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i have read fairly extensively on the differences that Z51 brings. i have no intention on tracking the car, but as this is a major purchase and i hope to keep this car for a very long time, i want to order it exactly the way i want and have no regrets.
i'm looking at 2LT Z51 vs. Non - and after you add in the seemingly required (from what I read it is the way to go if you order a Z51) magnetic ride control and performance exhaust, the price difference here in Canada is $8k! Thats a lot of bank.
So my question is - in comparison what is the ride in the non-Z51 like?? is it similar to the Z51 in Touring mode, or in sport mode or something different all together? Any non purchasers now regret not getting it??
I just did 3100 miles in a base car - loved every mile. I bought the "base" car when there were no constraints and would do it again. When I'm going long distance I moiunt my std 18/19 wheels/tires, when I'm home around town, my optional 19/20 wheels/tires go on.
Definitely no regrets that I opted out of Z51....that option really is only needed for tracking, which I do not do. If I were to buy again, I would get the 2lt trim package and be happy. The new C7 is such a good car "right out of the box" that you will be happy saving the money.
I have friends who are spending 20K more than I did to get "loaded" Vettes....20K still buys a nice 2nd car!
You would be happy either way. If you're not going to track it, is the extra insurance premium on a z51 worth it to you? Are you happy with aesthetic appearance on a non z51? Think about these.
Bought mine for looks and touring quality. I have a base 3lt with just about every option. I will never track or race the car so the base configuration is still really more than I'll ever use. With 5000 miles on it I can say I made the right choice and have no regrets and don't want anything different.
This is the first Corvette I've had that I didn't have to add something to it or want something that was not there. It is a stunning, awesome vehicle.
Based on what I've seen on here, if you buy the base configuration, you'll have a very rare car. I'm getting really tired of seeing all of the tuning fork Z51 wheels, black especially.
No regrets at all - the base car rides really well (much smoother than the Z51) and handles as good as you could want; and I personally like the 5 spoke wheels.
I have the NPP, and wouldn't buy a C7 without it.
Nope. My last VETTE was a 2007 Z06. You have to ask yourself where the hell can you exceed the capabilities of even a base suspension C7 and under what circumstances on public roads/streets?
Not going to happen. Now if you track your car you're going to want a Z06 then.
5,500 miles since Oct of 2013; and not a single regret. The car handles all my most aggressive driving needs with more to give and I feel that the Z51 option is only required if you are going to track the car.
I personally like the car better without the rear spoiler spoiler and get lots of compliments no matter where I go. I attended a recent Corvette event and of the 15 other C7s there, mine was the only non Z car. however, with almost 38K cars built in 2014, the C7s are not going to be rare in Corvette terms.
I do agree the NPP Exhaust is a really nice option and if you are not someone who likes to customize your it is a must have option. While I ordered the NPP option, I soon found myself looking for more and now have the Corsa Xtreme exhaust. I was fortunate enough to have them use my car in the prototype work for their system and am very pleased with the results. It is the blue coupe in their videos if you want to check them out.
Good luck, you will love the car.
here is what I concluded, unless you plan to track the car, there is no need to buy a Z51. The ride is stiffer on a Z51 and I plan to use mine as a touring car. Therefore, I ordered the ZF1 appearance package. Gets you the bigger tires and wheels and the car looks identical from the outside except the brake calipers. Of course different suspension components underneath.
One persons opinion. I think the trick is to order the car you want so there will be no regrets later.
I just wanted more of a touring car, no real needed for the added complexity (and potential issues), cost and weight of a dry sump, e-diff, mag ride etc.
I'm very happy with a 2LT base car, even the lowly A6, the wheels are easy to clean and no brake dust, the rotors dont rust after washing it, the tires arent always trying to sandblast the side of the car and I have the same horsepower.
Only regret was I bought off the lot and the car doesnt have NPP, not that I really like the sound of the NPP but the non-NPP exhaust is pretty tame. Plus its not an easy swap like the C5 and C6s so playing muffler-roulette until you find something you like is a little more of a PITA. I'll eventually swap to an aftermarket exhaust once the AFM CELs get figured out..
So far, 9 months and 5000 miles, I have few complaints. Been a good car, would like to have the 8 speed auto over a Z51, but its not worth trading the car in and taking a hit over..
I really regreted not being able to get a Z51. I wanted a Laguna Blue M7 Z51 1LT. Ended up with an M7 Cyber Grey Base 2LT. I beat the utter crap out of my cars I drive them so hard. I wanted the Z51 just for the brakes, wheels and E-diff upgrades. The suspension and dry sump would have been just a bonus to me. At this point though I am upgrading everything in my base anyway and will probably start doing Z06 parts when they become available. I have already upgraded my suspension to Z51 and plan to do the brakes soon..
I love the base car. I went with the ZF1 appearance package because I liked the look , bigger wheels, rims and spoiler of the Z51 but didn't care about the rest of it. Glad I did.
I'm very happy with a 2LT base care, even the lowly A6, the wheels are easy to clean and no brake dust, the rotors dont rust after washing it, the tires arent always trying to sandblast the side of the car and I have the same horsepower.
agreed, a couple advantages you don't know you have, until you live with the car
1. the brakes do not dust at all you can see, I can clean my wheels monthly if i wanted, and still look good. The z51 wheels are dirty almost immediate on rolling.
2. the oil $ for a change is significantly cheaper as it's 3 quarts less
3. the car never burps oil, the level is not so important to get right
4. the car is a lot less complex long term with things I really don't need
5. the discs don't rust on sitting, made of some fancy unobtainium stuff...
I went with the base convertible, M7, 2LT and navigation. I am planning on trading in 2017, first year deprecation is saved by not getting Z51 and Magnetic ride. I had magnetic ride on the C6 I traded, with the new frame and suspension of the C7, really havn't missed it. At over 2,000 miles, have not even come close to the base car's limits (100 mph, .75G). As for ride; somewhere around tour and sport modes. NPP; didn't really want it, stock exhaust is a lot better than most admit to. I will order the base car again, "unchanged" maybe go with the 3LT interior?.
If I tracked the car in a big way, I would get the base......
I see people upgrading brakes, coolers, wheels, etc.
If I did not plan on tracking the car, and also did not plan on modifying the car, get the Z51.
My car came with the performance exhaust ($1,000 option).
Last edited by Little Red Corvette1; 03-01-2015 at 10:51 PM.
Reason: Added context and deleted note on exhaust
11-09-2014, 10:10 AM
Any non-Z51 buyers now have regrets?
Hopefully the popcorn don't run out 
