Time to make a decision. GTU or something new?

[NocturnalGTU]

Hey everyone, its been a while since I've posted anything on here (again). This is mostly because for the past few months I have been trying to decide to continue to work with my GTU or move on to something with a larger aftermarket, more power stock and rear wheel drive. I had been thinking about picking up a Solstice GXP or a SKY Redline, but have decided that if I do walk away from my GTU, I will be getting a C4 corvette, specifically a '91 to '96.

The main reason why I started looking into stepping away from the GTU is just the amount of money I would have to put into it to get it where I want it to be. I could either put in another $5000 into the motor, steering, suspension and brakes, or I could leave it all behind and use that $5000 as a very decent down payment into a c4 vette that already has what I'm looking for, plus a huge aftermarket in comparison to the beretta.

I would love to be able to keep my GTU and get the corvette, but sadly I just don't have the storage for both. Plus, having two summer cars and no winter car in Minnesota is just bad news bears (the GTU doesn't see snow). Although if I do end up getting the vette, I would be very interested in possibly trading for a Z26 or even a base converted to a Z26 so that I can still have a beretta in my garage and the beretta could then be my daily driver and winter car (rust prevention being used). This is in no way a "For sale" or "For trade" thread. I just thought I would check in with you all, maybe get some feedback and throw some ideas back and forth. I do love my GTU and wish we had a bigger aftermarket, or just one that wasn't so overpriced.

I don't feel like posting any pics in this thread, so I will link my "members rides" thread if you wish to see pics.
http://www.beretta.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=6214

[ErichZ26]

The problem is that you don't enjoy your Beretta for what it is and not what it isn't. Sell it...walk away and get a different car. You will miss and appreciate the car then.


Also, no car listed in your post makes any sense for year round transportation. If you get a vette, why worry about aftermarket? The OEM replacement parts are expensive enough.

[NocturnalGTU]

The actual cost of aftermarket or OEM parts isn't the issue. Its the dollars spent compared to the product you get. Also just the overall selection in aftermarket is staggering. Neither car would make a "good" year round car, you are correct. The GTU doesn't see winter, which means that I do buy a different car for the winter.

Basically, I am on the fence about this. I've always wanted a c4 vette, but I do enjoy my GTU. I just cant have both, storage being the issue.

[3X00-Modified]

Whats special about a Vette? It has a huge aftermarket leaving its uniqueness gone. That's my opinion and why I opt to bring my Beretta to a car show rather than my Legacy since a 2.5GT legacy is just a turbo Subaru, there are a ton out there and you can just buy stuff to bolt on to it. Where the Beretta I had to engineer it and make it work and last I checked I'm the only one with what I have, you'll never see a second car setup like mine, its also one of a kind at every show I'm at.

As Cack said if you don't feel that dollars invested in your Beretta is resulting in a good "product" in the end, then you don't enjoy that vehicle enough.

It's also hard to give an opinion because I don't know what you mean by

the product you get

What are you expecting when you invest money in a car?

[Amateur]

I know you're looking for a little feedback on the route you should take. Look, in the end, its your life and you know yourself better than anyone. I see where you're coming from, and if you lost your mojo for the 'retta, it happens. You don't need to justify keeping it if you truly don't want to invest the time and money into it.
People change, priorities change, happens all the time.

Personally I say get the corvette. Then again I'm biased. I've always loved the corvette, its history, and what it stands for.
Its inexpensive, has great engines, and look graceful to downright sexy depending on the generation. C4 is my favorite one (especially the Grand Sport!)


I'm getting one down the road for sure, yet I have the luxury of space and already a dd (KIA RIO!)
so the beretta is staying where it is. I'm on my second one and I like its no frills sporty driving characteristics. Especially since its a base, to keep it somewhat competitive when I race it, I have to rely alot more on technique and finesse in corners than brute strength...its challenging none the less.
It seems like you had a good run with the GTU anyways and you'd be somewhat interested in a beretta as a DD down the road; good luck with whatever you go with!

[woody90gtz]

I think you'd miss it once it was gone. I'll keep mine forever...even though mostly no one else gives a crap, my first car was a Beretta and they have value to me.

[MY91GT(Z)]

5k in the beretta im sure would make u quite happy with it. im on the fence too with mine but i have a family of 5and contemplating moving on to supercharged suv so i can still feel different from the crowd, thats what i love avout the beretta

[88_GTU]

Just another guys $.02 but I got fed up with dealing with rust and lack of respect from others when I was driving my Beretta so I picked up an 01 Z06. Yes it was insanely fun to drive. Yes it gets A LOT of looks. Yes, you get to be in on the friendly wave from all the other vette owners. But you also get to deal with all the other "fun" that comes with owning a vette like $120 oil changes, $1600 sets of tires (Z06, which I know you said C4 not C5 so it'd be less), and lots of extra attention from the police. After 3 years of owning one I traded it in, got a new malibu for the wife, and picked up a 67k mile rust free GTU.

Sometimes you just cant shake that Beretta bug.

J

[NocturnalGTU]

Thanks to everyone that gave feedback. Like I said I am still on the fence about it. I literally change my mind about twice a day. I will look at pics of the '94 vette I would buy and decide I want the vette. Then I look at the GTU and start looking at WOT-tech's website, going through builds I could do and change my mind again. The cost of repairs and maintenance don't affect my decisions, I am a master auto mechanic, so I just do everything myself and get huge discounts on parts through suppliers at work.

So on the one hand I have my GTU, which if I built it to where I wanted it to be it would have a 350HP supercharged 3500 in it, with the F-body brakes and rear disc conversion. The interior needs to be redone (headliner, seats and dash) and I would want to get it repainted (again).

On the other hand I have a car that I have drooled over since I was young. I actually had a powerwheel which was a red c4 corvette convertible. It still works and is in my parents rafters in their garage, haha. The '94 vette comes with the LT1 which makes quite a bit of power right out of the box and is very upgrade friendly, not to mention the ease of working on a c4 compared to other cars that came with the LT1.

The one major thing that the vette has over the GTU is its driveline. The GTU simply cannot compare to the vette with its rear wheel drive, independent rear suspension and huge tires to put power to the ground. The GTU already has the some of the stickiest tires on it (bridgestone potenza Re-11) and I can spin them no problem. So if I did decide to keep the GTU and build it the way I would want to, I would essentially just be building a wheel spin machine.

[ErichZ26]

94 LT1 is a decent engine. That year has the updated PCM. Easily upgraded with LT4 parts. But...

I dislike optispark.

I had a complete driveline out of an 50k mile F body. T56, many bolt on upgrades headers, Painless wiring harness and a custom PCM without emmisions. I had planned to use it in a Datsun Z but sold it. The trans ended up going into a V8 RX7 I am going to stick to Gen III and newer engines for installs.

C4's are great cars, the problem is that while parts are available they are not cheap. 300hp stock though..and lots of v8 torque.


There is nothing wrong with Beretta's, they are actually a lot of fun to drive and own. My under 200hp GTZ is a blast to drive and with fewer and fewer on the road it does stick out.

[1988GTU]

Personally, I'd keep the B'retta... 5g's dumped into it could go far and really make you want to keep it. Don't look to invest into it though as that is the worst thing to think about when it comes vehicles especially a Beretta.

But IF you ever could have both, I suggest leasing a vette and just enjoy it. Nothing better than a dream car that is leased and you DD it thru winter then after 2-3 years you dump it back off in the dealers hands looking for the next one to beat on.

[NocturnalGTU]

94 LT1 is a decent engine. That year has the updated PCM. Easily upgraded with LT4 parts. But...

I dislike optispark.

Yeah I'm not a fan of opti-spark either, so I have been looking into solutions to the issue. It seems that MSD makes a re-designed opti-spark distributor that fixes the issues with the GM design, so I would be picking that up for sure. Might also go with an electric water pump as well, since I've heard those fail less often than the belt driven OEM style.

What's your opinion on the L98?

[spacecadetz26]

the waterpump isnt belt driven its driven by gear from the camshaft. electric water pump is a good mod but failure would render teh car underdrivable. which is pretty much the only downfall. needless to say i'm putting one on my camaro. more opti spark issues arise from moisture or antifreeze getting into the unit. which they installed vents in 95 and newer or aftermarket like the MSD unit. my car is a 94 and so far knock on wood my stock opti is working fine. there are also people switching from the opti to coil pack if you look on the lt1 forums.

the L98 is torquey also but is over 22 years old for the newest model. I had no problems with my 87 vette, but it wasnt enough I was ready to get rid of the TPI and switch it to the LT1 manifold. I find that the older you get the more issues you will have from previous owners tinkering with them as well.

i'd say get the 94 Vette. if it runs good sound good looks good you wont be disapointed. i was looking at vettes also when i bought this camaro, but opted for the camaro for cheaper aftermarket since i have a plan in progress. if it was just going to be a fun driver car, i prob would have gotten the vette

[Money pit Beretta]

Last I heard the LT1 intake on a TPI would lose 50 lbs/ft torque. Good thing you didn't do it.

[Lothurin]

you can still use the beretta for the winter. Just remove the front air dam. shouldn't be too much of a problem. Even with the motor u have and if its lowered its not difficult to drive on snow. Look for some 15" steelies and buy snow tires.

I sold my first beretta, even tho it was only a 90 Base 2.2 auto. I still miss it a lot. One day the GTZ will come out of the garage and I will be on the street. Probably in 6 years when i pay off my new car:P and finish my s10 and start on my 63 C10:P haha.

Just don't sell it man, trust me you'll regret it forever.