Magnetic Selective Drive
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
When I ordered my 2005 with the Z51 setup, I thought "Why order a Corvette that's not set up with the best performance package GM offers?" So, I ordered the Z51 and was very impressed with its flat cornering and the exceptional stickiness of the SC tires. It felt like a Vette should feel.
After a year or two, I noticed that I was avoiding several local roads because they were just too uncomfortable to drive over with the Z51 package. Weather and road conditions permitting, I do take my car out in the winter; but I found the SC tires were a very poor choice for cold weather driving. The last straw for me was when, at 11,000 miles, my front tires were looking very worn in spite of alignments on good Hunter machines.
So, with some reservations, I opted for the F55 package when I ordered my 2009 vert. Just to be on the safe side, I had my dealer install Z51 sway bars when the car came in.
I've had the 2009 less than a year now, but am pleased with my choice of the F55. I did not have the opportunity to drive this setup without the Z51 sways, so my results are probably not applicable to the stock system. I can say that, when in Sport mode, this system feels as stiff as my old Z51 ... and just as uncomfortable on bad road surfaces. It exhibits virtually no body roll on hard cornering and, again compared to the Z51, seems limited only by the lower level of dry road adhesion offered by the standard rubber. In Tour mode, it's quite comfortable over the same roads I avoided with my Z51 setup. Going over railroad tracks in particular, I would always slow down in my 2005 to avoid fracturing my teeth. With my current F55 setup, I just keep rolling and just feel a small bump.
The SC tires do provide much more traction than the base tires you get on the F55. On the other hand, the base tires do better on wet roads, much better in the cold, and even provide some traction over light snow. In those conditions, the SC tires are very tricky and really have to be babied. I expect the base tires to provide roughly twice the tread life of the SC tires, although I'm a long way from being able to verify that.
The F55 can be very subtle, so some people feel it really doesn't do much. If you are merely driving over smooth roads, like highway driving, I doubt the mode changes could be felt. Over rough roads, or in very hard cornering however, the change in suspension algorithms is dramatic. It's really a very sophisticated and effective suspension system.
If I lived in an area where the roads were mostly well maintained, and the weather was warm most of the year, I'd probably still have a car with the Z51 suspension package. Unfortunately, I don't. The F55, with the Z51 sway bars that I have on my own car, give me the flexibility of a more compliant ride when I need it ... not soft or "mushy", just compliant ... or the more rigid feel of the Z51 suspension when the road conditions warrant it.
Lastly, the F55 does not have the coolers that the Z51 package offers, nor does it have the more aggressive Z51 gearing when ordered with the MN6 transmission. Since I don't track my car, the coolers mean nothing to me. The feel of the Z51 MN6 gearing is noticeably more aggressive, and I prefer it, but since the actual acceleration times are the same, I can live with that.
The real question is, would I order the F55 again if I ordered another Corvette right now. All things considered, my answer would be yes. Ideally, I would be able to order the F55 with the Z51 sway bars, the Z51 MN6 gearing, and Michelin PS2 tires right from the factory. Since GM doesn't offer those options, aftermarket mods will have to do for now. The F55 is a very impressive suspension package.
After a year or two, I noticed that I was avoiding several local roads because they were just too uncomfortable to drive over with the Z51 package. Weather and road conditions permitting, I do take my car out in the winter; but I found the SC tires were a very poor choice for cold weather driving. The last straw for me was when, at 11,000 miles, my front tires were looking very worn in spite of alignments on good Hunter machines.
So, with some reservations, I opted for the F55 package when I ordered my 2009 vert. Just to be on the safe side, I had my dealer install Z51 sway bars when the car came in.
I've had the 2009 less than a year now, but am pleased with my choice of the F55. I did not have the opportunity to drive this setup without the Z51 sways, so my results are probably not applicable to the stock system. I can say that, when in Sport mode, this system feels as stiff as my old Z51 ... and just as uncomfortable on bad road surfaces. It exhibits virtually no body roll on hard cornering and, again compared to the Z51, seems limited only by the lower level of dry road adhesion offered by the standard rubber. In Tour mode, it's quite comfortable over the same roads I avoided with my Z51 setup. Going over railroad tracks in particular, I would always slow down in my 2005 to avoid fracturing my teeth. With my current F55 setup, I just keep rolling and just feel a small bump.
The SC tires do provide much more traction than the base tires you get on the F55. On the other hand, the base tires do better on wet roads, much better in the cold, and even provide some traction over light snow. In those conditions, the SC tires are very tricky and really have to be babied. I expect the base tires to provide roughly twice the tread life of the SC tires, although I'm a long way from being able to verify that.
The F55 can be very subtle, so some people feel it really doesn't do much. If you are merely driving over smooth roads, like highway driving, I doubt the mode changes could be felt. Over rough roads, or in very hard cornering however, the change in suspension algorithms is dramatic. It's really a very sophisticated and effective suspension system.
If I lived in an area where the roads were mostly well maintained, and the weather was warm most of the year, I'd probably still have a car with the Z51 suspension package. Unfortunately, I don't. The F55, with the Z51 sway bars that I have on my own car, give me the flexibility of a more compliant ride when I need it ... not soft or "mushy", just compliant ... or the more rigid feel of the Z51 suspension when the road conditions warrant it.
Lastly, the F55 does not have the coolers that the Z51 package offers, nor does it have the more aggressive Z51 gearing when ordered with the MN6 transmission. Since I don't track my car, the coolers mean nothing to me. The feel of the Z51 MN6 gearing is noticeably more aggressive, and I prefer it, but since the actual acceleration times are the same, I can live with that.
The real question is, would I order the F55 again if I ordered another Corvette right now. All things considered, my answer would be yes. Ideally, I would be able to order the F55 with the Z51 sway bars, the Z51 MN6 gearing, and Michelin PS2 tires right from the factory. Since GM doesn't offer those options, aftermarket mods will have to do for now. The F55 is a very impressive suspension package.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Apple Valley Minnesota
I found this to be very true when I was shopping the local dealers. They did not seem to understand the F55. When asked, my local dealer said he sells base and an occassional Z51, but no F55. If he did understand F55, I'm sure they could increase the number of cars sold with this option and ultimately their profit.
