Skid Row Joe

I bought a base 2017 Stingray with the MSRC (Magnetic Selective Ride Control) shocks. For my usage & transportation desires, that's all I need. I suppose I could spring for the Z51 FRNT & REAR sway bars for $450.00 at some point.

For long distance usage, I don't see any reason to buy the GS, with the racing Z51/ZO6 feature add-ons.



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rmorin1249

Perfectly happy with my base 2LT other than having to replace the torque converter and fuel sending unit. Ride without MSRC is perfectly acceptable and 465 HP is plenty.

movinlow

I prefer the Z51 over the base, manly for the better braking and handling. I would definitely go with at least the 2LT package in order to get the heads up display. I find this to be easier on the eyes on a road trip. Whatever you decide, you can’t go wrong.

Something else that hasn’t been mentioned, on long road trips, if you have a transparent top, it can get hot inside. This might not bother some but it annoyed me, as I shave my head and get tired of wearing hats inside the car.

Unless I missed it, let us know what you end up with and your thoughts.

Mike Campbell

This is very true. Then, one other reason I ordered and bought a "Base" 1LT was I'm a "straight line" guy. When I lived up in PA I ran my Vettes in the Corvette Challenge at Englishtown's Old Briidge Raceway Park , N.J. for 8 years. One thing about a "Base" 1LT is it's 100 lbs lighter than a 2LT and even more compared to a Z51 or GS. Even though the gearing's a little better in both in a drag race weight more than makes up for it. I've run other C7's since and in my experience it's proven true. Just saying.

Every person that decides to buy a Corvette has their own requirements and I have no problem with that. I just love the fact that we have so many choices and in my opinion, the best Corvette series ever made!

JerryU

Curious, were you always using top Tier gas?

Had you ever added the GM recommended fuel additive listed in the owner's manual?

How about Techron or SeaFoam?

The reason I ask is I do buy non Top Tier from time to time and thought I could not go wrong adding the GM fuel additive to my 2014 Z51 at every oil change (as noted in the Owner's Manual,) which I did.

Wondering what I'll do with the Grand Sport at my next oil change. My biggest concern is the reports of fuel sender replacement that requires dropping the whole rear drive train to get the tanks out! Recall one poster who said his dealer solved the fuel sender problem by adding two bottles of the GM additive. Solved his issue for $100.

The GM additive, Techron and Seafoam all say they dissolve sulfur deposits on the fuel sender. In fact the SDS sheets show Techron and the GM product may be the same. Bottles look the same.

Sulfur is in all gasoline, albeit a small amount by law. But oil can have up to 3% or more and it must be removed in the refinery. Has nothing to do with Top Tier as that just includes additives in very small amounts of products like Techron. With DI, today that is only able to clean the injectors and perhaps the combustion chamber. It can no longer do what was advertised for years, cleaning the PCV oil and "stuff" from the intake and backs of intake valves as it did with carburetors, throttle body and port injection.

desmophile

I would offer another perspective to the OP.


I got a Z06/7, competition seats, because I wanted to go to the track with as much performance as I could afford. Quite happy with that choice.


Fiance, who drives it at the track tooand I have driven SLC to Pahrump for COS last September. Six+ hours, a couple of gas/rest stops. In Tour mode. We were quite comfortable.


So, while some other high performance car may be more comfortable (Cadillac CTS-Vs are mean at the track), to me comfortable enough is comfortable enough. I wouldn't give a second thought about comfort driving coast to coast.


If you have issues with back/leg problems that make sitting for hours an ordeal, seems like greatest comfort is your goal. At 65yo I am fortunate to be getting along pretty well. So I choose to bias toward performance (while my old carcass can still manage)


If driving in cold/snow is a must, then get a model you can put 18" wheels on so you have more options for winter tires. I have parked our Z, with MPSS dry tires on it,, until a dry 50+ degree day in SLC rolls in. It may be a while.


No matter what you choose, I can't imagine you won't enjoy it greatly.

Jeffthunbird

Base car.
If I were buying for long distance, I'd go with a Suburban.

silvertc6

Thanks but no thanks. I'd rather walk than go with a suburban. Corvette only please!

Walt White Coupe

Aside from the fun of driving a C7, it's a very good "long distance" ride. Gotta say again, the base is the best at ride softness while maintaining excellent road manners. Get the bars.

village idiot

I had a loaner suburban. Everything about it sucked. It was miserable. I can't believe people buy these things enthusiastically. What a miserable vehicle.

iclick

That 1.0G claim was from GM in this marketing PDF for the 2016 MY. They claim 1.03 for the Z51 and 1.2 for the Z06 w/Z07. Independent tests are all over the map for various C7s, always over 1.0G, but I don't think I've seen a test on a non-Z51 base car.

JerryU

^^^

Your right published data ranges all over.

This is the latest with some direct comparisons from the January 2018 issue of Car and Driver. They are best for developing more agreesive data versus say Road & Track:

With the Standard Michelin Pilot Super Sports they state with the Grand Sport they achieved max lateral "g" at 1.13 and stops from 70 mph in 136 feet.

With the Z07 package and it's carbon-ceramic brakes with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires that Grand Sport achieved max lateral "g" of 1.18 and 70 mph stops took only 129 feet.

Although not in the same article, Car and Driver in a 2016 comparison with a Mustang showed a C7 Z51 achieving 1.05 max lateral "g" and a stop from 70 mph of 149 feet.

FWIW

mschuyler

Interior is the same, so if you really are shooting for a Grand Turismo vehicle, choose the Base and get all-season tires. (BTW, they'll be 19/20" regardless.) This will quiet the ride a bit and in Tour Mode you have a fine, smooth automobile. Your gas mileage will be high 20's to low 30's. The roads will be asphalt or concrete. I also have a CTS-VSport which, as you might imagine is a fine touring car with all the amenities, but since I got the vette it stays in the garage on long trips because the vette is just BETTER!

Bavaria

Totally!!

rmorin1249

The ONLY fuel that has gone into my C7 is Shell 93, BP 93 and Exxon 93. I have added a bottle of Techron one time at about 10K miles. My fuel sending unit developed a crack and a leak. This necessitated its replacement.

rmorin1249

Exactly my thoughts as well.

JerryU

Thanks. Yep all those additives can’t fix a crack!

village idiot

Okay, yeah, I would be really surprised if the base without a rear sway bar could hold that much. And in real world twisties, going back and forth, the difference would be more pronounced.

Yeah, numbers will be all over because road surfaces, air pressure, weather, etc can all make a pretty substantial impact when you're talking about +/- 0.1G being a big deal.

With regard to the PSC2, I'm willing to bet the difference would be much higher if they were properly heated up. I'm guessing they weren't because the cup tires are definitely worth more than 0.05G and 7 feet of braking. I've driven both at the track- I brake way later on cup tires. On PSS it's crazy good. On cup tires it's like a cartoon; I can't brake late enough.

Kevin A Jones

Perhaps a consideration (even if small) since driving long distances often involves dealing with crowded restaurant/hotel/motel parking lots is the the Stingray being 3"+ narrower at the rear quarters.
It may be easier and less risky in regard to parking/backing up, folks hitting your car with their luggage as they maneuver between parked cars and to receiving door dings etc under tight conditions.

Granted 3" isn't a lot however makes a difference especially in dealing with the narrower (compact car) parking spaces we are seeing more and more of.
Just saying, one of the worst ways to end a long trip is a visit to the body shop for a repair estimate.

cspnboy

Michelin Alpin 4. Aggressive winter/snow tread. Available for C7 GS and Z06.