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Get the base, save your money, you will not miss a thing that is included with the Z51 option. Sometimes good is good enough and the base checks all those boxes for street use.
And that's why I chose a '14 C7 Base Coupe having similar driving needs as the Op. I did think it needed a little more to better flatten out the curves so decided to add this Z51 feature as the C7 base only has a front sway bar, smaller than the Z51. An inexpensive upgrade easy installed with mine done at the dealership. A four wheel realignment highly suggested after installation. Read this thread.
Hi everyone, I'm looking to purchase a 2014 or 2015 C7. I wanted to get your opinion on whether the base or Z51 would be right for me: I live in potholed Los Angeles, with bad surface roads and bad freeways. The C7 will NOT be my DD. I'll mostly drive it on the freeways for high speed jaunts into the canyons, Orange County, Santa Barbara, up and down the Pacific Coast Highway & maybe even Vegas. But I don't anticipate taking it on a track. Even the canyon driving will be within my limits and not the car's lol. So based on that, would you recommend I get the base car or the Z51? How much and what would I be missing out not getting a Z51? Is it worth the extra money for the way I expect to drive it? thanks,
Sean
I did not notice if this will be a stick or automatic? if so the difference in the 2014 and 2015 in the automatic is one to consider as well.
I'm on the base side of the camp on this one. Like the OP we enjoy long cruises on the highway, sight seeing tours, etc. Smooth ride is priority over carving up the mountain, not that that's an option in Texas ��. Cars capabilities will rarely reach the limit the way I drive. High speed runs are not limited base vs. Z51, high speed cornering yes to some degree. As others have posted OP try to get a new model vs. used, we picked up our 17' with A8 and NPP option for under 48k. The best part is you can personalize any model to make it unique. GLWP.
I disagree on used vs new. I picked up a 2016 Z51 that has magride, PDR, painted wheels, NPP, etc for almost $2K less than the advertised price of a base model on the big forum dealers (I paid a little over $47K). Car had 2600 miles on it and looked brand new. It still smelled new
11 months of the warranty expired but for the price difference I could get into a GM certified extended warranty and still have money left.
I have a Z51, no mag suspension, the car rides great.
I have read a couple of places that the mag ride control makes the car marginally slower on the track for some reason. Not sure why, and go figure. I don't care about all that, my only concern is mag ride is another thing that could need repair up the road, but GM has been making those systems for a long time, I think they're pretty bullet proof by now.
nobody talks about this z51 advantage, but those larger, ventilated disc z51 brakes are superb. its them little disc brakes, non vented, that get to me in the non z51 vettes. With the crazy stupid people on the road, (in my neck of the woods many of whom do not have drivers license's) stopping fast is paramount to vehicle performance concerns.
nobody talks about this z51 advantage, but those larger, ventilated disc z51 brakes are superb. its them little disc brakes, non vented, that get to me in the non z51 vettes. With the crazy stupid people on the road, (in my neck of the woods many of whom do not have drivers license's) stopping fast is paramount to vehicle performance concerns.
OP,
The slightly smaller than Z51 brakes on the base are still fantastic. The car stops on a dime.
My 2009 had Z51 and MRC - no complaints, but could not feel any difference when playing with the ride control.
2013 Grand Sport with mrc - twitchy steering, on certain sections of a road I travel tires would give off a slight vibration. It did this before and after having new tires installed. Could not feel any difference when playing with ride control. I loved cleaning the brake dust off the wheels all the time - NOT.
2017 is a base coupe and the ride is fantastic for a sports car, tires are quiet, handles better than I can drive it. Even if I track the car the weak link will be the driver.
My C6 did not have Z51- the C7 does. I'm sure the Z51 does amp up the handling mojo. My guess is the base coupe to Z51 difference is similar between the better cornering you get going from Z51 to Grand Sport.
We just need to sticky a Z51 vs base thread. It's the same thing everytime
OP drive them both and buy the one that makes the most sense to you. Everyone is different and has their own opinions. For some the base car is perfect. For others the Z51 is more desirable. There is no right or wrong answer.
Base Stingray owners are losers. The Z51 is really great. It's so much faster and handles so much better. Base stingray is half as fast and handles like my first Rolls. It's too bad the base owners can't afford such a great car.
Last edited by DAFFYDRUNK; 05-25-2017 at 03:52 PM.
Reason: Z51 is really really great, and you are a loser if you don't get one.
nobody talks about this z51 advantage, but those larger, ventilated disc z51 brakes are superb. its them little disc brakes, non vented, that get to me in the non z51 vettes. With the crazy stupid people on the road, (in my neck of the woods many of whom do not have drivers license's) stopping fast is paramount to vehicle performance concerns.
Originally Posted by RedC7AZ
OP,
The slightly smaller than Z51 brakes on the base are still fantastic. The car stops on a dime.
And that's why I chose a '14 C7 Base Coupe having similar driving needs as the Op. I did think it needed a little more to better flatten out the curves so decided to add this Z51 feature as the C7 base only has a front sway bar, smaller than the Z51. An inexpensive upgrade easy installed with mine done at the dealership. A four wheel realignment highly suggested after installation. Read this thread.
If you don't get a Z51 you are nuts. The amount of technology you get for the price is amazing. Read the early reviews of the C7 and most all of them say the same.
If you're going to drive like a geezer then buy something else.
If you don't get a Z51 you are nuts. The amount of technology you get for the price is amazing. Read the early reviews of the C7 and most all of them say the same.
If you're going to drive like a geezer then buy something else.
I've driven both hard and on regular roads and preferred the firmer suspension ofnthe z51. I did however settle for a base suspension car due to availability. I've pulled over 1.1 G on the car already and have taken it twice to my fav canyon roads and enjoyed it. Not the sweetest handling car in stock form but the PSS tires that come standard are phenomenal. The body control is good, but there is a lot of roll for being a larger sports car and the result from hving such a compliant ride is that you get a small sensation of float over sudden road elevation changes. The great thing is the car is so light for what it is that it's easy to toss the car around a corner albeit less confidently initially only because of the amount of lean the suspension allow. Once the suspension is loaded it takes a solid set and sticks like glue. It helps that the the steering is precise and offers decent feel. I went ahead and ordered z51 sway bars and will eventually switch to Z 51 shocks. will be interesting to see how those shocks and sway bars work with the base spring rate. I am looking to at least maintain a slightly smoother ride over a z51 non-magnetic ride car.
Last edited by NiteriderFRC; 05-26-2017 at 12:05 AM.
Yes. Seriously.
Why buy a watered down version? Why leave out world class performance technology that costs next to nothing? I think many many Corvette owners should consider an SS. I think it would better fit their lifestyles and driving habits.
All of this it's just my opinion of course....but I'm right.
Yes. Seriously.
Why but a watered down version? Why leave out world class performance technology that costs next to nothing? I think many many Corvette owners should consider an SS. I think it would better fit their lifestyles and driving habits.
All of this it's just my opinion of course....but I'm right.
I gotta' give it to you, you sure do believe your own BS. Good for you.
I Beat the hell out of my non-Z51 C7, never spooked, and IMO handles great. Having never driven a Z51, I wonder how much better it could be if the base C7 was designed this well.
Is there a significant difference on skidpad between the two?
05-24-2017, 08:52 AM
