[V8] C4 or C5?

[Roger M. Woodbury]

Without question, buy the C4.

 

I may have the oldest C4 on this list.  Or I may just be the oldest C4 owner
on this list.

 

Whatever the case, our C4 is a 1994 that now has passed 157,000 miles.  We
bought it in 2001 with 39,000 miles from the original selling dealer, and in
the past nine years have spent the money necessary to keep it in as near new
condition mechanically as possible.  What does this mean?  Well, including
tires, around $2000 per year in general maintenance, and the car is now
mechanically good to go for the next year or two with very little mechanical
items about which I am concerned.

 

The newer car with its more expensive and sophisticated 30 valve
engine/electronics/transmission will likely prove to be more expensive to
maintain.  

 

I don't think there is much other difference in the two models.  

 

In the end, if the maintenance records for the past nine years are complete
and show that the car has had the things that it needs and the newer car
does NOT, then there is no question.  

 

To my experience, on these cars regular maintenance is everything,
especially in areas where there are harsh driving conditions to consider.

 

Our car gets new tires next week, and once they are on, I will write about
them.  You all will be amazed after I posed the question to the list a while
back.  Once our C4 is properly shod with decent tires, we'll be good to go,
and for another 30,000 miles most likely.

 

Roger

 

P.S.  I recommend the Depo e-code headlight replacement on this car, too.  I
changed the headlights in the C4 not long after we got the car, and the
Depo, sometimes maligned H4 headlamps have been a perfect upgrade for the
standard DOT headlamps on this car (which weren't all that terrible,
either).