Have to admit, I was a bit surprised at the comment in Corvette Magazine comparing the 3 Verts. Ride is subjective, and stiffness isn’t everything related to ride but GM says the order of stiffness is the 1) base suspension, 2) Z51 with mag shocks in Touring, 3) Z51 without mag shocks and 4) Z51 with mag shocks in Sport and 5) Z51 with mag shocks in Track. In addition, compensating for the stiffer springs, large front sway bar and the rear sway bar in the Z51 (which the base car does not have) and the lower profile, larger diameter tires on the Z51 is a real task for the mag shocks! It’s not like the Bilsteins in the base and Z51 don’t have progressive valving, they do. Perhaps if they had sections of washboard roads etc could be the reason, or maybe it is just their opinion.

 

Most Stingrays in owners' hands are non Z51's, so there's some selection bias in this sample of responses. If you want a manual and can wait, get the Z51. If you can't, then don't. The Z51 has an amazing amount of hardware, even at the increased price, and the eLSD makes the car more controllable. It does take more oil, but anyone who can afford this car can afford the extra two quarts. The wheels are also forged instead of cast, which makes aftermarket equivalents more expensive than the entire package, even at the new price.

 

Really? I thought I read where 60% of the C7's being sold had Z51. Apologies if I misread that.

It's *really* difficult, if not impossible, to judge ride quality between the base car and Z51/MSRC (Tour) from a few short trips around the block. You definitely need more seat time over a variety of road surfaces to make an informed decision as to which is more comfortable.

On the C6, I felt that MSRC (Tour) was a more compliant, not cushier, ride than the base suspension. It just "felt" better if that makes any sense. I haven't had the opportunity to put enough miles on C7's to judge just yet, but I can only imagine that the MSRC technology has improved further still. But so has the base suspension too, I'm sure.

Even with the recent price increase, I'm opting for Z51 but in doing so I consider MSRC mandatory to give me the best of both worlds. No doubt the base setup would be just fine but if I'm spending this kind of money on my #1 bucket list item, I don't want to risk any "woulda-coulda-shoulda" reqrets. Been there, done that, not fun.

In regards to resale value, however, don't fool yourself. The extent of options on the car pale in comparison to mileage when it comes time to trade the old girl in. Sure, Z51 will always be in higher demand in the used C7 market but don't expect it to pay for itself. After all, your real Return On Investment in Corvette ownership should be measured in Smiles Per Mile, not dollars.

 

A6 Z-51 w/MRSC, Very happy, satisfied, car guy here. TRACK mode is like having NO shocks. Track day at PBIR showed me the true meaning
of this setting.......

 

Sold orders, yes. The waiting list is long, however. You can walk into a dealer and buy a non-Z51 right now, or wait a few months to get one with Z51. Of the cars in garages, most don't have Z51. Much of the angst around this option revolves around whether or not to "settle" in order to get a car right away. Our Z51 just got built, and we ordered it in September. Granted, we had every option that was on constraint, including the competition seats, so there are other reasons for the delay.

 

I just swapped a black Z51 for a silver Z51 w/MAG and I swear there isn't any difference in ride quality no matter what setting I have on.

 

Interesting! That is what I found with my ’93 on the smooth roads in our area. If you look at the film GM used, which was on this thread, you’ll see it is a washboard road and the result is a dramatic difference. Someone also reported when set on Track it felt like there were solid shocks! Would expect you’ll see a difference on high speed turns.

 

Then your magnetic shocks are defective. In Track mode, MY Z-51 rides like there is cement for fluid in them....I raced at PBIR in Sport AND Track
modes and if you couldn't tell the difference between the two then either your spinal cord was broken and you were paralyzed from the neck down
or your shocks were malfunctioning. There is very definite harshness and solidity when in Track mode............just saying.

 

I have to agree with VNAMVET. Something must be wrong with the Mag system if you cannot feel the difference. It is very pronounced in the different driving modes on my 2014 Z51 with Mag Ride. So much so that on our very first ride together, my wife asked me to "put it back in Tour and leave it there for me please, you can rattle your teeth out some other time." Just sayin.....

 

Very well put. I'm always amazed when people say they can't tell the difference in ride between a mag ride version and non mag ride on the same suspension. Especially on the rougher riding secondary roads most of us spend some of our time traveling on. The only thing I can come up with is they are totally unaware, living in denial, or just contrarians. Either way, they are not accurate in their assesments. Every time someone who had a C6 Z51 would ride in my C6 mag ride F55, they would immediately comment on how much better my car rode, on all but smooth highway. The C7 isn't any different. How could it be ? Do the non mag shocks in the C7 have a special pixie dust that previous gen standard shocks didn't ? NOT.

 

I ended up getting a base car after initially wanting a Z51. I got my 1LT for $51,470 before taxes. A couple of factors at play. I jumped on a pre-price increase car, I got it for $2,200 below (old) MSRP. So in the end the difference between base and Z51 w/ magnetic ride control would have been an additional $10,909 after taxes...

I could almost keep my S2000 for that difference in price. I think I will be happy considering I most likely will not take this car to the track.

 

I think it's been documented that the base C7 is faster in the quarter than the Z51 option. A trip to the drag strip is a lot more likely for the average Vette buyer than a track day (considering costs and wear and tear). I would probably be very happy with the decision for a base.

However, resale value on Z51 equipped cars has always been a good bit better. In the end, base car for me, you'll get the cost benefits immediately rather than waiting for trade in time.

 

I don't remember seeing any base C7 run a 11.61@ 120.17 mph, but I may be mistaken. Where might I find this documentation?

 

Isn't SNORMAN a base C7???

Excellent time slip BTW!!!!

 

No, his is a Z51.

 

No. I was with him at Orlando Speed World and his car is a
Z-51.

Thank you!

 

[QUOTE=ssschedler;1585990153]Any thoughts on a C7 z51 package or not. My car will never be on a track. Will use the car for freeway runs. My previous C6 (sold to buy a C7) was a base car with all the options to include mag ride. I really liked the ride quality of that car and want my new one to be even better.[/QUOTE

I ordered mine with the Z51 package without mag ride and can tell the ride is great and not harsh especially for freeway driving.

 

I stand corrected. After a hundred miles behind the wheel, dialing back to "tour" does soften the ride. People on the fence about the Z51 package WITHOUT MRC, I can tell you that it's not your dad's Z51. I've now owned 2 Z51 C7s, one with MRC and one without. MAG ride isn't required for a decent ride, even after lowering the car like I did.

 

Sorry, I'm still a bit confused. On one hand you say "Tour" softens the ride but then you say Mag ride isn't needed for a decent ride. After owning both with and without, which do you prefer.

At this point I still intend to order mine with MSRC, but I'm curious if it would make any real difference on a long road trip as opposed to a non-MSRC Z51 car.

 

If you decide you want the Z51 and afraid the ride might be too punishing, it isn't even WITHOUT MSRC. I found the Z51 with the non-adjustable suspension rides about the same as my new car with
MSRC set to "sport". Hope this helps.