C4 or fourth generation Camaro

Unknown member · Feb 3, 2010

Which is the better handling car? I'm looking at getting a new toy and I'm not sure which to go with. For those of you who have owned both can you give me a comparison of the two?

Since my brother has owned a couple of fourth generation camaros I have some ride time in them. While I like the styling of the camaro better than the vette there are some things I don't like about the camaro. For one, it has an extremely cheap interior that falls apart. The door handles feel like they are gonna break off in your hand. When you close the door it sounds like there are a million loose pieces inside. Also, working on the car was a real pain. I changed the plugs for him and they were a real chore.

Some of the things I like about Camaro are: The styling, it handled great when my brother put some good tires on it, and both cars were relatively reliable. I can't remember either one of them ever breaking down.

So I was wondering if you guys could give me a comparison with a C4? I've only ridden in a couple of vettes, both of them C3's, and that was many years ago when I was child. Some things I'm interested in are: How easy is it to work on? Will the interior completely fall apart? Do the door handles feel like they are going to break off in your hand like every Camaro door handle I've used? What are the problem areas with the car?
Thanks in advance

ColtHard · Feb 3, 2010

before my vette i had a 98 camaro, and after driving a vette, ill never go back

i have an 84 z51 car and its super stiff and will take corners my camaro never even thought about taking and take them at twice the speed.

engine work is a lot easier on the vette, while pulling a trans was easier on the camaro to me.

vette suspension is a lot more sophisticated than the camaro, but its one of the reasons it handles so well.

the interior in my camaro was definitely very cheap, but honestly i dont think the vette is any better or worse. if you slightly overtighten any screws in either car *pop*.... the highest quality interior parts ive ever come across are in a freakin honda... they're nearly indestructable...

a c4 with a few mods doesnt have much trouble hanging with an LS 4th gen. The LT 4th gens are even easier to hang with, especially if you have an LT c4.

the only thing i miss about my maro is the back seat. both cars are major chick magnets, but in the vette i can only fit one....:down:

mechguy79 · Feb 4, 2010

I concur. My friends 02 Camaro has great power, and good breaks, but it is WAY to tail happy, especially in a corner under power. More than once if we hit a bump in the corner the butt kicked out. My 1990 vette out handles his 02, but his 02 has an LS engine. I think my 90 is put together much better. I just wish I had his engine.

subtlez28 · Feb 4, 2010

I have an 02 Z28 and an 84 Vette.

It kind of depends what handling you mean. My 02 Z28 is set up for road racing: aftermarket springs, sway bars, control arms, Konis, sticky tires and an aggressive alignment. It has more handling than you can really use on the street.

That said, if you want to mod out a C4 it will ultimately out handle a 4th gen.

So stock for stock C4 > 4th gen.
Mod for mod C4 > 4th gen.

However, LS1 f-bodies have superior power to C4s. So a modded 4th gen certainly run with even an LT1 C4 on track.

To answer you question. 4th gen LS1 cars can be had for cheap, and will offer more power and handling on the street than you can responsibly use. Better budget street vehicle IMHO. And good shocks like Konis will solve most of the 4th gens manner issues.

If you plan some road course time, the C4 is a superior platform. You can always up the power (or stuff in an LS1 like I am!).

Speed-O · Feb 5, 2010

Ive owned many 4th gen F-bodys.
1999 camaro z28
1997 Z-28 automatic
1997 Trans-Am automatic
1994 FireHawk 6-speed
1996 WS6 6-speed
1994 z-28 6-speed

And Ive owned two C4's a 91 l98 auto and a 94 6-speed.

I loved all my past cars. They all had something to offer.

I like the the 4th gen F-body better then the 84-91 L98 tuned port injection C4. The L98 is a truck motor. All tourqe at low RPM's and they cost a lot to get any good power from.
The LT1 is a much better motor IMO.

But I would not have any F-body over my 94 C4. I would turn down a trade for a super sport camaro vs my corvette.
The combo of the LT1 and ZF6 in a low stiff, 2-seeter car is a blast. I love it. :thumbsup:

NOTE: It's alot cheaper to build up a f-body then a corvette.

BGVetteC5 · Feb 5, 2010

The C4 handles better in corners. You feel like your in a go cart because everything is tight and stiff. You feel like you have control of the car in high speeds without being uncertain about losing it.

sean.ramsey · Feb 6, 2010

Balance

To me it's all about balance. The camaro feels light in the rear end. The faster you take a curve, the lighter it feels. My 84 feels like it is glued to the road compared to a camaro. Weight distribution was one of the main concerns of the C4 engineers, and I think they got it right.

95blklt1 · Feb 6, 2010

i'd only consider the camaro if you planned on turning in into a drag car. if not everything about the c4 is better, excluding price, be prepared to pay for the famous "corvette tax." i love my 95 interior. i'd say its better than the c5's interior and competitive w/ the c6's interior quality. i'd even go as far to say its barely dated. f-body's interiors look like they could be in the cavalier.

sanctuary · Feb 6, 2010

I owned a 2001 Camaro before my 1994 Corvette. On my Camaro I had Hotchkis shorter/stiffer springs with KYB 8-way adjustable shocks so the car would ride very smooth and take rough road surfaces easily. In the vette you'll feel the road a lot more and handle the turns better.

Big downside about the 4th generation Camaro is the catalytic converter hump in the floorboard, absolutely silly. Every passenger's response was the same, "What is this?!" The interior construction was not great and yes, the door handles felt cheasy because they were plastic. My vette's door handles are metal. The vette doors feel solid when opened and closed too. Working on the engine is easier on the vette, due to the clamshell hood.

C4 or fourth generation Camaro

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