UK Equivalent of the C4 Corvette?
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Discussion

Raize

Original Poster:

1,476 posts

208 months

Friday 14th March 2014
quotequote all
In the USA, if you're handy with a spanner and want a classic sports car that can blow away anything else in the same price range (even moderns) then you've got one clear choice: C4 Corvette.

Cheap parts.
Bulletproof.
Massive tuning potential.
Cheap to buy.
Fast as standard.
Easy to work on.

What's the equivalent over here? I really can't work this one out.

kiethton

14,635 posts

209 months

Friday 14th March 2014
quotequote all
TVR Chimera (or a cerbera)

ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Friday 14th March 2014
quotequote all
Imported Corvette C4 hehe

jimbob82

690 posts

163 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
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ewenm said:
Imported Corvette C4 hehe
+1

Tribal Chestnut

3,001 posts

211 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
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kiethton said:
TVR Chimera (or a cerbera)
Not really.

roscobbc

4,040 posts

271 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
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jimbob82 said:
+1
+2

ClassicMotorNut

2,438 posts

167 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
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Triumph TR7 V8

jimbob82

690 posts

163 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
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ClassicMotorNut said:
Triumph TR7 V8

Codswallop

5,258 posts

223 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
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Tribal Chestnut said:
kiethton said:
TVR Chimera (or a cerbera)
Not really.
Chimaera isn't too far off the mark imo.

The RV8 engine is fairly simple and robust, the car has the same fiberglass constrution as a C4, some iffy electronics (maybe a few more than the Corvette granted), parts are cheap etc.

spoodler

2,304 posts

184 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
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ClassicMotorNut said:
Triumph TR7 V8
Often thought of these as a sort of British 'Vette in many respects - except it's all on a smaller scale! Depending on how you look at it, ticks every one of the requirements in the first post. In a similar vein, so do the TVR wedges...

On the other hand I don't think you'll actually find a "real" equivalent as it could be said that the XJS is "our" Corvette; Chevy and Jaguar, tho', were selling to entirely different markets for entirely different experiences. Many moons back Classic and Sportscar magazine compared the V12 E-Type against the contemporary 'Vette and found the plastic one to be a better sports car!

classiqo

16 posts

160 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
quotequote all
Aston Martin... Porsche...Lambo....TVR almost (mickey mouse build quality).
When the C4 was built it was a highly developed car... wont bore you with all the details.
A vette is a vette there is no equivalent pound for pound.
Its either a C4 (which are a bargain at present)or you have to spend 5 to 10 times more to match it dynamically.
Read the reviews when it was new. 1986 onwards.
I've owned lots of European exotica etc... from various periods and the C4 does it all in period.
The Jankel Tempest was a C4 vette!
cheerio.

Tribal Chestnut

3,001 posts

211 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
quotequote all
Codswallop said:
Chimaera isn't too far off the mark imo.

The RV8 engine is fairly simple and robust, the car has the same fiberglass constrution as a C4, some iffy electronics (maybe a few more than the Corvette granted), parts are cheap etc.
My gripe with this comparison is that the Chim is a good 7-8 yrs younger, I believe. Also, last time I looked at C4 prices you could pick a decent one up for £6k, not sure if this was the case for a Chim, certainly not for a Cerbera. Must confess to not being up to speed with current prices.

Raize

Original Poster:

1,476 posts

208 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
quotequote all
jimbob82 said:
ewenm said:
Imported Corvette C4 hehe
+1
No parts availability over here, very hard to insure as an import (whereas in America you get 16 year olds driving these things regularly), and purchase cost is higher over here too. LHD only as well.

Tribal Chestnut

3,001 posts

211 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
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Clutching at straws perhaps, but an Esprit?

tapkaJohnD

2,000 posts

233 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
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"Equivalent over here", as a UK built car, or one available here?

How about the Isuzu Piazza? Available on the UK about the same time as the C4, engine half the size, but two thirds the power and with similar looks. Plus plus-two seats an a usable boot. My family car until the kids got too big, at about ten.
John




balls-out

3,794 posts

260 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
quotequote all
Raize said:
No parts availability over here, very hard to insure as an import (whereas in America you get 16 year olds driving these things regularly), and purchase cost is higher over here too. LHD only as well.
Parts are not a problem, and they don't need many.
Insuring a us import is cheap on a suitable policy.

ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
quotequote all
Raize said:
No parts availability over here, very hard to insure as an import (whereas in America you get 16 year olds driving these things regularly), and purchase cost is higher over here too. LHD only as well.
None of those were an issue for me with an imported 67 Mustang.

MarshPhantom

9,658 posts

166 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
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If the OP means cars available in the UK then the Audi Quattro fits the bill. UR or S2.

VetteG

3,236 posts

273 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
quotequote all
Raize said:
No parts availability over here, very hard to insure as an import (whereas in America you get 16 year olds driving these things regularly), and purchase cost is higher over here too. LHD only as well.
This cheap enough for you?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

All parts are readily available, insurance is cheap, I pay less than £200 per year for my modified C3 with my 2 sons on the policy. LHD is really not an issue except at car park barriers when you have no passenger.

G

oliverb205

705 posts

255 months

Saturday 15th March 2014
quotequote all
If the TVR Chimaera is too new and expensive (though there are some cars still about at £6k), I would have thought that a 350i/400SE would fit the bill. Unless it has to be a FHC, very few 350sand no 400s.

Occasionally there is a Cerbera for £6k, but I wouldn't recommend it...

How about a Toyota Supra or Nissan 300ZX?

Oliver.