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I was trying to understand just how low the C8 is. For reference, I sold my 2021 Dodge Challenger to get my C8. The ground clearance of the Challenger is listed at 5.2 inches. Online I see the ground clearance of the 2024 C8 is 5.3 inches. Does that mean the C8 is as low as a Challenger or am I misunderstanding ground clearance and how it works?
Ground clearance is simply the distance between the ground and the lowest part of your car. The C8 has shorter front end than older Corvettes and many other cars which gives it a decent approach angle so getting in and out of steep driveway is not too difficult. I do not have the front lift option so I just make sure to enter and exit dips & driveways at an angle. My driveway is steep and I avoid scraping by entering at an angle.
There are a couple small fairings, forward of each tire. They are a softer plastic and similar to the splitter material I'd say. These will hit low spots and slanted curbs where the splitter will clear so using the nose lift is a good idea.
These fairings are hard to see but My Z-51 has them.Looks like a black plastic bump
put a 5VM splitter on your car and you won't be saying that.
Totally depends on where you live. I have front lift and disconnected it in favor of a nice set of coilovers and lowered the car. A have an ACS front splitter and have not yet had any issues where I regret disconnecting the front lift.
I think this photo really answers my question. There are areas in front of the tires that are much lower than the advertised ground clearance. I did get the front end lift. i also put a driveway curb ramp at the end of my drive way. My driveway is not particularly steep but my wife's ES350 scrapes and now that I think about it my Challenger banged as I left the driveway sometimes. I daily a Nissan Titan so I'll have to play with my approach because I won't always have the ramp.It will take some trial and error. I sold my Challenger quite some time ago and haven't driven anyhting nearly as low.
Last edited by vabulldog; Dec 16, 2023 at 10:12 PM.
I am somewhat glad this thread is not about front lift. Yet . I have it and had a lot of fun with it in the first 2-3 months, however I soon deleted most the stored locations. My home driveway is flat and the transition to street is level.
Here are some considerations: 1. Rainy dark night you are not going to see the bump so unless you know its there the FL is not going to do anything. If you know its there slow down. 2. Here even with FL you need to slow over speed humps, just maybe not as much but since you are slowing anyway ... 3. It may help as a selling feature for anyone questioning the ride height. 4. If purchasing again I would not order it.
I knew I was going to lower my car and also get a 5VM splitter. Front lift was a no-brainer for me and I use it every day, starting with my own driveway which scrapes without it.
Ground clearance, however, is not the real concern. As others have stated, it is angle of attack or approach angle that usually determines whether the car will clear a hurdle or not. Personally, I lump the front lift into the category of "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it".
Well, since I'm not putting one on my car I guess I can continue Vette ownership without the lift. No?
Get it, or not. Up to you. But with my 5VM splitter I scrape the front just driving on the crappy California back roads. On those drives the front lift doesn't do anything because the potholes come up to fast to think about activating the lift. My car came with it. I do know one thing, if I didn't have it I would lower my car today for the looks and deal with the scraping.
Ground clearance question
