Best Handling C4?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,540
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From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: Best Handling C4? (oldace84)
According to Vette Mag....it's the early C4's 1984 to 1986's....
So, look to the mid to late production C4's from 88 to 94 or so when then softened the suspension. You can check Hib's suspension chart for reference.
Pete
Pro
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 744
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From: Houston Tx
Re: Best Handling C4? (kawboy5792)
My guess, and it really is just that , given I have not driven them all, would be that the Z07 equipped cars were probably the best. That combination of Z51 springs, bushings, swaybars, and the adjustable shocks seemed not only to win the hearts of most magazine testers, but autoXers and open trackers as well. Late 80's Z51 cars were awesome as well. :seeya
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 6
From: Portland Oregon
Re: Best Handling C4? (Shriker)
I used to have a 94 Z07 and it was awesome, best handling car I've ever driven. Can't say if it's the best of the C4's but it's gotta be near the top.
P.S. Saw one at an autocross last summer and it was running the same times as the Z06's. I talked to the owner for a while and he said it was pretty much stock except for the tires, Amazing!
[Modified by locobob, 7:48 PM 11/12/2002]
P.S. Saw one at an autocross last summer and it was running the same times as the Z06's. I talked to the owner for a while and he said it was pretty much stock except for the tires, Amazing!
[Modified by locobob, 7:48 PM 11/12/2002]
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Best Handling C4? (vader86)
Here's a chart with all the suspension specs for each year. http://vettenet.org/susp_chart.html
Remember, this is the basics. A GS coupe would have a major advantage with the larger tires. My base suspension outhandled a C5 trying to follow me using the GS rims and Pilot tires. If you want to mod, upgrading from the stock GSC tires would be the first largest leap in handling. Other things will also help. Different springs, coilovers, HAL Qa1 or Koni shocks, some Rippie knuckles, etc. will give you much better handling and put you over 1 g easily. As to early vettes like the '84 being the best handling, the answer is depends. The '84 had some of the hardest springs as indicated on the chart. In areas with good smooth roads and on tracks, this would be great. But on bumpy NE roads, they stink. They would bounce off the road long before I budge when hitting the endless holes, bumps, joints, etc. on the road. A softer suspension or coilovers does better in these circumstances.
Remember, this is the basics. A GS coupe would have a major advantage with the larger tires. My base suspension outhandled a C5 trying to follow me using the GS rims and Pilot tires. If you want to mod, upgrading from the stock GSC tires would be the first largest leap in handling. Other things will also help. Different springs, coilovers, HAL Qa1 or Koni shocks, some Rippie knuckles, etc. will give you much better handling and put you over 1 g easily. As to early vettes like the '84 being the best handling, the answer is depends. The '84 had some of the hardest springs as indicated on the chart. In areas with good smooth roads and on tracks, this would be great. But on bumpy NE roads, they stink. They would bounce off the road long before I budge when hitting the endless holes, bumps, joints, etc. on the road. A softer suspension or coilovers does better in these circumstances.
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 4,623
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From: Ohio
Re: Best Handling C4? (92TripleBlack)
What does "best handling" mean? Track events, autocross??
In any case, considering ONLY STOCK suspensions, the GS would not rank very highly, all things equal. 315's in the rears on an AX course will cause a good dose of understeer. The super soft springs on the '96 cars, is a major disadvantage.
It's generally accepted that the "older" Z51 C4's were the best handlers. Pre '88s are particularly known for being great AXer's. The '91 Z07 (and the '89 & '90 Challenge cars as well) is generally regarded as one of the very best handlers, as it incorporated the "Challenge" Z51 springs with FX3, and the large sway bars.
Bottom line is, the DRIVER is the most important performance component in all of them. Unless a given driver has totally mastered the capabilities of given model year car, it really isn't going to matter which one he's in. It's not going to make THAT much difference unless you're talking about a National caliber AX driver who will take first place or fourth place by a margin of a few hundreths of a second. THEN a given year/option pkg. makes a difference.
In any case, considering ONLY STOCK suspensions, the GS would not rank very highly, all things equal. 315's in the rears on an AX course will cause a good dose of understeer. The super soft springs on the '96 cars, is a major disadvantage.
It's generally accepted that the "older" Z51 C4's were the best handlers. Pre '88s are particularly known for being great AXer's. The '91 Z07 (and the '89 & '90 Challenge cars as well) is generally regarded as one of the very best handlers, as it incorporated the "Challenge" Z51 springs with FX3, and the large sway bars.
Bottom line is, the DRIVER is the most important performance component in all of them. Unless a given driver has totally mastered the capabilities of given model year car, it really isn't going to matter which one he's in. It's not going to make THAT much difference unless you're talking about a National caliber AX driver who will take first place or fourth place by a margin of a few hundreths of a second. THEN a given year/option pkg. makes a difference.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,388
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From: Murrysville PA
Re: Best Handling C4? (h rocks)
I have an 89 with the FX3 suspension and I had a Grand Sport with the F45 suspension. There was a noticible diference between the two cars. Just in aggressive (yet responsible) street driving, the Grand Sport could not hold a candle to the 89. I have not yet pushed my 89 to the limit but that car goes around a turn and it just doesn't seem like its possible to do what it does. I can't imagine what a true road race car is like. I'm not saying the 89 is the best but I am just comparing my view between my 89 and the Grand Sport.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Best Handling C4? (Joe90)
I have to agree with 92TripleBlack. Mine is very stiff. The stiffer it is, the more effect irregularities in the road will have. A softer spring and shock on a later C4 would absorb these, while an early z51 C4 will bounce right over them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 859
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From: Houston TX
Re: Best Handling C4? (kawboy5792)
90 Z51 was the best suspension. It had all the same things as an 89 Z51, except the rear sway bar is 26mm solid, where the 89 was 24mm solid.
91 Z07s were the same as 90s except with FX3.
A Z51 car will outhandle an FX3 car on a smooth track. The FX3s are softer shocks, except above 100 mph where they actually stiffen up more, than the Z51s, which allows them to react better to rougher surfaces. This can best be proven by looking at the testing differences in the '03 suspensions. The new magnetic shocks will outhandle a Z06 on a rough surface.
Question is, can you get the best out of these upgraded suspensions???
91 Z07s were the same as 90s except with FX3.
A Z51 car will outhandle an FX3 car on a smooth track. The FX3s are softer shocks, except above 100 mph where they actually stiffen up more, than the Z51s, which allows them to react better to rougher surfaces. This can best be proven by looking at the testing differences in the '03 suspensions. The new magnetic shocks will outhandle a Z06 on a rough surface.
Question is, can you get the best out of these upgraded suspensions???
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 500
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From: Mississauga ONT
Re: Best Handling C4? (SpedRacr93)
My car is the best handling c-4 :D
z07 springs, 32mm front bar(solid), 28mm rear bar(solid), polybushings throughout, adjustable rear camber struts, custom bilsteins with 1 inch shorter shafts, 19x9.5 front tires, 19x11 rears, and slammed until the top of the tire cant be seen beneath the fenders. done some twisties on the highway at over 160 mph :D :yesnod:
[Modified by 388 SOLid RoLLeR, 5:26 AM 11/21/2002]
z07 springs, 32mm front bar(solid), 28mm rear bar(solid), polybushings throughout, adjustable rear camber struts, custom bilsteins with 1 inch shorter shafts, 19x9.5 front tires, 19x11 rears, and slammed until the top of the tire cant be seen beneath the fenders. done some twisties on the highway at over 160 mph :D :yesnod:
[Modified by 388 SOLid RoLLeR, 5:26 AM 11/21/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 89,144
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From: Life's tough, wear a helmet.
Re: Best Handling C4? (vader86)
the 89 Z51 is the best
I had a non-FX3 '89 Z51 and sold it.