Is the Base suspension enough for me?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 32
From: Augusta MO
Is the Base suspension enough for me?
I've found a lot of spirited comps btw the Z51 vs. F55 suspension but I'd like to know what's wrong with the Base suspension?
I'm looking to get into a new '08 Corvette and my budget is really tight.
I like a lot of what I'm reading about the two options but if the car can perform very well with the Base, well that get's me that much closer to my $$ goal and may allow for other options.
This will be my almost-daily driver (2-4 days a week ) and weekend car for "spirited" back road driving & such.
I'm not going to drag/track/autocross.
So, is the base sufficient?
I'm looking to get into a new '08 Corvette and my budget is really tight.
I like a lot of what I'm reading about the two options but if the car can perform very well with the Base, well that get's me that much closer to my $$ goal and may allow for other options.
This will be my almost-daily driver (2-4 days a week ) and weekend car for "spirited" back road driving & such.
I'm not going to drag/track/autocross.
So, is the base sufficient?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 35
From: Turlock CA
I've found a lot of spirited comps btw the Z51 vs. F55 suspension but I'd like to know what's wrong with the Base suspension?
I'm looking to get into a new '08 Corvette and my budget is really tight.
I like a lot of what I'm reading about the two options but if the car can perform very well with the Base, well that get's me that much closer to my $$ goal and may allow for other options.
This will be my almost-daily driver (2-4 days a week ) and weekend car for "spirited" back road driving & such.
I'm not going to drag/track/autocross.
So, is the base sufficient?
I'm looking to get into a new '08 Corvette and my budget is really tight.
I like a lot of what I'm reading about the two options but if the car can perform very well with the Base, well that get's me that much closer to my $$ goal and may allow for other options.
This will be my almost-daily driver (2-4 days a week ) and weekend car for "spirited" back road driving & such.
I'm not going to drag/track/autocross.
So, is the base sufficient?
A non-option base model 1LT is a hella car. You won't be disappointed. If down the road you want a little flatter cornering you can add sway bars cheaply.
--Dan
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Personally I'd get the Z51 for the more aggressive gearing in the transmission.
But if the car was just a daily driver I'd consider the F55 for it's caddy like toruing mode.
But if the car was just a daily driver I'd consider the F55 for it's caddy like toruing mode.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 32
From: Augusta MO
I def want the manual trans.
However, there's also a lot of talk on here about the difference in feel of the Z51 manual tranny vs what you get with the base.
Would I really notice the different gearing that much with how I''ll use it?
However, there's also a lot of talk on here about the difference in feel of the Z51 manual tranny vs what you get with the base.
Would I really notice the different gearing that much with how I''ll use it?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,393
Likes: 981
From: Carlsbad Ca
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 823
Likes: 0
From: Seguin Texas
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton CA
I've never been in a C6 Z51 or F55, but I can tell you that the base suspension is surprisingly competent in the twisties, and it's a *very* comfortable ride. Much better than my 996tt. I reached 0.95-0.98g on several long corners on Mines Road south of Livermore, CA, on the base suspension and runflats.
The ride/handling compomise is much better than my Z51 C5 was!
The ride/handling compomise is much better than my Z51 C5 was!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
I love the Z51 package for the gearing and tires, the performance increase is easily felt and appreciated, but I wouldn't want it if my car was a daily driver. The tires just don't last long enough, and they cost too much. Without the tires the car doesn't feel like a Z51 anymore.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 0
From: Canton/Detroit Michigan
I've got a base 2007 c6. The first mod I want to do are the z51 sways, and then upgraded (stiffer) shocks.
What I have found is that in sweeping turns, at a good speed that the back of the car will tend to bounce enough to be scary. Although the ride is great, I prefer to give up some ride quality for handling.
I think the base was made for people who prefer ride, and due to this, the thinner sway bars, lower spring rate, and softer shocks will show up when doing spirited maneuvers.
The price to fix this is about 166.00 for front & rear sways and bushings and probably around 300 for Bilstein Sport shocks. Based on what I have read on these forums, this is a combo that a lot of people have gone to and it seems to have fixed the issues.
What I have found is that in sweeping turns, at a good speed that the back of the car will tend to bounce enough to be scary. Although the ride is great, I prefer to give up some ride quality for handling.
I think the base was made for people who prefer ride, and due to this, the thinner sway bars, lower spring rate, and softer shocks will show up when doing spirited maneuvers.
The price to fix this is about 166.00 for front & rear sways and bushings and probably around 300 for Bilstein Sport shocks. Based on what I have read on these forums, this is a combo that a lot of people have gone to and it seems to have fixed the issues.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
Likes: 6
From: Montreal Qc
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 32
From: Augusta MO
It sounds like getting some of the major advantages of the Z51 pkg (z51 sways, and then upgraded (stiffer) shocks) is a lot cheaper than the actual Z51 package itself!
Granted no bigger rotors/brakes or the oil coolers but other posts I've done, people are saying those items are a non-necessity unless tracking the car and the coolers would not really extend the drivetrain life at all anyway with my intended driving.
Granted no bigger rotors/brakes or the oil coolers but other posts I've done, people are saying those items are a non-necessity unless tracking the car and the coolers would not really extend the drivetrain life at all anyway with my intended driving.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
I have the F55 opton and like it. It gives me the best of both worlds in handling. The F55 also gives you the same brakes as the Z51 package. For me, the Z51 was a bit too harsh for what I wanted for daily driving.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,460
Likes: 374
From: Maryville TN
St. Jude Donor '06-13,'16-'17, '19
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
No you won't notice it much. Besides, the close ratio gearing of the base tranny was the main objective in designing the t-56 and tr-6060. Read the Tremec website for yourself. The optional tranny widens the gearing between shifts putting you further out of the power band. When I spoke to the guys a Katech, they said gearing the tranny instead of the rear, "was the wrong way going about things". Choose for yourself.
gearing the rear down and adding sways and shocks. if wanted is the way to go. Buy the base 1lt for performance and lower the rear. Z-51 helps really nothing after the above changes
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
No you won't notice it much. Besides, the close ratio gearing of the base tranny was the main objective in designing the t-56 and tr-6060. Read the Tremec website for yourself. The optional tranny widens the gearing between shifts putting you further out of the power band. When I spoke to the guys a Katech, they said gearing the tranny instead of the rear, "was the wrong way going about things". Choose for yourself.
It doesn't list the TR-6060 except in a paper at the end.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
I've owned both a base suspension C6 and an F55-equipped C6. Both were daily drivers (still have the F55). There's very little difference in the ride between base & F55 tour mode as long as you're on decent roads.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: NObama, NOsocialism
This is all truly subjective. What is right for the goose may not be right at all for the gander. I highly recommend you drive all three... base, Z51, F55. This is a big and possibly long term investment, it's worth the due dilligence. You may think the Z51 is not at all harsh for all you or I know, then again you may think the base is like a buckboard, it's your "seat of pants" that counts. You should be able to get a ride at Corvette meets, or better yet at a dealer. Could be you end being so impressed by one suspension that you end up being so grateful you did the extra homework!!! 