Hey. It's snowing outside and I have nothing better to do, so I thought I'd start a good controversy for all you guys sitting around with free time. I've been a hardcore street racer, most of my life, and always had to have the sportiest suspension, best summer tires, most horsepower etc. But I've seen the error of my ways. Now? Give me the base suspension and the automatic. Wait for it. I have a good explanation/excuse. The Z06, Z51's used to rule. Our C5's were world class sports cars......20 years ago. But now any base Mustang GT or Camaro SS will kick our ***. So, the C5 is an obsolete sports car. But what about us 'smart' guys with base suspensions?! We STILL have a world class GT (Grand Touring car) that's as good as anything they make today. Our suspensions still give us very sporty handling AND a compfortable ride. Our Michelin Pilot Sport All Season tires are much better than summer tires back in the day (better than many summer tires made TODAY). And they have a comfortable ride. Our 17 front and 18 rear tires have thicker sidewalls for a better ride. We're getting 26 mpg around town and 30 on the highway. The engines are at a very relaxed speed at silly velocities. Our 20 year old brakes are still overkill for a GT. So, it's not too late for you Z06/Z51 guys. PUT BASE SUSPENSIONS ON YOUR CARS AND MAKE THEM MODERN AGAIN. OK, OK, you can start sending the hate mail.......

 

I have a 2000 all stock A4 and am very happy with it.

 

Most important is do you enjoy your car? That’s what really matters. My FRC has the Z 51 suspension and it’s all I’ve ever had and I think it’s great. It’s no killer in any category but I enjoy every drive.

 

When I bought my 3 sport cars, I never had a comfort ride on my must have list. But it was a pleasant surprise with my '04 vert with basic suspension and replacing the run flats with normal tires how reasonable the ride was compared to my previous sport cars.

 

My Z06 has stock suspension and I don't find the ride uncomfortable at all? I didn't buy the car to cruise around and be comfortable. That's what Cadillacs are for

 

Yep, my Infiniti M56x gives me luxury while my "Franken-vert 6 speed" gives me rawness over the road!

For those seeking the voluptuous standard suspension, I have two complete sets of springs and sway bars for any "base believers", that I will sell off for cheap.

 

Some say C5 base suspension are not best but may be made best by simply replacing the tiny sway bar and flexing elastimer end links with metal links and a large diameter sway bar....which I did with exceptional results.

 

Got rid of my coil overs and went back to spring and shock. VERY happy with the ride. But ride comfort is important to me as I don't track at all...

 

Just getting rid of run flat tires makes a world of difference!

 

Whatever you need to tell yourself.

 

Maybe your car.

It is a Corvette, not a Buick.

I am assuming your thread is just a random satire piece and you aren't being serious. Obviously, many Z06 owners (and non-Z06 owners) run upgraded suspensions, brakes, and wheel/tire combos because we don't care about cushy rides and fuel economy.

 

Suspension is very subjective but most, and I mean MOST Corvette owners dont know the difference. Handling and comfort are two different things. EVERYTHING IS A TRADE OFF... better handling, means less comfort. A softer ride does not defeat g forces. You wont find the term like " running on rails" with a land cruiser type soft suspension. Stiffening the suspension to defeat G forces means just that .. a stiffer ride. Not everyone want to take a clover leaf at 90 mph... is it fun ? sure... but most people do not spend their driving time, engaging clover leaf's. How much comfort are you willing to give up for handling? Without magnetic ride or selective ride control, you can have great handling, or comfort but not both.. you can have mediocre handling an mediocre comfort with suspension that is not good at either just a compromise. Anyone who says they can have an aggressive suspension profile in a singularly designed system ( non adjustable ) and comfort is just clueless. Lots of clueless people here offering advice they have no business offering.. The stock system is the best compromise for handling and comfort but not great at either. bumping up the suspension profile to stiffer shocks will diminish the ride comfort.. GM does extensive research on this. Obviously a Z06 is not designed to be a land cruiser, so a stiffer suspension ( its physics ).. . but lots of people buy a Corvette to just cruise. the term is " styling and profiling " with no interest in tracking the car, or canyon diving..
Bill
People add " STIFFER " shocks and larger diameter sways to defeat g forces.. the term here is stiffer..... stiffer is not more comfort...

 

Well stated, ET. And yes, HP summer tires alone, will make a huge difference on any suspension set-up. Get AAA and forget the EMTs.

 

I think this thread says it all.....if you want a comfortable cruiser, and look good at the same time, a C5 with base suspension will work....if you want performance handling, go with a performance suspension on a C5 and look good at the same time!!!
I'm all in on performance right now....

 

Absolutely not.

 

You may need driving lessons.

 

ROFL!!! I’m thinking this is a tongue in cheek type thread and it gave me a very good laugh. I’ll be keeping my Z51 suspension and summer tires though.

 

Ironically the place to make time with a stock C5 compared to modern cars on track IS the handling. It is still a relatively light car with a well sorted suspension and a low CG. Horsepower is easy to add, but the foundational excellence of the car is not. That being said, if you just want to cruise, yeah a base automatic is great.

 

If i want to cruise i will take the wife's Lexus. If i want to feel 18 again i am taking the Z06. Believe me the older i get the more i want to feel 18.

 

Enjoy whatever you feel is best. Nothin wrong with either suspension, just depends on how you intend to use the car.