Former 1997 Boxster owner. Great review, it's hard to go wrong with any of these cars. If you are curious about the Boxster, if that's something you're into, it truly is such a useable and reliable vehicle. Find the right one and do it. But you need to know two big things about owning a Boxster. Maintaining it hurts. Yes, 10K gets you a good 986-gen Boxster now but parts and labor still reflect the original 45k-60k price tag. The other thing you need to know is that everybody is going to hate your car. I owned mine in Arizona and working class people hated it, rich people hated it, car enthusiasts hated it, Porsche guys hated it and my family hated it. You need to love this car to own it because nobody else will. The sides got covered in door dings, a man ashed his cigarette on it, a 993 911 owner SPIT on it at a stoplight (100% serious), and I had "Daddy's money" shouted at me at Cars and Coffee. This was the polar opposite reaction to the car I had prior: the Fiat 500 Abarth. Everyone loved that car to a very surprising degree. It got really positive compliments almost daily and from people from every walk of life. And here's the hot take this overly long comment has led up to: if you're looking for a 10k sports car that you're going to use regularly, a manual Abarth is THE best option right now. I enjoyed owning it more than my lovely Boxster. It was more fun to drive on every road that wasn't all high speed curves, felt more exotic, had more personality, was more practical and cost half as much at the pump. I know how wrong most of that sounds- it has *half* the power of the Vette and wrong wheel drive. Yet on a true, very tight drivers road, the Abarth could take on any of these three cars and get away, leaving a huge smile on your face. Because it's not a performance car, it's a fun car. And that's what owning a sports car should be about. Test drive one, flip on sports mode and have a laugh. Sports cars are inheritely emotional products so the best one will always be the one that you want. If it's a Corvette, Z, Boxster or even the teeny Abarth, you'll have made the right choice. Cheers.
I'm amazed to hear of so much hate for the Boxster. I drive a fire-engine red NC Miata, and especially when I have the top down it has had the most universal attention and praise of anything I've ever owned. Considering that I've rolled into gas stations with a vintage 2-stroke triple cafe racer, I found that astonishing. I expected truck people to take umbrage with the little girl's car, but not really. A disturbing amount of people say something to the effect of, "Nice car - is that a Ferrari?"
@@corusbdj That's so dumb and sad. Porsches are for driving, not for showing off how much money you have. Honestly when I see a guy in a cheap Porsche like a 986, 944, 914, etc I feel like they're much more likely to "get it". The guy in the 992 Turbo S might get it, but there's a good chance he just wants a trophy car.
As a c4 corvette owner (a extremely nice one at that! I must say, they are great cars. Fast enough honestly, and handle amazing. I went from a Miata to a C4 and still was extremely impressed by the handling
The c4 was the first car to pull over 1g on a skid pad, and all of the engines available, even the high revving lt5, had gobs of low rpm torque, so when you get on it the car feels faster than it is.
It's possible when people say "I can't afford a sports car", they actually mean, "I can't afford a second car". Maybe do a cheap hot hatch video, for those who only have the money for one car, but still want to have some fun.
I agree but I can bet you that they'd only choose the big hitters like: NSRT4, Speed3, Focus ST, Fiesta ST and that's about it. I'd like a comparison video of this line up: 07+ Sentra SE-R Spec V, Focus SVT, Mazdaspeed6, Cobalt SS SC or TC, Caliber SRT4 and I'm sure there's a few others that I'm missing that don't seem to get any press new or used. I have an 07 Spec V myself that I bought because it was priced right and kind of a cheap dream car that more or less fell into my lap and I cannot begin to tell people how fun of a car it is to drive...sure it's not the coolest looking to most, but it handles amazingly, is extremely reliable, and is quick for what it is.
@@alpha2gproject783 the problem with the line up you named is that they are all so old and rare to find with most of them being unreliable or tend to be poorly maintained they just cannot recommend them unless you are a true fan of those cars.
@@mperformance3502 I think it looks good if it has some good wheels and suspension mods, it's like that 80's - 90's look. I think the C5 looks much better though and it's not that much more expensive than the C4, though I have noticed that prices are going up for certain models like the C5 Z06 which stays consistently from around $12 - $20k.
I'd take the Z, without much deliberation. Where the interior has been comically outdated for years, its exterior has a truly timeless design (to me). It's as striking in 2020 as the day it was released in 2009. One of the last analogue sports cars.
@@ShuffleToExpresss To each his own - a necessary preface. Personally, I see very little aesthetic differences between the base and Nismo. There's different rims which are in some sort of gunmetal grey, red accents on the front lip, and a badge. The differences are negligible.
@@atticus6572 what about the exhaust, rear bumper, and wing? I guess I should've been more specific and said it was the 370z Nismo, which looks a lot more aggressive and has more added on to it than the 350z Nismo
Ive owned all 3 among some others (M cars, supra, brz) and I never sold my C4 6-speed. Cannot beat the price, after market backing, gas mileage(yes..I get 25mph in the vette combined city/hgwy) and styling. Mine is being converted in to a pro touring car that is also daily driven.
Wrong. Maintenance isn't that bad as long as you get a car that has actually been driven. Believe it or not, a garage queen Porsche from that era is more dangerous than a same run in version because of the IMS bearing. Again, it's a lot cheaper than you would think, just like the car.
I owned a '98 Boxster, some color combo as the one in the video. It was a great car, and the mention about the floaty feeling in the rear end can probably be traced to a combination of front engine mount that needs to be replaced and a rear strut that is failing. When i bought mine (with 79k miles on it at the time), I had that same weird feeling when accelerating in a corner. I traced it down to those two issues causing the engine to shift position, and the rear right shock to be failing to support the weight shift. So I pulled out my tool box and got to work. I was then rewarded with a fantastic handling vehicle. I now have a 2015 Cayman that I bought new, and it was worth every penny. Coming up on year #6, and getting close to the 59k mile mark, and I know its not going anywhere for a very long time. One day, the 2015 Caymans and Boxsters will be valued the same as this 98 Boxster is, and it will also be a fantastic used car to own. But you can't have mine. :)
The beauty of the C4 to me was the looks inside and out... it really captures the 80's. I used to feel like Don Johnson in Miami Vice every time I took mine out. In fact the first time I drove mine the song "in the air tonight" by phil collins was blasting on the radio...haha. Perfect. Even after having owned a C4 and a C5 I still prefer the C4 interior. The C5 just looks like something cheap from the 90's.
Since Covid I learned you can wake up and your life can be changed forever and no control over your situation, so go get that car I just got my 981 Boxster S & just wish I did it years ago!
@@southernclassik 3-4 years ago you could find say a 350z less than a 100,000 miles good solid car had not been modded up or raced for 7-8 k. Now the same car is 11k or more. Plus most of the ones you see are convertible. Hard to find a coupe in good shape for decent money. Now more people are wanting Automatics so they are hard to find.
@@rolltide9547 Yeah! I wanted a Nismo in good condition but Could not find anything for under 20k in my area. I settled for a low mile black 6 speed roadster with the Brembo package in damn near mint condition. Not exactly what I wanted but after riding with the top down so many times, I wouldn't have it any other way. These cars are so much fun!
I didnt realize C4 ZR1s had dropped down to the mid Teens +\- until I was in the market for a C4 and ended up with a Z! Now theres an affordable sports car!
There's a 1991 C4 base at a dealership near me with 175k miles on it that they're trying to sell for $18k. When I was talking to the salesman (while my car was getting an allignment) I told him that I've never seen a C4 for more than about $15k (other than a Calloway TT), and all the ones in that price range I saw were low mileage ZR-1's, not a near 200k mile base.
err. I don't know where you saw c4 zr1's for mid teens... the nice examples with miles i've seen are going anywhere from around 20-30k, all the way up to like 50
@@andrewfoster1804 keep an eye out, they are out there. If youre looking for a low mile cream puff then of course $20k+ Add some miles (meaning someone loved) and buy from a Registry member (well maintained) and you can get down there. I paid $14k for my 1994 Admiral Blue with ~90k
Nissan/Infiniti have lowkey been pioneers of so many features over the past decades. They seriously don't get enough credit for some of the stuff they do.
370Z was the first car with rev matching on a manual transmission- copied by Porsche, BMW, GM.... Nissan was doing four-wheel steering in the early 1990's. My 1992 240SX had four-wheel steering! GT-R broke the rules when it was released in 2009. It sent Porsche back to the drawing board, and it still kicks ass today.
I have had my 1995 C4 for 19 years!! I bought it at 27 and told myself I would keep it from 50k to 70k miles and then let it go so I don't hit big repair bills. I have 148k miles and it is still a joy to own, drive and I spend less than $1k a year on maintenance, no lie. 100% reliable. Thanks for the review. I fell for the car again watching you guys review it!!
I own a 1996 C4 Corvette I bought new. Torch red with black interior like one shown. It is a fantastic car. LT-4 engine for 330 horsepower with six speed. The car would be a bargain at $15,000, forget the $5,000. A few years ago I kept asking myself, "Does GM know what a fantastic car they made?" I also own a 2003 C5 with automatic and is a convertible. It feels big and cumbersome in comparison.
Steve, can you tell me more about the comparison between the 4 and 5? I have a 95 LT1 and it has a TON of personality. I know the 5 is faster, but is it really better?
When the C4 was introduced I saw pictures of it and did not like it. Then I saw one in person and changed my mind. I bought an 84 (Z51) and while it may have not been the most powerful car, the car handled great and was very modern and exotic looking for the time. I really enjoyed that car.
C4 has almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution... it doesn't have much weight over the front wheels (most front engine cars put 55-65% of their weight up front).
The Toyota 1zzfe engines from 2000-2002 were known for high oil consumption, not so reliable after all. Other than that they're ok, those corolla type engines are not really rev happy
@@CalgaryCooper I sold my 01 for $500 last year and I will go to my grave regretting it and feeling sick to my stomach. I paid $3k for it and could have easily, EASILY sold it for 4-5k had I known.
So weird... I had this same debate with myself earlier this year as I left behind my 2005 Miata. It was between a 986 Boxster S and a C4 Corvette. I ended up with the corvette!
I have a 2018 370Z I bought a Nissan executive loaner it had 4,000 miles and a 7 year 100,000 mile warranty. And I love it, it will pull .99gs in a corner 0 to 60 in 5 seconds very reliable. And it fits in my small garage. A great car except people always want to race it when I'm out for a drive.
Great video. I just bought myself a 1996 corvette. LT 1 engine with automatic transmission. It is a blast to drive. I love the look. Low mileage. Great price. Targa top. I could not be happier.
@@5abivt I had a 95 Z28 with the T56, it was a delightful transmission at least to me. Maybe mine was particularly well sorted by pure chance. But I've never driven the ZF box, maybe it would be a revelation if I did. Why did the 93 F body get a different 6sp than the Vette with the same engine?
Chevy needed a 6 speed that could handle the zr1 lt5 power output in 1990, first year available was 89 but lt5 engine development held off the zr1 until 1990.
Just this past year I bought a 2000 C5 Corvette FRC for right at $13,000. I don' t think you could do much better than some of the older sports cars out there. I got an LS1, with 345hp, it makes all the right sounds, and snaps necks everywhere. What else could you possibly want? And through the corners.... glorious.
I'll take the 370z easily. Looks great, I like the interior, powerful engine. Throw some coilovers and other suspension bits, intake, exhaust & tune.. got a reliable daily thats quick, can track, drift etc. 🤷🏾♂️
Well done. Ive wanted a Vette for as long as long as I can remember. C4 is the gen that seems affordable. Good to know theyre fun to drive still...after all the experiences you guys have had in cars.
You can still find late gen C3’s, like 77-82 for really reasonable prices and you’ll have a much more modable motor with that classic swooping lined corvette look. Personally I think it’s a much better option all around than a C4. Lighter, much better classic looking car, an engine with way less problems, much easier to work on and WAYYYY more options for modding than the LT1 or the TBI motors that come in those C4’s. The TBI SBC’s that came in 80’s C4’s were absolute underpowered, unreliable garbage, and while the LT1 they used in the early 90’s C4’s and C5’s has more power, it is impossible to work on, has little options for aftermarket mods and has the worst fuel/ignition system Chevy every designed with the Optispark system. The optispark fail constantly and are a royal expensive bitch to replace. Where as the classic carbed small block Chevy that came in the C3’s was somewhat underpowered stock due to the fuel crisis, it has so much potential to be a very powerful engine with a cheap set of aftermarket heads, a new cam and a better carb. People push 450 HP out of a 350 SBC all the time with no problems. It’s just an all around better engine in every way in the C3 with a better looking car that can still be had for cheap. Just such a better option than a C4 in every way
@@joshuah.4496 I do like the look of the c3 better as well. I'd heard cornering performance was greatly improved from c3 to c4 making the newer more fun to drive BUT I definitely don't want to work on it every time I wanna go play.
@@jonhill9564 I can understand that but keep in mind it’s 2020. With aftermarket coilovers and all the other modern suspension improvements available for popular classic cars like the C3 you could easily build a C3 that could run circles around a stock C4. Even if stock for stock the C4 was an improvement handling wise the tech today even for classic cars is just worlds better than it used to be
@@jonhill9564 As a matter of fact just with a quick google on C3 suspension mods it looks like cheap kits are readily available that would make huge improvements over a stock suspension setup
the face lift from the previous version was a massive improvement on that corvette. and i still like the looks of the 370z and the removable hardtop on the boxster. and yes, i'm liking these videos and the slightly different presentation. there's less back and forth contrariness. it would be nice to know the mileage AND the exact price on each one.
@@nthgth it was a week since I saw this, but he mentioned that the Porsche was kinda high mileage which meant the bearing that tends to fail decided not to fail.
@@deleted_account3 Oh no it won`t. Complicated turbo engines has more issues and everything is expensive. While the Chevy V8 is one of the best, most reliable ever. Uncomplicated and nothings expensive. I was born and raised in Datsuns and have had 240Z and 280ZX so I love Nissan, not hating on them. The last easy, reliable Nissan sports car is the 300ZX first gen, but now parts are difficult, so I drive a Corvette and will stick to Chevys forever.
This episode exactly reflects my recent sports car purchase, having identified the same cars, plus the Miata of course. I was leaning toward an NC Miata, but at the last minute this unmolested 1988 Corvette, exactly as I would spec it, came along at the right price. I went and saw, instantly fell in love, and brought it home. I paid US $3400, delivered to my house 125 miles away. It came with a fresh engine, new clutch, new exhaust, rebuilt seats, a new dash top, new door panels, new shocks, and a few other things. Probably $10k worth of work paid for by two previous owners, in quick succession. Every single thing in the notoriously cheap-feeling interior still works, BTW. It was running poorly, but I really know my way around that era of engine management, so no problem. I'm in the process of thoroughly refurbishing the whole car, and I mean thoroughly. Including some light, reversible mods, I'll have ~$10k in it, including initial purchase, plus my DIY labor. When I get done, it will run, drive, operate, and feel like new, and have new car reliability. It's nice cosmetically, too. So, cool, I'm happy. But I firmly believe I would have been happy with any of these cars. They are the right alternatives in the sub-$10k category of real two-seat sports cars.
if you manage to import one they'd look pretty great in the roads of Europe though! I feel the same way about TVR. Id do anything to own a Chimaera here in the states.
This series is going to be great, has been great for the first couple episodes. That said, I'm buying a Miata! :-) The Boxster is sexy AF, but repairs are a nightmare and expensive AF.
The good thing about Porsche is that the build quality is higher than other manufacturers, so you won't have to take it to the mechanic very often. However, when you do, your wallet will hurt a lot.
Actually, having owned both MX5 and 2002 986 S, the Porsche is the easiest car I have ever worked on, and that includes older American cars and trucks with lots of space under the hood. Porsche is only expensive, like all expensive brands, if you go thru the dealer or brand name. Example: water pump is pierburg brand, thru Porsche it's almost 500 dollars. Thru pierburg direct, it was 220. That said, however, older cars regardless of mileage will need part swaps. Spent 1k in 1 year in parts on the 2002 with 70k miles between fuel pump, water pump, headlight switch, coolant, oil air separator, and convertible top gears. My NC MX5 08 I had to replace the clutch pedal assembly for 125 dollars in 4 years of ownership and 150k miles.
There's a reason they added that Miata stipulation. It's the obvious choice, but there's no fun in always reviewing Miatas. My money would go towards an Rx8 in this scenario. Superbly practical, fantastic handling and that engine really is a joy to wind out. Poor mileage is a bummer, but that's not the main reason someone buys a sports car. And if the biggest mechanical problem can be prolonged further than you think with some simple upgrades to the cooling and ignition. It's so easy to rebuild the engines when they do pop. Just have Triple A. haha
For anyone doubting the 370Z after this video, we owned one for several years, and it was absolutely phenomenal. And one thing they don't mention here is that the factory stereo is astoundingly good. Completely surprised me. The only complaint I had was the clutch pedal, but it was an easy fix.
@@georgemerusi299 they are not stock. When I was a kid in the 90s and lusted after Corvettes I would get all the catalogs and they would be in there. C2 (60s) did not have them. Some years of C3 (70s) did have a factory plate like that. None of the C4 did. That is why companies made them. It was the C4 owners wanting a plate like the 70s Vettes did. These companies would sell them for like 30 bucks. It’s amazing that so many C4 owners bought one that it’s now considering stock 20 years later. Zip Corvette probably still sells them. The C5 and C6 and C7 guys had no interest. I had a C6 and you couldn’t even buy one.
IMS bearing is present on ALL water cooled Porsches (996 turbo excluded) up to some of the early 997's even. While it is true that the earliest cars (first two years of production) have a stronger dual row bearing, they'll still go sometimes. So, keep that in mind. It's not a deal breaker though. It's about 1.5k to replace for a stronger bearing on a manual, 2k for an automatic. Just budget for that, get it done and don't worry about it anymore.
Nice thing about my 2010 370z...you can update the nav system to 2017. When you row your own gears ⚙ with rev match, you have your hands full. Nice thing about a Vette (unlike a Porsche which I almost bought) is there is a Chevy mechanic in every town in America. And I own both a 370z Roadster 6spd and a 94 c4
@@ZREXER1250 a decent ls engine cost as much as a factory fit boxster engine.... That doesn't even make sense unless that's what you want to do from the get go. That'll cost way more.
@@ZREXER1250 also you aren't taking into account suspension mods, ecu mods and other changes that go along with it that can easily make it a 20k+ build. All that for an old beat up chassis... Waste of money. Not too mention tire and rim size selection is extremely poor for a boxster/cayman. All that power on tiny little 255...maybe 275 tires max. The Boxster is unquestionably the worst choice here if you are talking about extreme mods.
@@ZREXER1250 yeah I just checked again..I knew I wasn't crazy, there are several 2.7L 986 engines on eBay under 4k. A full motor and trans 3.2L was around 11k. - Stand corrected, the 3.2l 987 motor was a short block...the 2.7 engines are the cheap ones.
I just bought a6 speed manual 1991 C4 with low mileage but over 10k in California and love it. Not som many mods available in market for L98 engine (pretty much close to nothing). Low end torque is high and high end torque is missing. Videos are coming up
Love this type of series. This year bought a dedicated “sports car” 2009 BMW 328i coupe, manual transmission, 96k miles for 9 grand and loving every minute of it.
@@justinboss4212 it’s subjective...and exactly why I put those words in quotations. A sportier car might be a better description and that has the right ingredients (rwd, manual, NA in-line 6, hydraulic steering, coupe).
I'm sure it's been said before but I have to say it now, You guys do it right, I love your balanced heavy-handed approach to all your reviews, and as far as this one, I truly depreciate you guys. 😉
I had a C4.... bought it new. A few years later, had 2 kids and the car had to go. I loved that car. Now kids are grown and I've got an F-Type. The Jag is the best value and sexiest looking sports car money can buy. The 'vette's interior was always the downside.
It is because of your focus on actual ownership (including price and driving the cars) that I love your channel. I always feel like you are trying to find a car to drive, and not a museum piece. I'm so tired of car reviewers getting in a car and immediately complaining about the materials of interior trim pieces that will NEVER be touched that I could spit. You get in a car and drive it. And then you tell us about it. Thank you.
I couldn’t agree more. These cars make you smile when you’re driving them. I have owned such a Boxster for a couple of years. I had a bypass placed on the exhaust, making the sound and drive just a little more intense. It was one of the most enjoyable cars I ever owned. Somehow owning such a C4 with a manual transmission is still on my bucket list 😏
@@SpeedDemonExpress in a 10 second search on Autotrader I found a blue coupe, manual, with 82k on it for $9950. And several more well under 10k with higher miles. And high miles and clean aren’t mutually exclusive. I know a guy that’s got well over 200k on a 2002 Trans Am that is super clean. I’m sure some of them are ragged out, but I’d take a ragged out c5 over a clean c4 or a Z car without a second thought.
@@caseybrannon4975 the only one I found at any distance with a manual was $8,000 and has 226,000 miles. One other one for $10,900 over 115,000 miles and the rest average price around $17,000 up to $22,000
I've heard the saying: What's the most expensive Porsche to own? = The cheapest one. That's because the maintenance on it will be MORE than the cost of buying a new one.
You guys gotta remember there were different suspension packages for the C4, I'd wager you didn't have a Z51 car, C4's can be nasty in the turns when set up properly. They were banned from SCCA for a reason
The C4 is an excellent design for it's time. The suspension and frame are probably the best feature of those cars. Great for GT-style driving. Get one while you can, I've been watching the prices going up on them steadily over the past 18 months. You could get one for $3k in 2019, now you'll be lucky to find one for $5k.
@@iheartgs400 The C3 is going up quickly in AZ. I bought mine for $9k in April 2020 and now one would be lucky to find one around here for less than $12k in similar shape. For $5k you can get a non-running pile of parts lol.
@@iheartgs400 Yup, a 84 to 89 are still roughly $8k to $12k here in Canada, but once you get into the 1990's models they jump very quickly into the $15k+ up to $20k for very late 90's models. Been looking at them for a while and $20k + for an auto trans C4 is just too much for me to stomach. Unfortunately missed the boat on these, should of got one 6 or 7 years ago....
S197 mustang with a coyote v8 will run mid to low teens these days. Old school muscle feel with an absolute gem of motor. That’s gotta be a top suggestion for bang per buck on used sports cars
On my '04 986S, I installed the European (ROW) M030 suspension--springs, shocks, anti roll bars. All in, maybe $1,800. Incredible handling, it's the hot setup. And over 6 years it only needed oil changes and spark plugs. Then I sold it for what I paid for it. Least expensive car I've ever owned.
I'd love to see the comparison of these same cars for about $10k more - 10 years later. Such as a 2009 Cayman vs Corvette C6 vs 370Z. I wonder if their ranking would still be the same. Great review as usual!
Dual Row Boxster gang. It's a convertible, it's quiet with the top down, it's easy to work on, it drives like it's on rails. Whats not to like? Also just replace your bearing when you do the clutch...
There are two different access points to the 986 engine. You can remove part of the convertible top to open the top access in about 3 minutes, or you can access the door behind the driver and passenger seat for changing the serpentine belts.
370z all the way. Cheapest to maintain and the most reliable car in this bunch. I do say this because I daily drive mine. I own one and I must say even to this day I still find it stunningly beautiful. Even strangers find it beautiful. That's a testament to its timeless design. Almost 13 years old but still looks good compared to newer cars today. Naturally aspirated V6 with not much technology. It's a dying breed of a pure driver's sports car.
Cheapest to maintain the 370Z? Not a chance. Tell me, what's a timing chain for a 370Z go for? For the Corvette? $16. You read that right. $16. Oil pump? $17. Water pump? $26. Front brake pads? $12. Oh... you want performance pads? OK... those are $36. As far as anything Nissan being more reliable than a small block Chevrolet? I think not. As far as the rest of the car goes? How are those slave cylinders doing? Still grenading?
I just bought a 2017 (only 10k miles though) 370. I wanted a covertable with a manal transmission and I had to search high and low for it. I like it though. How can you drive a sports car with a manual transmission??
I’d bet good money that Z at the age of C4 will be more reliable and cheaper to maintain. First Water pump, Oil pump and the timing chain? These things rarely go out in a Z but it sounds like it’s a thing for the C4. Also the brakes really? C4 brakes are tiny brake calipers I’ll gladly pay the extra money for the extra stopping power. That small block might be the only thing reliable on that car have fun chasing down the countless other things that are going on with that car. The 370z down the road will also be easy to repair they were made from 09-20 so parts will be plentiful and the price will go down.
C4 baby ! Cheap to maintain, and you can gets lots more affordable power if you care to. I have a 1989 as I don't want a bomb(airbag) in my face. I want to get new wheels(the factory wheels ! - what were they thinking ?) and I know I'll find a nice looking set (with tires !)for $1000 for the Nissan and more for the Porsche.
The Vette needs some practice to master. More so if you have the Z52 performance package which gives you a tighter suspension and a shorter steering radius. I don't drive mine every day. Truth be told I can go months without driving it, and when I do it takes me a while to get used to the handling aspects of it. Once you get it down it will outhandle just about anything out there. Driving a C4 Corvette is the closest most people will get to driving an actual race car. When the C4 was new it beat it beat everything out there. It was so good that the Corvette Challenge was started in 1988 after the SCCA kicked the C4 Corvette out of the Showroom Stock racing class. The C4 had dominated the series for years, so the SCCA created a one-make series for it - the Corvette Challenge which ran from 1988 to 1989. The C4 is very underrated mostly because so many have been ragged on and for all the money GM spent on designing them they still rattle boxes with cheaply made interiors. If the interiors were still tight and aged better these cars would be more sought after.
Very solid point. The only reason the C4 wasn't put on a pedestal was the interior quality and questionable design (it has grown on me, which is why I now own one). The performance is absolutely there. These cars are in the same league as the Supra Turbos, The R34 GTRs, the RX-7s, etc, they just weren't in any movies so they get no love.
These all look like fun cars, but I know I could work on the C4, and the economy of scale means the parts would be much more affordable. A 3.75" stroke crank and some after market heads combined with a higher lift cam would really wake that engine up for a relatively low price.
@@Swarm509 Even with that, you're going to be miles ahead when compared to the cost of parts for either of the other cars in this group. And C4s are popular enough that reproduction parts will eventually fill the gap, just as happened with first generation Camaros.
Great video - I just picked up an `88 C4 coupe for less than 9 grand - 18k miles on the clock - auto trans - L98 245 hp 340 lbs torque - z52 handling package - Black/Saddle - Owned a `96 BMW Z3 conv. 5 spd for 7 years prior - fun driver but nowhere near as cool, comfortable and powerful as the C4 - Guess what, good condition C4's are starting to tick up in value - you can still find a decent one for 5-6 grand but they're becoming harder to find. I look on line frequently and good C4's with less than 100k on the clock are now at @ 8-10 grand depending on the mileage and condition.
Having owned both of them, while I will say the LT1 was innovative for its time, the Optispark ignition system is unreliable hot garbage and I absolutely hate that engine and trying to work on it. Hated it in my 95 Camaro with a passion. The VQ motors are all phenomenal motors though, no complaints there
@Hillary's Future Ghost I recently bought 2010 nismo with 20 k plus miles fir 19k I say great deal plus I think the 350z are not good looking compared to the 370
As a former owner of 2 C3's and a C6 I don't understand the general hate on the C4. I've driven several of them and they're great fun and fantastic handling cars. They don't have the higher HP like later models, but at the same time, the power doesn't overwhelm the chassis, generally keeping you out of trouble. My biggest complaint with the C4 was the tight footwells (at least for me) that made enter/egress hard to do smoothly.
Easy to get into service mode, u can tell the guy who said u couldnt access the engine doesnt work on cars, the 986 is actually very easy to work on, i have a 2000 986 and do preventative maintenance and repairs.
bought a brand new 2013 370Z base model manual and have added some bolt-ons and some bigger Michelin Sport 4S and still love the ride and the fun. grew up with chevy and ford muscle cars from the 70's that were just raw power and really enjoy the handling of the Z still. really enjoy this vid and your series as a whole.
The 2.5l 986 most defiantly had IMF failure issue, my 97 2.5 started to fail at about 95000 miles. The first symptom was a vibration when the throttle was lifted at higher RPMs, the oil was then inspected and found to contain small metal fragments.
I own a 08 350Z and purchased it used from a doctor who never really drove it. I purchased the car in 2015 and it literally looks like I just drove it off the showroom floor. The car is now 13yrs old and still only has 83K on the odometer. By far the best car I have ever purchased at a decent price and I in return, take VERY good care of my BEAUTIFUL BEAST!...
I got a cherry 1995 Corvette 6-speed for $12000 and could not be happier! What a joy to drive :D GM did not put the performance numbers plaque on the C4 console. Those are aftermarket add-on pieces. This is a very common misconception.
We had an 03 Boxster....My wife loved it! However at 6'3" it was just on the edge of my comfort level. I will say we had very little trouble with it. The only reason we parted company was we moved to Montana and it just wasn't that practical ....Not sure you would want to hit a deer in one.
I have a 2000 Boxster and this thing is incredibly fast and flashy. I absolutely love it and nobody believes its 20 years old. Also most people have no idea Boxsters are lower cost. They just assume its another $100,000 911 Carrera. It only cost me $5000.
Nice review! A quick note on the 370Z, if you're looking at something between 2009 and 2012, get the oil pressure tested. The oil gallery gaskets were made of a less durable material in those years and can crack or completely fail. Nissan did fix this in 2013 and newer vehicles. It's not to say "stay away" from them, but more as a precaution. I've had my 2011 since 2013 with 8200 miles; it now has 128K miles and many track days on the car, and the oil pressure is still within factory specifications. I would consider that an exception and not the rule. Also, replace the internal CSC with an external kit for the clutch system on the manual transmission model.
Yes the 94C4 is an amazing car for $5000 which is what I paid for my 3 years ago. Z car might be something I have to look in to in the near future thanks for doing this. But if you want a good C for OK to 96 the last year before they start going up in price.
![Hunxho - Ball Forever [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nki9ZTF9Uls/mqdefault.jpg)
Former 1997 Boxster owner. Great review, it's hard to go wrong with any of these cars. If you are curious about the Boxster, if that's something you're into, it truly is such a useable and reliable vehicle. Find the right one and do it. But you need to know two big things about owning a Boxster. Maintaining it hurts. Yes, 10K gets you a good 986-gen Boxster now but parts and labor still reflect the original 45k-60k price tag. The other thing you need to know is that everybody is going to hate your car. I owned mine in Arizona and working class people hated it, rich people hated it, car enthusiasts hated it, Porsche guys hated it and my family hated it. You need to love this car to own it because nobody else will. The sides got covered in door dings, a man ashed his cigarette on it, a 993 911 owner SPIT on it at a stoplight (100% serious), and I had "Daddy's money" shouted at me at Cars and Coffee. This was the polar opposite reaction to the car I had prior: the Fiat 500 Abarth. Everyone loved that car to a very surprising degree. It got really positive compliments almost daily and from people from every walk of life. And here's the hot take this overly long comment has led up to: if you're looking for a 10k sports car that you're going to use regularly, a manual Abarth is THE best option right now. I enjoyed owning it more than my lovely Boxster. It was more fun to drive on every road that wasn't all high speed curves, felt more exotic, had more personality, was more practical and cost half as much at the pump. I know how wrong most of that sounds- it has *half* the power of the Vette and wrong wheel drive. Yet on a true, very tight drivers road, the Abarth could take on any of these three cars and get away, leaving a huge smile on your face. Because it's not a performance car, it's a fun car. And that's what owning a sports car should be about. Test drive one, flip on sports mode and have a laugh. Sports cars are inheritely emotional products so the best one will always be the one that you want. If it's a Corvette, Z, Boxster or even the teeny Abarth, you'll have made the right choice. Cheers.
Very Well written comment. Enjoyed it
I'm amazed to hear of so much hate for the Boxster. I drive a fire-engine red NC Miata, and especially when I have the top down it has had the most universal attention and praise of anything I've ever owned. Considering that I've rolled into gas stations with a vintage 2-stroke triple cafe racer, I found that astonishing. I expected truck people to take umbrage with the little girl's car, but not really. A disturbing amount of people say something to the effect of, "Nice car - is that a Ferrari?"
@@JETZcorpI've got an NB. I never expected to get compliments from random strangers at stoplights in it, but oh boy, they certainly came.
@@JETZcorpthey mostly hate it on it because it's considered the poor man's porsche
@@corusbdj That's so dumb and sad. Porsches are for driving, not for showing off how much money you have. Honestly when I see a guy in a cheap Porsche like a 986, 944, 914, etc I feel like they're much more likely to "get it". The guy in the 992 Turbo S might get it, but there's a good chance he just wants a trophy car.
Good luck finding a nice C4 for 5k. They are cheap but not that cheap. Especially for the six speed.
Nah they do run about 5k but a 370 for 10k is a reach
@@mr.740 agreed. You cant find a non salvaged 370z for 10k
Most C4s I see are under 7,500
@@mr.740 brand new ones are going for mid 20’s lol
got mine for 6k, but its subjective
Stop talking about the C4! I want the prices to stay low before I get mine!!!
Dude. I found a c5 for 5500. I don't think they're going up anytime soon
@@黒キツネ-九零二一零 well there we go! 🔥🔥🔥
@@wisenige despite being on offerup, it was clean af, but he took it off days after.
@@黒キツネ-九零二一零 where bro? That’s a steal
@@christian_urocar here in georgia. Ended up getting a g35 sedan instead
As a c4 corvette owner (a extremely nice one at that! I must say, they are great cars. Fast enough honestly, and handle amazing. I went from a Miata to a C4 and still was extremely impressed by the handling
The c4 was the first car to pull over 1g on a skid pad, and all of the engines available, even the high revving lt5, had gobs of low rpm torque, so when you get on it the car feels faster than it is.
@@robertdevito5001 oh ya they are torque monsters haha
miata and boxster are in no way competition with a c4. the boxster is a neon with a porsche boxster
@@robertdevito5001 They also do great doughnuts. Ask me how I know. :)
It's possible when people say "I can't afford a sports car", they actually mean, "I can't afford a second car". Maybe do a cheap hot hatch video, for those who only have the money for one car, but still want to have some fun.
I agree but I can bet you that they'd only choose the big hitters like: NSRT4, Speed3, Focus ST, Fiesta ST and that's about it. I'd like a comparison video of this line up: 07+ Sentra SE-R Spec V, Focus SVT, Mazdaspeed6, Cobalt SS SC or TC, Caliber SRT4 and I'm sure there's a few others that I'm missing that don't seem to get any press new or used. I have an 07 Spec V myself that I bought because it was priced right and kind of a cheap dream car that more or less fell into my lap and I cannot begin to tell people how fun of a car it is to drive...sure it's not the coolest looking to most, but it handles amazingly, is extremely reliable, and is quick for what it is.
Answer: used WRX wagon, Golf GTI or Fiesta ST
Honda Civic and Golf are the kings. Affordable and nimble.
@@alpha2gproject783 the problem with the line up you named is that they are all so old and rare to find with most of them being unreliable or tend to be poorly maintained they just cannot recommend them unless you are a true fan of those cars.
More like "I can't afford the maintenance on a sports car".....
Shhhhhh, no one knows the C4 is good. Shhhhhh.
Except it looks like crap and 90’s escort interior
@@mperformance3502 I think it looks good if it has some good wheels and suspension mods, it's like that 80's - 90's look.
I think the C5 looks much better though and it's not that much more expensive than the C4, though I have noticed that prices are going up for certain models like the C5 Z06 which stays consistently from around $12 - $20k.
@@mperformance3502 it looks better than that frog looking Porsche, that the announcers say that it looks like it can drive either way.🤣
People know and good luck finding a decent one with a manual for 5k
Keep it s secret, my channel has a ton of C4 content
I'd take the Z, without much deliberation. Where the interior has been comically outdated for years, its exterior has a truly timeless design (to me). It's as striking in 2020 as the day it was released in 2009. One of the last analogue sports cars.
me on the opposite end, the only time a Z has looked good to me is the Nismo version with all the added exterior parts
@@ShuffleToExpresss To each his own - a necessary preface. Personally, I see very little aesthetic differences between the base and Nismo. There's different rims which are in some sort of gunmetal grey, red accents on the front lip, and a badge. The differences are negligible.
@@atticus6572 what about the exhaust, rear bumper, and wing? I guess I should've been more specific and said it was the 370z Nismo, which looks a lot more aggressive and has more added on to it than the 350z Nismo
I still get compliments at work, gas station, even at store on my 11 Z 🤷♂️
Yeah.... even an 03 - 04 350z is still good.
"we've never driven the automatic 370z"
You did. Check your own video on the 370z from back in 2009.
Sounds like it was a very memorable experience 🤣
I love how you know better than they do lmao
Jesus Christ how do you remember that
i dont think they liked it very much
This comment too funny
Ive owned all 3 among some others (M cars, supra, brz) and I never sold my C4 6-speed. Cannot beat the price, after market backing, gas mileage(yes..I get 25mph in the vette combined city/hgwy) and styling. Mine is being converted in to a pro touring car that is also daily driven.
Wouldn't you be best off with a cheap manual c5 then add all necessary modifications, because isn't the c5 lighter
Any idea how the C4 automatic is?
@@A500-g6g yeah but the C5 isn't as cool as a C4
You can afford to buy the Porsche but paying for maintenance is a whole other story.
Yeah, 20 year old Boxster with one of the worst engines known to man, combined with water drainage issues, Evap issues... what can go wrong.
I owned a used Porsche 928S. That car was phenomenal but damn was it expensive to run.
Wrong. Maintenance isn't that bad as long as you get a car that has actually been driven. Believe it or not, a garage queen Porsche from that era is more dangerous than a same run in version because of the IMS bearing. Again, it's a lot cheaper than you would think, just like the car.
@@johncary4302 M96 is a POS and one of the worst performance engines EVER built. It is an unexcusable hunk of trash.
@@johnnyz1781 You speak from experience?
I owned a '98 Boxster, some color combo as the one in the video.
It was a great car, and the mention about the floaty feeling in the rear end can probably be traced to a combination of front engine mount that needs to be replaced and a rear strut that is failing.
When i bought mine (with 79k miles on it at the time), I had that same weird feeling when accelerating in a corner. I traced it down to those two issues causing the engine to shift position, and the rear right shock to be failing to support the weight shift.
So I pulled out my tool box and got to work.
I was then rewarded with a fantastic handling vehicle.
I now have a 2015 Cayman that I bought new, and it was worth every penny.
Coming up on year #6, and getting close to the 59k mile mark, and I know its not going anywhere for a very long time.
One day, the 2015 Caymans and Boxsters will be valued the same as this 98 Boxster is, and it will also be a fantastic used car to own.
But you can't have mine. :)
The beauty of the C4 to me was the looks inside and out... it really captures the 80's. I used to feel like Don Johnson in Miami Vice every time I took mine out. In fact the first time I drove mine the song "in the air tonight" by phil collins was blasting on the radio...haha. Perfect. Even after having owned a C4 and a C5 I still prefer the C4 interior. The C5 just looks like something cheap from the 90's.
I'd take the C4 or better a C5 is not much higher in price
V8 + RWD a die out species
Seriously, the only reason they used a c4 was because a c5 (in the same price range) would wipe the floor.
Yeah you can get a nice early C5 for what that 370z cost.
Honestly, I think the c4 looks way better than the c5
@@blairdrummond5043 I think the c4 is the worst looking corvette. I love the gauge clusters but the body is just goofy.
@@McIntoshTravis different strokes for different folks I guess
Since Covid I learned you can wake up and your life can be changed forever and no control over your situation, so go get that car I just got my 981 Boxster S & just wish I did it years ago!
when the media spreads fear and the government wants to control us
Heck yeah I bought my attainable dream car last July if the world's gonna end I gotta have some fun first
King Crimson absolutely, congrats enjoy!
10k for a 370z already, I don’t even wanna kbb my 350z..
edit: holy shit it’s worth 800 bucks
You can't find a good 350 or 370 for less than 10k now.
@@rolltide9547 You are so right
@@southernclassik 3-4 years ago you could find say a 350z less than a 100,000 miles good solid car had not been modded up or raced for 7-8 k. Now the same car is 11k or more. Plus most of the ones you see are convertible. Hard to find a coupe in good shape for decent money. Now more people are wanting Automatics so they are hard to find.
What KBB says and what people are asking for these cars is not accurate.
@@rolltide9547 Yeah! I wanted a Nismo in good condition but Could not find anything for under 20k in my area. I settled for a low mile black 6 speed roadster with the Brembo package in damn near mint condition. Not exactly what I wanted but after riding with the top down so many times, I wouldn't have it any other way. These cars are so much fun!
C4 all the way...I truly enjoy my 1990 C4...👍
I didnt realize C4 ZR1s had dropped down to the mid Teens +\- until I was in the market for a C4 and ended up with a Z!
Now theres an affordable sports car!
There's a 1991 C4 base at a dealership near me with 175k miles on it that they're trying to sell for $18k. When I was talking to the salesman (while my car was getting an allignment) I told him that I've never seen a C4 for more than about $15k (other than a Calloway TT), and all the ones in that price range I saw were low mileage ZR-1's, not a near 200k mile base.
err. I don't know where you saw c4 zr1's for mid teens... the nice examples with miles i've seen are going anywhere from around 20-30k, all the way up to like 50
@@andrewfoster1804 keep an eye out, they are out there.
If youre looking for a low mile cream puff then of course $20k+
Add some miles (meaning someone loved) and buy from a Registry member (well maintained) and you can get down there.
I paid $14k for my 1994 Admiral Blue with ~90k
Saw a 120k mile one for 10k
c4 zr1s are a ticking time bomb. they have a lot of issues. better off getting a clean c5
The Corvette dash plaque is aftermarket.
He said it in the Z06 video too. Needs to do his research better.
You are right. I hate when these guys mess that stuff up.
LOL Yep I caught that too. I had one on my L98 :D Good old Ecklers.
I went with a $4000 1997 Prelude. Tuned and cammed. Full ground control suspension.
Love it. Best financial mistake I've ever made.
Nissan/Infiniti have lowkey been pioneers of so many features over the past decades. They seriously don't get enough credit for some of the stuff they do.
@ThePatUltra xenon headlights, keyless entry, keyless start, variable crankshaft, uprev manual shifting.. Just to name a few
@ThePatUltra Google is your friend... Or maybe not.
@ThePatUltra I don't have to defend shit.. This is RUclips comment section ...use Google if you want more answers.
@ThePatUltra I think he meant variable camshaft in the VVEL engines such as the VQ37 in the Z
370Z was the first car with rev matching on a manual transmission- copied by Porsche, BMW, GM....
Nissan was doing four-wheel steering in the early 1990's. My 1992 240SX had four-wheel steering!
GT-R broke the rules when it was released in 2009. It sent Porsche back to the drawing board, and it still kicks ass today.
Man, EverydayDriver is bringing the heat on content for Season 4! Great, great stuff recently guys!
I have had my 1995 C4 for 19 years!! I bought it at 27 and told myself I would keep it from 50k to 70k miles and then let it go so I don't hit big repair bills. I have 148k miles and it is still a joy to own, drive and I spend less than $1k a year on maintenance, no lie. 100% reliable. Thanks for the review. I fell for the car again watching you guys review it!!
I own a 1996 C4 Corvette I bought new. Torch red with black interior like one shown. It is a fantastic car. LT-4 engine for 330 horsepower with six speed. The car would be a bargain at $15,000, forget the $5,000. A few years ago I kept asking myself, "Does GM know what a fantastic car they made?" I also own a 2003 C5 with automatic and is a convertible. It feels big and cumbersome in comparison.
Steve, can you tell me more about the comparison between the 4 and 5? I have a 95 LT1 and it has a TON of personality. I know the 5 is faster, but is it really better?
Your c5 is a convertible and automatic, that’s why. The c5 will run circles around a c4
I will take a Corvette any day of the week!
I've had a '92 LT1 Corvette and currently have a '99 986 Boxster. I can confirm both are incredibly fun vehicles to own.
I'm split and thinking of getting one - if you're just had one and had another car to daily, which would you take?
@@vaati000The 986 is hands down a better daily. That said, my current toy is a 2001 Corvette which I prefer over both of the other options.
When the C4 was introduced I saw pictures of it and did not like it. Then I saw one in person and changed my mind. I bought an 84 (Z51) and while it may have not been the most powerful car, the car handled great and was very modern and exotic looking for the time. I really enjoyed that car.
they aged very well too. I have a '94 and its a beaut.
From my experience, very few cars get the attention a corvette does- no matter what year. I've got three.
Not interested in attention.
Want a sports car with good driveability
@@rhett7716 You get that too.
I love the C4. If you can get a ZR1 you will have one of the best 90s sports cars.
'One of the best 90's sports cars'= a honda civic now.
@@bencarter3166 Whaaa, what?
Please tell me you're joking.
@@squeekfrogman8787 Honda Civic Type R > Corvette ZR1
@@basshead. Keep smoking bass head. 😂😂😂😂
@@squeekfrogman8787 The Civic Type-R FK8 handles much better than the Corvette C4 ZR1.
The 986, what a joy to drive. The mid engine corner rotation! Drive a mid engine Porsche and you will be a fan.
C4 has almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution... it doesn't have much weight over the front wheels (most front engine cars put 55-65% of their weight up front).
yeah mark up all those prices by $5k and that’s normal for my area
toyota MR2/MRS - inexpensive, reliable, mid-engine, sports car
very hard to find a clean one
Where are you finding a cheap manual MR2? Where I'm at a half decent manual one is $15k...
The Toyota 1zzfe engines from 2000-2002 were known for high oil consumption, not so reliable after all. Other than that they're ok, those corolla type engines are not really rev happy
Prices on these have sky rocketed in the past couple years.
@@CalgaryCooper I sold my 01 for $500 last year and I will go to my grave regretting it and feeling sick to my stomach. I paid $3k for it and could have easily, EASILY sold it for 4-5k had I known.
So weird... I had this same debate with myself earlier this year as I left behind my 2005 Miata. It was between a 986 Boxster S and a C4 Corvette. I ended up with the corvette!
Good Job👍 You definitely made the right decision. The Porsche is a money pit with poor reliability.
Thinking about leaving my NA and am going through the same dilemma
The sound quality of this video takes the viewer along for the ride, like no other car program I’ve ever seen. You won me over!
I can afford a 10K miata, but I can't afford a 10K boxster. lol
Perfect summary.
I bought a “cheap” 02 911 and the first thing I did was get a second key. Cost me $500+. Nothing is cheap on Porsches.
well put
@@stevewages To be fair, a replacement key for a Camry can run you $350 (or well over $500 for a Volvo), but you’re right, upkeep is far different.
That's because $10K in _Boxster German speak_ equals $25K US for new engine + other parts for ongoing tune-ups, service & repair, etc...
I have a 2018 370Z I bought a Nissan executive loaner it had 4,000 miles and a 7 year 100,000 mile warranty. And I love it, it will pull .99gs in a corner 0 to 60 in 5 seconds very reliable. And it fits in my small garage. A great car except people always want to race it when I'm out for a drive.
Great video.
I just bought myself a 1996 corvette.
LT 1 engine with automatic transmission. It is a blast to drive. I love the look. Low mileage. Great price. Targa top. I could not be happier.
The LT1 vette was a game changer. Especially with the T56.
No t56 in the vette. The C4 got a zf6 manual from Germany . Way way way better than the t56 and many 6 speeds for generations after
@@5abivt I had a 95 Z28 with the T56, it was a delightful transmission at least to me. Maybe mine was particularly well sorted by pure chance. But I've never driven the ZF box, maybe it would be a revelation if I did. Why did the 93 F body get a different 6sp than the Vette with the same engine?
Chevy needed a 6 speed that could handle the zr1 lt5 power output in 1990, first year available was 89 but lt5 engine development held off the zr1 until 1990.
All three of those cars are classics. C4 looks amazing.
Just this past year I bought a 2000 C5 Corvette FRC for right at $13,000. I don' t think you could do much better than some of the older sports cars out there. I got an LS1, with 345hp, it makes all the right sounds, and snaps necks everywhere. What else could you possibly want? And through the corners.... glorious.
I'll take the 370z easily. Looks great, I like the interior, powerful engine. Throw some coilovers and other suspension bits, intake, exhaust & tune.. got a reliable daily thats quick, can track, drift etc. 🤷🏾♂️
C5 would have been fairer comparison and in the same price range/
@@ironmonkey1512 agreed, or hell a gen 5 camaro. Where I’m from a manual base model ss are like 10-13k on average.
Well done. Ive wanted a Vette for as long as long as I can remember. C4 is the gen that seems affordable. Good to know theyre fun to drive still...after all the experiences you guys have had in cars.
You can still find late gen C3’s, like 77-82 for really reasonable prices and you’ll have a much more modable motor with that classic swooping lined corvette look. Personally I think it’s a much better option all around than a C4. Lighter, much better classic looking car, an engine with way less problems, much easier to work on and WAYYYY more options for modding than the LT1 or the TBI motors that come in those C4’s. The TBI SBC’s that came in 80’s C4’s were absolute underpowered, unreliable garbage, and while the LT1 they used in the early 90’s C4’s and C5’s has more power, it is impossible to work on, has little options for aftermarket mods and has the worst fuel/ignition system Chevy every designed with the Optispark system. The optispark fail constantly and are a royal expensive bitch to replace. Where as the classic carbed small block Chevy that came in the C3’s was somewhat underpowered stock due to the fuel crisis, it has so much potential to be a very powerful engine with a cheap set of aftermarket heads, a new cam and a better carb. People push 450 HP out of a 350 SBC all the time with no problems. It’s just an all around better engine in every way in the C3 with a better looking car that can still be had for cheap. Just such a better option than a C4 in every way
@@joshuah.4496 I do like the look of the c3 better as well. I'd heard cornering performance was greatly improved from c3 to c4 making the newer more fun to drive BUT I definitely don't want to work on it every time I wanna go play.
@@jonhill9564 I can understand that but keep in mind it’s 2020. With aftermarket coilovers and all the other modern suspension improvements available for popular classic cars like the C3 you could easily build a C3 that could run circles around a stock C4. Even if stock for stock the C4 was an improvement handling wise the tech today even for classic cars is just worlds better than it used to be
@@jonhill9564 As a matter of fact just with a quick google on C3 suspension mods it looks like cheap kits are readily available that would make huge improvements over a stock suspension setup
@@joshuah.4496 and a project is just what the Dr ordered during covid days. Good info, thanks.
pop up headlights ftw! I love my late c4 corvette!!! Not biased.
the face lift from the previous version was a massive improvement on that corvette. and i still like the looks of the 370z and the removable hardtop on the boxster. and yes, i'm liking these videos and the slightly different presentation. there's less back and forth contrariness.
it would be nice to know the mileage AND the exact price on each one.
this was a fun vid for sure.
I think he said the Z had about 100 thousand miles, I didn't catch anything about the other cars though
@@nthgth it was a week since I saw this, but he mentioned that the Porsche was kinda high mileage which meant the bearing that tends to fail decided not to fail.
@@SpaceMissile meaning if it doesn't fail by now, it won't fail?
I'll take the Corvette any day.. easier to look after too
@@deleted_account3 I meant that as " I am more familiar with" said vehicle. So, I was speaking for myself.
@@sandasturner9529 ok
@@deleted_account3 Oh no it won`t. Complicated turbo engines has more issues and everything is expensive. While the Chevy V8 is one of the best, most reliable ever. Uncomplicated and nothings expensive. I was born and raised in Datsuns and have had 240Z and 280ZX so I love Nissan, not hating on them. The last easy, reliable Nissan sports car is the 300ZX first gen, but now parts are difficult, so I drive a Corvette and will stick to Chevys forever.
This episode exactly reflects my recent sports car purchase, having identified the same cars, plus the Miata of course. I was leaning toward an NC Miata, but at the last minute this unmolested 1988 Corvette, exactly as I would spec it, came along at the right price.
I went and saw, instantly fell in love, and brought it home. I paid US $3400, delivered to my house 125 miles away. It came with a fresh engine, new clutch, new exhaust, rebuilt seats, a new dash top, new door panels, new shocks, and a few other things. Probably $10k worth of work paid for by two previous owners, in quick succession. Every single thing in the notoriously cheap-feeling interior still works, BTW.
It was running poorly, but I really know my way around that era of engine management, so no problem. I'm in the process of thoroughly refurbishing the whole car, and I mean thoroughly. Including some light, reversible mods, I'll have ~$10k in it, including initial purchase, plus my DIY labor. When I get done, it will run, drive, operate, and feel like new, and have new car reliability. It's nice cosmetically, too.
So, cool, I'm happy. But I firmly believe I would have been happy with any of these cars. They are the right alternatives in the sub-$10k category of real two-seat sports cars.
I absolutely hate that Corvettes don't get made and sold in Europe. And man, that C4 looks fantastic.
if you manage to import one they'd look pretty great in the roads of Europe though! I feel the same way about TVR. Id do anything to own a Chimaera here in the states.
This series is going to be great, has been great for the first couple episodes. That said, I'm buying a Miata! :-) The Boxster is sexy AF, but repairs are a nightmare and expensive AF.
Miata is always the answer
This is not part of the Cheap Sports Car Challenge that features the Z4 and SLK. This was a TV episode from a couple of years ago.
The good thing about Porsche is that the build quality is higher than other manufacturers, so you won't have to take it to the mechanic very often. However, when you do, your wallet will hurt a lot.
Actually, having owned both MX5 and 2002 986 S, the Porsche is the easiest car I have ever worked on, and that includes older American cars and trucks with lots of space under the hood. Porsche is only expensive, like all expensive brands, if you go thru the dealer or brand name. Example: water pump is pierburg brand, thru Porsche it's almost 500 dollars. Thru pierburg direct, it was 220.
That said, however, older cars regardless of mileage will need part swaps. Spent 1k in 1 year in parts on the 2002 with 70k miles between fuel pump, water pump, headlight switch, coolant, oil air separator, and convertible top gears.
My NC MX5 08 I had to replace the clutch pedal assembly for 125 dollars in 4 years of ownership and 150k miles.
There's a reason they added that Miata stipulation. It's the obvious choice, but there's no fun in always reviewing Miatas. My money would go towards an Rx8 in this scenario. Superbly practical, fantastic handling and that engine really is a joy to wind out. Poor mileage is a bummer, but that's not the main reason someone buys a sports car. And if the biggest mechanical problem can be prolonged further than you think with some simple upgrades to the cooling and ignition. It's so easy to rebuild the engines when they do pop. Just have Triple A. haha
Just bought a c4 with low miles at a ridiculous price and the car has awesome performance and handling. KEEP THIS A SECRET!
Shhh 👀
For anyone doubting the 370Z after this video, we owned one for several years, and it was absolutely phenomenal. And one thing they don't mention here is that the factory stereo is astoundingly good. Completely surprised me.
The only complaint I had was the clutch pedal, but it was an easy fix.
No ranking?! Also 1998 won’t have the IMS issue and that plate in the Vette is not factory. That was a very popular aftermarket part back in the 90s.
Pretty sure you're incorrect. Corvettes came with plaques or at least as an option from the 60's thru to today.
@@georgemerusi299 they are not stock. When I was a kid in the 90s and lusted after Corvettes I would get all the catalogs and they would be in there. C2 (60s) did not have them. Some years of C3 (70s) did have a factory plate like that. None of the C4 did. That is why companies made them. It was the C4 owners wanting a plate like the 70s Vettes did. These companies would sell them for like 30 bucks. It’s amazing that so many C4 owners bought one that it’s now considering stock 20 years later. Zip Corvette probably still sells them. The C5 and C6 and C7 guys had no interest. I had a C6 and you couldn’t even buy one.
IMS bearing is present on ALL water cooled Porsches (996 turbo excluded) up to some of the early 997's even. While it is true that the earliest cars (first two years of production) have a stronger dual row bearing, they'll still go sometimes. So, keep that in mind.
It's not a deal breaker though. It's about 1.5k to replace for a stronger bearing on a manual, 2k for an automatic. Just budget for that, get it done and don't worry about it anymore.
@@roelfkromhout great reply. I knew all that but was too lazy to type that so I just summarized that it’s basically not gonna happen lol
lol, fair enough.
Nice thing about my 2010 370z...you can update the nav system to 2017. When you row your own gears ⚙ with rev match, you have your hands full.
Nice thing about a Vette (unlike a Porsche which I almost bought) is there is a Chevy mechanic in every town in America. And I own both a 370z Roadster 6spd and a 94 c4
I dont think the owner of that Porsche knows just how much a boxster engine will be. Will cost more than the whole car
Early gen boxster/cayman engines are pretty cheap...not Honda b series cheap, but cheap.
@@ZREXER1250 a decent ls engine cost as much as a factory fit boxster engine.... That doesn't even make sense unless that's what you want to do from the get go. That'll cost way more.
@@ZREXER1250 I've seen boxster engines as low as 4k. Only time I've seen one as high as 12k was for a complete motor and trans.
@@ZREXER1250 also you aren't taking into account suspension mods, ecu mods and other changes that go along with it that can easily make it a 20k+ build. All that for an old beat up chassis... Waste of money. Not too mention tire and rim size selection is extremely poor for a boxster/cayman. All that power on tiny little 255...maybe 275 tires max. The Boxster is unquestionably the worst choice here if you are talking about extreme mods.
@@ZREXER1250 yeah I just checked again..I knew I wasn't crazy, there are several 2.7L 986 engines on eBay under 4k. A full motor and trans 3.2L was around 11k. - Stand corrected, the 3.2l 987 motor was a short block...the 2.7 engines are the cheap ones.
I just bought a6 speed manual 1991 C4 with low mileage but over 10k in California and love it. Not som many mods available in market for L98 engine (pretty much close to nothing). Low end torque is high and high end torque is missing. Videos are coming up
Love this type of series. This year bought a dedicated “sports car” 2009 BMW 328i coupe, manual transmission, 96k miles for 9 grand and loving every minute of it.
Do you really think the 328i is considered a sports car?
@@justinboss4212 it’s subjective...and exactly why I put those words in quotations. A sportier car might be a better description and that has the right ingredients (rwd, manual, NA in-line 6, hydraulic steering, coupe).
how tf are you finding 370zs for $10k?
I live in the bay area of California bought mine for 9k
@@josiahamen8673 how many miles? Clean title?
@@justinholtgrave 100k+ and definitely an automatic.
I bought one last year for $10,600. Haven’t had a single issue, just typical maintenance
@@boblarry7879lmao no 🧢
Super surprised by the C4! Love the C4/C7 meet at 6:40.....
So were our soldiers in afghan
I'm sure it's been said before but I have to say it now, You guys do it right, I love your balanced heavy-handed approach to all your reviews, and as far as this one, I truly depreciate you guys. 😉
Recently picked up a 96 c4 ce lt4, and it is very surprising how it drives, love it
People have been saying corvettes can’t handle but even this old c4 handles amazing
I had a C4.... bought it new. A few years later, had 2 kids and the car had to go. I loved that car. Now kids are grown and I've got an F-Type. The Jag is the best value and sexiest looking sports car money can buy. The 'vette's interior was always the downside.
It is because of your focus on actual ownership (including price and driving the cars) that I love your channel. I always feel like you are trying to find a car to drive, and not a museum piece. I'm so tired of car reviewers getting in a car and immediately complaining about the materials of interior trim pieces that will NEVER be touched that I could spit. You get in a car and drive it. And then you tell us about it. Thank you.
Glad you enjoy what we do. Thanks for watching!
That "Plaque" was not applied by GM. You can only buy them on Amazon.
Was just gonna say that lol. That’s definitely aftermarket. I had this identical car, same year same color same wheels
@@darrengriffith9680 That's a terrific car. I have a 1996 6-Speed in Comp Yellow.
Good luck finding ANY 6 Speed C4 for 5k these days. lol
I couldn’t agree more. These cars make you smile when you’re driving them. I have owned such a Boxster for a couple of years. I had a bypass placed on the exhaust, making the sound and drive just a little more intense. It was one of the most enjoyable cars I ever owned. Somehow owning such a C4 with a manual transmission is still on my bucket list 😏
For 10 grand. C5 Corvette every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
A. LS powered.
B. See A.
Not all C4s are LS powered. Most aren't.
Show us where you find clean C5 for only 10k I'll wait.
@@SpeedDemonExpress in a 10 second search on Autotrader I found a blue coupe, manual, with 82k on it for $9950.
And several more well under 10k with higher miles. And high miles and clean aren’t mutually exclusive. I know a guy that’s got well over 200k on a 2002 Trans Am that is super clean.
I’m sure some of them are ragged out, but I’d take a ragged out c5 over a clean c4 or a Z car without a second thought.
@@caseybrannon4975 the only one I found at any distance with a manual was $8,000 and has 226,000 miles. One other one for $10,900 over 115,000 miles and the rest average price around $17,000 up to $22,000
@@SpeedDemonExpress even then it still isn’t the end of the world LS parts are SOOOO fucking cheap and the aftermarket is everywhere
I've heard the saying: What's the most expensive Porsche to own? = The cheapest one.
That's because the maintenance on it will be MORE than the cost of buying a new one.
You guys gotta remember there were different suspension packages for the C4, I'd wager you didn't have a Z51 car, C4's can be nasty in the turns when set up properly. They were banned from SCCA for a reason
I loved the shot of the C4 going past the C7... also, those C5 Z06 rims look great on the C4.
The C4 is an excellent design for it's time. The suspension and frame are probably the best feature of those cars. Great for GT-style driving. Get one while you can, I've been watching the prices going up on them steadily over the past 18 months. You could get one for $3k in 2019, now you'll be lucky to find one for $5k.
The older ones are still cheap to get its the LT1 92-96 variants that have gone up.
@@iheartgs400 The C3 is going up quickly in AZ. I bought mine for $9k in April 2020 and now one would be lucky to find one around here for less than $12k in similar shape. For $5k you can get a non-running pile of parts lol.
@@RestorationObsession Oh the C3 it's always been quite high I meant the early C4 years 84-91 models.
@@iheartgs400 Yup, a 84 to 89 are still roughly $8k to $12k here in Canada, but once you get into the 1990's models they jump very quickly into the $15k+ up to $20k for very late 90's models. Been looking at them for a while and $20k + for an auto trans C4 is just too much for me to stomach. Unfortunately missed the boat on these, should of got one 6 or 7 years ago....
Driven a few of those older Boxsters. The handling is very impressive
I can’t help but feel the 370z is ‘one of the last’ analog sports cars, and makes a fantastic used csr purchase
S197 mustang with a coyote v8 will run mid to low teens these days. Old school muscle feel with an absolute gem of motor. That’s gotta be a top suggestion for bang per buck on used sports cars
I’m happy with my 85 c4. It runs great, I did add intake and straight piped it
On my '04 986S, I installed the European (ROW) M030 suspension--springs, shocks, anti roll bars. All in, maybe $1,800. Incredible handling, it's the hot setup. And over 6 years it only needed oil changes and spark plugs. Then I sold it for what I paid for it. Least expensive car I've ever owned.
19:20 Are we forgetting about the Toyota MR2? The MR2 is literally all of those things.
It’s also a death trap. If you let off throttle mid corner and it snaps into the other direction.
I've always wanted to see a good MR2 vs. FIERO battle with the Boxster!👍✌
Except for the affordable part. An MR2 turbo with a manual that hasnt been modded/molested runs $15k+ and theyre almost 30 years old...
Gaaaaaayyy
I always liked the Miatas, but they are so slow. I ordered a Solstice GXP when they came out, very fast and better looking than the Miata.
I'd love to see the comparison of these same cars for about $10k more - 10 years later. Such as a 2009 Cayman vs Corvette C6 vs 370Z. I wonder if their ranking would still be the same. Great review as usual!
All these cars have more than doubled in price..
The boxster is now starting around 20 k at least.
Dual Row Boxster gang. It's a convertible, it's quiet with the top down, it's easy to work on, it drives like it's on rails. Whats not to like?
Also just replace your bearing when you do the clutch...
C4 Corvette for one reason
POP UP HEADLIGHTS!👍
There are two different access points to the 986 engine. You can remove part of the convertible top to open the top access in about 3 minutes, or you can access the door behind the driver and passenger seat for changing the serpentine belts.
Hidden behind the carpet, but relatively easy and quick access considering
370z all the way. Cheapest to maintain and the most reliable car in this bunch. I do say this because I daily drive mine.
I own one and I must say even to this day I still find it stunningly beautiful. Even strangers find it beautiful. That's a testament to its timeless design. Almost 13 years old but still looks good compared to newer cars today.
Naturally aspirated V6 with not much technology. It's a dying breed of a pure driver's sports car.
Cheapest to maintain the 370Z? Not a chance. Tell me, what's a timing chain for a 370Z go for? For the Corvette? $16. You read that right. $16. Oil pump? $17. Water pump? $26. Front brake pads? $12. Oh... you want performance pads? OK... those are $36.
As far as anything Nissan being more reliable than a small block Chevrolet? I think not. As far as the rest of the car goes? How are those slave cylinders doing? Still grenading?
Umm dead reliable except top failed on mine. But the brakes, gears, engine, et cetera? Nope. Just change oil and tyres.
I just bought a 2017 (only 10k miles though) 370. I wanted a covertable with a manal transmission and I had to search high and low for it. I like it though. How can you drive a sports car with a manual transmission??
I’d bet good money that Z at the age of C4 will be more reliable and cheaper to maintain. First Water pump, Oil pump and the timing chain? These things rarely go out in a Z but it sounds like it’s a thing for the C4. Also the brakes really? C4 brakes are tiny brake calipers I’ll gladly pay the extra money for the extra stopping power. That small block might be the only thing reliable on that car have fun chasing down the countless other things that are going on with that car. The 370z down the road will also be easy to repair they were made from 09-20 so parts will be plentiful and the price will go down.
@@jpc1073 Good input. Almost exactly what I wanted to say.
C4 baby ! Cheap to maintain, and you can gets lots more affordable power if you care to. I have a 1989 as I don't want a bomb(airbag) in my face. I want to get new wheels(the factory wheels ! - what were they thinking ?) and I know I'll find a nice looking set (with tires !)for $1000 for the Nissan and more for the Porsche.
The Vette needs some practice to master. More so if you have the Z52 performance package which gives you a tighter suspension and a shorter steering radius. I don't drive mine every day. Truth be told I can go months without driving it, and when I do it takes me a while to get used to the handling aspects of it. Once you get it down it will outhandle just about anything out there. Driving a C4 Corvette is the closest most people will get to driving an actual race car. When the C4 was new it beat it beat everything out there. It was so good that the Corvette Challenge was started in 1988 after the SCCA kicked the C4 Corvette out of the Showroom Stock racing class. The C4 had dominated the series for years, so the SCCA created a one-make series for it - the Corvette Challenge which ran from 1988 to 1989. The C4 is very underrated mostly because so many have been ragged on and for all the money GM spent on designing them they still rattle boxes with cheaply made interiors. If the interiors were still tight and aged better these cars would be more sought after.
Very solid point. The only reason the C4 wasn't put on a pedestal was the interior quality and questionable design (it has grown on me, which is why I now own one).
The performance is absolutely there. These cars are in the same league as the Supra Turbos, The R34 GTRs, the RX-7s, etc, they just weren't in any movies so they get no love.
Thanks for keeping the love of driving alive!
These all look like fun cars, but I know I could work on the C4, and the economy of scale means the parts would be much more affordable. A 3.75" stroke crank and some after market heads combined with a higher lift cam would really wake that engine up for a relatively low price.
Basic engine parts are cheap, but all the C4 specific parts are very expensive these days with that going even higher as they dry up.
@@Swarm509 Even with that, you're going to be miles ahead when compared to the cost of parts for either of the other cars in this group. And C4s are popular enough that reproduction parts will eventually fill the gap, just as happened with first generation Camaros.
Great video - I just picked up an `88 C4 coupe for less than 9 grand - 18k miles on the clock - auto trans - L98 245 hp 340 lbs torque - z52 handling package - Black/Saddle - Owned a `96 BMW Z3 conv. 5 spd for 7 years prior - fun driver but nowhere near as cool, comfortable and powerful as the C4 - Guess what, good condition C4's are starting to tick up in value - you can still find a decent one for 5-6 grand but they're becoming harder to find. I look on line frequently and good C4's with less than 100k on the clock are now at @ 8-10 grand depending on the mileage and condition.
LT1 and VQ37VHR . Those are some incredible engines , I mean freakin incredible .
Having owned both of them, while I will say the LT1 was innovative for its time, the Optispark ignition system is unreliable hot garbage and I absolutely hate that engine and trying to work on it. Hated it in my 95 Camaro with a passion. The VQ motors are all phenomenal motors though, no complaints there
Every sportscar / supercar with pop-up headlights looks amazing.
I’m going with the z
Yes me too👍
Can't go wrong with a solid Z!
@Hillary's Future Ghost I recently bought 2010 nismo with 20 k plus miles fir 19k I say great deal plus I think the 350z are not good looking compared to the 370
Ew
@A World Under A Spell must own a 350😂
As a former owner of 2 C3's and a C6 I don't understand the general hate on the C4. I've driven several of them and they're great fun and fantastic handling cars. They don't have the higher HP like later models, but at the same time, the power doesn't overwhelm the chassis, generally keeping you out of trouble. My biggest complaint with the C4 was the tight footwells (at least for me) that made enter/egress hard to do smoothly.
Probably the most awkward car you can possibly get in/out of. Mine came with those cheap kickplates I kept kicking off everytime I got out.
eggzactly.
You can see the engine in the boxster, you have to open the convertible and their is a hatch that you can open that let's you see the engine.
Easy to get into service mode, u can tell the guy who said u couldnt access the engine doesnt work on cars, the 986 is actually very easy to work on, i have a 2000 986 and do preventative maintenance and repairs.
bought a brand new 2013 370Z base model manual and have added some bolt-ons and some bigger Michelin Sport 4S and still love the ride and the fun. grew up with chevy and ford muscle cars from the 70's that were just raw power and really enjoy the handling of the Z still. really enjoy this vid and your series as a whole.
2.5l boosters did not have the IMS issues that the later cars had. I believe it was duel bearing vs the later single bearing cars.
The 2.5l 986 most defiantly had IMF failure issue, my 97 2.5 started to fail at about 95000 miles. The first symptom was a vibration when the throttle was lifted at higher RPMs, the oil was then inspected and found to contain small metal fragments.
I own a 08 350Z and purchased it used from a doctor who never really drove it. I purchased the car in 2015 and it literally looks like I just drove it off the showroom floor. The car is now 13yrs old and still only has 83K on the odometer. By far the best car I have ever purchased at a decent price and I in return, take VERY good care of my BEAUTIFUL BEAST!...
I really miss my c4...great car and very slept on. Better than what people think.
I got a cherry 1995 Corvette 6-speed for $12000 and could not be happier! What a joy to drive :D
GM did not put the performance numbers plaque on the C4 console. Those are aftermarket add-on pieces. This is a very common misconception.
We had an 03 Boxster....My wife loved it! However at 6'3" it was just on the edge of my comfort level. I will say we had very little trouble with it. The only reason we parted company was we moved to Montana and it just wasn't that practical ....Not sure you would want to hit a deer in one.
I have a 2000 Boxster and this thing is incredibly fast and flashy. I absolutely love it and nobody believes its 20 years old. Also most people have no idea Boxsters are lower cost. They just assume its another $100,000 911 Carrera. It only cost me $5000.
Nice review! A quick note on the 370Z, if you're looking at something between 2009 and 2012, get the oil pressure tested. The oil gallery gaskets were made of a less durable material in those years and can crack or completely fail. Nissan did fix this in 2013 and newer vehicles.
It's not to say "stay away" from them, but more as a precaution. I've had my 2011 since 2013 with 8200 miles; it now has 128K miles and many track days on the car, and the oil pressure is still within factory specifications. I would consider that an exception and not the rule.
Also, replace the internal CSC with an external kit for the clutch system on the manual transmission model.
Yes the 94C4 is an amazing car for $5000 which is what I paid for my 3 years ago. Z car might be something I have to look in to in the near future thanks for doing this. But if you want a good C for OK to 96 the last year before they start going up in price.