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Driving Your C7 Corvette Hard? Tick That Z51 Box First
If you bought your C7 with the intention of driving it hard, equip it as such. That Z51 option is not just another cool “go fast” doo-dad; it genuinely gets the business done.
Ticked box for Z51 option 8 years ago on C6. Did not tick Z5 box for C7. Able to drive C7 as hard as C6. It's a sports car, meant to be driven hard, in any form you ordered it.
I totally agree with you, our Z51 on the street in 90+ degree South Florida heat stays cool. The highest tranny temp has been 175 and oil averages 192. Unfortunately on the track the A8 tranny overheats pretty quick. I am hoping a retrofit cooler cures the problem.
I drove my 2015 Z51 hard (total of almost 800 miles) the past three days on Texas' great back roads, more specifically the famous Twisted Sisters on Tuesday, and the Z51 made it absolutely an outstanding cruise. You do not have to track it to really enjoy the Z51 package.
I drove my 2015 Z51 hard (total of almost 800 miles) the past three days on Texas' great back roads, more specifically the famous Twisted Sisters on Tuesday, and the Z51 made it absolutely an outstanding cruise. You do not have to track it to really enjoy the Z51 package.
I drive those roads a lot. Drove them in my C5's and my C6, all equipped with either Z51 or mag ride. I drive them a bunch in my C7...it is not a Z51 car and it drives as well, if not better than my former cars. Not holding anything against the Z51 option, but the performance margins are so slim that for a spirited drive I don't see the expended money offering its worth. ( On a track, I believe that the cost is a value that is not lost.) No one in their right mind would drive those roads hard enough to warrant the use of more than a base C7. To much traffic and unpredictable site seer's on the loose out there.
And don't forget about the police in the area, DPS guys drive those roads often to play hill country golf. Maybe not in cruisers, but they will remember seeing the nice C7 hurling down the road
I drive those roads a lot. Drove them in my C5's and my C6, all equipped with either Z51 or mag ride. I drive them a bunch in my C7...it is not a Z51 car and it drives as well, if not better than my former cars. Not holding anything against the Z51 option, but the performance margins are so slim that for a spirited drive I don't see the expended money offering its worth. ( On a track, I believe that the cost is a value that is not lost.) No one in their right mind would drive those roads hard enough to warrant the use of more than a base C7. To much traffic and unpredictable site seer's on the loose out there.
And don't forget about the police in the area, DPS guys drive those roads often to play hill country golf. Maybe not in cruisers, but they will remember seeing the nice C7 hurling down the road
Tossing out the BS flag on most of these comments.
ODD, I drive my 2014 ZF1 as hard as ANY vette I have ever owned to include my 03 and 07 Z06's that I tracked and I'm not having any issues. What issues should I be looking for?
Maybe the triple digits here in St Louis are different than other cities. And I use the hell out of the paddle shifters.
The Z51 option is certainly a bargin and maybe unnecessary. You can always used the money saved by not ordering the Z51 option for such things as fake spoilers, splitters and ground effects.
Just got back from running Tail of the Dragon with our Corvette club.
I heard lots of discussion between drivers at the Tail regarding high temperatures. I don't think anyone ever had to stop and let their car cool down but there was discussion anyway.
We drove my wife's Z51 auto vert and never saw anything out of order. Temps were good, brakes were good, handling was excellent. I pushed pretty hard and shifted manually all the time. Never a worry.
Just got back from running Tail of the Dragon with our Corvette club.
I heard lots of discussion between drivers at the Tail regarding high temperatures. I don't think anyone ever had to stop and let their car cool down but there was discussion anyway.
We drove my wife's Z51 auto vert and never saw anything out of order. Temps were good, brakes were good, handling was excellent. I pushed pretty hard and shifted manually all the time. Never a worry.
Where you the couple in the black vert at the deals gap resort station?
Drove mine from Philly to Bowling Green last week. Loved every minute of it. The Bluegrass Parkway was the best. Did the Skyline Drive on the way back. Its not my every day driver but...... I drive it every day I can....Z51 the only way to go...
07-22-2015, 02:35 PM
Driving Your C7 Corvette Hard? Tick That Z51 Box First
