Michael A

I did a search to see which suspension has the best ride, and couldn't find an answer. I thought I had read that Tadge said the Base suspension without MRC had the best ride. Anyone have any information on this?

Walt White Coupe

You have to define "best".

Michael A

Best = best ability to isolate passengers and vehicle structure from the roughness of our lousy California roads (#1 state in the nation for the highest percentage of urban roads in poor condition).

falcon5619

23/C8Z

Mag ride is the best over bumps for isolation. Watch some videos on YouTube about it. Amazing.

bith my vettes have it. Wouldn't own one without it if there was an option for it.

Maxie2U

KenHorse

In MANY ways.....

Michael A

I hope Corvette engineering keeps Californians and people in other states with bad roads in mind when they do their design work. Maybe they need to come out with a Corvette California Special, with extra soft suspension. They way things are going, the roads are only going to get worse in this state, so like it or not, I have to take it into account with choosing a car and which suspension to order. I wish Chevy would make this process a little easier by telling us which suspension is the softest.

The front and rear springs for FE1 base suspension non-MRC have different part numbers compared to the FE2 base suspension with MRC. So it appears the two suspensions have different spring rates, and not just the same springs with different shocks.

joemessman

My understanding is the base without MRC is a little smoother ride than a base with MRC in tour mode. But with the updated current MRC system I wouldn't hesitate having that option. If you track the car, I would say it is a must.

Kevin A Jones

Perhaps the C7 isn't the car for you as it's more designed for performance and handling than a cushy ride.

bjones7131

The base stingray w/o mag ride gives the best softest ride. I had a base 16 no mag ride and now a 17 GS with mag ride and a big difference. If you are looking for a strictly soft compliant ride go w/o mag ride preferably a stingray, Z and GS have bigger wider tires that are very harsh on ride quality. IF you want tracking and aggressive driving go with other models.

Kevin A Jones

I also have a 2017 GS and feel it's the best of both worlds. It's handling on winding back country roads is amazing and exhilarating. In sport or track the MRC and fat soft ties feels as though you are stuck to the road, however around town and on interstate is very comfortable in touring mode.
But then, I come from a C2-3 background so the C7 would feel comfortable.

SMT1004

cowboy casey

I had the base FE1 suspension when I bought my car used, it is soft, the car leans when you take turns, its really mushy... also has 18 inch front and 19 inch rear rims and tires so better flex from the tires... with both combined you have a very compliant ride for potholes and really crappy roads...

Within 500 miles I changed to the Z51 shocks and the front and rear swaybars but left the base springs and love the ride now but it is a stiffer ride, no leaning, feel every bump in the road but it is still more compliant than the Z51 because of the base springs...

"the best" is a matter of perspective and what you want out of your suspension...

Michael A

Hopefully, we don't get to that point. I have a C5 Z51, and the ride is OK most of the time. The roads in California are getting worse and worse, so I need to be prepared for that.

Walt White Coupe

For the most compliant ride, I'd suggest you buy the base car and then for around $350 buy Z51 front and rear sway bars. (~$100 to install) Leave everything else stock and you have a car that handles better than the Z51 C6 which was a very good handling car. Just as an aside even the stock base C7 handles better than the Z51 C6. That's what I did but I also bought 19/20 inch wheels to get the lower profile tires.

Patman

I'm constantly amazed at how well my 2018 rides (base suspension, no MSRC, but lowered as far as it can go on stock bolts) but while handing incredibly well too. I don't take it to the track but I like taking it on twisty roads and it has more grip than I need, to be honest. I'm sure a dedicated track racer would feel differently mind you, but for 99% of the driving public this setup will provide them the best of both worlds (comfortable ride for long trips, but great handling when the twisty roads are around) At the stock ride height I found it to be a bit more floaty, but lowering the car by an inch solved that issue.

Avanti

I've an '18 base "base" on Louisiana roads which certainly are nothing to write home about and as much as the suspension, imho, is the impact of tires on ride. I was delighted to find the current run-flats SO much better in this regard than the ones that came on my C5 (still stuck somewhere in an outbuilding) back in the day.

I've been totally pleased with the ride of the '18 and I'm in my 8th decade, no spring chicken who still has "built-in springs."

Btw, earlier this year Road & Track labeled the base car the "best sportscar in the world" while reviewing a different model; they didn't say base car with magnetic ride.

joemessman

My recommendation is to try to get a test drive, and, or ride with different C7s. Contact the Corvette club in your area. Those folks are usually more than happy to let you ride along at the very least. Most of them are just looking for an excuse to go for a ride anyway! I did that before I bought mine. Therefore I got the car with what I deemed the best ride for "me".
How the car rides and drives it to subjective. You really have to experience it. To some the base is too spongy. To others it is as stiff and rough as they want. It's really worth the effort to test ride or test drive.

Skid Row Joe

Base suspension without MSRC. If Tadge said it, you can believe it. My MSRC, on Track mode, reminds me of a 1969 C3, 427 ci ride.