Do I really need Z51?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Quartz Hill Calif
Even in my very short time here on the Forum, I have learned to love these Z-51 threads.
Its just like going to a bar room fight where all the people really are friends! Big fun.
Yeah, I have a Z-51, but I didnt even know it till after I bought the car.
Its just like going to a bar room fight where all the people really are friends! Big fun.
Yeah, I have a Z-51, but I didnt even know it till after I bought the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 104
From: Texas
If you need a daily driver and you race every friday night stop light to stop light ...then don't waste the money on the z-51 get a manual and it's a drivers race. I have beat two z-51 same year 08s.
Not worth it IMOP
Not worth it IMOP
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 104
From: Texas
a little off. I don't have a vette yet, so technically i shouldn't even be in this forum and posting a comment. I'm planning to get one in near future, that's why i'm on here.
my car was(i sold it to get a different car) 300whp, 330wth (which is about 340bhp and torque i'm pretty sure is close to vettes), i'm sure vette still has advantage in power and weight, but for some reason ms3 is faster(maybe gearing, maybe something else) at certain speeds. Second, my "friend" is my brother, and that is not a 645-650 that you are reffering to, it is a bmw M6 with 500hp and a v10, with top speed 180mph(it's 155 limmited, but without limmiter is 180 for the convertable that my brother had). M6 is a different animal, even though i could hang with him at the time(and later beat him), it is still a much superrior car. The interior, is nice (althogh i don't like regular 6 series), and performance is great, the car takes abuse like a champ. it's a >100k car, so you'd expect it to be nice.
i'm sorry to say this, and i really don't want to offend you guy's, but it seems like you feel "butt hurt". It's nothing to be ashamed of, it's normal that a modded japanese car can outperform american muscle. Shoot, a buddy of mine has a built 90's civic hatch, DD, stock looking, run's 11's all day... There's plenty of cars that are faster than vette. The reason that i'm looking into vette is overall package, that's fine that my mazda was faster than vette at certain speeds, but it outperforms it in every other category (it's not even close to be in the same class). With $1000 in mods, i'm sure vette will be much faster (i'm planning on CAI and headers). i'm not even trying to bash the vette, it's a great car. I've driven it plenty of times, so i do have some behind the wheel experience. I'm hoping to soon be in the vette croud
my car was(i sold it to get a different car) 300whp, 330wth (which is about 340bhp and torque i'm pretty sure is close to vettes), i'm sure vette still has advantage in power and weight, but for some reason ms3 is faster(maybe gearing, maybe something else) at certain speeds. Second, my "friend" is my brother, and that is not a 645-650 that you are reffering to, it is a bmw M6 with 500hp and a v10, with top speed 180mph(it's 155 limmited, but without limmiter is 180 for the convertable that my brother had). M6 is a different animal, even though i could hang with him at the time(and later beat him), it is still a much superrior car. The interior, is nice (althogh i don't like regular 6 series), and performance is great, the car takes abuse like a champ. it's a >100k car, so you'd expect it to be nice.
i'm sorry to say this, and i really don't want to offend you guy's, but it seems like you feel "butt hurt". It's nothing to be ashamed of, it's normal that a modded japanese car can outperform american muscle. Shoot, a buddy of mine has a built 90's civic hatch, DD, stock looking, run's 11's all day... There's plenty of cars that are faster than vette. The reason that i'm looking into vette is overall package, that's fine that my mazda was faster than vette at certain speeds, but it outperforms it in every other category (it's not even close to be in the same class). With $1000 in mods, i'm sure vette will be much faster (i'm planning on CAI and headers). i'm not even trying to bash the vette, it's a great car. I've driven it plenty of times, so i do have some behind the wheel experience. I'm hoping to soon be in the vette croud
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 90
From: Kaiserslautern
oh, yes very true. One of the reasons i'm leaning to vette more than 335, v8 and easy to mod, it's probably 2nd in after market stuff after mustang. Ugly cars, well that's pure your opinion, i usually try and keep that to myself(unless i have something good to say). I have to say i love how M5 looks, and i'm sorry but i'm pretty sure that m5/6 is a bit more prestige that a vette. For one there's not that many of them, which gives you a unique factor (well, they are around, just not as many as regular vettes).
like the other guy said, you can mod the office chair to go 200mph... it's about overall package. Mazdaspeed 3 was a great car (top 10 in past 3yrs in C&D), that was cheap, fast, reliable (somewhat), easy to mod, and tons of fun to drive (it was not boring, a lot of fun for some reason). It could haul a 42" plasma in the back and easily outrun C5's lol, you have to give it it's credit where it's due. Everything is relative, and needs to be compared in it's own class. Comparing MS3 to old vette, is wrong. Nw vette sure is better, but it's double the price as well(emagine what you can do with $20k in mods??!)...
like the other guy said, you can mod the office chair to go 200mph... it's about overall package. Mazdaspeed 3 was a great car (top 10 in past 3yrs in C&D), that was cheap, fast, reliable (somewhat), easy to mod, and tons of fun to drive (it was not boring, a lot of fun for some reason). It could haul a 42" plasma in the back and easily outrun C5's lol, you have to give it it's credit where it's due. Everything is relative, and needs to be compared in it's own class. Comparing MS3 to old vette, is wrong. Nw vette sure is better, but it's double the price as well(emagine what you can do with $20k in mods??!)...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,411
Likes: 2
From: N Carolina 08 Z51 Coupe
No, you don't need the Z51 package. If you want better handling, get the FE1 suspension and replace the OEM shocks with Bilsteins ($300) and the swaybars with the Z51 bars ($150). None of the disasterous skitter and hop of the full Z51 package, just better handling and ride for a lower price.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 496
From: Hudson, NH
Z51 or NOT
Owned a std suspension for around a week. Traded for a Z51 after the 1st push around an entrance ramp. It's not just the suspension but the whole package working together that sweetens the deal. Seems to me that everything is engineered as a package for a reason. No harsh ride at all and no fumbling for buttons when you want to push. Just my point of view.
Good luck
Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,936
Likes: 260
From: Westchester County New York
I have a base suspension car as well but have been looking into upgrading the sway bars....which ones are best? Anyone?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 4
From: foothills of Northern California
If you plan to track your car yes get the Z51 car.
Overall the base sus sticks the best on the street. The tighter sus of the Z51 gives you less traction over uneven pavement.
I have run my base model hard for hours here in the foothills in 105 dg heat without a need for any of the coolers you get with the Z51 car.
Overall the base sus sticks the best on the street. The tighter sus of the Z51 gives you less traction over uneven pavement.
I have run my base model hard for hours here in the foothills in 105 dg heat without a need for any of the coolers you get with the Z51 car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,999
Likes: 2
If you plan to track your car yes get the Z51 car.
Overall the base sus sticks the best on the street. The tighter sus of the Z51 gives you less traction over uneven pavement.
I have run my base model hard for hours here in the foothills in 105 dg heat without a need for any of the coolers you get with the Z51 car.
Overall the base sus sticks the best on the street. The tighter sus of the Z51 gives you less traction over uneven pavement.
I have run my base model hard for hours here in the foothills in 105 dg heat without a need for any of the coolers you get with the Z51 car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,162
Likes: 114
From: Prosper, TX
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 4
From: foothills of Northern California
For sure the F55 is great but who wants to fiddle with switches when you decide to carve a turn. 
IF the OP could afford the F55 he prolly not be asking about the Z51 sus package.
I was talking about the base and the Z51 not about your haloed sus.
IF the OP could afford the F55 he prolly not be asking about the Z51 sus package. I was talking about the base and the Z51 not about your haloed sus.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 6
From: Makena, Maui & NM
Last edited by siffert; May 1, 2009 at 08:32 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 16,069
Likes: 4,152
From: Bergen county NJ
Of course you don't need the Z51 suspension package..
Stock C6 and F55 suspension option are great ways to go as well.
I chose the Z51 when I bought my latest C6 brand new...but any of the various suspensions available are great. The differences are minimal especially for the street.
Many believe that the F55 is the superior design especially for real world handling.
Good luck
Stock C6 and F55 suspension option are great ways to go as well.
I chose the Z51 when I bought my latest C6 brand new...but any of the various suspensions available are great. The differences are minimal especially for the street.
Many believe that the F55 is the superior design especially for real world handling.
Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,999
Likes: 2
It isn't "fiddling" with switches. Just turn it once to "Sport" and go in the twisties! It carves like a tight skiing experience!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 0
From: Malibu California
Back in the first years of the magnetic suspension, a car magazine did a track shoot-out between the Z51 (a less heavily optioned car back then) and a Mag-suspension car. They discovered that the Mag suspension car, with the same tires and sways as the Z51, lapped faster than the Z51. But, it wasn't by much. I'm finally going to add the Z51 sways.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 719
From: Northeast MA & Mad Beach FL
I drove both Suspensions before buying my F55 optioned Vette.
The Z51 is Definitely the more Performance oriented suspension.
The car stuck like Glue
to the road in a Hard fast turn. .. IF the road was Smooth.
But the ride was too rough/harsh for me for all around driving, especially on Rough roads.
The F55 was much smoother under all conditions.
And almost totally forgiving in a hard turn on rough roads, whether in Tour or Sport.
To me, Sport mode is noticably stiffer and better handling and more stable at high speed, over Tour mode, but,... not as tight as the Z51.
With the F55, in a hard turn, the car feels like it is in a Slight Drift when pushed Really Hard, but not so much that it feels like it'll get out of Control.
But,.. for me, .. I'll never push it hard enough to wish I had the Z51, at least not on the street.
My opinion: it's different strokes for different folks.
Both systems are great for what they're meant to achieve.
Ask yourself what you want from your Vette 
The Z51 is Definitely the more Performance oriented suspension.
The car stuck like Glue
to the road in a Hard fast turn. .. IF the road was Smooth.But the ride was too rough/harsh for me for all around driving, especially on Rough roads.
The F55 was much smoother under all conditions.
And almost totally forgiving in a hard turn on rough roads, whether in Tour or Sport.
To me, Sport mode is noticably stiffer and better handling and more stable at high speed, over Tour mode, but,... not as tight as the Z51.
With the F55, in a hard turn, the car feels like it is in a Slight Drift when pushed Really Hard, but not so much that it feels like it'll get out of Control.
But,.. for me, .. I'll never push it hard enough to wish I had the Z51, at least not on the street.
My opinion: it's different strokes for different folks.
Both systems are great for what they're meant to achieve.
Ask yourself what you want from your Vette
Last edited by Dif; May 2, 2009 at 12:51 PM.