Z51 without MSR?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 1
From: "Sweet Home Alabama"
My DD is a 09 C6 w/Z51, love it. 75 mile round trip commute daily plus I drive it all weekend too
The C7 Stingray w/Z51 should be fine as far as ride quality.
You got the NPP
Sounds like you got the car you wanted.
I hope its the best color: Velocity Yellow
which is also the easiest to keep clean.
The C7 Stingray w/Z51 should be fine as far as ride quality.
You got the NPP
Sounds like you got the car you wanted.
I hope its the best color: Velocity Yellow
which is also the easiest to keep clean.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,380
Likes: 103
From: Visalia CA
It all depends what you want to do with it, and you stated you will not race it. To be honest if you are no going to exercise the car, why get Z51? Maybe resale value or bigger tires?
As far as mag ride...... when its on track you dont want to drive on the street. If you not racing or maybe you not driving in the snow.......why would you need this?
And on my 13 GS with bigger tires and Z51....... It rides better then my C5 with $400 Michelin tires...... so no the Z51 is NOT harsh!!!!
Now if this is your dream car......maybe go ahead with it. But if you intend to keep it 20 years better factor in replacing the mag shocks.......... you'll be shocked at the price.
As far as mag ride...... when its on track you dont want to drive on the street. If you not racing or maybe you not driving in the snow.......why would you need this?
And on my 13 GS with bigger tires and Z51....... It rides better then my C5 with $400 Michelin tires...... so no the Z51 is NOT harsh!!!!
Now if this is your dream car......maybe go ahead with it. But if you intend to keep it 20 years better factor in replacing the mag shocks.......... you'll be shocked at the price.
I like the z51 wheels and spoilers, but as said, plenty of options out there. Since its not an option for me, I haven't given the mag ride option a lot of thought. I'd probably get it again as I enjoyed the ride, and just set $100 a month aside like a tuition fund for the eventual replacement cost. One could argue the same if I bought the z51 and was burning through tires, but I have to draw a line somewhere
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
Likes: 2,716
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
I don't have it on my GS, & didn't order it on my Z51. I have never driven or rode in a C6 with it so obviously can't compare the ride. That being said, I'm of retirement age and live in Illinois where we are known for corrupt government, not smooth roads, and I drive mine regularly. The ride has never been an issue for me.
YMMV.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 809
From: West coast CA
This is guesswork until somebody does a back-to-back road test of Z51 C7s with and without magnetic shocks. If they're _close_ when driving in the various sport modes, I'd spare myself the complexity and order the passive suspension.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
However, I've been told that this is a more advanced MSRC than in prior generations. I don't doubt it since "adjustable shocks" mechanical or computer/electrical have been around for quite a few years, even on Corvettes. Therefore, it may very well be excellent and highly recommended. But, at this point, who really knows?
I'm not sure I'd get it. Only on the worst of roads do I think the Z51 suspension on my car is harsh. And I mean really bad roads which would make you think you need an alignment after you get past it.
It may be a good thing to have, and probably won't hurt resale values if you ever go to sell the car. But as far as a must-have, I don't agree especially if it's a budget-buster.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22,598
Likes: 14,556
The new shocks are "dual coil" in that they have two electromagnetic coils instead of one. This widens the performance envelope and increases response times even further. In layman's terms the track mode is "trackier" and the touring mode is more compliant than ever. Reading everything about the car and listening to the engineering seminars from the bash, it appears the MSRC is more about making the Z51 softer and more capable as a tourer vs. making it that much more capable on track. Jim Mero basically said if you're getting Z51 you ened to get MSRC as it makes the car. They say the Z51 with MSRC in touring mode is the best riding configuration available, better than the base car. So if it's going to be a DD get the base car or spend the money to get the MSRC with the Z51.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 809
From: West coast CA
I wouldn't be interested in magnetic ride for a smoother ride on bumpy roads (the old Z51 ride was fine), but I would consider it if it made a dramatic handling difference.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
But I do understand what you mean by handling difference which is that the car actually handles better under most situations than a car without the added MSRC.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,934
Likes: 4,257
From: NC
Exactly right!
Mag ride is a great suspension, please understand that it is NOT a comfort suspension, however. In a C6, Mag ride (F55 back then) calms the mid corner bump nervousness that plagues C6's.
I understand that FE4 will available on the base suspension C7 in 2015.
Jimmy
Mag ride is a great suspension, please understand that it is NOT a comfort suspension, however. In a C6, Mag ride (F55 back then) calms the mid corner bump nervousness that plagues C6's.
I understand that FE4 will available on the base suspension C7 in 2015.
Jimmy
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
From: CA
I couldn't tell any difference in the C6 models, but if you don't like the sports car type of ride, I don't understand why a person would want to buy a a high-performance car like this and then pay all that extra money to allegedly get a softer ride.??
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 670
Likes: 2
My 2006 Z51 Coupe is a daily driver as well. It is the smoothest riding sports car I've ever owned even without MSRC. I test drove a non Z51 coupe in 2005 and it was way too cushy for my taste. I love to drive and want to feel the road 
. I suspect the C7 Z51 w/o MSRC will be fine but if you like a softer ride while maintaining grip MSRC would be the way to go. MSRC probably does improve lap times if you race the car and would improve lap times for those who track the car (tracking and racing being very different) and want the comfort of knowing the computer will further reduce the chances of losing it in the turns.
Do keep in mind a Z51 shock costs about $110 each and the current MSRC shocks are about $1040 each for fronts and $850 each for the rears. The new gen MSRC shocks will probably be more. For those who don't drive the cars that much (I've never understood this, reread sentence four) replacement cost is not an issue. If it's a DD repair cost may be a consideration.
. I suspect the C7 Z51 w/o MSRC will be fine but if you like a softer ride while maintaining grip MSRC would be the way to go. MSRC probably does improve lap times if you race the car and would improve lap times for those who track the car (tracking and racing being very different) and want the comfort of knowing the computer will further reduce the chances of losing it in the turns.Do keep in mind a Z51 shock costs about $110 each and the current MSRC shocks are about $1040 each for fronts and $850 each for the rears. The new gen MSRC shocks will probably be more. For those who don't drive the cars that much (I've never understood this, reread sentence four) replacement cost is not an issue. If it's a DD repair cost may be a consideration.
Last edited by 66dreams; Jul 26, 2013 at 02:23 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,934
Likes: 4,257
From: NC
Jimmy
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 100
Likes: 19
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
Thanks everyone for their responses. I just drove a friend's '05 Z51 convert without MSR and didn't think it was too harsh - I think it will be safe to assume that the C7 won't be any stiffer.
I'll stick with my original plan of Z51 without MSR - I like the upgraded brakes and other technical upgrades, but it doesn't sound like the MSR will make much of a difference to someone who doesn't plan to race the car. I do plan to keep the car for a long time, so the replacement cost of the mag shocks is an excellent point. Thanks again!
I'll stick with my original plan of Z51 without MSR - I like the upgraded brakes and other technical upgrades, but it doesn't sound like the MSR will make much of a difference to someone who doesn't plan to race the car. I do plan to keep the car for a long time, so the replacement cost of the mag shocks is an excellent point. Thanks again!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
Likes: 2,716
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Why pay for a good sound system?
Etc.
If you only use the car for track time, or as a weekend toy; who needs that stuff. But we drive 15k-20k miles per year, all over the U.S., and on some pretty nasty roads. For us, the MSR would make sense.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,217
Likes: 153
From: Ft Mill, SC
The new shocks are "dual coil" in that they have two electromagnetic coils instead of one. This widens the performance envelope and increases response times even further. In layman's terms the track mode is "trackier" and the touring mode is more compliant than ever. Reading everything about the car and listening to the engineering seminars from the bash, it appears the MSRC is more about making the Z51 softer and more capable as a tourer vs. making it that much more capable on track. Jim Mero basically said if you're getting Z51 you ened to get MSRC as it makes the car. They say the Z51 with MSRC in touring mode is the best riding configuration available, better than the base car. So if it's going to be a DD get the base car or spend the money to get the MSRC with the Z51.
_Sloth Whisperer_
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,369
Likes: 9
From: Malaysia Air Flight 370
No F55 for me this time.
Was useless for me on the C6, and was swapped out within a few thousand miles for Pfadts. The C7 will be no different. The one that ends up in my driveway will immediately go on a set of coilovers and proper sway bars.
For me, a tightly sprung car is ride quality. I prefer the feedback, and don't require plush motoring. I'd buy a Cadillac otherwise.
Was useless for me on the C6, and was swapped out within a few thousand miles for Pfadts. The C7 will be no different. The one that ends up in my driveway will immediately go on a set of coilovers and proper sway bars.
For me, a tightly sprung car is ride quality. I prefer the feedback, and don't require plush motoring. I'd buy a Cadillac otherwise.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,629
Likes: 19
From: Chesapeake VA
There's no need for bulky reinforced towers up high when the spring sits down low, and the shock loads are directed right into the side of the frame itself.