Z51 a Corvette model or just a option package?
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Z51 a Corvette model or just a option package?
I've seen many threads recently in the C7 section with the discussion "Is the Z51 option its own performance model?" For example, is it considered a performance track model a step above the base car but below the Z06 model, or is it just an option like the 3LT interior as some have suggested- and in the end a base Corvette? It would be nice to get the official Chevrolet/Corvette teams ruling on this never ending discussion.
Last edited by BlueDevilZ51; 12-28-2015 at 07:51 PM.
#4
Le Mans Master
So they can call their Blue Z51 with Kalahari interior with chrome wheels and hood stripes "rare", collectible and 1 of 31....yes.
Last edited by RC000E; 01-05-2016 at 04:26 PM.
#5
Safety Car
When I add Z51 sway bars to mine can I call it a Z26 (rounding up)? Will that make it a new model?
Edit: Just in case someone didn't understand: [/sarcasm]
Edit: Just in case someone didn't understand: [/sarcasm]
Last edited by meyerweb; 01-06-2016 at 10:22 PM.
#6
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '15
It's just a base car. Is this really that important to anyone besides bored guys driving automatics to a car show debating on their lawn chair with their plaque about their !!!!Z51!!!! is 1 of 10 built on a Tuesday (that happened to have a gibbous moon phase), neon pink paint, purple stripes, and a lime green interior?
When I go to "Build and price" on the GM website, I have to start with a BASE car to option the z51 trinkets just like the interior trim, battery protection, and other things that don't really equate to being super special.
Conversely when I want to build a Z06, I start with a Z06.
http://www.chevrolet.com/build-your-own-chevrolet.html#
When I go to "Build and price" on the GM website, I have to start with a BASE car to option the z51 trinkets just like the interior trim, battery protection, and other things that don't really equate to being super special.
Conversely when I want to build a Z06, I start with a Z06.
http://www.chevrolet.com/build-your-own-chevrolet.html#
Last edited by 64drvr; 01-06-2016 at 07:35 PM.
#7
Pro
It's a car that I would say is between a base and a GS. My 2cents
It would make for a great marketing tool. And I say they could really give it more of the old GS options to it and Walla there's the GS that everyone is asking for oh my mom bought a 2013 chevy cruze and for the life of me, I still can't figure out why it is badged inside and out RS "Rally Sport"
Her cruze RS doesn't have a 1/4 the options the Z51 has? So can't blame anyone but GM for any of the confusion that is out there, they been doing this since the late 70's So if they can call my mom's cruze a RS. The Z51 really deserves it's own badge, but doesn"t get one?
Last edited by yellowmnm; 01-29-2016 at 10:42 PM.
#8
Pro
This question has been answered in several ways that Z51 is a model but many don't agree so they get real ugly and insistent that it is not and I would bet that the naysayers are z06 or base owner with LT 3 option package
I only would like a for real c7 Z51 badges for my z51
I only would like a for real c7 Z51 badges for my z51
#9
Le Mans Master
I think we just need a new term for a car with a unique set of options that is better than base but not up to the standard of a different model. I vote for Exemplar as in, I have the Z51 Exemplar which makes it far better than your car.
#10
Burning Brakes
PS - It's an option package (2xZ51 owner).
#11
Burning Brakes
He really already answered it in this one, incidentally:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-or-other.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-or-other.html
Tadge answered:
I see the reference to both Stingray and Z06, so I will address both starting with the Stingray: We do all of our track validation with the front plate removed and I am not aware of a case of overheating when a Z51 car is properly prepared. The article referenced talks about cooling issues on the street when driven aggressively in hot temperatures with the front plate installed. I see in the picture of the Edmunds long term test, the car has a front plate in what we call the "show" position and so when driven very aggressively had insufficient cooling. As discussed in the owner's manual, this panel is "to be removed when driving aggressively or in hot weather". All cars shipped to states that require front plates also have a plate frame that mounts higher on the bumper and does not block as much of the cooling flow. Because states have varying height-to-ground requirements the plate holder sits high on the front bumper to accommodate those laws. While fully legal and beneficial for cooling performance, it doesn't look very good and many customers have asked for a more integrated solution, hence the optional "show" position centered on the grille. Although intended as a "show" position, for 99% of street usage the cooling performance is fine. Some may be quick to point out that other cars seem to be able to have low front plates and robust cooling (fourth and fifth generation Corvettes, for example), but those are "bottom breathers" with major compromises to down force performance. Although there are very few complaints from Z51 customers on cooling issues, we are looking at taking some of the learnings and hardware from the Z06 and making them available on the Stingray. For example, the front-mounted supplemental trans cooler developed for the Z06 automatic will be included in the Z51 package for automatic coupes starting in the 2016 model year.
We have discussed the Z06 cooling robustness in this space before and are very concerned about what some customers are experiencing. We have built over 8,000 Z06's so far with the vast majority of them having no cooling issues. We are working to gather data from customers (some of whom may have posted here) who have concerns and are in the process of sorting through that. We have found a few build issues, a few prep issues, and some vehicle mods that have hurt cooling performance. An example of a build issue would be an improper bleed of the intercooler circuit. Even a small air bubble can impact performance. As I indicated in in my last "Ask Tadge" answer, we design for 30 degrees centigrade and have for decades without customer dissatisfaction. We may have to move our target upwards since customers appear to want to run their cars very hard at elevated temperatures.
The question asks about what kind of cooling upgrade could be made available through GM performance parts. I can tell you we are looking at a variety of robustness improvements that could take many forms. It could be in calibration (and for followers of these threads, we haven't forgotten about the "rough track" chassis calibration talked about a few weeks back), cooling system or specification changes, or even super charger hardware tweaks. It will take us a while to work through what makes the most sense and to do the validation, but we will make every effort to make sure that the changes are backwards-compatible to vehicles already produced. In the meantime, we sincerely appreciate the customers we've contacted openness and willingness to work with us on continuous improvement.
I see the reference to both Stingray and Z06, so I will address both starting with the Stingray: We do all of our track validation with the front plate removed and I am not aware of a case of overheating when a Z51 car is properly prepared. The article referenced talks about cooling issues on the street when driven aggressively in hot temperatures with the front plate installed. I see in the picture of the Edmunds long term test, the car has a front plate in what we call the "show" position and so when driven very aggressively had insufficient cooling. As discussed in the owner's manual, this panel is "to be removed when driving aggressively or in hot weather". All cars shipped to states that require front plates also have a plate frame that mounts higher on the bumper and does not block as much of the cooling flow. Because states have varying height-to-ground requirements the plate holder sits high on the front bumper to accommodate those laws. While fully legal and beneficial for cooling performance, it doesn't look very good and many customers have asked for a more integrated solution, hence the optional "show" position centered on the grille. Although intended as a "show" position, for 99% of street usage the cooling performance is fine. Some may be quick to point out that other cars seem to be able to have low front plates and robust cooling (fourth and fifth generation Corvettes, for example), but those are "bottom breathers" with major compromises to down force performance. Although there are very few complaints from Z51 customers on cooling issues, we are looking at taking some of the learnings and hardware from the Z06 and making them available on the Stingray. For example, the front-mounted supplemental trans cooler developed for the Z06 automatic will be included in the Z51 package for automatic coupes starting in the 2016 model year.
We have discussed the Z06 cooling robustness in this space before and are very concerned about what some customers are experiencing. We have built over 8,000 Z06's so far with the vast majority of them having no cooling issues. We are working to gather data from customers (some of whom may have posted here) who have concerns and are in the process of sorting through that. We have found a few build issues, a few prep issues, and some vehicle mods that have hurt cooling performance. An example of a build issue would be an improper bleed of the intercooler circuit. Even a small air bubble can impact performance. As I indicated in in my last "Ask Tadge" answer, we design for 30 degrees centigrade and have for decades without customer dissatisfaction. We may have to move our target upwards since customers appear to want to run their cars very hard at elevated temperatures.
The question asks about what kind of cooling upgrade could be made available through GM performance parts. I can tell you we are looking at a variety of robustness improvements that could take many forms. It could be in calibration (and for followers of these threads, we haven't forgotten about the "rough track" chassis calibration talked about a few weeks back), cooling system or specification changes, or even super charger hardware tweaks. It will take us a while to work through what makes the most sense and to do the validation, but we will make every effort to make sure that the changes are backwards-compatible to vehicles already produced. In the meantime, we sincerely appreciate the customers we've contacted openness and willingness to work with us on continuous improvement.
#12
Burning Brakes
It's the cheapos who didn't want to spend coin on a Z06 or zr1 so they need some reason to put a "z" badge on their car to make them feel better about their purchase...it's a RPO not a model. Get over it...waxers
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