Z51 Option
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Jason06Z06
Was the Z51 option available for C5s?
Any opinions on it? I heard it makes long trips a pain in the butt. Literally.
Any opinions on it? I heard it makes long trips a pain in the butt. Literally.
Check this out. You can get a Free Z51 Emblem!!!
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
I Do
I have a 2000 vert MN6 with Z51, In the Mountains, on vacation, it's great, but I must admit is is right on the border of being too stiff for everday pavement, potholes, cracks, bumps, etc. But personally, I'd rather go this route than the selective magnetic stuff. If you get a Z51 car, especially MN6, I believe it's CLOSE relative to a Z06....
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 19,557
Likes: 1,470
From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
Z51 was available on ALL C5, except Z06
It is NOT a literal pain in the but.
I would suggest that if looking to buy a C5, look for Z51.
It is one of the things that makes a Corvette a Corvette.
The Base FE1 suspension is just a little sloshy for my taste.
The old C4 Z51 cars rode a bit rough with Z51, the C5's were vastly improved for ride comfort yet still gave the car superior handing characteristics over the base cars.
Z06 suspension is ever a tad tighter and nice than the Z51
If looking at cars
Base C5 = FE1 suspension
Z51 C5 = FE3 suspension
Z06 C5 = FE4 suspension
It is NOT a literal pain in the but.
I would suggest that if looking to buy a C5, look for Z51.
It is one of the things that makes a Corvette a Corvette.
The Base FE1 suspension is just a little sloshy for my taste.
The old C4 Z51 cars rode a bit rough with Z51, the C5's were vastly improved for ride comfort yet still gave the car superior handing characteristics over the base cars.
Z06 suspension is ever a tad tighter and nice than the Z51
If looking at cars
Base C5 = FE1 suspension
Z51 C5 = FE3 suspension
Z06 C5 = FE4 suspension
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,059
Likes: 12
From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by Jason06Z06
So whats your opinion on it??? Do you have a Z51?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
I have Z51 on my coupe. I also have the run flats, which as I understand, together make it a "rough" ride. (rough being subjective). I have heard that with a tire change (away from GY run flats) that the ride improves.
I drove a similar car without Z51 and without run flats. The car felt like it had a lot of body roll in it.
While the Z51 is a little rough to me, I will want it on my next car. It just seems more fun.
I drove a similar car without Z51 and without run flats. The car felt like it had a lot of body roll in it.
While the Z51 is a little rough to me, I will want it on my next car. It just seems more fun.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,219
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Co, NJ
Originally Posted by Glennm27
Z51 was available on ALL C5, except Z06
It is NOT a literal pain in the but.
I would suggest that if looking to buy a C5, look for Z51.
It is one of the things that makes a Corvette a Corvette.
The Base FE1 suspension is just a little sloshy for my taste.
The old C4 Z51 cars rode a bit rough with Z51, the C5's were vastly improved for ride comfort yet still gave the car superior handing characteristics over the base cars.
Z06 suspension is ever a tad tighter and nice than the Z51
If looking at cars
Base C5 = FE1 suspension
Z51 C5 = FE3 suspension
Z06 C5 = FE4 suspension
It is NOT a literal pain in the but.
I would suggest that if looking to buy a C5, look for Z51.
It is one of the things that makes a Corvette a Corvette.
The Base FE1 suspension is just a little sloshy for my taste.
The old C4 Z51 cars rode a bit rough with Z51, the C5's were vastly improved for ride comfort yet still gave the car superior handing characteristics over the base cars.
Z06 suspension is ever a tad tighter and nice than the Z51
If looking at cars
Base C5 = FE1 suspension
Z51 C5 = FE3 suspension
Z06 C5 = FE4 suspension
the Z51(FE3) suspension on my 2000 FRC has a nicer ride than the standard susp.was on my C4! And the handling, haha, lets not even go there!
As for Z51, its a no brainer, its a must, and the ride is not harsh at all, and not for nothing, a Corvette is a sportscar! If the ride's too harsh, may I suggest a Cadillac instead??
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
Originally Posted by C5Jimmy
As for Z51, its a no brainer, its a must, and the ride is not harsh at all, and not for nothing, a Corvette is a sportscar! If the ride's too harsh, may I suggest a Cadillac instead??
