Hey all!! Owned and sold a 2006 and 2009 c6 both with low mileage. Fantastic cars!! I am retired now and love the look and fit of the 2016 Stingray. I intend to drive this and not garage it. I have read so many things about this car on forums that it makes me wonder if I should purchase or wait for a newer model. I would go with the standard coupe lt2 with performance exhaust and select ride would prefer m7 but am leaning to a8 because of the decision to drive this everyday. have read that the c7 has so many problems with the z06 and a8 and am assuming its because of the torque?? So heres my question to you guys....if we can all get real here...does anyone know if any/some/all of these problems expressed on the stingray forums and here have been addressed by GM?? As a chevy/corvette enthusiast I would like to think they have and if I order one in the next few weeks I will get a car that has been vetted pardon the pun. I would welcome comments to help me make this decision...thanks

 

As far as everyday driving and the M7 goes, this is one of the easiest clutches I have ever driven. It is light, yet gives you plenty of information about the bite point and how much grab there is at any given point in the throw.

Also if you want NPP(exhaust mode switching) and Mag ride, I would probably go ahead and spring for the Z51 if you want the NPP & Mag ride as if you purchase the Mag Ride it makes you get the larger wheel/tire package and the NPP comes included in the Z51 thus making the Z51 a pretty good value, coming pretty close to those 2 options alone, plus you get a diff cooler, trans cooler, rear spoiler, better differential, and shorter gearing, along with a dry sump.

Addressing your concerns with the A8, the biggest issue with them is they overheat(which to an extent has been handled in the 2016 model year cars with a trans cooler on all automatics.

I personally ordered and recently took delivery of a 2LT Z51 with a manual, and couldn't see myself ordering any other way. I didn't spring for the mag ride as I feel like the Z51 suspension is plenty compliant for a daily driver(but that will always vary from person to person, some people want their sports car to ride like a Range Rover for some reason, and some people could daily drive a Lotus Exige S).

If at all possible your best option as far as choosing the correct suspension and transmission is to go drive them both. My biggest factor in buying it with a manual is because I won't give up the third pedal until I can't operate it or cars simply don't come with them anymore.

 

I purchased a base 2014 convertible with LT2 and M7. I had a 2006 coupe magnetic ride and M6. The C7 chassis is so rigid magnetic ride isn't needed. You will find a drive mod selection you like and not change to another, if ever. Manual seven speed is super, I basically operate my engine at 1300 to 1500 rpm varying the car's speed by selecting the appropriate gear. I will never purchase another coupe, this totally power top is up and down in seconds, just a push of the switch. NPP performance exhaust I didn't opp for it, perfectly happy with the stock version. Not like a Buick's, the Corvette has a nice aggressive sound when the engine is making power.

 

If you prefer a stick, don't let the fact that it will be your daily driver sway you, especially if you are retired and don't have to face am and pm traffic. The clutch is very easy on the C7 and shifting is a dream. No problems so far with my M7 convertible.

 

Just bought my C7 with A8. Chose to go with base because I am not going to do a lot of tracking with the car. I would get the 19 and 20 inch wheels ( I like the look and mine had them) and the Z51 spoiler ( mine had it). I wouldn't worry about the A8 and overheating. If you look at other threads on this forum, you will see that a lot of the vettes at Spring Mountain are using the A8's with no problems. I believe most of the problems are the drivers. ( I won't get into a long discussion with this). When I owned my C6 Z06's (5), there were a lot of complaints about the sky is falling with a valve issue. Never had a problem with any of the engines, nor did any of my friends. Buy the car the way you want it and enjoy. Don't be swayed by you have to have this or that. Remember you have a long warranty to get all or any issues resolved. Mike

 

This is only a daily driver in a climate where it never goes below 40 degrees. As far as issues with the car I would say its hit or miss.

 

2015 3LT, A8,Z51. Lots of technology to figure out with Infotainment System and Performance Data Recorder. Do not track my car and have had no trans overheating or any other issue for that matter. Like a rock.

 

You say you are buying a Stingray but referred to problems with the Z06 A8. Being a daily driver TO ME has no influence on which transmission to pick. I have a manual and have in the past had manuals for my daily drivers. Pick the transmission that you thinks works for you. As for "getting real", you read the forums just like the rest of us. You didn't list any specific problems that affect the "Stingray", so it would be hard to address your question. You don't sound like you intend to track, so I'm thinking the transmission choice might not matter in your case.

 

Figure I'd ask you here instead of creating a thread; is the only real difference between 2LT and 1LT the seats and interior accents? You get power/memory/heated/ventilated seats, and some additional leather inserts around the cockpit?

 

2LT also has head up display

 

M7 1LT dailiy driver to and from work since Feb.---5,500 miles and zero issues so far.

 

If you want the C7 for a daily driver you have nothing to worry about. Most of the "problems" you read about on the Forum are from people that are serious about tracking a nearly stock car. In some cases they push them to the limit and experience issues you will never see on the street.

We purchased a C7 Z51 convertible for my wife the first week they were available. She has 25,000 miles on it now with absolutely no problems. She didn't have to take it in to have anything fixed because of initial build problems and has experienced no component failures in day to day driving.

This car is equipped with LT2, Z51, NPP, mag ride, carbon dash and auto trans. It is comfortable and can get 30 mpg on the highway. You can feel comfortable in ordering your daily driver in any configuration you want and expect it to be a dependable car.

 

Hello sir. "wait for a newer model". This sir is the new model 7th generation. This platform introduced MY2104 is now in 3rd model year. I seriously doubt GM will redesign the platform/architecture any time soon. Tweaks to the electronics, perhaps HP bump, new colors, etc. yes. Now into the 3rd MY, many of the earlier gremlins are tweaked. Engineering will continue to fine tune, but not expecting any major design changes. BTW, I own a 2106 Stingray Z51 convertible, and having stepped out of a 2013 Grand Sport, the C7 by far is superior on some many levels.

 

Frankly, having a Z06 as a D/D would be over kill at the extreme. Realize that the 460 HP LT1 is more horse power than just about any muscle car "back in the day". That, and it is a hell of lot more streetable. If your desire is be know you are king of the hill, a Z06 would be a good start, but on the other hand a Challenger can be had for less money, and more horsepower.

 

Agreed, if it isn't going to be at the drag strip every weekend a bone stock LT1 equipped C7 is more than enough. The low down grunt is more than you will need on public roads, and unless you are a race car driver it will out-drive you on HPDE days too.

Once again I agree, if you want to be the guy rolling down the road with the biggest horsepower numbers spring for a Z06, but you will save money just buying a GT500 or Hellcat if all you want is a big horsepower number to brag about.

 

I ordered my 16 LT2 coupe the way you are looking at ordering yours.
I am happy with my decision not to order it with the Z-51 package. I was not going to order the Mag ride, but had too because of museum delivery. Now, I am glad I have the mag ride. I like the way the suspension stiffens or softens based on what I want. The NPP sounds great. When you want the noise, it makes plenty, when you want the quiet, you can shut it off.

I bought the A8 because of where I live. I got tired of sitting in traffic with my foot on the clutch with the C4. Do I miss the manual? Sometimes, usually it is when I am pushing the car around a corner and want to have some fun. I have not had any problems with the A8, but it is an automatic. I thought if I stuck my foot in it, it would find the lowest possible hole and take off, I found it may shift down a couple of times.

What you want sounds like a great package to me, if you will be driving it and not regularly tracking it. Get your car the way you want it, and let the adventures begin.

 

When I started planning to order the 14 C-7 I was really going to get a 1LT with Z51 and M7 trans.

Ended up ordering everything I thought I might want. 3LT, M7 trans, Z51, Mag ride, the NPP exhaust and so on. Sure glad I did, just love it.

Mag ride is nice, very firm when I want to play in the twisty roads, which TN has lots Then in Touring its very nice for trips or longer rides. You can feel the change in suspension, steering, throttle response and so on.

This is the easiest manual trans car I have ever driven or owned. Its lots of fun, and easy to shift. But you can leave it in 3rd or 4th around town if your lazy.

 

I have a 3lt Z51 and it has been superb in every way. I absolutely love it. No problems other than roof creaking and a one hour visit to dealer fixed it so I am a happy camper.

 

I always love the posts that say the Z06 is not practical or certain options are not practical. The bottom line is no Corvette is practical people buy them because they want to for a number of reasons. A practical car would be a Chevrolet Spark so just remember that when you question someone buying a high HP Z06 that has no intention of tracking. Just my $.02