JoesC5

F55 equipped car keeping all four tires firmly planted on the pavement.

JoesC5

What makes you believe that the majority of all corvettes(C7) will have F55?

History doesn't back that speculation up.

C6's with F55

2005---24.2%
2006---26.4%
2007---26.0%
2008---22.6%
2009---29.0%
2010----9.8%
2011---24.1%
2012---34.6%

I didn't include the ZR1's in the above as the buyer didn't have a choice as to whether to buy or not to buy the F55. Even if you counted the ZR1's, the percentages wouldn't have changed that much.

Joezone914

You can NOT compare the two. On crappy roads like the 405 in LA the CTS-V is a much better ride than my ZR in tour mode. That said the the difference from my Z06 non-mag v the ZR the Zr is a better ride. On certain big things that would launch the car, the Mag ride is significantly better on most surfaces just a little better. The C7 might ride better but it will not be caddy. It needs to be tight even in tour mode to keep the ride sporty while keeping travel fairly minimum.

ZL-1

The MSRC is a great system, it makes a Corvette more enjoyable as an everyday driver. I plan to order it on my 2014. But I only keep my Corvettes a few years; you plan to keep yours 20 years. That part concerns me. Repairs are free for the first 3 years. If you buy a "5 year" GMPP bumper-to-bumper policy you're covered for 2 more years. That can be extended a bit more. But after that you're on your own. The price NOW for a new MSRC shock is insane; in 10 or 15 years the cost will be unbelievable if even available at all. Not to mention the electronic parts.

So if you really think you'll keep that C7 20 years, save yourself $2000.00 now and potentially more later and skip the MSRC.


Edit: Most of us expect GM to keep MSRC optional on the 2014 base Corvette. Historically they like to keep the MSRP down to show the new car as a great value compared to the outgoing model. But who knows, this traditional strategy could change if they want the C7 to be just as good as it can be. In that case they would explain the higher MSRP by reminding us of all the added equipment now included.


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Bluewasp

Having owned a 2011 GS without F55 and now a 2013 427 with F55. The F55 is a nice option to have. It doesn't remove all bumps but rather removes the initial sting. If that makes sense. there is a difference in ride between the two.

The difference between the F55 modes isn't as noticeable. From what I understand the difference is in how the car handles going around a turn. In sport mode the car is more flat during a turn.

I would buy a car without it but I would rather have it. If I ordered a C7 I would check the box.

ATC399

Got the PTM version on my 13Z and I would not own another Vette without it....FWIW I got rubber bands 19/20 race cup wheels..She is alot smoother than my 08Z51 was.

musclecar6

Don't even think about not ordering the Msrc. I have a 2006 C6 with F55 & a 2010 GS without F55( it wasn't available till the 2011 model year in the GS). For real world every day driving, the F55 is far superior in smoothing out the normal less than perfectly smooth roads( don't listen to the rationalizing super thrifty types).

JoesC5

I'm 70 years old and drive a 09 Z06. In the past 4 years, I've put 24,300 miles on it. No F55 and I've never had to have back surgery after driving it for 14 hours(890 miles) straight, or on a 10 day 3427 mile cruise on the back roads of Vermont, New York and West Virgina, or the Tail of the Dragon and the BRP in North Carolina. 162+ MPH at Talledaga without bounching off the wall because that terrible Z06 suspension wouldn't hold the car on the track.

Maybe when I get old, I'll consider a Corvette with a Cadillac ride.

chiromed0

I don't have it on a '13 GS but on a base I'd get it. I drove both, it is noticeable but the GS seems like in the middle which is where I'd probably keep it anyway. If you can get it then I would, it's only going to become more standard in years to come. My car was a 1lt and the price was right. I've added pretty much everything for a 2Lt aftermarket.

Go for it...haven't heard of anyone regretting they got it.

Bill17601

I don't think the Caddy ride is what you would get from this option. You would get a better handling car. Shocks are the big player in handling. Springs have more to do with the ride. Tires also play a major role. You do not have to ride hard to have a car that handles well. I agree with your not wanting the option, that is your choice. I do not agree with the reasoning.

Bill

jimmyb

As usual, most here on the forum seem to think F55 is a "comfort" suspension. It is not, it is a "Performance" suspension. What F55 (mag ride) brings is amazingly quick reacting dampers that make the car handle better in the real world, especially when encountering mid corner bumps that send the rear end all over the place in a non F55 car. Setting the mag ride to "Comfort" does NOT turn your Corvette into a Caddy.

Jimmy

PS. I would not buy a Corvette without F55, when I order my C7, it will be ordered with F55 (assuming F55 is not standard).

Bill17601

What he said.....

jimmyb

Joe,
Based on your post, I don't think you understand what F55 is and does. F55 cures the biggest handling problem with the C6 chassis, that is, it's very negative reaction to mid corner bumps when hustling the car around. I drove a friends Z51 equipped C6, took it through a curved off ramp that has a large expansion strip in the middle of the ramp corner at 50 mph, that strip popped the backend out about 2 feet....woke me right up!. In my F55 equipped C6, I can take the same ramp 10mph faster (in spite of GS2's instead of Supercars). Your comment about driving at Talladega doesn't really apply to how the car reacts on the street. And, no one is ******* your car, but until you have driven an F55 equipped Z06, you should probably not be SO defensive.
Z06's are great cars that are even better with F55.

F55 is NOT A COMFORT suspension! Corvettes are sports cars, F55 doesn't change that, it just makes them BETTER sports cars.

Jimmy

jimmyb

I think the biggest problem with folks NOT buying (ordering) F55 is that dealers don't understand the system (shame on them), it's capabilities, and don't know how to present it to a customer. Mike's assesment of what F55 does barely scratches the surface of the system and if one presents the system as only being of use at extreme high speeds, than it's no wonder no one orders it. Certainly, the use of this technology on various Ferraris, Audi R8, etc should tell everyone the HANDLING value of it. Clearly, no one buys a Ferrari 458 thinking it's going to ride like a Caddy because it has Mag ride shocks.

Jimmy

JoesC5

I don't have a problem getting around those bumpy corners with my Z06. Out of 24,300 miles on my Z06, maybe 50 of them an the track at Talledega. Do the math....most of my miles are on the same roads as 75% of the C6 owners that don't have F55.

Even though it may sound so, I don't have a problem with the F55 as an option. I do have a problem with those that imply that a C6 without F55 is not driveable on the street.

I also don't wear a coat unless I'm cold.

Jinx

What's it cost to replace the shocks? And realistically how long do they last?

I did a quickie search and came up with this, for an '03 (first year of MSRC):

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-replaced.html

"The parts alone for 4 shocks was over $4200."

johnglenntwo

They didn't work that good back then either!

johnglenntwo

The C6 Z06 was a scary machine, and not able to compete with the GTR until it got that shock TECH (fact). Now the GTR is all but obsolete, and has been beaten relentlessly!

JoesC5

I do know that GM changed the rear shocks on the Z06's around 2007(????) so my 09 should have the better designed shock(for my application). That said, I can put a complete set of aftermarket shocks on my Z06 fairly cheaply, and really run circles around a base C6 with F55(instead of just running circles around them as I can now).

But, it seems, everyone that hates the Z06 (or owns a base C6 and wants to make themselves feel better by slamming the Z06) likes to talk about the original Z06 vs the later ones. My Z06 goes around the corners quite nicely, thank you. As it is, my Z06 can handle more then I can dish out. But then I'm not a top tier race car driver like a lot of people seem to believe they are.

You know, Kerbeck should have a pretty good idea as to what Corvette purchasers want in a new C6 and then would stock cars with those options. I mean, who would have millions of dollars tied up in inventory that no one wants to buy? Go to Kerbecks site and see how many of their C6's in Inventory have the F55 suspension. Does anyone really believe that all those Corvettes that Kerbeck sells each year are not drivable on the street because their suspensions are poorly designed?

harley2

I had a 2005 Cpe Z51 package I personally did not like the way it rode over bumps,etc! Plus the tires wore out in 17,000 miles!
I used the car for DD, No track!

In the mid 2000's everytime the topic came up Z51 or F55 alot of forum members would tell the new buyer go with the Z51!
Most of these buyers are like me just want a DD!

In 2008 I went to Bowling Green & came home with F55 equipped cep, like it so much better!!

A month ago, I put 4 Michelin Pilot sport plus ZP's & now like it so much more!

Had I known how well the Michelins improved the cars ride, when I got back from BG, I would have sold the Gy'rs & got the Michelins!

When i get the C7 hopefully around Sept it will have the Michelins as OEM's! The F55 if not standard I will also check that box!!

Bought my allocation spot, 3 weeks to go (1/13/13) to see what I'll be getting!!