driven one. Thanks for letting everyone know a simple and reliable 40 year old TBI and ECM is way over your head. Thanks for the laugh though! 👍😂
This is now my favourite episode of Motor Week! :-) My previous favourite was when you tested the C4 auto against the manual, I love C4 Corvettes. Interesting that the IROC-Z you tested accelerated faster. I've got an 89 IROC-Z with the L98 5.7 TPI and it ran a 14.64 at 93.6, so slightly slower than the Vett but that's to be expected as it is heavier, auto and has a 2.77 rear end. Man the 80s were awesome!!
Not sure if it's because I'm a Gen-X'er but seeing a good cidition C4 I. A nice neighborhood actually still stands out in a good way. Still looks classy!
I remember when this model came out in 1983. That cool digital dash and smooth body... Now, Fast forward to 2020, and we have a new digital dash and exciting styling again. It's awesome that this sports car has survived. America's Sports Car!
My buddy just bought an all original black vette just like this from an old woman he was doing a landscaping job for, for $1500 with an automatic and only 62k original miles on the odemeter....its black exterior with black and tan interior ...only thing wrong with it was a broken alternates bolt in the head, dry rotted tires....head lights wouldn't open or close and a week after he bought it the passenger side window motor went out....you should see it now tho....after fixing those issues and putting a set of modern racing spoke style wheels and having it professionally buffed and waxed it looks absolutely amazing....id leave it the way it is and sell it to a collector but he says regardless of how nice and original it is that it's not worth anything and that it would be lucky if it brought 5000$ so he says he is going to LS swap it and make it run like the vette it should have been if not for government emission regulations in the 80s.....to each his own but when he puts it like that I can see the merit in it. As good as the grand nationals are and were in their day....think how awesome they would have been if GM would have had the 4.8 is back then and built the grand national with a turbo 4.8 and a 4l80 or a t56.....i gotta admit the thought of that makes my hotrod bone tingle with arousal when I imagine what an exciting death trap that would have been. Alot of rich kids would have been paralyzed or killed back in 86 and 87 if so!!
a friend if mine had a 84 two twone silver, black in 1990. he let me drive it a couple of times . it was a great joy to drive and turned heads everywhere. the handling was better then the c3 . nowadays over here in the netherlands they go for €15000-30000 . and they have become a rarity on the roads.
The seats in this C4 were WAY nicer, more comfortable, better bolstered than the floppy ass crap seats in the C5 Corvette. At least according to my 5'6" 150lb frame.
@@Eidrian111 I´m 6´3 220lb and i absolutely agree with Aaron, the C5 seats were just made to fit overweight guys and not be real performance seats like in the early c4's
kaldarleifar i really don’t know what you are on about. 6’1” myself 180 pounds and I’m confortable. Of course there are better seats but c5’s aren’t crap.
I have a 93 and a 98 with sport seats. The 98 has the cheapest seats i've seen in any car. Yes the 12way adjust with lumbar is cool, but the seats are flimsy as hell and wear out so easily. Throw in the seat rocking problem from the sliders and makes the rest of the car thats great fell like crap. When I pick one to drive, its always the C4 even though its an auto coupe and the C5 is a 6spd convert.
@@bigwrenchgarage1360 This is why you get Corbeau A4's. They feel very similar to common stock sport seats in cars like the BRZ, which is a great balance of comfort to corner holding. They also really improve the looks of the interior, once you swap the seats and the shift knob it makes the interior dramatically better to use and look at.
I loved my 90. Had a bullet proof roller engine and the best time I clicked off was a 13.9. The electronics were a pain in the ass though and the headlights were just troublesome. I now have the c5 Z06 which is a huge improvement over the C4 but my heart began with a C3 Stingray.
The C4 remains one of the best looking Corvettes ever. Timeless beauty. I wonder of the collectors will eventually step in and drive up the price? Surprised it has not yet happened.
I grew up riding my freestyle bmx by a Chevy dealer looking through the windows mostly but went in when the ZR-1 came out I went in the lot and put my bike down far enough away they wouldn’t be nervous lol. I remember the L98 too they looked great. There was also a Toyota dealer close and I recall the first time seeing the big wing on a Supra. It looked cool but the vette looked way better.
I don't care what anyone says, C4 Corvette (85 and up) is the best entry level sports car. Don't waste your money on a miata, get one of these. And this is coming from a C5 Z06 owner.
@@jamesengland7461 I'm glad you asked. Prepare to read. (Note: I owned both a na miata and 2 c4 Corvettes and I love both cars) We're going to compare the L98 C4 with the NA miata. Strictly performance speaking, the c4 is levels above the miata. It makes sense, a '90 miata costing 14k can't compete with a '90 c4 costing 32k new. But we're talking used anyways. Let's say, a used one costing 5k each. You're getting over twice the power with the Corvette, yet it's still a very manageable about only being about 230hp. It out handles the miata as well. Especially the 85-87 models, put them both on an autocross course and you'll see the results. Actual purchase: at 5k you can find a good example of either car. However, with Mazda you're far more likely to encounter rust and issues regarding rust due to cheap metals and poor paint quality. But that said, with the Corvette you could find issues regarding electrical since there isn't many good places to ground on that car, but at this point it's most likely fixed already. Livability: Corvette can haul 8 foot boards with the hatch closed (ask me how I know) where the miata you can carry a 12 pack and some hot dog buns. I averaged 24mpg in my 4+3 Corvette, and 32mpg in the miata. 20 gallon tank vs 10 gallon tank however. Miata is convertible, but Corvette is either convertible, or targa top so you can really live the same style with both. Let's say you want to modify your car. Body mods the miata has millions where c4 you got a couple choices. But with engine mods, it's reversed. The l98 is the last true SBC, and with the money you can spend on it, you'll see actual results unlike with the miata, you'll still want more. Both are easy to modify, even if you've never dabbled in it. Overall, both are great cars. If you told me I had to live with either car I'd be fine with it. But if you told me I had to buy one with my personal money, it'd be a C4 again.
@@CorridorCulprit great answer. Which provides a better driving experience- not outright performance, but joy on a winding back road? How does a Corvette feel compared to the Miata? I say this because I've seen umpteen stories of the great driving feel of the Miata, but never any of the Corvette. Which puts a smile on your face when you're not doing crazy speeds?
@@CorridorCulprit full disclosure: I want an NA or NB Miata and plan to buy one in about a year, but the C4 or C5 are tugging at me too. I want enjoyment at sane speeds, but V8!!!!
@@jamesengland7461 if you can afford the c5, that's the best route. You will be driving that way more than any of the others just because of the reliability and jump in quality. But if still comparing miata to c4, the Corvette gave me a better overall driving experience. I don't have great roads near me, so I have to drive about an hour or so to get to quality roads. The highway driving with the Corvette was much easier, just having that extra power. Then getting to the back roads, I could take the targa off and just cruise and enjoy the scenery. Honestly though, if you found a good example of either car you'll be happy.
The '89 IROC-Z was faster than the later L98 Vette, per the note at 6:50? I know the '90 was 0-60 in 5.8, the fastest F and only one to break 6 to 60. Most of the IROCs in the late '80s, even with G92, were 6.3-6.8 (either 5.0 TPI LB9 or 5.7 TPI L98). The Vettes were down to 5.5-5.7 by '88 and '89.
@@LittleMikeStarCraft I did, but clearly you didn't understand mine. My point was a regular family sedan cost 50% as much. I don't think two Camry's is that much money. Certainty not enough to buy a house. Try again.
Also, with 15 seconds of cursory fact checking the average Corolla cost between 9,000 - 13,000$. Which again has nothing to do with my point of houses in my area only costing 30,000$ in 1989.
I did an engine swap out of a wrecked one , I put it in an 85 Iroc. Then had the intake and heads worked, added a cam and Nitrous. I never had one problem with that motor even with the dual stage NOS.
@@liverush24 Thanks for watching.. I have had the pleasure of riding along with the Master on track, but can't claim a fraction of his driving skill !!
Want to help keep our weekly Retro Reviews alive? DONATE NOW: mptevents.regfox.com/motorweek
L98 is the same engine they had from 85, it was not new for 89. Tyres were the same on all 89s too.
Say what you will about the C4, but I think its gorgeous. Definitely my favorite Corvette.
Work of art. C4 values are climbing fast now. People are falling in love with them again.
@Onion Head you described me exactly. Genxer with money. I just bought my C4 corvette so now I'm in search of my other notebook cars..IROC Z and SVO mustang.
@Onion Head. You're right. Im 50, and Im planning on getting into either a Grand National or a 90 ZR1.....cars I couldnt afford then. Very true point. These are the cars Gen X grew up with but couldnt afford. So true.
Ian V. Raybeck I have pollo green 96 love it. Too bad can not post photo.
@@indybill4 Sounds like a real treat!
The VHS tracking issues make this a truly 'Retro' review. :)
I have a orginal VHS recording from the Motorweek show. That shows the 1989 ZR1!
I've always had a soft spot for these '80s Corvettes. Despite its shortcomings.
I like the design, it's quite charming.
Agreed! There is just something about this generation of Vette that really does it for me.
This generation looks good there is no denying that
Absolulty I love the wheels
They’ve really grown on me. I’ve always been a huge C5 and C7 fan (had a 99’ frc, and 02’ Z06, both heavily modded). Always felt the C4 as my least favorite Vette.
As I’ve gotten older, they are becoming one of my favorites. I may actually get one soon.
Agreed ...so I just bought one
I was 13yrs old back in 89 and I thought this thing was so bad ass, and in 1990 I thought the C4 ZR1 was incredibly bad ass. I thank God I was fortunate enough to be a kid in the 80’s
Their like 6000 bucks now for a good one. Grab one or two.
John J. Baranski right on
us gen XXX rulz lol
Ah, back when a auto news outlet could encourage you to override an electric nanny with "a few snips"
Now if you do that today, your dash will look like a christmas tree
Yes!! Well said!
I snickered a little when he said that.
Back when tiny pieces of freedom could still be suggested.
Shortly after the bypass pieces came out.
Vats was on the list. Left me stranded more than once. NObodys stealign these cars today! BAck then the st rod guys did for the suspensions
This generation corvette has clean lines.probably my favorite.
Have you ever seen the C2 coupe 🤔
😨
Good design and the size, they're so cute not fat like new ones.
@@V8_screw_electric_cars "cute"🙄
I actually watched this episode when it came on. I was 12 years old.
I own a 1990 ZR-1, and it ROCKS. The sport seats are very nice, have a Marc Hailbeck chip and the skip shift has been deleted. 70k miles, barely broke in. This LT5 is a work of art. This car still holds the 24 hour world speed endurance record for a mass produced car. Just under 175 mph for 24 hours straight. This engine will turn 7000 RPM all day. And the L98 also holds many records, it was so badass the SCCA outlawed it, so the corvette challenge was created so it could race, much cool history with these cars.
The 80s models of the Corvette C4 were the best looking. They looked so sleek and streamlined. In my opinion they are one of the best looking Corvettes ever.
You’re in the minority sir. These cars are the cheapest to purchase. And the least sought after. The only cars that have any value at all are low mileage anniversary model, Grand sport, and ZR1 models. Plastics in the interior like most 80s and 90s cars are cheap and rattled.
Mark Ball
I don’t care about the value they’ve retained, I’m talking about design. And the 80s interior looked amazing. And rattling interiors is an age thing. I’ve driven in one that sounded tight as a drum.
@@connorpusey5912 interiors are amazing? 🤣. You set the bar pretty low, or you haven’t been in very many different years of corvettes. From 55 all the way up to early 70s had beautifully designed interiors. Then they started filling them with a ocean of cheap plastic. The C7 was finally a turning point for a more improved interior. I haven’t seen in person the new C8s interiors yet, but from what I’ve seen on videos and reviews the interior quality is great. Basically you personally have a sweet spot for these C4s. Which is fine. It just isn’t the norm. I use to work for a GM dealership and I a friend of mines father up the road has a corvette collection. So my exposure to all years of these cars is pretty good.
Mark Ball
I’m actually not in a minority who thinks the 80s interiors are cool. I’ve heard many people, on the internet included, who say they like them. I think you just look at them as another old car, the way many people have for quite some time. I don’t think of them that way anymore. My favorites are the late 50s C1, C2, 80s C4 and C7.
@@connorpusey5912 you are in the minority. It isn’t about by personal opinions or yours. If you like the C4 that’s fine. I’ve got over 30 years experience on the subject. Prices reflect public opinions of the car. They are the cheapest used corvette you can buy. And that exposes the general public feelings on what the C4 is. The last years of the C3 are also cheap to buy. Lack luster performance do to strict emissions standards stifled performance. It was a low point for all cars of the mid 70s to mid 80s
80s were the pinnacle of human development
Just bought my own 89 vette at 18 years old today, we livin the c4 life now
"Staff a bit squeamish about having anything but analog gauges" 😄 I guess your staff wouldn't like 2020!!!
A lot of the cars are actually nice, but the year itself is just no
That’s one of the most beautiful Vettes ever made
The c4 is now the underpriced bargain of the century!
I miss these classic videos
Even today, you can take a L98 (or even an 84 cross fire) into mountain roads and have a literal blast actually rowing through the gears. What they lack in straight line speed or upper RPM horsepower they make up for it with gobs of torque. Very punchy turn to turn and quite entertaining and fun!
$64k in 2020 money. That's a chunk, man.
Back in 1989, there wasn't much outside of much more expensive Ferraris or Lamborghinis that were better than this. Some Porsches may have been better but they were also more expensive.
A few years later though, Japan unleashed several awesome sports cars on the world that gave the Corvette a run for its money.
As I understand it, this car was a huge leap forward for vettes when it came out. Much more advanced than the c3. I wasn't around back then though so I may be wrong.
I'll show you a chunk, man.
Daniel Morris a chuck of freckled meat? 😂
@@dkmorris713 you're going to blow chunks?
Plot twist: chunk is the dog.
Awesome retro review. I always woke up early Saturday mornings to see Motorweek and This Old House on PBS. The C4 in 84 was the coolest thing on the planet, even far more so than the C8 at this time. The C4 with the digidash, sleek body, clamshell hood in 84 was like nothing else out there. Today there are many cool techno sleek cars.
The handling is amazing for the day.... even amazing today!
_Nothing is more true with the C4. "You get a grin that lasts until you run out of gas." - John Davis._
the fact that this car had 6 gears in 1989(!) seems to be very underappreciated in this comment section
It was one of the first non super cars to have one probably THE first..
This has to be my favorite corvette iteration I like this body style a lot
I owned an ' 88 model C4 ...fun car 2 drive, never gave any problems, strong engine...felt like much more than 245 Hp👍✌
Dream car when I was 9 years old. Got the "Vette set" trading card set around this same time period.
This is my favorite year of the C4, the L98 was at its most refined, still had the full digital guages, and was way less plasticy than its 90s counterparts. Sure the LT-1 had more power but I’d take one of these over it any day. No opti-spark ignition issues either.
German zf transmission too!
LSx engine: "Am I a joke to you?"
@Ernest Keller L98 makes a diesel like amount of low end torque, more low end than LT1, granted they don't rev, hence their low hp output.
@Ernest Keller On the street, that 200 feet is plenty.
Funny I've owned 7 (yes 7!) LT1 powered F-body's and never had an issue with an OS. I replaced one on my Patriot Red '93 with 154k on it. The opti spark issue is more myth than factual.
Wow, the one they tested is exactly like mine -1989 model, bright red, 6 speed, FX3, Z51, but with gray interior. Now I want to go drive it lol
I can do without the FX-3. Cant get parts for those systems, Bilstein wont rebuild them and Z51 is a little too stiff. My 89 with z52 was incredibly stiff as it was
I DO love the quick rack and pinion in them, made it so much more fun to drive
Compared with our ZR-1, this thing looks like it's riding on a lift kit!
Holy shit it does!!!! 🤣🤣👍🏼
Very true ! I had an 85' back in the day and I lowered it because of that.
It looks fine the way it is. Why does it need to be dragging the ground?
@@Joesmusclecargarage I like the way you think lol, I wish more people in the modern car scene would think this way too. Just my take though and personal taste, I respect all builds
Might it be the giant diameter (for the day) wheels? As I age, that laying on the ground sports car stance sometimes gives way to prying my old butt up out of it when I get where I'm going. At 52, I make noises getting out of the '17 Civic coupe I just bought. Lol!
1989. Back when almost everyone was slim.
Must have been thanks to all the aerobics workout videos on TV. People in tights doing their synchronized dance moves and whatnot.
Like your mom...
Still a super hot car! I had 3 C4s, 84, 89, 95, loved em all. Awesome cars.
When I think Corvette, this is the generation I think of. Crazy to think that some family haulers today have as good of performance as this Corvette, if not better, and out of a 4 banger, and not a V8.
So true, at least in a straight line. C4s can really handle though and have what is still considered serious grip.
These c4s can beat brand new performance cars. There’s a video that shows one beating a new v6 mustang
I'm building a K24A2 2.4L engine for my 8th Gen Civic. It will have more power than my '94 Corvette. Lol
1989 was a great year for cars and movies
Easiest way to defeat the skip-shift was simply to accelerate swiftly enough. Problem solved!
I enjoyed my black 89. That 6spd was quite easy to use even when shifting quickly. Only problem I ever had was a thermostat housing that needed replacement otherwise it was a fun quick car
I was waiting forever for this video. Three years ago I bought an 89 red on red 6 speed, much like this but with standard leather seats, regular shocks, and transparent blue roof. Still going strong with 135,000 miles as my 9 months out of the year daily driver. The 1989 is the best C4 in my opinion. You get the original super 80s exterior and interior styling, not the afterthought softer facelift, but you get the much better 6 speed (the 1 to 4 skip is easily bypassed) and improved suspension. Mine is an early C4 which used a sprintier 3.54 rear end which is where I believe the brochure comes up with the more accurate 5.4 0-60 time.
The brochures had performance stats? Not just features?
@@joshuaechtEven regular passenger cars had real information on their brochures back when everything wasn't dumbed down yet.
These are considered to the best of the original early C4's, those who prefer the original appearance and the original interior.
Thank you for uploading at 60fps!!!! The original tapes run 60fps and it makes it look so much better than your other transfers!
60i though, not 60p.
Maybe the best looking Corvette ever ! 🇺🇸👍
Great car. Tons of character. The torque was quite impressive.
It might be 'only' 245 BHP of MAXIMUM power but it has over 200 BHP on any revs, unlike the modern hot hatches that might have 300+ of maximum power but give you 80 most of the time.
Yes.
There's no replacement for displacement.
My Civic Type R won't give you 80 hp unless it's idling.
@@TheCarCrazyGuy
Civic is very good car by the way
it's the torque number that really matters. they say horsepower is great for advertising but torque is what really moves s car. those l98 had about 340 lb of torque. The modern hot hatchbacks you talkin about probably only have about 200 pound feet of torque
@@darrenporsch That's not exactly true either. Torque depends on what power is generated at what RPMs. It's just a different factor of the very same thing happening in the engine. What really matters in terms of performance, is how much power (which in the following respect is practically the same thing as torque), through the whole range of rpms that is used. Say an abstract idea, that an engine has 1000HP precisely at 7861RPM, and 1HP at any other rev (impossible, but I'm taking this as an example to ilustrate the thing). It would be extremely slow, and practically unable to move anything. In racing and rallying it is important to have the maximum power withing the range of about 1000 rpms, as this is how performance transmissions are set in rallying for example, to use 1k rpms, and the engineers' work is to make the engine deliver eg. 300HP through the range, instead of eg 500HP at peak, but just 200 through most of the thousand rpms that is used. What makes these relatively low-powered 80s cars fast, is that they might have low maximum power, but they deliver like 80-90% of maximum power most of the time, so all the time on any revs the cars have a lot of power to pull on. It also makes them pretty pleasant to drive. A high tech 1 litlre might have as high maximum power as the 80ies restricted V8, but in the little high tech you need to like kick 3 or even 4 gears down, push throttle to the floor, and synchronise the work of stick shift and clutch to get it moving at maximum. In the restricted V8, you just push the throttle, even if its manual, you don't do anything, the engine alone kicks the car ahead.
This year Vette runs the 1/4 way quicker than they tested. Keep in mind the 85 Vette with an auto and 15 less hp ran a 13.8 in a previous video.
Yeah that's insane 13.8 seconds in the quarter is screaming fast for 85 especially in an automatic car of the day
I saw that video & was thinking the same thing.
I still love the Atari gauge cluster 👍🏼
The instrument cluster was made by Delco, not Atari.
I know not Atari was a joke. Cross Fire 🔥 more like Cease Fire fuel injection
@@lancairw867 Cease fire huh? I’d bet good money you have never seen one, worked on one, or driven one. Thanks for letting everyone know a simple and reliable 40 year old TBI and ECM is way over your head. Thanks for the laugh though! 👍😂
C4 Vette is still my favorite!
"Not many of us will ever own a zr1"
30 years and $80k worth of depreciation later: sup
Sup? What does “sup” mean?
Yeah I've seen some ZR1s for $20k. kinda bad for all those people who thought they were going to appreciate in value.
Nothing says the 80's quite like a Rayon jacket, a pair of Ray Ban teardrop sunglasses and a red Corvette.
My fav Corvette ever!!!
A great run through the cones at 5:55... well done.
Yeah it was hustling
This is now my favourite episode of Motor Week! :-) My previous favourite was when you tested the C4 auto against the manual, I love C4 Corvettes. Interesting that the IROC-Z you tested accelerated faster. I've got an 89 IROC-Z with the L98 5.7 TPI and it ran a 14.64 at 93.6, so slightly slower than the Vett but that's to be expected as it is heavier, auto and has a 2.77 rear end. Man the 80s were awesome!!
Not sure if it's because I'm a Gen-X'er but seeing a good cidition C4 I. A nice neighborhood actually still stands out in a good way. Still looks classy!
It's because the C4 was incredibly well designed. A classic beauty shape too, but with period space age details. Good taste loves the C4.
I wanted an 89 because it was the only year you could have the 6 speed manual and the digital dash
I grew up watching this show throughout the 90s and 2000s. I miss that era.
I have a 1989 Z51. It's a blast to drive.
I remember when this model came out in 1983. That cool digital dash and smooth body... Now, Fast forward to 2020, and we have a new digital dash and exciting styling again. It's awesome that this sports car has survived. America's Sports Car!
There was no official 1983 model year for the C4 but I get what you mean.
The digital gauges look cool!
I loved my 87!
Best late 80s Corvette ever
My buddy just bought an all original black vette just like this from an old woman he was doing a landscaping job for, for $1500 with an automatic and only 62k original miles on the odemeter....its black exterior with black and tan interior ...only thing wrong with it was a broken alternates bolt in the head, dry rotted tires....head lights wouldn't open or close and a week after he bought it the passenger side window motor went out....you should see it now tho....after fixing those issues and putting a set of modern racing spoke style wheels and having it professionally buffed and waxed it looks absolutely amazing....id leave it the way it is and sell it to a collector but he says regardless of how nice and original it is that it's not worth anything and that it would be lucky if it brought 5000$ so he says he is going to LS swap it and make it run like the vette it should have been if not for government emission regulations in the 80s.....to each his own but when he puts it like that I can see the merit in it. As good as the grand nationals are and were in their day....think how awesome they would have been if GM would have had the 4.8 is back then and built the grand national with a turbo 4.8 and a 4l80 or a t56.....i gotta admit the thought of that makes my hotrod bone tingle with arousal when I imagine what an exciting death trap that would have been. Alot of rich kids would have been paralyzed or killed back in 86 and 87 if so!!
I have a 87' Vette..I love these generations...Very simple for a sports car and easy to work on.
Guy with the gloves was giving me cereal killer vibes. Great car
The young lady that was with him on this MW shoot went missing right after the filming later that night.....weird....
What's amazing to me is how close this gets to the 1990 348tb.
a friend if mine had a 84 two twone silver, black in 1990. he let me drive it a couple of times . it was a great joy to drive and turned heads everywhere. the handling was better then the c3 . nowadays over here in the netherlands they go for €15000-30000 . and they have become a rarity on the roads.
I have one in that color on my channel
Always loved the L98 a true torque monster
The seats in this C4 were WAY nicer, more comfortable, better bolstered than the floppy ass crap seats in the C5 Corvette. At least according to my 5'6" 150lb frame.
If you weren’t a hobbit you’ll know that you are wrong.
@@Eidrian111 I´m 6´3 220lb and i absolutely agree with Aaron, the C5 seats were just made to fit overweight guys and not be real performance seats like in the early c4's
kaldarleifar i really don’t know what you are on about. 6’1” myself 180 pounds and I’m confortable. Of course there are better seats but c5’s aren’t crap.
I have a 93 and a 98 with sport seats. The 98 has the cheapest seats i've seen in any car. Yes the 12way adjust with lumbar is cool, but the seats are flimsy as hell and wear out so easily. Throw in the seat rocking problem from the sliders and makes the rest of the car thats great fell like crap. When I pick one to drive, its always the C4 even though its an auto coupe and the C5 is a 6spd convert.
@@bigwrenchgarage1360 This is why you get Corbeau A4's. They feel very similar to common stock sport seats in cars like the BRZ, which is a great balance of comfort to corner holding. They also really improve the looks of the interior, once you swap the seats and the shift knob it makes the interior dramatically better to use and look at.
IT'S C4 TIME, BABY!!!!!
Kaboom
I loved my 90. Had a bullet proof roller engine and the best time I clicked off was a 13.9. The electronics were a pain in the ass though and the headlights were just troublesome. I now have the c5 Z06 which is a huge improvement over the C4 but my heart began with a C3 Stingray.
The C4 remains one of the best looking Corvettes ever. Timeless beauty. I wonder of the collectors will eventually step in and drive up the price? Surprised it has not yet happened.
I love these cars. Had a 90 Z51 and now own an 89 convertible with the 6 speed.
Wow adjustable shocks and digital dash.. this car was ahead is it’s time!
Man, I love seeing that TPI engine. So cool looking!
I still like the 1982 sting ray...that body style was the best.....I never did like the new bodystil...just the older ones
C3 Corvette had the best body style (My opinion)
Oh man, I've missed a few videos! Thanks for posting guys!
I used to regularly smack these around in my 89’ 5.0. Until the roads got twisty that is. LOL
Truth. I had 88’ 5.0 hatchback.
This Vette is still a beauty. 👍👌
Who the heck disliked this video?
Who cares, just enjoy what you like.
@@tonythetiga4697trolls
I have an 89 Z51 with 35000 original miles. It is a fun car to drive.
I grew up riding my freestyle bmx by a Chevy dealer looking through the windows mostly but went in when the ZR-1 came out I went in the lot and put my bike down far enough away they wouldn’t be nervous lol. I remember the L98 too they looked great. There was also a Toyota dealer close and I recall the first time seeing the big wing on a Supra. It looked cool but the vette looked way better.
I've owned an 85 and an 89 and I loved them. Putting a few grand into the motor, it's a quick and nimble car.
I don't care what anyone says, C4 Corvette (85 and up) is the best entry level sports car. Don't waste your money on a miata, get one of these.
And this is coming from a C5 Z06 owner.
Why is it better than a Miata?
@@jamesengland7461 I'm glad you asked. Prepare to read. (Note: I owned both a na miata and 2 c4 Corvettes and I love both cars)
We're going to compare the L98 C4 with the NA miata.
Strictly performance speaking, the c4 is levels above the miata. It makes sense, a '90 miata costing 14k can't compete with a '90 c4 costing 32k new. But we're talking used anyways. Let's say, a used one costing 5k each.
You're getting over twice the power with the Corvette, yet it's still a very manageable about only being about 230hp. It out handles the miata as well. Especially the 85-87 models, put them both on an autocross course and you'll see the results.
Actual purchase: at 5k you can find a good example of either car. However, with Mazda you're far more likely to encounter rust and issues regarding rust due to cheap metals and poor paint quality. But that said, with the Corvette you could find issues regarding electrical since there isn't many good places to ground on that car, but at this point it's most likely fixed already.
Livability: Corvette can haul 8 foot boards with the hatch closed (ask me how I know) where the miata you can carry a 12 pack and some hot dog buns. I averaged 24mpg in my 4+3 Corvette, and 32mpg in the miata. 20 gallon tank vs 10 gallon tank however. Miata is convertible, but Corvette is either convertible, or targa top so you can really live the same style with both.
Let's say you want to modify your car. Body mods the miata has millions where c4 you got a couple choices. But with engine mods, it's reversed. The l98 is the last true SBC, and with the money you can spend on it, you'll see actual results unlike with the miata, you'll still want more. Both are easy to modify, even if you've never dabbled in it.
Overall, both are great cars. If you told me I had to live with either car I'd be fine with it. But if you told me I had to buy one with my personal money, it'd be a C4 again.
@@CorridorCulprit great answer. Which provides a better driving experience- not outright performance, but joy on a winding back road? How does a Corvette feel compared to the Miata? I say this because I've seen umpteen stories of the great driving feel of the Miata, but never any of the Corvette. Which puts a smile on your face when you're not doing crazy speeds?
@@CorridorCulprit full disclosure: I want an NA or NB Miata and plan to buy one in about a year, but the C4 or C5 are tugging at me too. I want enjoyment at sane speeds, but V8!!!!
@@jamesengland7461 if you can afford the c5, that's the best route. You will be driving that way more than any of the others just because of the reliability and jump in quality. But if still comparing miata to c4, the Corvette gave me a better overall driving experience. I don't have great roads near me, so I have to drive about an hour or so to get to quality roads. The highway driving with the Corvette was much easier, just having that extra power. Then getting to the back roads, I could take the targa off and just cruise and enjoy the scenery.
Honestly though, if you found a good example of either car you'll be happy.
Glad summertime is approaching.....my 89 is waiting to bust out of the garage & i can't wait......💨 2/27/2021
That's why I'm glad I own a '91 and not an earlier model
What a beauty
The '89 IROC-Z was faster than the later L98 Vette, per the note at 6:50? I know the '90 was 0-60 in 5.8, the fastest F and only one to break 6 to 60. Most of the IROCs in the late '80s, even with G92, were 6.3-6.8 (either 5.0 TPI LB9 or 5.7 TPI L98). The Vettes were down to 5.5-5.7 by '88 and '89.
I like the digi dashboard.
New ones ugly compared to this, no crappy screens, just a beautiful driving experience.... Man those were the days...
I love this Corvette
I want a '89 or '90 6 speed Corvette SO bad!!!
Get one. They are like 6 grand all day
Will you lend me $6,000.00?😇
The C4 was a big step in the right direction for Corvette. I could not afford one and ended up with a 1982 Z28, also a redesigned car for 82.
Imagine getting a new vette nowadays for $31k lol
Way too much red. Otherwise, the corvette will always be an iconic car! Love these retro reviews 😍
This model needs more Red.
I.....want one of these.
You can pick up a super bowl ce used model for under $12000 now, for ones that need a bit of work $7000.
🎵...little red corvette...🎵...like prince saids ...😏😏😏
That guy buckled in for a speed ride around the track. Turned on radio to blast metallica and ac/dc in speaker system. Cool car.😎✌👍😁.
thank you for the 60fps video... amazing considering this is a 1989 video!
Those are so cheap now. I still like the car
I like C7 is he best. Also the 1968 and 1963 thru 1967 are nice.
30,000$ in 1989--- that was as much as houses were selling for back then; jesus.
Not really, a nicely equipped Toyota Camry cost 15K
@@nighthawk0077 Yeah--- and houses wern't 15k.. did you understand my comment at all? Haha.
@@LittleMikeStarCraft I did, but clearly you didn't understand mine. My point was a regular family sedan cost 50% as much. I don't think two Camry's is that much money. Certainty not enough to buy a house. Try again.
@@nighthawk0077 No I don't think you understood my comment at all actually. Haha, but nice try.
Also, with 15 seconds of cursory fact checking the average Corolla cost between 9,000 - 13,000$. Which again has nothing to do with my point of houses in my area only costing 30,000$ in 1989.
I did an engine swap out of a wrecked one , I put it in an 85 Iroc. Then had the intake and heads worked, added a cam and Nitrous.
I never had one problem with that motor even with the dual stage NOS.
Walter Röhrl getting into the driving seat. Nice.
I'll take that as a compliment, thanks!
@@davescrivener-mpt-3869 Ha! Yes, please do. Great job on this show.
Nice to make your acquaintance. 👍
@@liverush24 Thanks for watching.. I have had the pleasure of riding along with the Master on track, but can't claim a fraction of his driving skill !!
@@davescrivener-mpt-3869 Wow! I am green with envy. I wish it was me.
These really are a pleasure to watch. Thanks, pal. 🙂
Notice the guy with the helmet's head sticking out of the tee top. This is why I never owned one. I'm six foot two and my head touches the ceiling.