Is the Z51 completely useless if no track use?
06-06-2016, 08:34 PM
#141
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Skid Row Joe (06-06-2016)
06-06-2016, 08:41 PM
#142
But it's just how some people aproach it... like what the hell. Like your comment, "First you don't need a Corvette there other cars that will get you where you are going" that's not the point. The point is some people say you need a Z51 package to drive spiritied.,, that's just no, a corvette is a sports car, you can drive spirited without the Z51 package.
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promocop (06-06-2016)
06-07-2016, 11:37 AM
#145
The topic of the thread is...is the Z51 completely useless if no track use? A big reason why the option certainly is useful on the road is its shorter 1st-3rd gear ratios (2nd and 3rd especially important for passing power around town). The car feels quicker (the snappy) and is quicker (the 0.2 you mentioned) with them. Now, those 0.2 may not mean much to the average owner who isn't tracking, however, if the car feels quicker and has more satisfying passing power, doesn't that make the Z51 a useful option for road use?
And no it doesn't make it more useful, I'm plenty sure a stock Corvette has enough power to pass someone.
06-07-2016, 01:59 PM
#146
Team Owner
http://www.corvetteblogger.com/docs/...teBrochure.pdf
455 HP and 29 MPG HWY, STANDARD Completely
redesigned, the standard 6.2L LT1 V8 engine boasts
455 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque and offers
29 MPG highway1
— an unprecedented combination.
With the available performance exhaust and the
available Z51 Performance Package, it can achieve up
to 460 horsepower, 465 lb.-ft. of torque and a 0 to 60
time of 3.8 seconds. Compact engine design lowers
the hood line and vehicle center of gravity. And an
available dry-sump oil system delivers oil through
high g-force cornering.
06-07-2016, 02:32 PM
#147
Are the minimally tighter gears enough to compensate for the additional 150lb weight gain?
Last edited by RedC7AZ; 06-07-2016 at 02:34 PM.
06-07-2016, 02:56 PM
#148
Drifting
Originally Posted by RedC7AZ
I guess one can spin the question however they like....
Are the minimally tighter gears enough to compensate for the additional 150lb weight gain?
Are the minimally tighter gears enough to compensate for the additional 150lb weight gain?
My car was 3388 with a full tank of gas in 2LT trim. That puts it at 3340 empty. That's about a 42 lb deficit. You could add 10 lbs because I have 18/19's on the car that are a few lbs lighter than the stock 19/20's.
Last edited by AUTO_X_AL; 06-07-2016 at 03:00 PM.
06-07-2016, 03:33 PM
#149
Originally postted by AUTO_X_AL:
My car was 3388 with a full tank of gas in 2LT trim. That puts it at 3340 empty. That's about a 42 lb deficit. You could add 10 lbs because I have 18/19's on the car that are a few lbs lighter than the stock 19/20's.
The Corvette holds 18.6 gallons of fuel per the manual. At 6 lbs/gallon that's 111.6 pounds of fuel, not the 48 lbs your calculation shows.
If your full-fuel car weighs 3388, that puts it at 3277 empty.
My car was 3388 with a full tank of gas in 2LT trim. That puts it at 3340 empty. That's about a 42 lb deficit. You could add 10 lbs because I have 18/19's on the car that are a few lbs lighter than the stock 19/20's.
The Corvette holds 18.6 gallons of fuel per the manual. At 6 lbs/gallon that's 111.6 pounds of fuel, not the 48 lbs your calculation shows.
If your full-fuel car weighs 3388, that puts it at 3277 empty.
Last edited by driver9; 06-07-2016 at 03:35 PM. Reason: typo "fuelm,"
06-07-2016, 04:52 PM
#150
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Originally Posted by driver9
I think the primary reason Z51s have the 19 and 20" wheels is because the brakes are larger and won't fit in the 18/19" wheels.
Not sure if there's a mechanical reason that magnetic ride control comes with 19/20s. Maybe so, but it's just as likely that GM marketing wants to sell you a wheel upgrade if you want to buy magnetic ride.
.
Not sure if there's a mechanical reason that magnetic ride control comes with 19/20s. Maybe so, but it's just as likely that GM marketing wants to sell you a wheel upgrade if you want to buy magnetic ride.
.
06-07-2016, 05:32 PM
#151
First, I'm not sure what you mean by "they have to have the same wheel sizes." Doesn't the Z51 configuration have two wheel sizes, 19 front, 20 rear?
And as far as the rest of it, somebody above said that they are running the 18/19 combo on their Z51-configured Stingray.
Any clarification is appreciated.
.
06-07-2016, 07:15 PM
#152
Drifting
Good point. Tighter gears certainly compensate for the added weight. I don't know if they fully compensate, under-compensate, or over-compensate. I think it's safe to assume the engineers did their job.
06-07-2016, 07:26 PM
#153
Drifting
The base car would have a slight MPG advantage and closer lower gear spacing; not that any performance enthusiast would care.
06-07-2016, 07:29 PM
#154
Drifting
When it comes down to it, who needs a Corvette?
We buy them because we want them, not need them.
If you want a Z51, get a Z51. If you want a Z06 and only drive it to church, that's fine too.
I don't track my Z51, but I drive it hard.
We buy them because we want them, not need them.
If you want a Z51, get a Z51. If you want a Z06 and only drive it to church, that's fine too.
I don't track my Z51, but I drive it hard.
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promocop (06-07-2016)
06-07-2016, 08:11 PM
#155
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Originally Posted by driver9
I'm confused.
First, I'm not sure what you mean by "they have to have the same wheel sizes." Doesn't the Z51 configuration have two wheel sizes, 19 front, 20 rear?
And as far as the rest of it, somebody above said that they are running the 18/19 combo on their Z51-configured Stingray.
Any clarification is appreciated.
.
First, I'm not sure what you mean by "they have to have the same wheel sizes." Doesn't the Z51 configuration have two wheel sizes, 19 front, 20 rear?
And as far as the rest of it, somebody above said that they are running the 18/19 combo on their Z51-configured Stingray.
Any clarification is appreciated.
.
Once you get the car, you can put whatever wheels you want on it, but you're no longer optimized to the calibration.
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driver9 (06-07-2016)
06-07-2016, 08:48 PM
#156
Some of those commenting in this thread have driven all the configurations more than around the block. Some have only driven one. As a Chevrolet Dealer and Corvette enthusiast I get to drive them all. Great fun. My personal car is a Z51 with Mag Ride and manual trans. I do an occasional track day, and would have no other configuration. I'm a suspension junkie, even my motorcycles have 4 way adjustable shocks.
I consider the standard suspension damping too soft for even moderate street driving. In particular the rear damping rebound is too loose. That said its juts fine for the majority of owners and my customers who enjoy knowing what their car is capable of, but will never go around corners at high speed, especially on a rough road where the lack of damping makes the rear end squirrely. If you want a Corvette to cruise, and thats the majority of my buyers, then the standard car is perfect.
In spite of my own choice, I personally feel the best choice for most buyers is the standard car plus magnetic ride. That gives them the lower spring rates and better ride, but still the option to have computer controlled and adjustable damping. Even on Tour mode my Z51+mag ride is a bit stiffer than a standard car, but you wouldn't realize it unless you drive one car and then the other.
Your mileage may vary.
I consider the standard suspension damping too soft for even moderate street driving. In particular the rear damping rebound is too loose. That said its juts fine for the majority of owners and my customers who enjoy knowing what their car is capable of, but will never go around corners at high speed, especially on a rough road where the lack of damping makes the rear end squirrely. If you want a Corvette to cruise, and thats the majority of my buyers, then the standard car is perfect.
In spite of my own choice, I personally feel the best choice for most buyers is the standard car plus magnetic ride. That gives them the lower spring rates and better ride, but still the option to have computer controlled and adjustable damping. Even on Tour mode my Z51+mag ride is a bit stiffer than a standard car, but you wouldn't realize it unless you drive one car and then the other.
Your mileage may vary.
06-07-2016, 08:56 PM
#157
The only way to determine if the gearing really compensate for all the added weight is to drag race a non z51 and Z51 side by side 0-60 with as few variables as possible. Until that happens we really don't know for sure which is really faster.
We do know for sure the Non Z51 owners think theirs is faster and the Z51 owners think theirs is faster.
06-07-2016, 09:02 PM
#158
Instructor
In spite of my own choice, I personally feel the best choice for most buyers is the standard car plus magnetic ride. That gives them the lower spring rates and better ride, but still the option to have computer controlled and adjustable damping. Even on Tour mode my Z51+mag ride is a bit stiffer than a standard car, but you wouldn't realize it unless you drive one car and then the other.
Your mileage may vary.
06-07-2016, 09:56 PM
#159
Explaining why someone needs the Z51 vs. the base non-Z51 on-the-street, (non-tracker) is what's missing in this thread. The $5K difference in price is noteworthy.
06-07-2016, 10:33 PM
#160
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I discuss why you can benefit from a dry sump when aggressively driving on a 270 degree Interstate exit ramp! In a nut shell that is more of a sustained lateral "g" turn than on most race tracks! I also like the fast transient response and on our flat, good quality roads my 2014 doesn't even have mag shocks and the ride is fine. For my September 2013 build the Z51 was a $2800 option.
Last edited by JerryU; 06-07-2016 at 10:43 PM.