Which Suspension Has Best Ride - Base or Base with MRC?
11-11-2018, 03:28 PM
#21
Your non-Z51 base equipment tires, are also an inch taller than the Z51s. This likely contributes to that more tame ride of the base suspension.
11-11-2018, 04:12 PM
#22
ride comfort
I have a 2019 Stingray base with mag ride. If the ride in my car is not soft, or comfortable, enough for you I don't think you want a sports car. The ride is beyond my expectations. It's very comfortable. I'm in Orange County, but I'll give you a ride if you are ever down this way. My wife is blown away by the ride of the Stingray. We've owned several sports cars over the years and none had this great a suspension.
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Z51VetteFan (11-26-2018)
11-11-2018, 04:52 PM
#23
Racer
I have FE1 base suspension and everyone that I take for a joy ride comments on the smoothness. I also expected a performance car to ride a lot rougher. I only drive on public roads, and I dont need anymore cornering power than this thing has.
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Michael A (11-12-2018)
11-11-2018, 05:07 PM
#24
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St. Jude Donor '13
Fortunately, GM came out with an upgraded Mag ride program that I believe is standard on the 2019, and a ~$350 upgrade on previous years. Better ride and better handling too. We had ours done this Summer. Worth every penny.
11-11-2018, 06:14 PM
#25
Le Mans Master
11-11-2018, 09:01 PM
#26
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
My recommendation is to try to get a test drive, and, or ride with different C7s. Contact the Corvette club in your area. Those folks are usually more than happy to let you ride along at the very least. Most of them are just looking for an excuse to go for a ride anyway! I did that before I bought mine. Therefore I got the car with what I deemed the best ride for "me".
How the car rides and drives it to subjective. You really have to experience it. To some the base is too spongy. To others it is as stiff and rough as they want. It's really worth the effort to test ride or test drive.
How the car rides and drives it to subjective. You really have to experience it. To some the base is too spongy. To others it is as stiff and rough as they want. It's really worth the effort to test ride or test drive.
11-11-2018, 09:14 PM
#27
Burning Brakes
The softest ride is the base with 19/18 inch wheels. Then comes the base with 20/19 wheels (2018 and later). The Z51 package adds stiffer springs, shocks, and thicker front and rear sway bars with stiffer bushings. It will offer a more performance oriented ride and will feel pretty stiff without MRC. If you add MRC to the Z51 it will feel more cushy in Tour mode but not as soft as the base suspension.
The Grand Sport and Z06 both come with an even stiffer suspension setup but they both include MRC standard. The main benefit of MRC is so you can soften up the ride on the more performance oriented suspension setups on the Z51, GS and Z06.
The Grand Sport and Z06 both come with an even stiffer suspension setup but they both include MRC standard. The main benefit of MRC is so you can soften up the ride on the more performance oriented suspension setups on the Z51, GS and Z06.
Last edited by falcon5619; 11-12-2018 at 07:35 AM.
11-11-2018, 11:20 PM
#29
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'10, '14
11-12-2018, 08:33 AM
#31
I went for the base Stingray because I have no intension of ever tracking my car and we plan on daily driving it during the Summer. We also plan on using it for trips to visit our kids and relatives. While I wanted a sportscar for many reasons I didn't want a harsh riding sports car. We had a premium Ats Cadillac with MRC and the ride at times was too harsh for my liking. We felt every crack in every road and the feedback through the low profile tires became unbearable during long trips. I wanted a smooth riding sportscar and feel the base Stingray fits my needs just fine.
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Michael A (11-12-2018)
11-12-2018, 10:00 AM
#32
Burning Brakes
My 2016 Z51 with MSRC is my daily driver. I drive 70+ miles a day over a variety of road conditions, and I find the suspension to be perfect. I drive mostly in touring mode, but I do often switch to sport and track modes for the windy sections of my drive. I love having the option to do that, and to have the fun of experiencing the different driving modes.
11-12-2018, 11:18 AM
#34
The definition of "best ride" varies.
Obviously, comfort is sometimes a priority, while other times better handling is the priority. To me, "best" means being able to adjust the suspension to what I'm doing at any given time.
With the new MSRC calibrations, or even better, a DSC controller, you get a suspension in Tour Mode that's arguably MORE comfortable than the base suspension because it adjusts instantly and electronically to bumps and heaves, and in Sport and Track provides the monster grip capabilities of a track monster with the flick of the console dial.
A non-adjustable "comfort suspension" can bounce your head off the roof without the ability to change damping electronically to settle the car.
Obviously, comfort is sometimes a priority, while other times better handling is the priority. To me, "best" means being able to adjust the suspension to what I'm doing at any given time.
With the new MSRC calibrations, or even better, a DSC controller, you get a suspension in Tour Mode that's arguably MORE comfortable than the base suspension because it adjusts instantly and electronically to bumps and heaves, and in Sport and Track provides the monster grip capabilities of a track monster with the flick of the console dial.
A non-adjustable "comfort suspension" can bounce your head off the roof without the ability to change damping electronically to settle the car.
Last edited by Foosh; 11-12-2018 at 11:22 AM.
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blkvet6 (11-12-2018)
11-12-2018, 02:26 PM
#35
Burning Brakes
I would rather drive my stingray than my Z06 even though it now feels like it is in limp mode compared to the Z06. The stingray does much better job with base suspension at every thing our pour infrastructure throws at it!
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Michael A (11-12-2018)
11-12-2018, 02:40 PM
#36
I talked to a guy I know who owns both a 2018 Z06 and a 2017 Stingray before I ordered my car. I told him I planned on daily driving the car to and from golf and also taking trips to my kids and relatives. I also told him I had no intention of racing or tracking it. He told me to get the Stingray because it would be exactly what I was looking for in a Vette. He said on trips the Z will definitely wear on you and the Ray will feel very compliant in comparison.
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Michael A (11-12-2018)
11-12-2018, 10:29 PM
#37
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Good question as both the FE1 base suspension (no mag ride) and the FE2 (base suspension with mag ride) both have the same spring rates and no rear stabilizer bar. I have had both and still believe the FE1 has a smoother ride. it has to be the FE2 mag shocks are stiffer even in Touring mode. In either suspension the Front and Rear Z51 stabilizer bars offer a great improvement on handling and feel.
11-12-2018, 10:32 PM
#38
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I have a 2019 Stingray base with mag ride. If the ride in my car is not soft, or comfortable, enough for you I don't think you want a sports car. The ride is beyond my expectations. It's very comfortable. I'm in Orange County, but I'll give you a ride if you are ever down this way. My wife is blown away by the ride of the Stingray. We've owned several sports cars over the years and none had this great a suspension.
11-25-2018, 09:37 PM
#39
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
This is just a follow-up to this thread. I took a test drive in a 1LT with standard (non-MRC) suspension today. All I can say is WOW! That has a very good ride.
I have also test driven a Jaguar F-Type R. It had an adjustable suspension, but even in its softest setting, the ride was jarring.
A week later, I test drove a base Cayman with base suspension, which is non-adjustable. The Cayman offers 18", 19", and 20" wheels. The one I test drove had 20" wheels. The ride was firm but not jarring. It was much better than the F-Type.
Next up was the Corvette. To my surprise, the Corvette had the best ride by far. It might even have the best ride of any car I have driven with 20" wheels. It's definitely a car you could drive everyday (even on horrible LA roads), and take on trips. Well done, Corvette Team!
I have also test driven a Jaguar F-Type R. It had an adjustable suspension, but even in its softest setting, the ride was jarring.
A week later, I test drove a base Cayman with base suspension, which is non-adjustable. The Cayman offers 18", 19", and 20" wheels. The one I test drove had 20" wheels. The ride was firm but not jarring. It was much better than the F-Type.
Next up was the Corvette. To my surprise, the Corvette had the best ride by far. It might even have the best ride of any car I have driven with 20" wheels. It's definitely a car you could drive everyday (even on horrible LA roads), and take on trips. Well done, Corvette Team!
Last edited by Michael A; 11-25-2018 at 09:38 PM.
11-25-2018, 10:08 PM
#40
This is just a follow-up to this thread. I took a test drive in a 1LT with standard (non-MRC) suspension today. All I can say is WOW! That has a very good ride.
.
Next up was the Corvette. To my surprise, the Corvette had the best ride by far. It might even have the best ride of any car I have driven with 20" wheels. It's definitely a car you could drive everyday (even on horrible LA roads), and take on trips. Well done, Corvette Team!
.
Next up was the Corvette. To my surprise, the Corvette had the best ride by far. It might even have the best ride of any car I have driven with 20" wheels. It's definitely a car you could drive everyday (even on horrible LA roads), and take on trips. Well done, Corvette Team!
.The very best ride, would be the base with
18"-19"s. But AIUI, the '19s base changed.
.Great that your experience corroborated my Rx. 👍
.