MRCS or NOT
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 340
From: Just About 40 Min's from NYC
MRCS or NOT
So I finally took the trip to Atlantic city to put down my deposit at the Old Kerbecks , WOW did they have allot of cars. Looked like two were ready for a delivery. Anyways , I came home and was going over the build and price on the gm web site and I just don't know what the MRCS does and if I need to get it. Our current car is a convertible 3LT and carbon fiber& sueded interior and i am trying to get the same style interior
So I have a 2018 Stingray that has it , but all we do is set it to Sport mode so we can have the exhaust valves open .
So the real question is, Has any one gone from a car with the MRCS to a car with out, did you notice? did you think OMG I wish I got that? I wanted a car under 80 and some how its now a car just under 90, so I am trying to trim what I can
So I have a 2018 Stingray that has it , but all we do is set it to Sport mode so we can have the exhaust valves open .
So the real question is, Has any one gone from a car with the MRCS to a car with out, did you notice? did you think OMG I wish I got that? I wanted a car under 80 and some how its now a car just under 90, so I am trying to trim what I can
Popular Reply
Dec 4, 2021, 08:06 AM
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 2,045
From: Columbus OH
For some reason everyone concentrates on the changes the MRCS dampers make in each drive mode and fail to realize the dampers do make adjustments on the fly based on road conditions. The MRCS shocks is money well spent in my opinion.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 1,939
I have it on my C8 but probably wouldn’t get it again. Track mode is very rough on public roads. You’ll probably knock something loose driving it like that. Sport and Tour feel identical to me. So basically I see it as paying extra for 1 other mode I’ll never use.
Maybe it’s controlling roll and pitching when you’re in a twisty road compared to a base suspension but it overall feels similar to the Mustang I traded for it.
Maybe it’s controlling roll and pitching when you’re in a twisty road compared to a base suspension but it overall feels similar to the Mustang I traded for it.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 2,045
From: Columbus OH
For some reason everyone concentrates on the changes the MRCS dampers make in each drive mode and fail to realize the dampers do make adjustments on the fly based on road conditions. The MRCS shocks is money well spent in my opinion.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
It's very effective on my 2019 Grand Sport. I turn it to tour on the rough roads around town or when approach railroad tracks and it does a great job of softening up and absorbing the bumps. You can really tell it works on "washboard roads".
Sport is perfect for the back twisty roads in the Willamette Valley. I never use track on public roads - it's too tight. However, if you do track your car occasionally Sport 1 track mode is perfect. At the dragstrip I put it in tour mode and turn traction control off and it always me to hook better (more of an issue in the C7).
I'll definitely keep it in my C8 order
Sport is perfect for the back twisty roads in the Willamette Valley. I never use track on public roads - it's too tight. However, if you do track your car occasionally Sport 1 track mode is perfect. At the dragstrip I put it in tour mode and turn traction control off and it always me to hook better (more of an issue in the C7).
I'll definitely keep it in my C8 order
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
I ordered it for this reason. It's funny to note though one could argue that if people fail to realize it maybe it's not a necessity! I wanted it anyway.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 390
Likes: 86
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Yes if DD, No if Track Car
I would say for anyone, the decision to option Mag Ride is based on $ and how you're going to be using your new Vette.
My 30K mile 2015 Z06 has it; and I love it for my commutes! The car is my daily driver 355 days/yr...a few days that snow has me bumming a ride w/ my wife or stealing her suv, outright.
Michigan has highway expansion joints that get heaved over the yrs by weather changes. When I forget and leave it in one of the sport-type modes...my kidneys and my teeth will quickly remind me as things shake that I'd rather not have shake
Switching to tour, quickly changes the entire personality of the car.
I drove the same roads w/ a 2002 C5 Z06 and while I loved the car, I didn't love every minute of the experience.
My 30K mile 2015 Z06 has it; and I love it for my commutes! The car is my daily driver 355 days/yr...a few days that snow has me bumming a ride w/ my wife or stealing her suv, outright.
Michigan has highway expansion joints that get heaved over the yrs by weather changes. When I forget and leave it in one of the sport-type modes...my kidneys and my teeth will quickly remind me as things shake that I'd rather not have shake
Switching to tour, quickly changes the entire personality of the car.
I drove the same roads w/ a 2002 C5 Z06 and while I loved the car, I didn't love every minute of the experience.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 1,939
I’ve never driven a non MSRC Corvette so maybe the base suspension is like driving 1970’s Crown Victoria, I don’t know. I’m sure in track driving with PTM there may be some other functionality that I’m not taking advantage of. It was originally only offered on Z-51, for non Z-51 it was more of an afterthought which tells me it was never intended for street driving anyway.
I do know that when I was on the fence about it I trusted these posts like “it’s a no brainer, it’s a night and difference, etc” but now that I have it, I can honestly say it’s not worth it and those post were dead wrong. I wish Corvette owners were better at not trying to upsell everything to everybody.
That being said I’m sure it’s money better spent then on racing stripes or whatever.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 1,939
I would say for anyone, the decision to option Mag Ride is based on $ and how you're going to be using your new Vette.
My 30K mile 2015 Z06 has it; and I love it for my commutes! The car is my daily driver 355 days/yr...a few days that snow has me bumming a ride w/ my wife or stealing her suv, outright.
Michigan has highway expansion joints that get heaved over the yrs by weather changes. When I forget and leave it in one of the sport-type modes...my kidneys and my teeth will quickly remind me as things shake that I'd rather not have shake
Switching to tour, quickly changes the entire personality of the car.
I drove the same roads w/ a 2002 C5 Z06 and while I loved the car, I didn't love every minute of the experience.
My 30K mile 2015 Z06 has it; and I love it for my commutes! The car is my daily driver 355 days/yr...a few days that snow has me bumming a ride w/ my wife or stealing her suv, outright.
Michigan has highway expansion joints that get heaved over the yrs by weather changes. When I forget and leave it in one of the sport-type modes...my kidneys and my teeth will quickly remind me as things shake that I'd rather not have shake
Switching to tour, quickly changes the entire personality of the car.
I drove the same roads w/ a 2002 C5 Z06 and while I loved the car, I didn't love every minute of the experience.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,841
Likes: 10,252
From: Garden Valley CA
On a base C8, MSRC allows you to tighten up the suspension for when you feel like spirited driving. As far as ride goes, you probably won't notice a difference on smooth, straight roads. But MSRC will absorb bumps better and provide a more controlled ride on rough roads.
Jim Mero discusses MSRC during this Corvette Today podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXC...SjjEXUt_UlOPPQ
For me, it was a must have option.
Jim Mero discusses MSRC during this Corvette Today podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXC...SjjEXUt_UlOPPQ
For me, it was a must have option.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 390
Likes: 86
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
excellent point !
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 356
From: Colorado
I had a C-6 Z-51 with the MSRC. It was great on a smooth roadway. Get on a highway with some imperfections and hang on. I was on I-70 near Dillon Colo. heading up to the Eisenhower Tunnel. I damn near lost that car because of the rough road conditions and ruts. If tracking the car on a perfect surface I think it would be awesome. If not tracking I wouldn't consider it. I had the standard suspension on a C-7 and it was great.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 2,045
From: Columbus OH
Are the MRC shocks necessary to enjoy the C8 driving experience? We can argue that one all day. According to this article the MRC 4.0 in the Corvette and Cadillacs is a major upgrade.
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/10...going-mrc-3-0/
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/10...going-mrc-3-0/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
If that’s the case then why bother with setting different modes? Track is rock solid all the time, it does not change on the fly. Sport and Tour are identical. I have driven over every rough patch switching between modes and nothing. As far as ride comfort it feels just like non MSRC sports cars I’ve owned.
I’ve never driven a non MSRC Corvette so maybe the base suspension is like driving 1970’s Crown Victoria, I don’t know. I’m sure in track driving with PTM there may be some other functionality that I’m not taking advantage of. It was originally only offered on Z-51, for non Z-51 it was more of an afterthought which tells me it was never intended for street driving anyway.
I do know that when I was on the fence about it I trusted these posts like “it’s a no brainer, it’s a night and difference, etc” but now that I have it, I can honestly say it’s not worth it and those post were dead wrong. I wish Corvette owners were better at not trying to upsell everything to everybody.
That being said I’m sure it’s money better spent then on racing stripes or whatever.
I’ve never driven a non MSRC Corvette so maybe the base suspension is like driving 1970’s Crown Victoria, I don’t know. I’m sure in track driving with PTM there may be some other functionality that I’m not taking advantage of. It was originally only offered on Z-51, for non Z-51 it was more of an afterthought which tells me it was never intended for street driving anyway.
I do know that when I was on the fence about it I trusted these posts like “it’s a no brainer, it’s a night and difference, etc” but now that I have it, I can honestly say it’s not worth it and those post were dead wrong. I wish Corvette owners were better at not trying to upsell everything to everybody.
That being said I’m sure it’s money better spent then on racing stripes or whatever.
**FWIW front end lift did not make the cut...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
Are the MRC shocks necessary to enjoy the C8 driving experience? We can argue that one all day. According to this article the MRC 4.0 in the Corvette and Cadillacs is a major upgrade.
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/10...going-mrc-3-0/
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/10...going-mrc-3-0/
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 1,939
100% agree. Means a lot more to people who geek out on this sort of thing but wouldn’t otherwise notice the difference if it wasn’t spoon fed to them before hand.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 1,939
Can't speak for others but you pretty nailed it for me. On my build I erred toward adding things I think I want but can't add later**....wheels/stripes/spoilers/splitters/carbon fiber/black roof and nacelles are all add-ons to consider later.
**FWIW front end lift did not make the cut...
**FWIW front end lift did not make the cut...
Front lift I don’t really need. The C8 has better clearance then my C5 I scraped everything on. I use it to get in my driveway, but that’s about it. I may need it if I ever add a splitter, but I drive across 5 states and didn’t use it at all.
3LT is great but not needed. I can’t tell the difference between Napa and Mulan. I do like the stitched airbag cover though. Worth the upgrade? i dunno, I forget it’s there after awhile. I didn’t sit in a 2LT so don’t know what I’m really getting.
The cosmetic stuff looks great to me and I know I’ll never really upgrade anything once I take it home so I’ll do that again.