Arrow

So my buddy at work has this 1980-something C4 vette which he claims gets 300hp. Is he yanking my chain, or is it worth playing with him?

slow07

If he is a buddy, it won't hurt to race him... even if he is right. Vettes were not very fast back then.

RED121572

A few years ago, I had an 87 convertible vette. Nice car. Fun to drive. Stock for stock, a new GT will run all over it.

Apoptosis

The Zr1 was the best old vette except for the stingrays!

05gtdriver

The C4s didn't get 300hp until 1992(I believe) when they got the LT-1, before that they had the 240/245/250(depending on year) hp L-98......btw, isn't that 'Vette owner the one wearing the chain????? lol

MustangDreamer25

ROFL

MBDiagMan

I have an '88, manual transmission C4 Vette with a few very minor mods. I fully expect that it would be a very close race with my new Manual transmission GT and I expect that it would slightly outrun it. Yes, the L98 Vette engines had about 15% less horsepower, but they also weigh about 400 pounds less and have much less frontal area and have much better aerodynamics.

Also, the TPI Vette engine has GOBS and GOBS of mid range torque.

If I had someone that I trusted to drive one of my cars in order to race the other, I would really be curious to find out which would be fastest. Don't discount the C4, L98 Vettes so quickly. CERTAINLY don't underestimate the last few years of the C4 beginning in about 91 or 92. Those cars gave up some of the low end torque and picked it up in HP. They had 300 HP with much less weight. Your S197 would have to be considerably modded to outrun one of them.

Also, don't even DREAM of outrunning even an L98, C4 on a road course. The handling and tire package FAR out distances the S197.

I love both of these cars. The only reason I have my Mustang is that the C4 is an unreliable POS. I have had the car for 12 years and from the beginning, it was a love/hate relationship. I LOVE driving the car and HATE working on it. I get WAAAaaaaaaayyy too many chances to work on it. If it were reliable, I would be driving it every day. As it is, the C4 Vettes have no value, so there's no point in selling it. I keep it around for occasional Sunday drives or for occasional cruise nights.

Arrow

Thanks guys. I did my homework AFTER I posted. (yeah yeah, I know) Anyway, we've buzzed around each other a bit (he comes the same way I do on my commute to work) but we've never had an open streach to really floor it. He's a great guy and doesn't brag or taunt, but he sure loves that thing. Just wanted to know my stuff if we got into a verbal spar about our rides, since I haven't had a chance to drive his yet.

PayDay99

Just be glad a Z06 doesn't stomp you every day or so on the way to work .

I crept up on him at a light and got the jump on him one day...ever since he makes it a point to fly by me if he sees me ahead.

Arrow

One day, just jerk over into his lane a second, just before he's about to pass. With any luck, he'll not do it anymore for fear that you might jump out in front of him again!