Experimented today with the various modes.
Impression, The base mode, "Tour " is very relaxed. Good for cruising distances. When in "Sport" the car comes to life with a change in the drivers display and more steering feel, tighter suspension, quicker shifts, etc. Starts to feel like a Sports Car. I set up "My Mode" to Sport for everything. To me the car felt a little bit more alive than "Sport", don't know why. The beauty of My Mode is that the car always starts in that mode if that is what you set it to. No need to get into the menu and reset everything.

This is the mode I will drive in most of the time. Now as for Z mode. The factory setting was Engine in Track, Steering in Sport, suspension in Sport, and Power Train in Track. This mode is where the car feels quickest, more responsive. I remember reading that they had set Z mode to give you the quickest performance and it feels like it.

They did something to the settings that can only be accessed in Z mode I believe. Z mode is not meant to be used all the time I read. Finally track mode where all the setting feel much tighter. Road feel much stiffer. I was surprised in that the car was not uncomfortable to drive in this mode like it was in my Lamborghini's. The Corvette feels like it is ready to race in Track Mode. Display changes also. So I plan to drive in My Mode most of the time and, when the occasion requires it, push Z mode and have some fun.

Can't wait for the car to reach 500 miles as it is down on power till then. I will say this about power. 500Hp and 470 lbs/ft of torque does not make this a fast car. Using the mechanical advantage in the transmission gearing and the DC transmission does give it some respectful 0-60 times.

To really get in Super Car territory it needs 600 +++ My Huracan is quicker. The Mclaren 720S is quicker. Yes these cars cost 3 times as much that is why I why I am waiting for the Z06. From what I am hearing that will be the car to have. A lot more power. Cannot imagine how much more the "Zora" will bring to the table but electric motors and AWD will make this an exciting time to buy Corvettes.

 

I, personally, do not want the added complexity and weight of the electric motor(s), but would like a higher horsepower engine in the Z06.

 

I did not mess with the various settings for racing as I will not track the car.

 

Interesting. Sounds like you have a good handle on the modes. I love modern technology!

 

Can’t wait to get my HTC and play with all the modes. Have fun with your C8.

 

Should add that I have been using Manual Mode 98% of the time. This way I get a good break in of the motor by varying the rpm as I want.

 

Great information, thank you!
Cannot wait for my HTC to be built, hopefully, in April, to try this out!

 

My thought, without having the car, but having read a lot, is I will set my C8 Z51 with MRC similar to how I have my Grand Sport. That is different than my 2014 Z51 without MRC where I dove mostly in Track for all the other benefits such as minimum nannies, faster throttle response, steering response.

With upgraded MRC software in my 2017 GS I drive in Sport 95% of the time. Also have NPP set for "Always Track" regardless of drive mode. I'll also have the steering set as always Sport or Track as I want the same transient response in an emergency response, like avoiding 18 wheeler tire treads or squirrels! I prefer the reduced nannies in Sport BUT when below 45F (or in rain) I do use Weather Mode so they engage sooner. Will evaluate what can be done with Z Mode as believe it's possible to adjust most items. My current plan is to use "M" manual mode as I have only had standard shifts for my DDs in 60 years and that will prevent V4 mode, which in how I operate my M7 GS, never in ECO..

Talked to a fellow with a new Ferrari who was also a "standard shift" only guy and he always drives in manual mode. He loves it. We'll see.. BTW, I don't Track but with our relatively good roades the ride is fine for me in Sport. With the GS, Track Mode still rattles your teeth!

 

You've hit the nail on the head. My mode is your "daily" mode setup however you like it (not all settings are adjustable in My mode) and then Z mode is there so you can transform the car with the push of one button when the opportunity presents itself. Think of a Corvette road tour or trip.... cruise around in tour mode on the highway, then you get off to go do some fun roads and just push one button for Z mode.

OP... when you push Z mode again to turn it off does it revert to the mode you had it in prior?

 

It is programmed to return to "Tour Mode" if you deselect Z mode with the Z mode button.
One big problem for me with the C8 is the paddles mounted on the steering wheel so they turn with the wheel. If you guys are going to drive in Manual you will find that when cranking the steering wheel over about 90 degrees and needing to upshift it is difficult to reach the up paddle even if you have your hands perfectly placed. I have several cars with steering column mounted paddles, Ferrari F12, Huracan, etc and the difference is like night and day. McLaren has the same set up as the C8. The paddles need to be longer on the C8 if they are going to leave them on the steering column. This is an issue for me. Hope the upcoming Z06 improves in this area.

 

I disagree with you there as 20 years of racing and instructing. There's really no "right" way to do it. I prefer the paddles on the wheel as 99% of the time your hands are at 9 and 3 on track and you rarely have to cross-up; especially with a quick ration rack (which the C8 has).

 

Are you driving a C8 now? Are you speaking from experience? We can disagree because it really comes down to personal preference but, even with my long fingers turning 90 degrees and shifting, even at 9 and 3. is very trickey. You all will see.

 

FWIW, on my '18 C7, you can put it Sport mode, and will remain in Sport mode on subsequent start-ups. I don't recall if that was true in earlier MYs. Starting in 2018, there was a new Canbus architecture, new display modes, and a number of software changes.

That's where I keep my car most of the time. My Mode and Z Mode just provide more variety.

 

Is this a Z51 car? MRC?

 

Yes, only with MSRC do you get the suspension changes OP refers to and at present MSRC is only available on Z51. However, you still get things like tighter steering and throttle response changes w/o MSRC.

 

z51 mrc

 

I'm speaking from experience racing and tracking cars a long time. I instruct at VIR and have driven almost everything out there. Keeping the paddles on the wheel means you don't have to do finger gymnastics to get to the paddles mid-turn.

 

Also true on my 2015.

 

My 2016 does the same

 

So you have not driven the C8 yet? Try it first, then let me know how you feel. Again, personal preference in any case.