Base Corvette non Z51 Performance?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 569
From: MSP
This.
The car, no matter the trim, will more than likely be much faster than you are able to drive it.
That said, the base model doesn't exist to me. For me, it's a point of personal preference to have a dry sump engine. Putting a dry sump kit on a base C7 costs more than the Z51 package cost new as a whole, and much more than a used Z51 car, which then also includes other nice-to-haves (that are admittedly totally useless for sub-felony public road driving).
The car, no matter the trim, will more than likely be much faster than you are able to drive it.
That said, the base model doesn't exist to me. For me, it's a point of personal preference to have a dry sump engine. Putting a dry sump kit on a base C7 costs more than the Z51 package cost new as a whole, and much more than a used Z51 car, which then also includes other nice-to-haves (that are admittedly totally useless for sub-felony public road driving).
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 395
Likes: 194
From: Goderich, ON
When I was looking 5 years ago I thought Z51 for certain - there's so much trick racing hardware I just thought I have to have it until I started reading all of the pros of the base setup on this forum. Ended up going with base and am supremely satisfied with ride and handling in fact when this one wears out I will seek and replace with another non-Z51 manual trans C7.
Last edited by eseibel67; Jan 5, 2023 at 10:10 AM. Reason: sp
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 616
From: Blacksburg Va
As an autocrosser I wish I had gotten a Z51. But on the street I am very happy w/ my base w/ Z51 shocks and bars. The great thing about that is it is a cheap upgrade. If you do the labor, 4 shocks, bars will be $600-700. You could even skip the bars and just do shocks. They will get rid of the slight float in the back that you have w/ the base shocks. Can't beat the price of the stock parts.
