There is one thing I would disagree with in your post, you CAN tell the difference with the F55. I come from the east coast, and some of these roads here in CA can be just as bad as out east.

 

you forgot to add Kerbecks 72 to the 4406 for a total of 4478.

 

One thing you haven't mention is your color choice. As you probably already know, 2 new colors will be available on the 2011s, Supersonic Blue and Inferno Orange. Also new for 2011 are the optional headlight units in black, blade silver, or cyber gray and (for 4LT, 3LZ, and 3ZR cars) optional contrasting interior stitching in blue, red, or yellow.

If it was me, I'd be going with a 2011 in Supersonic Blue with ebony interior and blue stitching.

 

Ah yes...the color choice (and I guess stripes too)! I've got opinions...but I'm leaning toward torch red. Red just says "sports car" to me. I'm a on the fence about the stripes. Although, about 3 weeks ago, I was wandering around a local car show outside a hamburger joint checking out a beautiful blue C4. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a cyber gray GS with black strips slowly driving by about 2 aisles over...I have to admit, my immediate impression of the stripes was that that car was somehow special. And besides, don't the stripes actually make the car faster?

 

I find your experience interesting between the 07' F55 and your 10' What susp do you have, the base FE1? thanks

 

To wade in on this discussion, the lack of F55 was going to be a deal breaker for me on a GS. I personally will never have a C6 without F55. I do find it humorous that most of the folks responding to the OP don't actually understand what F55 does, they just think it's soft/hard comfort suspension, which it is NOT. F55 does NOT make the car ride better/worse than a non F55 car. Where F55 shines is in making the car more composed when you're hustling it around on real roads. Drive a Z51/GS/Z06 around corners (I've done it in all 3) with bumps/washboard surfaces and you will be amazed how unsettled the car (both ends) will become. The front end starts washing out while the rear end starts chattering across the surface, then the active handling jumps in, and you've got a good physics lesson going. Drive the same corner with a F55 equipped corvette and it's like you are in a different car. Planted and easy to drive quick, without taking years off your life.

So, I guess you can put me in the "get a 2011" camp! I will be ordering my GS convertible this fall (with MN6 and F55!)

Jimmy

 

Just came off a 2006 with the F55. I loved it for all the reasons the previous pro F55 supporters have stated.

However, after 1500 miles in my 2010 Grand Sport, I don't miss it. Yeah, every once in a while I'll hit a small patch of road that feels a little rougher vs. the F55, but not often. I thought I knew what I was getting into with the GS Z51, meaning rougher ride. I was very pleasantly surprised to be wrong.

I've already done one 400+ mile trip on Interstates, back roads, etc. I was never uncomfortable, nor was my wife who doesn't give a hoot about performance. Only comfort!

Oh, and if wrong I know someone will correct me, but I believe the Z51 in the GS is slightly enhanced over previous years.

The usb thing is your decision, but with the great deals out there, and no real significant performance enhancements for 2011 you are looking for, I'd save the money and look for a 2010.

What ever you do, come back with pics!

 

TRUE. But the OP is talking about a daily commuter..LA freeways..really ain't gonna make a difference. Now on Sat and Sun heading off to the back roads for some corner carving I think F55 plus Z51 rocks (in corner carving comparison drives with my C5 Z06) but for daily freeway commute I just do not see it. But with all the nuts on the roads in SoCal I also do not see using a Vette for a daily commute...Vette or Yugo the commute at 35 mph (if your lucky) just ain't fun.....

 

Is the F55 in the 2011 GS going to be any different from the f55 currently available? Will the shocks be tuned differently or be different in any way?

 

Do not settle for less than you really want. Buy a 2011. If it costs more (and it will) so be it. It will be your car the way you want it.

JMHO

 

I drove a ZHZ once, and still noticed some skitishness when cornering over rough road. I'm sure some degree of improvement was there, but I think it's fair to say the issue does not vanish with the F55.

 

I have the stock GS suspension and drive on good roads so I don't notice much if any difference over my F55 coupe. I have not tracked my car yet, but I like to take ramps on the freeway pretty quickly when there is no other traffic and the GS just hugs the sharp curves like it's on rails.

Like I said, I don't miss my F55, but I would have bought it if it were available.

 

I have an 06 C6/A6/F55 coupe & a 6 speed manual GS coupe. Like others, if the F55 was available in 2010, I would have ordered the F55 suspension. That said, I also agree with others that the GS suspension( similar to the no longer available Z51) in 2010 is a nice compromise for a daily driver & doesn't beat you up like my 08Z did( which I replaced with the GS which has softer springs than the Z06. For 2011, finally they got around to offering the much needed F55 in the Z06). If you drive mainly on freeways, with some occasional mild to moderate secondary roads, the 2010 GS suspension should be just fine. All that said, if it were me, especially since the 2011's are literally almost here, i would definitely wait & get a 2011 with F55. Call Tommy Jr at Macmaulkin in NH( a forum vendor) & you will get a great price on a 2011( you'll be very pleased, & they are straight shooters, with no run around & couldn't be easier to deal with). You can do a museum delivery if you like & have a fun cross country drive back, if you have the time.

 

 

They did, last night in Detroit, before the Tigers game started

 

I agree the LA freeways at 35 or less just isn't ever going to be a pleasure! I'm lucky in that the work commute to home from Tustin, CA to south county leaves me 3 distinct choices. I can head down the 5 freeway, and I do if it's not a peak period....but I can also take a few surface streets back to a toll road (241 - basically a small freeway) that never has traffic and dead ends just a few blocks from home, OR...when I just want to unwind on the drive home, I can cut back to Santiago Canyon Road (which is a nice curvy 2 lane road through relatively undeveloped area). I'm thinking the back road drive will quickly become a preferred route once I've got the Vette.

I guess that's why the I posed the questions. I want a good ride and good music. From the responses I've read, I'm leaning towards the 2011 with the F55....a couple of thousand bucks won't really make that much difference in the long run....now 10K....that might be a different story.

 

If you go that route (and I recommend that you do) be sure to let Tommy Jr. of MacMulkin (NH) give you a quote on what you want. He is a no BS type guy that will keep you informed every step of the way and will get you your car as quick as anyone else can. Most forum members that I know that have contacted him ended up ordering thru him.

I certainly did, and he gave me the best price of several big forum dealers.

 

Apparently I should be giving MacMulkin a call!

I'm wondering if anybody can share some insight on how I'd get the car delivered in Southern California from a dealer in NH? Although Museum delivery sounds fun too, I don't know that I'd want to rack up 2 or 3 thousand miles up on the new car just to get it home. Not that the drive doesn't sound fun, but it seems like you'd negate some of the potential savings.

Can it be delivered here or to a local dealer? Is that expensive?

And while I'm thinking about it...what the heck is the $950 destination charge I see on every sticker?

Thanks guys (and gals) for all the input....I very much appreciate all the replies (and PMs) to the few threads that I've started....it's tough being a newbie in any newsgroup, you folks have all been great!

 

Couple of ideas:

Contact 2 Froum dealers (Boardwalk in Redwood City (400 miles north ask for Tim) and Mackulin--both have great reps. Get prices on 2010 that meet your specs, if they have them (pay attention to rebate deadlines, $3k in May, not sure if it carried thru to June) and then get a price on the 2011 built YOUR WAY. Then its simple math as to the difference (don't cheat-gotta add CA sales tax to that difference, even if bought out of state). Then decide with full knowledge. Oh, figure on an extra $500 for the 2011-gotta add Z51 aka GrandSport sways to it. WONDERFUL effect that will give you the best of both worlds.

Delivery Charge: Standard. Used to be $800. hmmm now up to $950. Probably sent skyward when diesel was $4.50 and never came down. Anyway, it is the cost to GM to get the car from the plant to the dealer. YOU CANNOT avoid it. Even with Museum delivery and the car being transported a mile, you pay it. Fair/unfair is a matter of perspective.

Car companies used to have plants all over the country (east and west coast)...delivery charges were more local and specific. Then plants consolidated...those near the plant paid far less, those far away a fortune. So (this is the real short version) the rates were consolidated into an average to put all the buyers/dealers on the same playing field--everyone in the US pays the same set rate (based upon a manufacturers actual cost for that specific car, thus different rates with different cars). Public reaction: your dealer is 100 miles from the plant and you complain about $950; you and your dealer are in Alaska, your very happy with $950. Not everyone will be happy. Ford plant is nearby and the GM plant a 1000 miles away..did you buy the Mustang or Camaro or other similiar cars where price shopping was critical..dealerships hated this as it became a cost they couldn't negotiate and made certain cars in their stock more expensive then the comparable competiton due to their distance from the plant (so there are many pieces to the puzzel).

Shipped to another dealer. Its called Courtsey Delivery. You have to find a willing and friendly dealer to accept and process the car for you and they usually charge about $500+.

Museum delivery. It costs $495 AND DOES NOT REPLACE THE GM destination charge as it is a totally different item. A good deal of the money goes to the National Corvette Museum for support. Benefits are many. Although not every delivery is perfect we have had many reports of the magic. Your car going down the line is noted as a museum car. They seem to get a little better attention. If the Museum finds faults the car goes back. Scratched door in transit is 'fixed' by your local dealer. A scratched door with a museum car is often sent backa nd a new door installed..get the idea. Do a thread search on the topic.

So yes you get to pay more...but think of it another way. The experience. Every person I've talked to who has done it (about a dozen so far) has loved it.
Great tour of the plant, lots of time at the Museum etc. Can the grandparents watch the kids for a week or so? Fly back with the wife, pick up the car and have a little second honeymoon traveling back on old Route 66..fairly inexpensive vacation. Miles, nice break in miles of only about 2000-well worth it.

You can't go wrong with either the 2010 or 2011. Have a great time.

 

Oh great....something else to spend days researching!

And I guess that explains the destination charge! Thanks for that...I'm still learning!

I will contact the forum dealers....I was dragging my feet because I didn't think the 2011 pricing was available yet, and I didn't want to end up in the cold lead pile because I was inquiring about a car that's not even out yet.

Hmmm....a drive down the coast from Redwood City sounds nice!