Z51 vs. Base performance?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,253
Likes: 134
From: Short Hills, NJ
Originally Posted by robvuk
Active handling does not do anything to the suspension. AH independently controls each brake to straighten the car in the desired direction by inputs from steering and yaw sensors. As long as the car is going straight, it does nothing. Don't risk playing without it. 
I've never had a problem keeping my relatively slow cars in a straight line at the track but ya never know, it only takes one little unseen oil slick or even a fox (the animal, not a girl
) running across the track at the big end to ruin one's day LOL. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 569
From: Bucks County PA
LS1LT1 -
If you recall, I ran my 2005 A4/3.15 Vert with both TC and AH OFF, but it never even broke traction or got sideways.
I don't think leaving AH ON would have made a difference.
With my 2006 manual tranny, I left AH ON, and yes the car spun the tires alot on shifts, but it never jumped sideways where AH would have kicked in.
My feeling was, if I am not worried about anything happening, I will focus better and run better with AH ON.
Howard
If you recall, I ran my 2005 A4/3.15 Vert with both TC and AH OFF, but it never even broke traction or got sideways.
I don't think leaving AH ON would have made a difference.
With my 2006 manual tranny, I left AH ON, and yes the car spun the tires alot on shifts, but it never jumped sideways where AH would have kicked in.
My feeling was, if I am not worried about anything happening, I will focus better and run better with AH ON.
Howard
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,714
Likes: 6
From: Providence RI
Originally Posted by LS1LT1
On a glass smooth surface maybe...throw in the bumps/ruts/potholes/manhole covers etc that I encounter here in NJ and you'd be quite surprised at just how well the more compliant base (FE1) C6 handles in comparison, Z51s tend to bounce around a bit in a scenario such as that.
I just feel that the actual real world gaps/performance differences between these two suspensions is not quite as large as the hype surrounding them implies.
I just feel that the actual real world gaps/performance differences between these two suspensions is not quite as large as the hype surrounding them implies.
My BASE suspended M6 has way more stability and better steering feel than my friend's Z51 Vert. I added the Z06 sway bars and shocks and I have the best of both worlds. The SPRINGS on the Z51 are the deal breaker....too stiff.
