I sold my C5Z about 5 years ago and bought my 2011 base model that I currently own. As far as handling, I feel like they are pretty similar and I actually felt slightly more confident in the corners in the C6. I have always felt like the car doesn’t handle quiet as well as it should despite having new tires, Bilstein shocks, new inner and outer tie rods, etc…
my uncle bought a 2001 base model C5 this past weekend and I got a chance to drive it yesterday and I was pretty surprised at how the car felt more planted to the road and the steering felt quite a bit heavier than in my car. As far as I can tell all the steering and suspension components are bone stock in this car. It is a low mileage car but still I did not expect it to feel considerably better than my car as far as handling. I wish there was a way to make the steering feel a little heavier in these cars. Other than tires I guess really the only thing I could do without replacing any suspension components is go with a little bit more aggressive alignment. Anyone else have a similar experience in comparing a C5 to a C6 in handling/steering?

 

C5Z06, would be the close to C6 Z51 option base car, with the C6 making a few more HP.
If you jump up into C6 GS or Z06, then light years better in handling/track needed options over the older gen C5Z06, which has been the same for every gen upgrades if talking same model to model, like Z06 to Z06.

Simply put, every gen upgrade of the vet, has it handling better/sharper, but in the grand scheme of sports car, lets just say lacking behind the field of import cars, so still showing up to the opera, in pair of assless chaps.

 

I got ya but what I was getting at is that I don’t get why this 2001 base model C5 that my uncle just got seems to feel more planted to the road than my 2011 base model. The steering feel is heavier than mine and it feels more stable and stuck to the road than mine, which surprised me. Very similar tires on both cars and everything seems to be bone stock on the C5.

 

Add some Z51 sways. They used to be in the corner of lots of garages. Little tougher to find nowadays. That's the natural next step. It's not but about a 2 beer job. Also, have your uncle drive your Vette and get his impressions.

 

already did that. I have Z51 sway bars, Bilstein B6 shocks, new inner/outer tie rods, new sway bar end links. The car feels okay handling it’s not bad but like I said I liked the feel of the steering on that C5 better because it was a heavier steering feel and felt more glued to the road. Ill have him drive mine and see what he says, assuming he can drive a manual lol

 

It sounds like your biggest complaint lies in power steering, so a couple of questions, when was the last time the power steering oil was replaced and what were the tire pressures between the cars? Both could have an effect. Another thought, replacing the power steering pump may help you get to where you want to go, namely one from Turn2. These are new pumps, not rebuilds and will run a bit cooler.

DanO wrote: "Simply put, every gen upgrade of the vet, has it handling better/sharper, but in the grand scheme of sports car, lets just lacking behind the field of import cars, so still showing up to the opera, in pair of assless chaps."
Great line Dan!

 

Should had went B8 shock,instead of the B6's, but in regards to power steering, you want less pump pressure, to increase the steering weight before the power steering is kicked out at speed..
Hence power steering is great for parking lot maneuver, but on track, will agree with you that the steering can feel too light on the C6 and you do lose some road feed back through the well due to such.

The second one that is missed a great deal of the time, is the steering rack can be adjusted/heaver spring installed, and should as wear causes more slop in them.
Good crash course on the steering racks, including the yoke rod adjuster.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...n-rebuild.html

The last one, change out the FE1 front trans spring to FE3 that comes stock on the Z51(make sure to get correct one for which trans is in the car) then double check the ride height of the car/change out the ride height to Z51 height specs during corner balancing.

The base cars come with FE1 springs, are too weak up front, and where you losing a lot of that front end feel in the corner as well.

To short bus it, the base cars came pretty much old man cruising/soccer mom specials with light supensions, the Z51/GS was upgraded for Autocross use, while the Z06, all the way up to the C6, was designed for more brutal high speed use road car from the start.
And why I state up to the C6, the C7 Z06 had over heat problems on track, and instead of GM resolving the problem, just changed their whole tune, with none of the cars being high speed road course built from that point forward.

And if you want to play blind fold test between C5 Z06, and the C6 z06 when both are set up correctly, its night and day in the back end, of which will cut a cleaner corner under power on the way out.

 

Can't you just unplug the rack sensor? Do that and see if you like it better.

 

I have changed the power steering fluid in mine since I bought it 5 years ago. I did find out yesterday tho that the reservoir was way overfilled and was causing it to leak from the cap. My tire pressure cold is 30psi, no clue what it was on the C5

I agree I should have went with the B8’s, I was afraid they might be a little too stiff considering I really don’t ever see the track and the car also is not lowered. So is there anyway to reduce pressure from the pump? I did find out yesterday that my power steering fluid reservoir was way overfilled, could that be causing the pump to have too much pressure possibly?
You mentioned changing out the front spring should I not change the rear spring out to the Z51 spring also?

 

I didn’t even know you could do that

 

I have limited seat-time in a C5 (driven a couple on track) vs. only ever owning a C6, but I know a big difference between the two is the longer wheelbase from a C5 to a C6 (basically, the wheels were pushed closer to the corners of the car). I suspect this was done to improve high-speed stability, and obviously change the body-lines of the car. While I don't know for sure, I would be willing to bet this has a lot to do with the "feel" of the car.

The couple of times I drove a C5, I thought the turn-in on track was AMAZING, whereas I find the C6 is more prone to push into corners .......... due to the shorter wheelbase of a C5, I think it helps improve cornering capability (at least for tight corners), more akin to a Porsche (which have an even shorter wheelbase than a C5).

Now, how does that translate into a heavier steering feel?? I don't know. But I do think that comparing a C5 to a C6 isn't 100% apples-to-apples.

The other thing to consider would be tire WIDTH ............... just the difference between my former base C6 and my C6Z, the front tires go from 245's to 275's, and that alone adds some heavier feel to the steering, so depending on what you were used to, that could be a factor as well?

 

It's been A LONG time ago since I sold my 98 (traded in on a 01 Explorer XLT) so 1/4 of a century. But as it was the base FE1 suspension car (had about 22k miles) memory says that it's handling was a wallowing boat! (my next car I bought was an 02 Honda S2000 in late 2002) I'd compare the 07 Convertible with Z51 in my garage to the S2000 in handing.

 

There's a connector pretty easy to unplug I tried unplugged for awhile. I think I got it from the bottom when the car was jacked up. The system is magna steer if you read about it's interesting. I'll try to get a picture of the connector for you.

https://search.brave.com/search?q=c6...b1b8c5f099bc63

 

So will unplugging the magnastweer have any negative affects on the cars stability control or any other systems? If not I may give it a try. I assume doing this will throw some sort of light on the DIC

 

I had a 2002 C5 Z06 for a few years and then traded it in on a C6 GS. So my comparison is a bit different.

I think the C5 did have slightly better handling than my GS but not by much. I think it is likely due to the GS being a few hundred pounds heavier than the C5.

But the GS does have similar suspension upgrades as the C6 Z06 plus the wider wheels which are significant upgrades vs a base C6.

I also found that the C5 Z06 was less refined in both the steering and handling than the C6. So I definitely felt more connected to the road than in my C6.

So overall, I think your impressions are correct in regards to the C5 versus the C6. C5 was less refined so gives a more connected and visceral feel when driving. C6 insulates the driver more from the road and so is a more comfortable cruiser.

C5 Z06 is a true drivers car and there are times that I miss mine.

 

Too many variables IMO to answer.

My story, both Verts & Z51 w/ runflats, my C5 had Bilsteins, chassis stiffeners both upper and lower, adjusted brake bias, slightly lowered, etc and my recollection of thoughts (20 years ago - oh my) was my stock C6 out handled it with better corner handling.

My C6 now has the tunnel plate stiffener, is slightly lowered, all the bushings are in good condition, and an altered alignment to reduce front tire outer edge wear.
It handles and feels roadworthy, fun, with longer tire life.

Yes, tires may be the biggest variable, plus any aged suspension.
Fresh power steering fluid I would recommend.
Yet, steering tension/ feel was never an issue for me in either Vert.
Yes, there are betterments to the OEM alignment specs and even a need to verify ride height.
Lastly, finding the proper tire pressure with a pyrometer could also be a benefit to your C6.

OP, have fun

 

As far as tire pressures go, I try to maintain 30 psi hot throughout my track day. Easier said than done, I'll start out the day down 2 - 3 psi depending - minus 3 psi for the hardest worked front tire (right hand or left hand turns), 2 psi for the other three. Then after each session I will re adjust pressures for 30 psi. The pyrometer is a good idea for checking wheel alignment and rubber temps across the tread but you need the finely focused unit, most of the inexpensive ones have too broad of a sensor. The C-6 GS is sensitive to tire alignment but once set, the car seems to handle well and if the tires are reasonably fresh and with proper technique, understeer hasn't been too much of an issue for me.