FLEXjs

Looking at buying a C7 in the next 6 months and wondering if I need to spend the money on the Z51 package. Here in Canada it adds $5k to the price of the car.

Very unlikely I will ever track the car, is there any point getting it for street driving? Will it make a major difference?

Thanks in advance...

Jerry0

Good Morning
just purchased a lightly used 2016 C7 Z51 (7k miles)
in my opinion i am extremely glad i purchased car with Z51 package worth every penny..it will be money well spent....

Mayor111

I bought a 2014 Z51 a few months back, and I could not be happier. To me the Z51 gives you all the performance of its big brother (the Grand Sport) without the higher costs... If you dont mind not having the wider body and tires - then the Z51 will give you everything you need.

I dont track my car either - but its nice to have those few extras the Z51 packages offers.

SoFloVette

I did not get the Z51 package and my 2019 came with the 19" front and 20" rear tires.

falcon5619

Base Stingray wheels and tires went from 19"/18" to 20"/19" in 2018.

punky

Get a Grand Sport or Z06.

Billy346

If you're looking to buy new, I'd say you're better off springing for the Grand Sport instead of going with the Z51. The GS has all of the optional Z51 parts like mag ride and ground effects. If you're going with a Stingray, just go base with 2LT or 3LT. In my opinion the base Stingray doesn't need mag ride. It has a nice comfortable ride and handles just fine for public roads. Most of the base stingrays these days come with the Z51 wheels and spoiler and most dealers order them with NPP exhaust as well. So, they are cosmetically the same as a Z51, and sound the same and for all intents and purposes (on the street) are the same.

c54u

In Canada the Z51 package is a $6K option. The NPP and rear spoiler is included in the Z51 package but if put on a Stingray it is just a little over $2K for the two options. You still would have $4K to spend on other options or not if you purchase a Stingray. Mag ride is a $2K option for the Z51 and Stingray.

It would be best for you to test drive a Z51 with and without mag ride as well as the base Stingray with and without mag ride. See which one best suits you.

Good luck.

wbrands

I agonized over Z51 when I bought my 2016 in December 2015. When my insurance company quoted a price almost twice the base, I opted for the base with MSRC. The MSRC suspension option on the Stingray also got the Z51 style wheels and tires which I preferred (standard now on the 2019 base) and I added the Z51 spoiler to finish the look. I have been more than satisfied with my choices for my daily driver with no real plans to track the car.

Regarding performance, I do think the base suspension (even with the MSRC) has more body roll than a Z51 would have since it does not have a rear sway bar. This can easily be corrected for around $350 with Z51 front/rear sway bar additions which I may do in the future but it is not really objectionable the way I drive most of the time. The only other thing I can think of that I might be missing in the Z51 is the performance traction management modes that give the different track settings (dry, wet, etc.) not available without the Z51. If I recall correctly, some here on the forum report that the car handles better in Wet Track mode than in Weather mode when roads are wet. However, it is hard to miss something you never had!

On the other hand, a benefit of not getting the Z51, there is always the potential for the extra systems (dry sump, electronic limited slip differential, etc.) on the Z51 to go wrong in the long run, and I do plan on keeping this car for the long run. Also, you are not dealing with an inexperience tech overfilling a dry sump system, the convoluted process of checking its level and the minimal cost of an extra 5 or so quarts of Mobil 1 at oil change time.

Bottom line is based on your stated use of the car, I would not recommend the extra $5k for the Z51 package. $1795 for the MSRC (FE2 suspension) maybe.

LimeRay

Why would you buy a performance car and leave the performance package out? The e-diff alone is worth the money.

BenDiem

^^^ I tend to agree with wbrands.
I'm looking to order/buy a brand new C7 as well, within the next few months. I'll give you my POV.
I'm looking to use my C7 as a quasi-DD. I live in the Midwest where we can get a lot of fluctuations with extreme temps & extreme weather patterns that can go from sun, to rain, to storms to snow, in an instance. As a result of my intended DD use of the C7, the rational side of me says to go with the Base Stingray. Moreover, I have significantly more choices with respect to A/S tires. I plan to purchase A/S tires upon receiving the car. The lower cost of oil changes, tire selection and lower base tire prices is just another win - win for me. A little more perspective on my end. From late 2012 to late 2015, I owned a C6 Z06 (traded in for C6 ZR1 in 2013) and a C6 Base 1LT Stingray. The Base was much more enjoyable on the street, b/c the ZR1 was just too much power (torque) for the street. The 2012 C6 Z06 that I regrettably traded in for a ZR1 in 2013, was my all time favorite Corvette, ever!
If I intended to purchase a C7 as a garage queen, I'd absolutely step up to a GS. It's the closest thing to my old C6 Z06 that I just loved! Inasmuch that my intended use of the C7 will be as a DD, unless it snows, the clear choice for me is the Base Stingray. As I just typed this last sentence, perhaps the GS is the way to go, lol. My head says Base, my heart says GS, lol. I'm soooo confused, lol!!! Either choice is right. My only fear is buyer's remorse. If you gotta ask, then perhaps you already know the answer...
GL either way/Cheers,

B

Kevin A Jones

If getting the Z51 package I'd get mag-ride as well which really improves the overall C7 driving experience. The Z51 and Mag-ride options total totals $6800, which for a mere $3200 more gets you the Grandsport, which I would suggest if the wide-body appeals to you and you can swing the cost.

Z16 GS Performance Package features ($10,000): Specific front fender inserts; Z06 style grill; wider rear fenders; front splitter; rocker skirts, additional brake cooling vents and wickerbill rear spoiler; GS CUP-style wheels; Michelin super-sport summer only tires (P285/30ZR19” front, P33525ZR20” rear); 6-piston front and 4-pison front Bremo brakes; Slotted brake rotors; Magnetic Ride Control and Electronic Limited-slip differential; NPP exhaust, Dry-sump oil system; Rear differential cooler; transmission cooler.

Z51 Performance Package features ($5,000): Performance brakes; Black painted calibers; Slotted brake rotors; Dry sump oil system; Z51 performance package, specific shocks, springs and stabilizer bars; NPP exhaust; performance gear ratios, Electronic Limited-slip differential; Rear differential cooler; transmission cooler and Areo package.

KenHorse

Z51 includes the rear tranny and diff coolers as well as heavy duty cooling system. Not to mention the diff is ELSD as well. All benefits for street driving too

gpotski

Z51 is the sweet spot in an upgrade to the standard C7. Definitely try to get the Magnetic Selective Ride also.

911Hunter

From an owner of a Z51. If you aren't planning to track it, then the base Corvette would be sufficient for you.

themonk

You'll pay 5k now but you'll get some of it back when you go to sell it. Get it, I did and never looked back and you never know, maybe one day you'll want to track it, better to have it and never use it than not have it and wish you did.

Avanti

Simple answer, no. Spend the money on a great trip with it, or mods, or something YOU care about and will benefit from. (would have been a waste for me too; instead I spent $300 [US] and put on the Z51 swaybars myself) All the best.

Woodson

You need a new insurance company.

KenHorse

And how.....

Skid Row Joe

If you will be street racing, then yes, you DO want the Z51. It's the best bargain going in C7 performance. Street OR track.