difference between Z51 and stock?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by 02gt350
is there really that big of a difference between a regular c6 and Z51?
Better/quicker acceleration, better handling, better braking. It also has a higher top speed, listed at 186mph.
The MN6 C6 Z51 offers very close to C5 Z06 performance if you are into competitive driving.
If you are into racing, it is worthy of note that the quickest running completely bone stock C6s on this forum are Z51s. Also, if you are into auto sports, the Z51 has better cooling capabilities than the base model.
Bear in mind that you are going to get a few opinions from people who do not actually own Z51 C6s and as such obviously cannot give you an accurate assessment of it.
One person here has owned both a MN6 base model with F55 and an MN6 Z51. His bone stock MN6 Z51 has turned out to be quicker on the strip than his mildly modified base/F55 C6.
So to answer your original question: "is there really that big of a difference between a regular c6 and Z51?"
In the manual transmissioned Z51, looking at the total package. Acceleration, braking, handling, cooling capabilities, top speed, if you drive competitively at all, then the answer is a resounding, definite "yes".
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Tires, rotors, transmission gearing, power steering cooler, and a higher resale value when you sell it since it is an option that is sought after by the need-to-keep-it stock guys.
I have it.
If you plan on tires and rims just get the base corvette and add 3.90's or 4.10 gears to adjust performance to the same level.
I have it.
If you plan on tires and rims just get the base corvette and add 3.90's or 4.10 gears to adjust performance to the same level.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
The difference very minor. I doubt if people can really feel 1/10th in the quarter mile. In handling, the Z51 steering response is a little "crisper" and the car will not float as much.
What's important to you? Thats the question that really has to be answered in order to make the right choice.
What's important to you? Thats the question that really has to be answered in order to make the right choice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
Originally Posted by jschindler
The difference very minor. I doubt if people can really feel 1/10th in the quarter mile. In handling, the Z51 steering response is a little "crisper" and the car will not float as much.
What's important to you? Thats the question that really has to be answered in order to make the right choice.
What's important to you? Thats the question that really has to be answered in order to make the right choice.
Each of the three suspension setups has its own feel. The Z51 offers the tightest package, the F55 the most flexible, and the base the most economical and comfortable for all around use. They're all good and perform well. It's nothing more than personal preference.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 145
From: Northcentral, Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
Originally Posted by DSOM Z51
In the case of the manuals, absolutely.
Better/quicker acceleration, better handling, better braking. It also has a higher top speed, listed at 186mph.
Better/quicker acceleration, better handling, better braking. It also has a higher top speed, listed at 186mph.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by Oleflippy
You just about covered it DSOM Z51, but you forgot about the Z51 break squeal, which I've learned to live with. :o
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by fdxpilot
And the accelerated wear on the softer Z51 tires.
With the power available through the more aggresive gearing of the MN6 Z51, and the softer performance tires of the Z51 package as opposed to the harder base model's runflat tires, it is small wonder that the tires of the Z51 wear a bit quicker than the base model's runflats.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 701
Likes: 4
From: Spring TX
Yeah, this gearing is a bit confusing. I can imagine a scenario in which the non-Z51 car will accelerate faster. Imagine a corner where both the non-Z51 and Z51 car both come out at the same speed in 4th gear. Now there is a 3 mile straight. Both cars have the same 4th gear of 1.00:1 and stay neck in neck (ignoring weight differences and ignoring tire differences for the corner exit speed). After shifting into 5th, the non-Z51 car begins to walk away.
The Z51 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th are all shorter. 4th is the same as the non-Z51. 5th gear is taller in the Z51.
I wonder though, is the 5th gear in the non-Z51 too short to hit 186 mph or is it just tall enough to actually be a real advantage over the Z51 cars? I don't believe the claimed 186 mph top speed is achieved at red line in the Z51.
The Z51 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th are all shorter. 4th is the same as the non-Z51. 5th gear is taller in the Z51.
I wonder though, is the 5th gear in the non-Z51 too short to hit 186 mph or is it just tall enough to actually be a real advantage over the Z51 cars? I don't believe the claimed 186 mph top speed is achieved at red line in the Z51.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: Silver Spring Maryland
Originally Posted by railgun
Yeah, this gearing is a bit confusing. I can imagine a scenario in which the non-Z51 car will accelerate faster. Imagine a corner where both the non-Z51 and Z51 car both come out at the same speed in 4th gear. Now there is a 3 mile straight. Both cars have the same 4th gear of 1.00:1 and stay neck in neck (ignoring weight differences and ignoring tire differences for the corner exit speed). After shifting into 5th, the non-Z51 car begins to walk away.
The Z51 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th are all shorter. 4th is the same as the non-Z51. 5th gear is taller in the Z51.
I wonder though, is the 5th gear in the non-Z51 too short to hit 186 mph or is it just tall enough to actually be a real advantage over the Z51 cars? I don't believe the claimed 186 mph top speed is achieved at red line in the Z51.
The Z51 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th are all shorter. 4th is the same as the non-Z51. 5th gear is taller in the Z51.
I wonder though, is the 5th gear in the non-Z51 too short to hit 186 mph or is it just tall enough to actually be a real advantage over the Z51 cars? I don't believe the claimed 186 mph top speed is achieved at red line in the Z51.
Even easier scenario - there are speeds where the non-Z51 car can stay in a lower gear and have a higher (shorter) overall gear ratio than the Z51 car.
Gearing is "fake" horsepower. It's there sometimes, but it's no replacement for more power.
I wish I had the coolers from the Z51 package, but I'll be adding real power later, and will appreciate the taller gears of my non-Z51 car.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by serendipity
Gearing is "fake" horsepower. It's there sometimes, but it's no replacement for more power.
Since both cars come from the factory with 400 horsepower, I'll take the gearing of the Z51 and the "fake" horsepower.
Fake or not, traction equal, lower gears (higher number) give better acceleration.
