Advice for first time buyer?
04-17-2015, 12:03 PM
#21
Burning Brakes
I just ordered my first vette and had a similar predicament as you.
I am a very "spirited" driver and cannot rule out a track/auto cross day in the future. I'll never be a regular at the track but I can imagine myself doing it once just for the experience.
Anyways if you read and watch most of the reviews there are two things that significantly affect the feel and performance of the vehicle.
1. Electronic differential
2. Stabilizer bars - The base has some body roll that most say is cleaned up nicely with stabilizer bars.
You get neither of those things on a base C7.
So at first I thought I would order a C7, get the ZF1 appearance package, NPP exhaust (sound and more HP), and paint the calipers (dont want grey). Then after taking delivery I would put the stabilizer bars on myself.
Well by the time you price out those options, buy the stabilizer bars yourself, and either pay someone to install them or do it yourself you are withing spitting distance of just getting the Z51 package and having this stuff taken care of from the get go.
So I ended up getting the Z51 package and it cost me just over $1k more.
The Z51 also gets me so much more. More aggressive gear ratios, bigger slotted brakes, working cooling ducts, dry sump oil system, etc...
Happy with my 1LT Z51 choice. I looked at a 2LT but for $4k+ I was not impressed with the minor extras in features you get especially since most of those features I did not care about anyways. Only big thing I want is the homelink visor which can be had for $110 bucks and installed in seconds.
I am a very "spirited" driver and cannot rule out a track/auto cross day in the future. I'll never be a regular at the track but I can imagine myself doing it once just for the experience.
Anyways if you read and watch most of the reviews there are two things that significantly affect the feel and performance of the vehicle.
1. Electronic differential
2. Stabilizer bars - The base has some body roll that most say is cleaned up nicely with stabilizer bars.
You get neither of those things on a base C7.
So at first I thought I would order a C7, get the ZF1 appearance package, NPP exhaust (sound and more HP), and paint the calipers (dont want grey). Then after taking delivery I would put the stabilizer bars on myself.
Well by the time you price out those options, buy the stabilizer bars yourself, and either pay someone to install them or do it yourself you are withing spitting distance of just getting the Z51 package and having this stuff taken care of from the get go.
So I ended up getting the Z51 package and it cost me just over $1k more.
The Z51 also gets me so much more. More aggressive gear ratios, bigger slotted brakes, working cooling ducts, dry sump oil system, etc...
Happy with my 1LT Z51 choice. I looked at a 2LT but for $4k+ I was not impressed with the minor extras in features you get especially since most of those features I did not care about anyways. Only big thing I want is the homelink visor which can be had for $110 bucks and installed in seconds.
Last edited by TennisFreak; 04-17-2015 at 12:05 PM.
04-17-2015, 06:03 PM
#22
Pro
Member Since: Jan 2014
Location: Huntersville, North Carolina
Posts: 708
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I agree, when I bought mine, delivered in October 2013, the Z51 model was only $2800 extra! Couldn’t believe that cost with: bigger wheels and rear spoiler, added rear roll bar, 46 vs 35 mm shocks (non mag shocks) trans and differential cooler, bigger brakes, slotted rotors and the new eLSD, which is a very sophisticated computer managed traction control. Had a Z51 ’08 and ’93 with HD suspension (with mag shocks) and an ’87 with HD suspension so the Z51 was an absolute must have for me.However it was so cheap and some folks who liked the bigger wheels and added spoiler opted for it. Unlike yourself, they had no idea the dry sump took a very special procedure to check the oil level, the tires are more track designed and from forum comments (and my experience) have more of a cold performance “chatter issue.” Both no problem for me. Also the brake dust is very heavy, I even changed my pads to Carbotech 1521’s, great product, solved the problem.
My suggestion for a ZF1 for those who like the looks is it avoids what I consider minor issues with a dry sump, brake dust, etc but some consider major! Sounds like you’ll take full advantage of the Z51 extra’s, best of luck!
04-19-2015, 06:38 PM
#24
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: NE South Carolina
Posts: 29,449
Received 9,606 Likes
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6,619 Posts
http://www.chevrolet.com/corvette-st...ecs/trims.html
For me it's the added HUD, memory seats, added sub woofer, home remote (if you'd like a switch to open your garage door,) seat adjusments, heated seats, auto dim rear view mirror. There are more look at the list.
04-19-2015, 06:47 PM
#25
04-19-2015, 09:49 PM
#28
Melting Slicks
