Corvette C4

The Corvette C4 is the fourth generation of the popular General Motors sportscar, the Chevrolet Corvette. It was in production from 1984 to 1996. During its production run, it became the first American car with multi-link rear suspension and featured an early six-speed manual gearbox (starting in 1989); it had excellent roadholding, arrow-like styling with 180-degree-flip hidden headlights, and lightweight transverse springs. This generation also introduced the ZR-1 performance model, equipped with a 375-405 bhp quad-cam V8 engine co-developed with Lotus. The C4 Corvette is the cheapest Corvette generation money can buy at the time of writing, with early and worn examples going for under $5k and powerful late model years available under $10k. This means that it is a good starting sports car bargain if Miatas aren’t your style. In particular, a ‘92-‘95 C4 has a 300 bhp 5.7-liter V8, a modern 6MT or 4AT gearbox with generous overdrive, a spacious rear luggage compartment, adjustable seats, cassette and CD - in other words, it’s quick as well as perfectly serviceable as a daily. Like all Corvettes, the C4 is maligned for its association with slow grandpas. The only way to break this stigma is to get one and drive the pants off it.