Z51 with mag-ride here.

Has OEM run-flat tires on it, and is still on the original tune on the suspension, not the updated one that is available and is said to soften it up more.

It passes the wife with laptop on her lap test on the highway in tour mode. She can use the keyboard without her fingers bouncing around on the keys.

 

Comparing non Magride cars only. I bought a base 2019 and the ride was very nice but the rear had a floaty feel at 70 in an interstate curve that also crossed a bridge. I installed Z51 shocks and took care of that problem. Sure it is firmer but no way I would call it harsh. BTW, the shocks are <$100 each so not real expensive to experiment with going either direction.

 

My concern was not so much the ride, after all my 64 C2 was no limo either, but the extra things added to the Z51 like the tranny cooler and the racing tires. I have found over the years that any "Extra" that GM adds to your purchase is a future gold mine for them. I bought a new Tahoe that had ride control and leveling that I didn't even know was on it until it went out. Then the dealer told me that it was a complex system with about five different sensors, an air pump, air shocks, and a control module. I traded it instead. On my 2018 GMC Sierra, the infotainment went out on it at 22,000 miles but over three years so no warranty, but because I was such a good customer they replaced the screen and module for $400 instead of $1400. I'm kind of concerned about jumping from 60s technology to a C7 because there are so many of these things that can go bad and require big bucks to fix. On a C2, if the engine is good the only things to worry about are the battery and tires. No spooky black boxes that you don't know what they are. It's going to be a big leap for me. Thanks for the input and tell me more of the things that can expensive that cancome up.

 

See THIS thread. I don't think they are focussing on selling parts for old cars. Contrary to the belief, companies don't have to manufacture parts for 10 years after the car was made.

I'm confused. Why exactly are you wanting a C7 if you are that much of a technophobe where you are going to worry about what can go wrong? Maybe you should buy the C2 back? Bottom line is this. If you want something, you must give something. Back in the day, if the wife drove it, she'd have to change the seats and mirrors and can't do much about the steering column. Today, we have multiple axis seats and memory settings so she can step into the car and I can take it after her without struggling with all the adjustments. The price I have to pay is that IF something goes wrong, it is going to cost more than the "have nothing" cars of the past. If you are not comfortable with that and are constantly going to fixate on what can go wrong, the answer is simple. Everything. If that doesn't suit you and you want things from the days of old, don't update. I had very little responsibilities as a child. It was a rude shock when I went to college and a lot of things were my responsibility now. Even more when I was working. There were a lot of privileges too. But if the privileges didn't mean that much to me, I wouldn't want the responsibilities. IF you don't think the advancements of the C7 are worth it, and it seems like you don't from the Tahoe, maybe you should buy back the C2 and be happy with it instead of seeing a worst case scenario and having to live with it when you don't like it. Kinda like if you don't like kids, why marry a girl that wants a big family?

 

Wait for the Corvette SUV for the Winter... sports cars in the Winter is something I will never understand.. C7 can go in the Winter but why again??

 

As I'm sure you've been told... just don't get a Z51 if you're not going to track it. As for tires, they all came with summer tires, get All Season if what you look at is still on summers. And, most importantly... ENJOY!!!

 

I have a 2015 Z06 so I will only talk about the things that are common between the cars. The mag ride has been around since 2003 when it was introduced as an option on the C5 Corvette. It is well sorted out and the shocks generally last a long time. The ride control module is reliable and isn't a problem. GM even offers a software calibration upgrade for certain early models to bring shock/suspension performance up to the 2019 level. This includes softening the ride on certain types of harsh pavement bumps.

The stock run-flat tires are more than summer tires. They will get you around in temps down into the low 20s as long as you remember to use the throttle properly. My Z06 came with the Cup 2 version of those tires and I regularly drove it around in the Charlotte area when winter temps dropped down into the 20s. Since Michelin said they could be damaged if driven in temps below 21 degrees I didn't use the car on the few days when temps dropped close to that. The PSS ZP tires on the base/Z51 cars are less harsh than the ones on the wide-body cars as they have larger aspect ratios thus taller sidewalls.

The C2 was a great cruising car when you were in your 20s and maybe 30s but if you are in your senior years it may not be the best ride. The C7 (no matter which model is a great cruising car). They are comfortable and easy to drive. The biggest issue is tire noise. If you have the optional NPP exhaust you can set it in Stealth Mode to make the ride easier on the ears but you can also place the exhaust in Track Mode and get a fair amount of noise when the throttle is opened. If you pass somebody at wide open throttle at high rpm with Track Mode set they will know for sure they were passed as the noise will rock them. But let the car sit at a traffic light idling and the exhaust will be fairly quiet.

My car is an M7 and I haven't had any problems with it. The A8 that was delivered in the 15-19 cars had some issues that were finally resolved when GM found the proper transmission fluid to use. I believe a fair number if not all 2019 A8s were delivered with the new fluid but it can be used in the older cars although the transmission has to be triple flushed to make sure all of the old fluid is out of it. Reports on the forum indicate the new fluid has helped immensely.

I have the 3LZ interior (same as 3LT) and I haven't had any issues with the leather dash covering lifting bubbling. I have ridden in 2LZ/2LT cars and there is a difference you can feel. The 3LZ/3LT just feels richer and more pleasant to be in.

One thing I can recommend is to read up on which options were offered in which years. I am not a big Apple Car Play fan but I know that I would have been happier if my 2015 had two options that came on the 2016 which are the front camera's that let you see what the nose of the car is going to hit when pulling into a parking spot and the rear cargo lift gate pull down that lets you just drop the hatch and it will close. To make that happen on my 15 I have to leave a window/door open. Otherwise, the car is so tight it is difficult to close the hatch due to the air pressure build-up (something similar to the old VW Beetles that were so airtight VW advertised how airtight they were). Each year car usually has something the previous years didn't have. It might be minor but it was still there along with running changes they made as they improved the car and its production.

Bill

 

Thank you all so much for the info. I am not a technophobe as implied but my Chevy dealer is not the best and with the strike going on, I didn't want to have a big part on order if it comes up. The car I'm looking at is a base vert with 12,000 miles on it. The owner died and the car has been sitting for a long time. That's why I wanted to know what the big things about this model that might be waiting for me. It looks like new and I would love to get it but there were so many things about the C2 that I didn't know to look for but found out about after I bought it. No matter, I will miss the ability to open the hood and actually work on the engine and know what everything in there is. I have a new Colorado truck and it has glitches that GM hasn't a clue how to fix. I don't want to go back to an older version of my Colorado but fortunately, no one seems to have electronic issues so that's a plus.

 

I have had a C6 & C7 gs no more harsh than any true sports car.
The modes can change what you feel greatly. Go ahead and get one , you will enjoy it.
Winter --- my C6 had pireilli pure winter tires for that if you are so inclined as I did.

 

Z51 with magride here. I use Tour mode 95% of the time. It is very comfortable. Don't find it stiff at all. Using Sport or Tack mode certainly stiffens things up quite a bit. Mine has not been updated. Hitting a large pothole would give you a jar, but with low profile tires you avoid them anyway.

After enjoying magride I would not buy a Vete without it. Same with NPP Exhaust.

 

Can I ask you guys what aftermarket insurance you have for repairs and the cost? I've talked to three companies so far and oh boy, they are geared to talk your ear off. The lowest I have found is $100/mo with a $200 deductible. That is everything except maintenance items like tires and hoses etc.

 

I went to see the C7 this morning and bought it! It was absolutely spotless without a single mark on it. I drove it and it drives like you would expect it to drive. The exhaust is a little raspy but I can get used to that. It has 14380 miles on it and looks new. It has the A8 which is the same as my wife's car which has the "M" mode also with paddles. The lady who owned this car before me was a 9 Corvette owner and after her last Corvette was totaled in a wreck, this was her replacement. Unfortunately, she only got to drive it about a year before she died of cancer. I'm sure I will have a lot of questions for you old hands.

 

One question only. Did you get a professional to do a thorough PDI to check all the systems?

 

No, I did not. I haven't lived my life that way and I'm too old to start now. I looked it over and drove it as well as played with all of the toys that it had and I was satisfied with it. If there is a major problem then it's on me. I do plan to have the differential fluid changed as soon as I get it home. Anything else that needs to be looked at right away?

 

Sorry, not used to older people.

I suppose you could do the triple flush if you can find a mechanic that BOTH knows how to do it and that he does it and not just says he did it. I would make sure that he knows it is 24 quarts of fluid and 3.8 hours of labor time WITHOUT YOUR PROMPTING and not the usual "drop the pan, change filter, bolt up and fill".

 

I called my Chevy dealer and they do offer coverage for the C7. It's about $1200 a year for 3 years with no one-month requirement of no coverage like all of the after-market companies have. There is also no limit liability of the amount per repair like the after-market ones have. They are also going to give it a good going over while it is in the shop for the diff oil change. I'm really excited about my new car!

 

I drove it home this morning and what a great ride! Sunny and about 65 degrees with the top down, it felt like my old C2 but with a lot more pep and comfort. I don't have the auto seat mover to help get out and it is impossible for me to get out without running the seat back. I used the Apple Play to navigate home and everything worked just fine. BTW, how do I get rid of the C2 forum at the top of the page when I now want the C7 forum?