Base vs Z51
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 686
From: SUFFIELD CONNECTICUT
This is what you wanted, base 1LT, ZF1, NPP.
Last edited by BJ67; Jun 8, 2016 at 08:27 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 9
From: MARRIOTTSVILLE MD
I recently traded in my 2015 Z51 Vert on a 2016 Base model Vert to get rid of the M7, the black badging, the black spoiler and the black wheels.
The base car handles and brakes good enough to satisfy 95% of the folks out there, but as soon as I got on my favorite twisty roads I was really disappointed.
So disappointed that I installed a set of Z51 swaybars before I even had 500 miles on the car. Its not a Z51 but Iam pretty satisfied with car now.
If I could have afforded the Z51 I would have bought one but it was either the Vert or Z51 so I chose the vert.
Inthered
The base car handles and brakes good enough to satisfy 95% of the folks out there, but as soon as I got on my favorite twisty roads I was really disappointed.
So disappointed that I installed a set of Z51 swaybars before I even had 500 miles on the car. Its not a Z51 but Iam pretty satisfied with car now.
If I could have afforded the Z51 I would have bought one but it was either the Vert or Z51 so I chose the vert.
Inthered
Last edited by INTHERED; Jun 7, 2016 at 10:28 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
Likes: 1,471
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
the funniest thing about these non vs. Z51 threads is that the non owners won't say jack about the Z06 (a Z51 X 2) or now, the GS. If they think the Z51 is useless for the streets what do they really think about the aforementioned two?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 719
From: Northeast MA & Mad Beach FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 686
From: SUFFIELD CONNECTICUT
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 686
From: SUFFIELD CONNECTICUT
Its not that its useless, its a overkill for the streets. The Z51 and the Z06 have a purpose that is hard to express on the streets. If anyone comes close to reaching the limits of a Z51 or a Z06 on the street I will see you coming and get the hell out of the way. A lightweight simple base 1Lt manual stingray with the Z51 wheels/tires, NPP is quick on the street and the 1/4 mile without the weight and the complexity. I have to admit the GS intrigues me. Its the wide body and the look of a ZO6 that does it, not all the mechanical upgrades. Now if it had a power increase...... to match the extra grip for acceleration!
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 267
Likes: 290
From: Farmington Utah
For what it's worth, everyone keeps saying you have to have the Z51 Package to get Magnetic Ride Control. Not true. I'm not sure if/when it changed, but I bought a 2016 non-Z51 that has MRC and I love it.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 203
From: MI
Its not that its useless, its a overkill for the streets. The Z51 and the Z06 have a purpose that is hard to express on the streets. If anyone comes close to reaching the limits of a Z51 or a Z06 on the street I will see you coming and get the hell out of the way. A lightweight simple base 1Lt manual stingray with the Z51 wheels/tires, NPP is quick on the street and the 1/4 mile without the weight and the complexity. I have to admit the GS intrigues me. Its the wide body and the look of a ZO6 that does it, not all the mechanical upgrades. Now if it had a power increase...... to match the extra grip for acceleration!
It has never been about reaching the cars max potential. It's been about how the car feels. The z51 is rougher and tighter.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 16,684
Likes: 1,193
From: La Center WA
You are correct and it has not changed for 2017. RPO FE2 includes magnetic ride control, 19" / 20" Z51-style wheels, and Z51-style rear spoiler; FE2 is available only on non-Z51 Stingrays. M.S.R.P. is $3,495.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 22,697
Likes: 1,697
From: South Carolina
Although I've seen this topic debated many times on this forum and thought I was sure I wanted a 2LT Z51 coupe, I'm now unsure which way to go. I would like to track the car, but that now seems more complicated than I originally thought.
My insurance company doesn't allow tracking so supplemental insurance seems to run about $400 per event just for damage to the car, no liability insurance. To keep the warranty intact requires track prep and back to street. My local dealer said that costs $2500 for the two services. So, it all seems more trouble and cost than it's worth. Might be better off going to the Ron Fellows or other driving school from time to time.
So, if I don't track the car, should I get a base coupe? If I get the Z51, I would definitely also get the MRC. The MSRP for those two options is $6800. I don't mind paying that if I get benefit/value from it. If I get the base, I would still get the NPP exhaust, $1200 MSRP, which is included with the Z51.
My decision is mostly based on ride & handling. It will not be a daily driver. I would like to use the car for cross-country trips to include spirited driving on twisty mountain roads. I understand the base suspension is the most comfortable for highway cruising. Not too many reviews of the base model, but I recall a writer saying the base model bottomed too easily on rough spots in curves. The Z51 includes:
Split 5-spoke aluminum wheels in Sterling Silver (19" front and 20" rear); dry-sump oil system; performance gear ratios; e-LSD; larger front brakes (13.6" vs. 12.6") with Black calipers; slotted brake rotors; specific shocks, springs and stabilizer bars; performance exhaust, differential and transmission cooling; heavy-duty engine cooling; Aero Package that reduces lift for high-speed stability; and specific Michelin® Pilot® Super Sport ZP summer-only tires18 (unique and aggressively tuned to provide outstanding handling, grip and road-holding capability)
The wheels and spoiler aren't a big deal. I don't care about the dry-sump unless spirited mountain driving requires it. From what I've read the e-LSD makes a remarkable difference in handling, whether on the track or a rainy street. Don't know the value of heavy duty brakes, diff, tranny & engine cooling on the street, but it can't hurt. I've read here about the Z51 brake dust.
Even if I don't track it, would I still want the Z51 for hard mountain driving, probably nothing beyond what one would do with any typical sports car, i.e., Miata, 370Z, Boxster, Caymen? I don't want to regret not having ordered the Z51, but I also don't want to spend $5600 on something of little or no value to me. Any insights would be appreciated.
Those with a base model, are you satisfied with hard mountain driving and the handling in general? Is the suspension too soft for that? Thanks.
My insurance company doesn't allow tracking so supplemental insurance seems to run about $400 per event just for damage to the car, no liability insurance. To keep the warranty intact requires track prep and back to street. My local dealer said that costs $2500 for the two services. So, it all seems more trouble and cost than it's worth. Might be better off going to the Ron Fellows or other driving school from time to time.
So, if I don't track the car, should I get a base coupe? If I get the Z51, I would definitely also get the MRC. The MSRP for those two options is $6800. I don't mind paying that if I get benefit/value from it. If I get the base, I would still get the NPP exhaust, $1200 MSRP, which is included with the Z51.
My decision is mostly based on ride & handling. It will not be a daily driver. I would like to use the car for cross-country trips to include spirited driving on twisty mountain roads. I understand the base suspension is the most comfortable for highway cruising. Not too many reviews of the base model, but I recall a writer saying the base model bottomed too easily on rough spots in curves. The Z51 includes:
Split 5-spoke aluminum wheels in Sterling Silver (19" front and 20" rear); dry-sump oil system; performance gear ratios; e-LSD; larger front brakes (13.6" vs. 12.6") with Black calipers; slotted brake rotors; specific shocks, springs and stabilizer bars; performance exhaust, differential and transmission cooling; heavy-duty engine cooling; Aero Package that reduces lift for high-speed stability; and specific Michelin® Pilot® Super Sport ZP summer-only tires18 (unique and aggressively tuned to provide outstanding handling, grip and road-holding capability)
The wheels and spoiler aren't a big deal. I don't care about the dry-sump unless spirited mountain driving requires it. From what I've read the e-LSD makes a remarkable difference in handling, whether on the track or a rainy street. Don't know the value of heavy duty brakes, diff, tranny & engine cooling on the street, but it can't hurt. I've read here about the Z51 brake dust.
Even if I don't track it, would I still want the Z51 for hard mountain driving, probably nothing beyond what one would do with any typical sports car, i.e., Miata, 370Z, Boxster, Caymen? I don't want to regret not having ordered the Z51, but I also don't want to spend $5600 on something of little or no value to me. Any insights would be appreciated.
Those with a base model, are you satisfied with hard mountain driving and the handling in general? Is the suspension too soft for that? Thanks.
Your butt will pucker long before the base gives up on street roads...In fact its quite easy to nauseate yourself in the twisties with the base Stingray...At street speeds and roads its almost as if the car sits into the road deeper the faster you go...Its never on top of the road...
enjoy.....
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 683
From: Austin Texas
St. Jude Donor '15
There I said jack...but they're still Corvettes and they are still cool. Just get what you want and be happy with it, and don't diss another's Corvette.
Oh, crap, I forgot about the GS...well it's cool to. And appears to have taken the Corvette to another level...way to go GM!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
LOL . . . I hate to break this to you, but it doesn't matter which version or generation of Corvette you have, you're going to be accused of looking like a "boy-racer."
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 549
Likes: 41
From: Kansas City MO
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,768
Likes: 297
From: Plano TX
Smaller wheels tend to be lighter. Why would the Z51 wheels be lighter than the base wheels, when the base wheels are smaller?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,020
Likes: 3,429
From: Plymouth Massachusetts
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
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And of course matching Z51 coupes!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 203
From: MI
the most important factor is the materials of the rim, not the dam size.
Now the Z51 rims are probably heavier because they are using cheaper materials.
Last edited by MikeLsx; Jun 8, 2016 at 07:59 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 686
From: SUFFIELD CONNECTICUT
Your butt will pucker long before the base gives up on street roads...In fact its quite easy to nauseate yourself in the twisties with the base Stingray...At street speeds and roads its almost as if the car sits into the road deeper the faster you go...Its never on top of the road...
enjoy.....
enjoy.....
