So the other day I was taking my car through some twisties. I drive a 2004 C5 coupe with catback exhaust and C6 Z51 sway bars.

On quite a few turns I felt like I had a hard time getting comfortable with the car.

Bumps seem to throw the car off edge, and in a lot of ways the car feels unpredictable. I'll enter turns feeling confident, but ultimately realize halfway through that I have a hard time "feeling" the road and knowing how the car is tracking. The steering also feels like it lacks precision at times. I guess the biggest thing that scares me is the fact that it's really hard to find where this car's limit is because I feel like there is little warning that something is going wrong until it is too late.

I used to drive a 2012 Camaro and though they aren't known for their handling, I felt like I could take turns with much more confidence when in that car.

Any tips on how to improve some of the symptoms that I am feeling in this car? I have a set of new Z06 shocks that I need to install as my F55 suspension has about 55,000 miles on it. Those should help a bit. Anything else?

 

coil overs and Nito 555R2's

 

I tend to agree with the OP. I like my C5 allot, but for me it's really a fast GT car. Im sure it handles very well and can go around corners very quickly, but from the perspective of an amateur driver tossing it around some twisties it's a bit of a pig. The steering is quite numb and the chassis feedback doesn't inspire much confidence.

Having owned a few Miata's and a pre electric steering BMW, those where much more fun in the corners, even if the vette would be faster around a track.

 

Yeah, but the cars you're referring to, are glorified go-karts....6-800 pounds less, and two feet shorter. Of course, they're going to feel more nimble.

 

Hard to judge your driving experience not knowing how you pushed the car but I am surprised to hear your impression. I have a stock 99 FRC which means a Z51 pkg and while I have never tracked the car to push the limits, I have excellent feel and response and numbness has never come to mind. I have never driven a Miata or a F55 equipped car so my impressions may not compare.

 

Yeah but my Corvette is basically 6-800 pounds less than a Camaro and is a tad shorter yet feels a lot less precise than the Camaro.

Yeah it's a hard feeling to describe. You can definitely tell that the Vette has a phenomenal chassis and when it wants to stick it definitely sticks. But a lot of times I get the impression that the car is unwieldy or a little erratic to control. It's just not confidence inspiring.

 

Try a 911 or M3 and see what you think compared to the Corvette. Both are renown for their steering feel and I've heard several stories about the Corvette similar to what you are describing.

 

C5/C6/C7 all feel similar, extremely capable but also quite numb. With active handling, though, you can't really get in too much trouble unless you go into a corner WAY too hot.

The most effective changes to increase feedback are stiffer (and not wider) tires and stiffer bushings. I use Bridgestone RE-11's and delrin bushings and have insane feedback compared to a stock vette.

You should also look at getting a more performance-oriented 4-wheel alignment, that is the biggest thing that people overlook when trying to improve a car's handling.

 

Yep - What he said!

 

Clapped out miatas feel better than a C5 on normal roads. They'll always feel more nimble as they rotate with a short wheelbase; but even my daily driver SRT-4 neon is easier to 'feel' and drive aggressively.

My two big c5 issues are as you noted; turn in and mid corner transition over bumps.

It also is shod on Michelin ps2's on the stockers and Hankook Ventus v12 evos on the 19s. The tires make very little difference imo.

My c5 is also a z51 car. Honestly it's crap. All stock vettes ride like caddilacs compared to any 'real' setup. Id imagine the c7s are better and the Z variants will offer more grip; but they still feel disconnected. They sure do have a ton of grip however.

A lot of what I read for turn in is correction by eliminating bushing deflection in the front a arms. I would only assume the rears have the same folly during mid corner transitions. I plan to upgrade shocks and sways; but part of me thinks it's to do with the transverse leaf spring design. They feel very frantic and darty under duress. Prior IRS cars even on old shocks and stock bushings feel better.

I get the idea of Unsprung weight and a low center of gravity; but I'm not 100% sold. The vette IS a big GT car sadly. Full of the usual GM compromise and half hearted attempts. It's been so neutered to culture the older demographic market that can afford new ones; that they really lose that edge. IF you give someone not used to a fast car that handles a vette they thing OMG rocketship racecar! But it's hardly the case. I feel many are sold as midlife first sports cars.

Fortunately there is an aftermarket but it sure is $$. You damn near need to start with the seats just to appreciate how much you feel what the car is doing the way you slide in them.
Then do the bushings, then tires, then shocks.

My .02 that will cause ruffles but eh. It's the truth.

 

I have a C5 and a C7 Z51. There is no comparison in handling. The C7 easily out corners, out maneuvers the C5. The C7 relays extraordinary steering feedback. Can't speak for the C6.

 

Just wanted to add, I certainly was not bashing the vette. Yes it feels like a big fast GT car to me, but thats ok, thats what I wanted. If I wanted a little sports car I would still have one. I would like to try a 911 one of these days, as they're a bit of both.

 

That's a feature, not a bug. A GT is much easier to live with on a daily basis than a true sports car.

If all you want is a weekend canyon-carver, get a first-generation Boxster, or better yet, a high-end sportbike. Same cost-of-entry as the 'Vette, way better handling.

 

Ah, we agree then...some days I just type waaay too slow.

 

What brand of tires are you running?

 

Swap the wheels and tires across each and you'll be surprised at the difference.

Wheels/tires and bushings plus any decent shock/sway set makes the C5 feel like the Z51 in track mode.

 

Attend driving school

 

I went from a C4 with FX-3 suspension to my C5 Z51 and the difference is amazing. I've owned some well handling rides, but the C5 in stock form is hard to beat in the twisties with it's power:weight and weight distribution.

While I have never done a driving school, I have done a few advanced riders courses and use a lot of the same principals (minus the body position )

<edit> Nothing on 4 wheels would out corner my overgrown GT bike.

 

My solution to the same issues and concerns you have are to go with a coil over package (LG Motorsports). I also purchased the matching sway bars, adjustable end links and most importantly I balanced the car and have a spot on alignment. If you want to do a more conservative approach, get your car balanced first then do an alignment. You may be unaware how much your stock suspension has sagged over the years, where the balance is no longer 50/50. Also, I sat in the seat of the car with a full tank of gas when doing the balancing and alignment. Check your suspension bushings too to see if they are still snug, if not, they can alter the alignment a little.

On the track, my car now feels like a BMW where when you hit a bump with one tire the chassis does not upset the suspension and stay planted.
Ray

 

Yes, the difference was amazing but only comparing it to one other car, an older version of itself at that, doesn't mean the C5 is the best handler out there.

There are plenty of cars that handle brilliantly out there. I know this is a corvette site, but sometimes you have to look at more than just one single make and model to find something that checks all your boxes.


Oh yeah, car vs bike leaves the car winning everytime you aren't racing in a straight line