Steering feel is important to me. Especially on the track when it can actually improve your driving and build confidence. It's the most direct and sensory connection to the car and can so completely change and enhance the driving experience.

A while back I sold a C5Z for a C6 Z51, and was wholly let down. It lacked the rawness, the reflexes, and the feel of the C5Z. I even drove a C6Z with coilovers to see if it was just my C6's stock setup and tires at fault, and while it handled amazingly - it still had strangely numb steering. It did not inspire confidence at all.

I wrote a big thread about it, which got a lot of conversation going.

What changed between generations to cause that discrepency? The C6 steering felt different - artificial weighting, not as responsive, mushy/numb. Aren't the steering racks very similar?

Now that I've owned several cars since the C6 - a VW GTI, Lotus Elise, Cayman S, and E92 M3 - and am back with a C5Z, I'm really appreciating this car again.

If I had to rate the steering feel of these cars, I would say:

1. Lotus Elise. Telepathic. Only downside was, although it was light enough for casual driving, your arms would definitely be sore after a day of tracking from the lack of power steering. Amazing in every other way. No other car I've ever driven compares.
2. Cayman S. Excellent steering. Easily the most balanced I've ever had. Perfect weight, perfect drivability, just enough feedback. Fantastic on the track, confidence inspiring, completely intuitive. Just an absolute pleasure to drive. Overall, this is my favorite car I've owned. It did EVERYTHING well. This is a very close 2nd place to the Elise, but it just doesn't have that go-kart feel that is so special.
3 tie. C5Z. Yep. I was actually surprised getting back into this car. The only problem is the giant steering wheel, which I think is off-putting and gives a false sense of a slower steering ratio. The lack of lateral support in the seats hurts too, which I hope my Corbeau A4's help. Otherwise, good on-center feel, good weight, acceptable amount of feedback. I only took my last C5Z to the track once and I was pretty inexperienced, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the feedback is on the track. That's when you can really tell when you're actively managing understeer/oversteer.
3 tie. M3. Nice hefty weight in M mode, but a little numb at the same time. Not as responsive as the C5Z, even with aftermarket sways, PSS tires, and the dampers set to firm. A good day at the track in the C5Z could bump this down to 4th.
4. GTI. Plenty responsive, fun ratio, decent feedback. A bit too light for my tastes.
5. C6 Z06 with coilovers. Razor sharp reactions with coilovers. Still dead numb feel and too light effort.
6. C6. Mushy, dull, not confidence inspiring. Weight was good, but the numbness and lack of response threw me off. I drove a 2008+ and thought it was too lightly weighted and actually worse than my 2007.

It's been so long since I had other cars, like my NSX and Supra, that can't really rate them. That said, the Supra steering was pretty bad - maybe even worse than the C6. I remember the NSX being great but didn't have much for comparison and never tracked it.

Just food for thought. Looking forward to the track and autocross.

 

I think DRM sells a delrin steering rack bushing you may want to consider.

 

I've heard mixed things.

From it providing more feedback (in the form of vibrations, I'm guessing) to it technically can't make any difference given how the rack is engineered.

Not sure what to believe?

 

Can't talk about steering feel without taking tires into consideration.

My C5 on track wheels with NT05s feels sharp and precise whereas on my street Hankook V12s it feels vague and numb.

That being said, the biggest improvement in steering "feel" (apart from tires), came from lightweight small diameter steering wheel, and bucket seats. The diameter of the stock steering wheel reduces the effective steering ratio, and the weight of the wheel greatly dampens the feedback coming from the front tires.

When I first bought the car it was completely stock(C5 coupe) and I found the steering to be very disappointing. Even upgrading to Z06 suspension didn't help much.

Now in full track guise the car has unbelievable steering considering my front tires are 275s. Out of all the mods though (poly bushings, coilovers, swaybars, aggressive alignment, corner balance) the steering wheel and seats are still the biggest improvements to the car hands down.

 

With delrin bushings and stiff sidewall Bridgestone RE-11's my C5Z feels good. With stock rubber bushings and softer tires it was numb.

My next steps are going to be actual track tires (Hoosier A6 most likely), smaller steering wheel, and better seat with harness.

 

Interesting on the steering wheel. The C6 steering wheel is a bit smaller but probably more padded, which doesn't help.

I had tried to get an airbag equipped Raid wheel adapter done for our cars but never got there. Still think it could be a good seller.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c5-general/2029999-any-interest-in-smaller-sportier-steering-wheel-with-airbag.html