F-Body Europe

I've always been font of the 1978-1982 Corvette C3. Now I've some people who are seriously interested in buying my Camaro, but suddenly I'm having doubt, because the mechanic who services the Camaro says I'm crazy to trade the Camaro for a Corvette. He says all the C3 Corvette's drive like " @$#%%#".

What should I do?????????????????????

I would recommend finding someone who has the model Corvette you are considering and ask if you can drive it. Then you will have a better idea whether you want it or not. They were not famous for handling. Personally, I would rather have a Camaro. Almost anything you buy for a Corvette is more expensive than the same type part for a Camaro. Besides, F Bodies are just cool. Just my 2 cents worth.

I would stay with the Camaro.

You know that I own a TA thats very similar to your Camaro. I almost bought a 78 Vette before I got my TA. I found that the insurance was higher and the car was INFINITELY less practical than the TA. The Vette would have gotten less gas mileage and really rode rough. And this was owned by a mechanical engineer...so you know he took care of it. It was a friend of mine, but after I drove it, I just knew that it wasnt the car for me. Yes, it looks way cool, and had more HP than my TA did, but just dont know if I could have lived with that on a daily basis.

I have been fond of Vettes, although I would prefer a '69 or '70 personally. I still hope to own one eventually, but it will ride and handle better than what I have seen. FYI a 79 Vette would run about 6-8000 in the states from what I saw before I left.

Patrick

Keep it man! Those were probably the worst 'vettes ever!

Well, I'd probably take a 1st or 2nd gen vette ... or a Z06 ...

Keep the camaro!!!!!

Keep the Camaro is better

The Camaro is far superior to the C3.

The C3 has some problems as the chassis tends to get a bit rusty (on ones I've seen) and the front calipers seize.

The C3's have no hatch, only access is from inside. The only exception is the '82 (Anniversary?).

They're cramped inside. They're underpowered - some only had 180bhp net!

Even the big blocks were quoted in gross hp and are less powerful/slower than an LS1 stock (if you take it that the stock LS1 actually produces far more than Chevy claim).

The C4's were Chevy's first attempt to make a "world class" supercar rather than "US Corvette". This is evident from all that lovely alloy. the C4 is roomier, has a hatch and is far faster. A good car, if creaky.

I wouldn't trade a Camaro for a C3, kinda like a step backwards, I would rather get a C4, they are mechanically far more superior than C3s.
Of course Corvettes are more expensive as far as insurance and parts than any Camaro, but at least you get a real sports car. I would take a nice 1990 Corvette (L98) 6-speed over any Camaro, they look really sweet. The only thing that sometimes sucks is that the Vette crowd can be EXTREMELY snooty. Even if you beat them their classic response is, "It's still not a Vette." Although, I have found the Porsche crowd to be far worse….
Anyway, if a C3 is what you always wanted, go for it ! I would test drive one before you decide to get rid of the Camaro.

Corvette insurance is pretty much the same as the F-body in the UK.

I've never found Corvette drivers to be snooty. More affluent, sure. After all, I've had one myself and regarded it as a low-rent Ferrari rather than intrinsically superior to anyone in particular. Frankly, they creak rather too much to start being disdainful about other people's cars. But I think they're right about one thing and there's no getting away from it - they do have Ferrari looks and when I got caned by a 400bhp Sierra Cosworth, I confess I did think "But yours still looks like a Sierra and it's not a 'Vette". He he.

I agree about the C4. Great car for the money. The L98's go up to 1991 with a max of 250hp. The '91 carried the facelift but the 300hp LT1 didn't arrive until '92. I have to say that I loved my Vette more than I love my Camaro BUT having "gone back" and ridden in my mate's '89 Vette, I was appalled by the creakiness and leakiness of it and hence prefer the 4th gen as a better-built practical proposition. That said, his '89 is not a mint example and it is a fibreglass sports car at the end of the day.

Seems like you have a lot of votes there...any decisions made yet on selling or not???

Patrick

For the moment I keep the Camaro. The Vette I head in mind was in a bad state. Would cost me to much to get it the way I would like it to be, While the Camaro already is that way ( well maybe a bit to silent, but that can be fixed )

About the C4 Being the better Vette. I know, but I don't like the looks of the 1984-1990 Vettes that much.
1991 and later (with the rounded rear bumper) I do like, but they are to expensive for me.