Who has it and is it worth the chips?

 

I have it, in my 07, with auto. I switched to Z51 sway bars, and it made a real nice set up. Tight through the corners, but still a nice ride, when in the "tour" mode. - Of course you'll get many, differing, opinions, on this. Try one, before you buy. --

 

Have it and love it in my 2005 coupe...

 

My 06 has it, but only because it was on the car I bought off the dealer's lot. I previously had a base suspension 05 C6. Since most of the roads I drive on are at least decent, I can't tell much difference between the base suspension and my current F55. So if I'd had a choice, I probably wouldn't have bought the F55.

But if your roads are not very good, it might be worth getting the F55.

 

However get an F55 or a Z51 so you can get a badge.

Dont be lame and BORING with a base suspension and no badge.

 

Me too! I did drive both the Z51 & F55 and chose the F55 because it really hangs on in the corners better and is very smooth. There is a thread on how well these systems hold up...

 

F55 is the way to go. That is if you want superior handling on real world roads that have dips, bumps, and other imperfections. It is very tight when the road is smooth, but allows more play in the shocks over rougher terrain, at a computer generated adaptive rate of several thousand times per second. The F55 actually "feels" the road and adapts accordingly. A lesser important feature is the ability to switch from an overall stiffer layout to one of softer proportions at a moments notice. The "sport" vs "tour" mode.

 

and don't forget the the f55 badges and owners club

 

Simply put, this is synthetic oil permeated with millions of minute iron ***** that float uniformly within the shock fluid. Adjusting the current fed to an electromagnetic coil causes the ball-imbued fluid to change viscosity -- and thus the shock absorber's damping -- with the ability to go from no damping to virtually solid damping.

The F55 suspension was designed to make such adjustments at the blinding rate of about 1,000 times per second, governed by a dual-processor computer chip and based on the car's speed, steering-wheel angle, wheel travel, lateral acceleration, braking, and even the outside temperature. The system was designed to isolate and smooth the action of each tire to help minimize bouncing, vibration, and noise. The result was a quieter, flatter ride with more responsive and precise handling, especially during sudden high-speed maneuvers. The system worked in tandem with both the Corvette's traction-control and antilock braking systems to afford maximum balance and stability over a full range of road conditions. For the heartiest motorists willing to trade some ride comfort for additional road feel, a console-mounted switch afforded a change from "Tour" to "Sport" mode.

Enthusiast-magazine testers came away duly impressed by the F55 system's ability to maintain control and reduce ride harshness when traversing large bumps or dips at speed, and its ability to absorb pavement imperfections and eschew superfluous suspension travel without sacrificing road feel. The alternate "Sport" mode was appreciated, but its greater degree of control and subsequently harsher ride was noted to be more appropriate for running hot laps on a race track than it was in daily driving. The Magnetic Selective Ride Control's added heft, just over 13 pounds, precluded the new system from being offered on the high-performance Z06, however, where every ounce of added weight was looked upon with disdain.

 

so with having the switch i can place both badges on the sides?

 

The F55 MR suspension is a technologically advanced suspension system. More and more high end and 'performance' cars are going to controlled suspensions for good reason...they work incredibly well. IMO the F55 suspension is the best 'all-around' suspension offered by Corvette.

The two modes (tour and sport) are often misunderstood. The difference between tour and sport mode is not in the firmness of the ride per se...sport mode accentuates wheel control. Accordingly to Darin Dellinger (one of the lead Delphi engineer's who developed the system), "...In the "tour" position, the MR controller emphasizes the sky hook algorithm when setting shocks and when set in "sport", it emphasizes wheel control."

As mentioned, beefing-up the sways bars enhances the performance of the F55 suspension (especially if you do any spirited driving). I don't think a quick test drive will provide an accurate measure of the F55 suspension's full capabilities but I do recommend you test drive the different offerings to better decide for yourself.

Here's a couple links that will give you some further information:

http://www.vehicledynamics-expo.com/...erraynauld.pdf

http://www.vehicledynamics-expo.com/...y_1/burson.pdf

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...003/msrc2.html

If you want to read perhaps the best article on the development of the F55 suspension in the Corvette, PM me you email address and I'll send it to you. It's worth reading.

Sometime, a picture is worth a thousand words:

 

I drove both a Z51 and F55. I bought the F55 because it suits my needs better. I DD the vette and drive on all kinds of roads. It's a comfortable car and sticks to the road when I need it. You could always have both...get the F55 and add the Z51 sway bars for about $250 installed. Then you have the best all around removable top vette on the road. It's a no-brainer.

 

Lots of info in this thread (and many more similar threads).

In short, we have it and love it.

 

I test drove both the Z51 and F55 right after one another down the same road and the F55 is better. Even the sport setting on the F55 was too rough when I was going over the Beartooth Pass northeast of Yellowstone. I just switched to tour and found that I could actually drive the car faster due to the fear of being bounced off the road being eliminated.

 

It's the way to go. I have the F55 on my 08 Coupe. Smooth ride on bumpy roads and the interstate. But, I switch it to "sport" mode if I am going through some twisties.

 

Good info.

 

I got it on my 08 Auto and I like being able to have that adjustment.

 

I do and YES.

I will never own another corvette without F55 (I have it on my 2008 convertible). The difference F55 makes in handling is amazing. Base and Z51 equipped cars are fine as long as you live with perfectly maintained roads. If not, F55 gets rid of all the rear end skittishness that plagues corvettes when they encounter mid-corner bumps. F55 makes the car so much more composed and definitely makes the car easier to drive quickly. I was surprised by one comment that stated there wasn't much difference between "Tour" and "Sport" settings. IMO, that is incorrect. The "Sport" setting has MUCH more rebound control than "Tour", maybe folks are expecting for "Sport" to be bone jarring. Buy it, you'll like it.

Jimmy

PS. The one problem you might have is FINDING a F55 equipped car to buy. Dealers it seems, just order base/Z51 cars as most dealers don't understand that F55 is a performance enhancing option, not a "Comfort" option. If you do find a F55 car, it's probably got an automatic also (don't know your transmission preference). Certainly, the ZR1 being equipped with F55 will help legitimize the option to many folks.

 

I love the F55 option. IT is the only way to go.You have the best of both worlds, tour and sport mode.

 

...all that and we F55 guys have the best club and badge!