Ride comparison
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 561
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From: NY
Ride comparison
So I enjoy my 2020 Z51 HTC but I have always said I was surprised on how harsh it rode. With our washboard roads and our pot hole autocross daily the firmness is felt. So 3 weeks ago my kid hit a deer and totaled the 21 Audi A4. Started looking for an interim car for her until the 25 Audi's come out. Got a call from and old friend son wanting to know if I would be interested in his dads car. Father was not in good shape so the family wanted to sell his car. I bought it today and drove it home on the same local roads and it was a significant difference in ride quality. Much smoother and softened the lousy roads around here. So It was impressive considering it is a 2000 MB SL 500 with 94K miles on it. Although a different 2 seat sports type car it handled very well for a GT type car. Couldn't beat the deal and kid is happy. Enjoy the ride.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 439
From: FEMA Region 4
The MB is a luxury sport coupe and I’d expect it to ride better than the C8. If it was an AMG version then it would be better comparison. I have a AMG CLE 53 coupe on order and I’m looking forward to comparing it to my C8. Congrats on the MB. They’re great values on the used market.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,129
Likes: 737
From: East Coast, USA
I've always had Z51 in my previous Corvettes with the exception of my C6 Z06. I noticed the C8 with Z51 and Magnetic ride in Tour mode is incredibly smooth and luxurious yet still has that go-kart Z51 feel.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
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I would expect the SL500 to have a smother ride than a Z51 c8. Off topic, but that Mercedes-Benz is going to cost an ongoing bundle, IF, you drive it & plans are to keep it in perfect service order. Might wanna ditch it when your son's new Audi is delivered.👍🏻
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,888
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From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
The MB is a luxury sport coupe and I’d expect it to ride better than the C8. If it was an AMG version then it would be better comparison. I have a AMG CLE 53 coupe on order and I’m looking forward to comparing it to my C8. Congrats on the MB. They’re great values on the used market.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 1,279
The MB is a luxury sport coupe and I’d expect it to ride better than the C8. If it was an AMG version then it would be better comparison. I have a AMG CLE 53 coupe on order and I’m looking forward to comparing it to my C8. Congrats on the MB. They’re great values on the used market.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 1,279
Very happy with the C8 ride. Far better than either 911 I owned. The C8 is as good or better riding than any of the German performance models I have owned over the years. But not superior to a standard E or S/L Mercedes or 5 series BMW. But overall. For the kind of performance the C8 delivers I think the ride is great but it is low to the ground certain pot holes/roads will be rough on the suspension.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,895
Likes: 789
From: Stamford, CT
I've owned a Benz in the past, it was AMG so a little stiffer than regular Benzes. It was quite compliant still. That was 20 years ago though so I do not have a recent example but the vette with MRC (non z51) is fantastic moreso because it's a sports car. Now, are there cars with softer suspensions? Of course. My daughter's base impreza feels like its riding on marshmellows compared to the c8 but it also wallows and leans a lot.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 1,042
From: TX
So I enjoy my 2020 Z51 HTC but I have always said I was surprised on how harsh it rode. With our washboard roads and our pot hole autocross daily the firmness is felt. So 3 weeks ago my kid hit a deer and totaled the 21 Audi A4. Started looking for an interim car for her until the 25 Audi's come out. Got a call from and old friend son wanting to know if I would be interested in his dads car. Father was not in good shape so the family wanted to sell his car. I bought it today and drove it home on the same local roads and it was a significant difference in ride quality. Much smoother and softened the lousy roads around here. So It was impressive considering it is a 2000 MB SL 500 with 94K miles on it. Although a different 2 seat sports type car it handled very well for a GT type car. Couldn't beat the deal and kid is happy. Enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the ride.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,129
Likes: 737
From: East Coast, USA
I think the dynamic real time dampening and stiffening that magride provides makes all the difference on the street. I had magride in my 1996 C4 and my 2000 C5 and it was very noticeable; however, it seems the C8's taken it much farther.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 491
Likes: 121
From: Albany NY
Yes, the 96 and 00 that you had, would have been fx3 selective ride which computer controls the valving in the shocks and was introduced to the corvette in 1989. Magnetic ride did not come out until 2003 and it is definitely an improvement over the early fx3 systems.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,129
Likes: 737
From: East Coast, USA
It would be nice to be able to turn on/off magride with a button. Of course I'd always leave it on; however, it would be nice to try it on vs. off on the roads that you're so used to driving for comparison purposes. I wonder why they don't offer an on/off ability. Maybe the magnetic fluid filled dampers always need some type of active control otherwise they won't perform like non-fluid filled dampers.. Just guessing.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 561
Likes: 534
From: NY
Yeah, you bought a track ready sports car when you bought the 2020 Z51 HTC, so I'm not sure what your expectation was when you purchased it. If you wanted to vary the ride a little, then you would have needed to invest in Magnetic ride. Did you? Still its a track ready sports car. Allot of track ready sports cars will rattle a loose filling out if you have one. That is just a saying people use. The C8 is not that, even without magnetic ride. Some Porsche's are very harsh and you can feel every litte Nic and knack in the road. The saying goes if you ran over a quarter you can tell if its on heads or tales. LOL. But they are a super handling machine. That is what it was built for. Anyway, sounds like you got a good ride for the kid and they are happy. Mavry good buybe you can use that one for the rough rodes when you want to go that way.
Enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the ride.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,771
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From: Garden Valley CA
It would be nice to be able to turn on/off magride with a button. Of course I'd always leave it on; however, it would be nice to try it on vs. off on the roads that you're so used to driving for comparison purposes. I wonder why they don't offer an on/off ability. Maybe the magnetic fluid filled dampers always need some type of active control otherwise they won't perform like non-fluid filled dampers.. Just guessing.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,083
Likes: 1,593
From: Edmond Oklahoma
I agree with others here that the MB is a luxury two seat automobile. A Corvette is a high-performance true sports car. The Mag ride helps smooth things out, but it will never ride like an MB SL.