cormorant71

Hi,

I am selling my '94 vert and looking to buy a C6. I have 3 in mind; my favorite is an '06 6M with the Z51 performance package, then an '07 A6 without Z51, and another '06 A6 without Z51. All 3 have the 3LT option package and are verts...

My question is: how harsh is the ride with the Z51? I live in an area where we have 2 seasons, winter and road repair and my ride experience is a C4.

Thanks

C

RocketDawg

If the road is smooth, the ride is nice, but you'll feel every little swale and bump in the road. If there are ruts, it feels pretty harsh. I don't think it's all that disagreeable, just not as smooth as my C5 without Z51 was. The brake package that comes with the Z51 option is fantastic.

Vetteguy88

Not sure about compared to a C4, but the Z51 feels fine to me. For sure its a firm ride but not uncomfortable at all to me.

Mr.Nubain

The Z51 will feel like you're driving a Bentley compared to the C4. The C6 is so refined. Especially on the highway, smoooooth. I love it.

cormorant71

Thanks everyone, sounds about what I thought. Hopefully I will have an answer in about a week as to the one I buy.

Any issues with the auto over the manual?

And on a side note, the Z51 is yellow (which I think looks awesome) the others are red. If I get one of the red ones it will be my 3rd red vert in a row...

Thanks again,

C

Kad2112

It's a corvette. Every one built should have z51 as standard equipment. I take my 70+ year old parents for rides and they don't complain. They just hold on!

Richard G.

I live in WV and our roads are a true test of suspensions. I had a 94 coupe with ZR1 wheels and tires and bought my C6 last week..
Had the new to me C6 out for about three hours yesterday. Probably a stiffer ride on Z51, but for me acceptable. This Corvette is so smooth and rattle free. I am still figuring out everything onboard. Right now I am probably not that objective. All I can tell you is get a C6 !!!!!!!

RicardoFors68

Love my A6 z51 car . I had a A4 C5 before and this feels leaps and bounds better. Still on stock tune mind you....

cormorant71

Going from my '88 to my '94 I noticed a big difference in refinement and ride. I am sure going to a C6 will leave me with an even bigger smile!

My parents are also 70, they love my C4. Telling my mom to hang on, just before I stomp on it is pretty awesome!

Thanks again everyone

voodoochikin04

I've owned my 2006 z51 equipped carfor a little over a week. I put 2500miles on it since picking uit up...which includes the 1400 or so mile ride home... It had michealin pilot sport Run flats on it... The whole ride home was HARSH...especially in warren, Ohio...absolute worst roads I've ever been on in my life.. Ruts in the road, level changes in lanes and painted lines felt like rumble bars haha joke... But it was rough and harsh. I accepted that it must just be like this. Well once I got my new continental extreme contact DW non run flats on...the ride has done a 180... Its smooth, non harsh, and the road noise level reduced significantly.. It was a fantastic choice.

ProfessorDeath

Switch from runflats immediately and the ride is amazingly smooth along with incredible handling.

rsparks64

z51 is stiffer. if your roads are rough and you will be doing local cruising opt for base. if your roads are good, it won't be so bad; however, even on good roads the ride difference is noticeable. test the z51 and see how you like it. i ride with my wife a lot and she went on many test drives with me and she always noticed the difference too.

AORoads

Of the three, due to its being newer with yearly improvements, get the '07. I don't mind the auto trans even tho I have a manual trans. And, altho my area has pretty good roads, I have driven all over and I have owned two C4s (neither on a Z51) and my C6 Z51 roadster (7 yrs. with it fr. new).

If your roads are really as bad as you say they are, it may be reasonable for you to NOT get a Z51-equipped car. I know people on here who have "softened" their ride, like "Gearhead Jim" and others. I actually improved my ride the most not by switching to non-runflat tires but actually to a different brand of runflat from the original Goodyear RFT tires.

You'll probably be fine with any of the three, but most always suggest the latest year, in the best condition with the lowest miles and the one you can afford. Thus, my vote for the '07! Good luck and tell us what you get WITH pics!

Edit: forgot; if you want to stiffen up the ride a bit on a base, non-Z51 car, just buy some Z51 sway bars either new or used. They're very economical, too.

chevyman426

I have 07 coupe 3lt z51 auto6 its harsh compared to 14 2lt C7 vert but these only two vettes I have owned. In the 07 you do feel every bump its tolerable actually feels sort of like track mode in C7. 07 is still pleasure to drive you cannot go wrong.

v26278

Z51 is definitely a firm, planted feel if that's your preference. I don't find it harsh at all, unless the road surface is particularly rough. I love it, and I daily drive it on city streets that are typical of most cities these days, plenty of rutted and patched up stuff. I've never had a complaint.

Edit: I've also never had the stock Goodyear tires, I've had Michelins in both A/S run flats and now Pilot Super Sport non-RF. As others have posted above and below, tires matter.

4SUMERZ

I have a 2006 Z51 3LT optioned car lowered on stock bolts.
When I first got the car, it had GY F1 Supercar RF tires on it, and the ride was rough on rural roads, decent on highways. Those tires also tracked and followed any grooves in the pavement.
At about 1/2 thread, the GY tires became dangerous to drive on wet pavement, hydroplaning a real concern.
I changed out to Non RF Firestone FireHawk WO Indy 500's, and I could not believe the difference in ride quality, quiet and great traction in wet conditions, even at 3/32" thread. I replaced those with 30K miles on them, with another exact same set.
I love the tires.

Tires will make a huge difference in ride quality, even a different set of RF's from the GY's will be an improvement according to numerous accounts on this forum.

Good Luck

cormorant71

Thanks again everyone! I did hear from local owners that the RF tires do track and are not that good compared to other non RF tires.

All of this awesome feedback is making me think the non Z51 is the best choice for me... now on to the color; red or silver??

RJRSW

I had a 84 Z51 and it road like a buckboard, was just horrible so I was skeptical of getting another Z51. When I drove the 2007 Z51 convert for the test drive I was pleasantly surprised and had no problem with the ride. Keep in mind if the ride bothers you just change the shocks to the standard base suspension shocks and it will ride much softer but still corner flat because of the much stiffer sway bars and bushings. Kind of best of both worlds.

If you get a Z51 with a manual trans the gear ratios are different and it is kind of jerky feeling because of the gearing. I drove one and couldn't wait to get done with the test drive.

markab

i have the Z51 package no compaints here from me on the ride, because as prince stated on the song little red corvette..the ride is sooo smooth

Richard G.

Just got my C6 tire alignment and new Goodyear runflats up front. My fronts were wore down to the wear bars. What a difference in ride noise, tracking and performance. Good tires and alignment would seem to make a huge difference !