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They build what people order, and dealers aren't ordering many because most want the wide-bodies w/ the performance features Z51 gets you. I had to special order a Z51 manual convertible to get what I wanted, because I much prefer the narrow-body look on the C7. It's a much cleaner, more cohesive design. For street use, the wider tires are a liability on the wide-bodies.
Just having the eDiff w/ PTM is worth the extra price over a base Stingray, but you also get extra powertrain and brake cooling, bigger brakes, and the dry sump engine.
They build what people order, and dealers aren't ordering many because most want the wide-bodies w/ the performance features Z51 gets you. I had to special order a Z51 manual convertible to get what I wanted, because I much prefer the narrow-body look on the C7. It's a much cleaner, more cohesive design. For street use, the wider tires are a liability on the wide-bodies.
Just having the eDiff w/ PTM is worth the extra price over a base Stingray, but you also get extra powertrain and brake cooling, bigger brakes, and the dry sump engine.
Read a post last night that was posted by a member who went to BASH. One of the pictures he posted showed production numbers by model. So far this year the Grand Sport is outselling the Stingray.
If the Grand Sport had been announced before I ordered my Stingray I would have bought it instead. The wide-body with the LT1 in my opinion is perfection.
Read a post last night that was posted by a member who went to BASH. One of the pictures he posted showed production numbers by model. So far this year the Grand Sport is outselling the Stingray.
I'm not surprised as IMO the wide-body design elevates the C7 to a higher level and the GS package is your best value for the $$ considering it's features.
Originally Posted by Maxie2U
If the Grand Sport had been announced before I ordered my Stingray I would have bought it instead. The wide-body with the LT1 in my opinion is perfection.
I agree 100%.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; 05-03-2018 at 12:10 AM.
It's all about personal taste. I'm certainly in the minority in not caring for all the tack-on design features of the wide-body, but my eyes are the only ones I'm trying to please.
I also prefer the "clean" lines of the Stingray - although I have nothing against the Grand Sport at all. I chose NOT to opt for the Z51, as my Stingray 2LT is a garage queen that will never see a track or other abuse. No bigger brakes or dry sump needed in my case.
The 19" and 18" tires are also cheaper to replace than the 20" and 19" ones,
That is the nice thing about the Corvette -- GM will build one for anyone's taste.
The Z51 is a great option order one especially if your not a fan of the wide body. I had a Z51.Order one like others have said if that's your preference. Here was mine.
They build what people order, and dealers aren't ordering many because most want the wide-bodies w/ the performance features Z51 gets you. I had to special order a Z51 manual convertible to get what I wanted, because I much prefer the narrow-body look on the C7. It's a much cleaner, more cohesive design. For street use, the wider tires are a liability on the wide-bodies.
Just having the eDiff w/ PTM is worth the extra price over a base Stingray, but you also get extra powertrain and brake cooling, bigger brakes, and the dry sump engine.
You keep saying they are a liability on the road. How do you figure?
When you are spending $60k for a Z51 w/MSRC, the overwhelming majority will spend $63k for the GS and its widebody look, bigger spoiler, side skirts and front splitter. If you add in the cost of the side skirts, bigger spoiler and splitter, the difference in price between a Z51 and GS is less than $2k - and that is why only 8% of C7 sales are now Z51's.
Order what you want. I ordered a Z51 2LT for museum delivery and it has the e-diff, dry sump, bigger brakes (not as big but big enough). I like the cleaner lines of the stingray and the smaller tires ride better. The GS is a cool car but it just has too much plastic going on for me.
You keep saying they are a liability on the road. How do you figure?
I can answer that since I drive both an a regular basis. Every time I switch from my 17 Z06 to my 14 stingray it is so very evident how much better driving car it is. Just needs a little more power but handles all the roads around here so much better. It does not react to ruts or road crowns between lanes, handles pot holes and seams in pavement measurably better. Feels lighter, steers easier. Those big tires and harsh ride even in Eco mode are for perfect track conditions and not the street. There are times when being jerked around by the road conditions in the Z06, liability does come to mind. I've said it before a car should go where you point it! Those missed matched rubber band tires act more like bias ply than radial ply!
Last edited by Jim Barker; 05-03-2018 at 09:35 AM.
You keep saying they are a liability on the road. How do you figure?
Higher-cost, rougher-ride, more susceptibility to tramlining, and to hydroplaning among other things. The extra grip is great on the track, but completely unnecessary for street use.
Moreover, as of today, there are still no all-season tires available in wide-body sizes, which makes cold pavement use a roll of the dice.
LOL . . . probably not for another 3 decades, but I do have a 1 of 1 2018 Z51 convertible. It was the only Sebring Orange Z51 M7, convertible built that MY. Only 2 SO convertibles were built that MY, and the other one was an A8 non-Z51 Stingray.
When you are spending $60k for a Z51 w/MSRC, the overwhelming majority will spend $63k for the GS and its widebody look, bigger spoiler, side skirts and front splitter. If you add in the cost of the side skirts, bigger spoiler and splitter, the difference in price between a Z51 and GS is less than $2k - and that is why only 8% of C7 sales are now Z51's.
Agreed.
I went the other way this time around and purchased a base 1LT, which gets the price down in the mid to upper $40s. I added Z51 sway bars for $300 and a BBE exhaust. Great performance value for just cruising around on the streets.
05-02-2018, 11:43 PM
If you can't find what you want on the lot, a little wait for one to be ordered is the way to go.
