Ride quality difference between.....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Peterborough NH
Ride quality difference between.....
base C6, Z51 and Z06. Is the Z06 an acceptable ride for all around use. Can someone give an honest opinion? Is the Z06 ride quality the worst of the three? Thanks. Yes, I will try to drive a Z06 in the next few months but I'd like to hear honest opinions first.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 176
From: Kernersville NC
I'd think that nobody can make that call but you. Everyone is different. I ordered my '05' with base suspension, A4 and 2:73 gears because we wanted a 'touring' car. It hasn't been a dissapointment at all. I see Z06s on the road nearly every day and they must be a great ride for those owners as well.
VIR
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 127
From: Palmyra Va
I had a 06/Z51 and now have a 09/Z06, without a doubt the Z06 is a harsher ride. You especially notice it over rough roads but also on the interstates.
However given the way the car handles on a road course racetrack I will gladly put up with the stiffer ride.
Not to mention with the Z I got the LS-7.
However given the way the car handles on a road course racetrack I will gladly put up with the stiffer ride.
Not to mention with the Z I got the LS-7.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 648
Likes: 1
From: Birmingham AL
I have time in all three and it gets a little worse with each move up in performance. My first C6 was a 2005 base and my best friends 2006 Z51 was maybe 15-20% stiffer. I now have a C6Z and I would put it in the 15-20% MORE stiff than the Z51 car. None of them are bad for a performance car though. The wife and I put about 10k miles on the Z last year and not one time did we complain about the ride!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 2
From: Mooresville (Race City USA) NC
The Z06 is set up for road course race track use in Summer and is very firm. The Z51 and Grand Sport is set up for Gymkana/Autocross on parking lots in Summer and is quite firm. The base C6 is set up for everyday use on everyday roads in everday conditions, and is sports car firm. The C6 with F55 magnetic ride control provides either a "Tour" setting for a controlled, smooth, quiet ride and for keeping all four tires in contact with the road at all times, yet can be adjusted with a turn of a console mounted **** to very firm "sport" setting for competition on smooth roads.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,285
Likes: 14
From: Iowa
Acceptable...hmmm. Sure, whatever you think...
It all depends on what kind of driving you are gonna be doing, who else might be riding with you, roads you will be driving on, etc....
F55 is great for pretty much every kind of driving I do, but I am not a track rat.
It all depends on what kind of driving you are gonna be doing, who else might be riding with you, roads you will be driving on, etc....
F55 is great for pretty much every kind of driving I do, but I am not a track rat.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 12
From: "No matter where you go... there you are"...."You cannot drive a dollar bill". ...and remember... "D
The Z06 is set up for road course race track use in Summer and is very firm. The Z51 and Grand Sport is set up for Gymkana/Autocross on parking lots in Summer and is quite firm. The base C6 is set up for everyday use on everyday roads in everday conditions, and is sports car firm. The C6 with F55 magnetic ride control provides either a "Tour" setting for a controlled, smooth, quiet ride and for keeping all four tires in contact with the road at all times, yet can be adjusted with a turn of a console mounted **** to very firm "sport" setting for competition on smooth roads.
Great post....I do have a Z with 20.000 miles that I have put on........the Z is definitely the harshest, but that is the way it is built.
You can certainly feel the poorer roads, the Z is not a cruiser. But would I trade it or get softer shocks?....No I love that ride and nasty looks.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 719
From: Northeast MA & Mad Beach FL
I was interested in "Ride" quality, so for me, it was the main reason for getting one with F55 suspension.
Can't speak for the Z06, but test drove a Z51 and for .."me".. it was too rough.
Loved the F55 ride but will say, after about a year I wanted a bit more Handling so installed Z51 sway bars.
It did stiffen the Ride a bit but IMO not so much that I would change back to the stock sway bars.
If you are able, test drive each one on as many roads as possible to see what you think
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Peterborough NH
I do have an 08 with F55 and like it very much. But the Z06 is calling my name and am trying to find a reason to get it out of my head.
Thanks for the replies.
We could turn this into F55 vs the world!
Thanks for the replies.
We could turn this into F55 vs the world!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 3
From: Dyer IN
I have the base and it was too soft for me, so I'm changing it. Test drove a Z for possible purchase last fall and the ride was nice but the inside seemed louder than my base. I could deal with it I guess but my GF/ fiancé would hate it. I will mod mine until the new c7 comes out and see how I feel about them.
Last edited by Xedes; Apr 6, 2011 at 11:49 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
My 05 Z51 is a daily driver and I changed the rear shocks to the base shocks and noticed a better ride. The fronts will be next. I bought the Z51 for the MZ6 trans & engine coolers and the cool rotors.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
I felt the Z51 ride to harsh also. The coupe was to bouncy, but with the FSD's it is now great.
Z06 is a track car, going to be rough also.
The above comment is predicated on being a DD car with not track time.
Noise and ride harshness get old after a time.
Z06 is a track car, going to be rough also.
The above comment is predicated on being a DD car with not track time.
Noise and ride harshness get old after a time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 915
Likes: 3
From: Ft. Worth Texas
my ride quality and noise factor improved 100 percent on my 09 coupe with z51 when i replaced the goodyear supercar tires at 7000 miles with michelin all season runflats. The only way your going to know which car is right for you is to drive one of each but keep in mind the goodyear original equipment tires cause most of the harsh ride and noise in any of them. I read other people talking about this factor on the forum and did not really believe the goodyears were that bad until i changed them out, but now all is well.
