captain vette

Same great value as the C7 and C6

JoesC5

My C6 Z06 has summer only WIDE tires(275mm fronts and 325mm rear) and big brake rotors/pads etc.

52,000 miles and on the original brakes and I have 40,000 miles on my Bridgestone RE050A run flat summer tires, that are not down to the wear bars(but getting close).

I bet that is as good as any base C6.

Higher performance car with higher performance tires and brakes do not automatically mean you will have to replace the brakes and tires every couple of years.

C8Jake

NO

baron95

Obviously it is worth it if you track the car.

Is it worth it if you are not tracking it?

Only you can decide:

PROS of not-having Z51
1 - Saves money ($5K+)
2 - Your front end will scrape less, without the low hanging front splitter.
3 - Your tires will work much better when it is cold out (all season vs summer) - you may even be able to drive with a bit of snow.
4 - Less brake dust (noise should not be much of an issue)
5 - Car is lighter and probably slightly more fuel efficient.

CONS of not ordering Z51:
1 - You have to drive around with cartoonish small 12.6" front rotors, which will simply look ridiculous on a 2019 mid-engine 495HP car.
2 - You may prefer the looks of the front splitter and rear spoiler.
3 - You may enjoy the lower gearing.
4 - You can order adjustable suspension (Mag-ride)
5 - You may like the e-diff driving experience
6 - You may enjoy the looks of the summer tires and Z51 logos on brake calipers.

16falcon

So if I elected to skip the Z51 package since I don’t plan to track the car, would it still be a good idea to add the NPP Performance Exhaust?

“NPP: Exhaust, performance, estimated 5 hp increase, aggressive exhaust sound varies with driver mode selected, with stainless-steel tips
1 - Included with (Z51) Z51 Performance Package.”

This will be my first Corvette so not sure how useful it has been to those that have it on the C7. Honestly, I’m not going to notice 5hp, but being able to control the exhaust note might be useful/valuable. Thoughts?

RKCRLR

I'll chime in first. Most people are going to say NPP is absolutely worth it. And it can't be added later.

Second Vette

The Magnetic Ride is optional when you order the Z51 Package. It is not included in the Package.

Unless it's cheap, I'm not getting it. I had it on my 2014 Stingray but I can live without it.

My Wife is not too happy with me buying the C8 , so I am not going crazy on the order sheet.

Simply put, I've ordered my C8 with the Z51 Package and 2LT.

The only option I am even considering is to upgrade the Base Seat to the GT2 Seat, depending on the cost.

themonk

The problem with mag ride is replacing the shocks, all four of mine (C7) have to be replaced......AGAIN!.....yes, again, and they're not cheap. I guess it doesn't help that the city that I live in, a city that has 1.3 million people, has the shittiest roads in North America I'm sure, I f'king hate it!

unavailablezl1

There are so many cars now with Magnetic Ride control. It is not much money for the Z51 package, it will make your car worth more when you sell it and more people will want to buy when you do sell it. Most people that really "drive" a car would want it.

Boiler_81

NPP is an absolute must have in my mind. I drove a C7 without it, there was absolutely no noise coming out from the exhaust. On C7 NPP was a very high take rate. There were several posts on the C7 forum from people lamenting the lack of NPP on their car. As stated above, on C7 there was no way to add it to a car which doesn't have it.

C8Jake

Monkey D. Luffy

Worth It ???? what is any thing worth? You can get a brand new 2019 chevy Sonic LS sedan for $16,295 + tax and title. The Sonic will get you from point "A" to point "B" at the legal speed limit in all 50 states with cool A/C blowing on you.

The C8 isn't worth $60K from a purely practical point of view. You buy it because you want one and it puts a smile on your face when you drive it. So is it worth it??? Only you can say. I say if you want it and can afford it, then yes it's worth every penny

Just my 2 cents

j_bays

Here is my thoughts on the z51.
My first Vette was a 2006 z51 that was fun to drive and I took the handling and flat ride as common to all Corvettes.

Ah but then came the C7...
Had to get one and ordered a 2015 2lt without z51. I used the savings to get navigation/ better stereo, npp, auto tranny and ZF1 package.
After taking to car into the mountains, I understood what I was missing.
I ended up buying front and rear Z51 sway bars that helped the car corner a little better. (For those without the knowledge... Base C7 doesn't have a rear sway bar.)

It took a few years of convincing the wife and but now I drive a Grand Sport that has everything I want in a Corvette.
Bottom Line If you can afford it... Get the Z51 package

harley2

I bought used 2005 C6 with 2,000miles on it and Z51 pkg. I hated it, felt every bump. It made you anticipate roads you had driven over before.
Back then every one was saying get Z51. They were put badges on their cars with Z51!
I got rid of it and got one with Mag ride.

My Z06 2015, had the Mag Ride and wife didn't like the track mode but did enjoy tour mode!
You can fee a real difference between the different modes. when mag ride first came out. Think I had it with 2 C5's back then I think they only had 2 settings and you could hardly tell difference.

For me, if I get the Z51 only will do it with Mag ride! JMHO n experience

jim2527

To the OP....you'll be just fine with the base car. I've driven a C6 from the Red Rock Canyon to the Grand Canyon and back on secondary roads and I've driven a C7 in the mountains outside San Diego. Both handled just fine.

Rapid Fred

I buy used.

For all the talk about “higher resale value” for Z51, please consider this data point. I paid pennies on the dollar for the Z51 and 2LT packages on my recently purchased 2015 C7. The original list on my car was $74K when no-option base Stingrays listed at roughly $54K. I paid $41K for mine when equivalent 2015 zero option Stingrays were going for about $36K.

The math is easy and compelling. My research at the time suggested this is common and NOT a testament to my negotiating skills...

So get the options that make you happy, but be prepared for them to depreciate quickly and steeply — much more so than the wonderful underlying vehicle will.

If it matters to the OP — had I bought a new 2019 Stingray (and I was looking at them), I would not have spent the extra bucks for the Z51 (not the 2LT). My car is an “enthusiastically” driven daily driver. One track day per year at maybe 8/10. The base C7 Stingray has more capability than most of us do. The C8 I’m certain even more so!

themonk

I want the fastest and best handling Corvette I can afford with all the can't do without accessories therefore it will be a 2LT with Z51 and mag ride.

rcooper

The Mag ride is great but only available with the Z51 package so you can lighten your wallet by about 7K for that package. If you are not going to track your car I would say no. Wait till next year and the Mag ride might be a stand alone option for around 2K, then it is a bargain. I have had mag ride, Z51 and base cars, for normal driving there is not much difference in all the packages, base is softer, Mag ride can offer a very soft touring mod, stiffer sport mod and a track mode. As mentioned earlier in the thread Mag ride shocks will hurt if you need to replace.
I was going to get the Z51/Mag ride and do the Spring Hill driving school but have decided to do the 3lt and make it a pure GT car. Still do the driving school, hell, that will be fun.

HogwildC7

Its worth it.Even for a everyday driver.

Thatsok

Don’t even think about it, get it.