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Looking to purchase a new 2019 Vette. Boy have these cars changed since my 1995 purchase. Was kind of leaning towards the Grand Sport. Would appreciate any input for recomendations. Thanks
Both Stingray and Grandsport are Great sportscars, Choice as to which to purchase depends how much you like the wide-body look and how much you value the performance/handling/breaking aspects. Z51 addresses the performance factor to an extent if you don't care for wide-body.
NPP exhaust and MRC are a must in my opinion.
Below is a little info that may help in your decision:
There's basically (3) reasons the Grand Sport is appealing to so many:
The beautiful and exotic wide-body look is VERY POPULAR.
The exceptional marrying of power-handling-braking makes the over-all Grand Sport driving experience among that of the very finest sportscars in the world.
The GS package offers the most bang for the buck of any C7 package.
Z16 GS Performance Package features ($10,000): Specific front fender inserts; Z06 style grill; wider rear fenders; front splitter; rocker skirts, additional brake cooling vents and wickerbill rear spoiler; GS CUP-style wheels; Michelin super-sport summer only tires (P285/30ZR19” front, P33525ZR20” rear); 6-piston front and 4-pison front Bremo brakes; Slotted brake rotors; Magnetic Ride Control and Electronic Limited-slip differential; NPP exhaust, Dry-sump oil system; Rear differential cooler; transmission cooler.
Z51 Performance Package features ($5,000): Performance brakes; Black painted calibers; Slotted brake rotors; Dry sump oil system; Z51 performance package, specific shocks, springs and stabilizer bars; NPP exhaust; performance gear ratios, Electronic Limited-slip differential; Rear differential cooler; transmission cooler and Areo package. Note: Magnetic Ride Control adds $1800 to $5000 Z51 cost.
Thanks Kevin, very informative. So far, my only main concern I have are the tires. I love the wideth, but I am seeing on Youtube that because they are sticky, they kick up aton of stones. worried about chips.
Both Stingray and Grandsport are Great sportscars, Choice as to which to purchase depends how much you like the wide-body look and how much you value the performance/handling/breaking aspects. Z51 addresses the performance factor to an extent if you don't care for wide-body.
NPP exhaust and MRC are a must in my opinion.
Below is a little info that may help in your decision:
There's basically (3) reasons the Grand Sport is appealing to so many:
The beautiful and exotic wide-body look is VERY POPULAR.
The exceptional marrying of power-handling-braking makes the over-all Grand Sport driving experience among that of the very finest sportscars in the world.
The GS package offers the most bang for the buck of any C7 package.
Z16 GS Performance Package features ($10,000): Specific front fender inserts; Z06 style grill; wider rear fenders; front splitter; rocker skirts, additional brake cooling vents and wickerbill rear spoiler; GS CUP-style wheels; Michelin super-sport summer only tires (P285/30ZR19” front, P33525ZR20” rear); 6-piston front and 4-pison front Bremo brakes; Slotted brake rotors; Magnetic Ride Control and Electronic Limited-slip differential; NPP exhaust, Dry-sump oil system; Rear differential cooler; transmission cooler.
Z51 Performance Package features ($5,000): Performance brakes; Black painted calibers; Slotted brake rotors; Dry sump oil system; Z51 performance package, specific shocks, springs and stabilizer bars; NPP exhaust; performance gear ratios, Electronic Limited-slip differential; Rear differential cooler; transmission cooler and Areo package. Note: Magnetic Ride Control adds $1800 to $5000 Z51 cost.
Looking to purchase a new 2019 Vette. Boy have these cars changed since my 1995 purchase. Was kind of leaning towards the Grand Sport. Would appreciate any input for recomendations. Thanks
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Go for it! The 2019 GS is an awesome choice! The car feels more planted and agile especially since 1995! Your toughest choice will be the color combo and coupe vs convertible. Good Luck!
Last edited by direct007; May 12, 2019 at 07:51 AM.
I went from 16 Z51 to 19 GS. Never looked back. The GS was not available when I ordered my Z51. Love the wide body (had an 11 GS prior to the 16) and all of the Z06 based updates.
OP, If you like the wide-body look, then go for GS, if not, then go with either a Z51 or a base. Not everyone prefers the wide-body look.
If you do decide to go wide-body with a GS, an absolute must is the additional charge wheel warranty package. There have been a number of forum members (and non-forum owners) who have reported bent and cracked GS wheels. So play it safe and get the warranty package.
I went with Z51, with mag-ride. If I had it to do over again, I would go Z51, with mag-ride as I prefer that package. Go with the one you prefer.
If you decide to go with Z51, you don't need to purchase the additional wheel warranty package as there have been very few problems with the Z51 wheels.
Last edited by roadbike56; May 12, 2019 at 09:03 AM.
Thanks Kevin, very informative. So far, my only main concern I have are the tires. I love the wideth, but I am seeing on Youtube that because they are sticky, they kick up aton of stones. worried about chips.
You are 100% correct, the tires are VERY sticky and do kick up a ton of debris as indicated by the noise you hear of sand/gravel/asphalt being pelted against the underside of your GS.
Unfortunately, I've gone through a couple construction sites that couldn't be avoided and both cases I expected to need a trip to the body shop however after returning home and inspecting with my 1100 lumens LED light found NO DAMAGE.
So my point is that the side skirts and GM splash guards are a MUST if you want to keep your GS pristine.
You are 100% correct, the tires are VERY sticky and do kick up a ton of debris as indicated by the noise you hear of sand/gravel/asphalt being pelted against the underside of your GS.
Unfortunately, I've gone through a couple construction sites that couldn't be avoided and both cases I expected to need a trip to the body shop however after returning home and inspecting with my 1100 lumens LED light found NO DAMAGE.
So my point is that the side skirts and GM splash guards are a MUST if you want to keep your GS pristine.
Thanks Kevin, very informative. So far, my only main concern I have are the tires. I love the wideth, but I am seeing on Youtube that because they are sticky, they kick up aton of stones. worried about chips.
The Stingray has the same issue. The C4s had rocker panels that swept outward from the frame but would protect the doors and rear quarter panels. The rockers would get sand blasted but you could repaint them by using a rattle can, I know I did it a number of times on my 86. However, with the advent of the C5 side damage became endemic. On the C5, C6 and C7 the sides of the car are more susceptible to tire debris than the C4s ever were. Figure the rocker panel (actually aperture panel), lower door up to the crease, the rear quarter panel (up to the top of the wheel well arch) are subject to a constant stream of sand like particles thrown off the front tires that chip away the clear coat eventually making the finish look cloudy due to the thousands of very small chips in the clear coat reflecting light in different directions. The rubber compound in the standard GS tire is the same as the rubber compound in the Stingray/Z51 tires. The Z07 option's Cup2 tires do have a softer rubber compound but they only come on cars with the Z07 option.
I did NOT go new but went 1 year old certified. Going the certified route I have a 39 month warranty and 46,000 miles. I also saved 20,000 off the orginal MSRP...the car had 4300 miles at purchase.
I went Z51 and as a bonus the car has mag ride, PDR and Nav (I used the NAV on the way home and I think it is great) You can tell the NAV to ignore highways and tolls and the turn by turn displays in HUD. You can also call On star to send the route the NAV or send it via the mychevy app.
The GS is great but I really did not want any wider tires and I wanted to stay at 55,000. All the GS I could find for 55,000 where 1lT and I really wanted a 2lt. The car has been mine for 2 days now and so far no regrets to my decision.
Happy Mothers Day to all your wives and mothers guys! Thanks for all the input in helping me make my decision, I really apprecite it. Despite my one concern about the tires picking up all the sand and grit, you all have helped me decide on the Grand Sport 2LT in the Sebring Orange with the crome rims. Unless I somehow see something else I like better while i'm there. Hope to go sometime this week. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again!
2019 purchase
