Question About Ride Quality
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Question About Ride Quality
The last Corvette I owned was a 1984 with the Z51 suspension. These cars had a horribly stiff suspension, that was 20 years ago.
Now I'm considering a C5 and don't want that harsh ride. I would like to know how the Z06 rides vs the standard C5?
Thanks
Now I'm considering a C5 and don't want that harsh ride. I would like to know how the Z06 rides vs the standard C5?
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Its a sports car with very aggressive handling. its not a Lexus. Harsh is a very subjective term. A C5 rides like a C5 should. A stiff suspension is what makes the car handle as it does. Go test drive a few, then you can make the subjective determination. Every Corvette I've owned, never surprised me with its ride characteristics.
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I had an '84 Vette also - and the C5 is much better in the ride/handling department than that car ever was. But you really need to test drive a C5 and find out for yourself.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
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From: Sacramento CA
I had an 86 corvette with z51.
My 04 has the Z06 suspension.
The ride quality is different for a few reasons:
When you hit a bump in the C5, it just goes over the bump. No drama. 99% of bumps aren't jarring.
In a c4, whole damn thing slams and shimmies
My 04 has the Z06 suspension.
The ride quality is different for a few reasons:
When you hit a bump in the C5, it just goes over the bump. No drama. 99% of bumps aren't jarring.
In a c4, whole damn thing slams and shimmies
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,657
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From: Boxford Massachusetts
Its a sports car with very aggressive handling. its not a Lexus. Harsh is a very subjective term. A C5 rides like a C5 should. A stiff suspension is what makes the car handle as it does. Go test drive a few, then you can make the subjective determination. Every Corvette I've owned, never surprised me with its ride characteristics.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Fords, NJ
I have owned a few C3, C4's and now a C5 and every Gen. just got better and better when it came to ride quality. When I got asked what it rides like I gave the comparison of going from a buckboard wagon to a Cadillac ! 
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
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From: Sacramento CA
For example, if you jack up a C5, you can open the doors and only the opposite side wheels still touch the ground.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 929
Likes: 45
From: Wayne NJ
On my 2003 I have the magnetic ride and I put on heavier sway bars from a C6. The car handles great and is very flat in the turns and the ride is not harsh but slightly stiffer than a regular C5.
