Corvette C7, Z51 thoughts?

[Cujet]

I need a car and am thinking about the C7 with Z51 and automatic.

While I'm not in love with Corvettes in general, and really could use something with better economy, I do love sports cars and dislike pedestrian appliances.

Any input from C7 owners would be appreciated.

Clearly, the base model with the Z51 handling package and magnetic shocks has a nice Smith ride and Indy seats.

I drive a lot, so comfort is important.

 

[Ws6]

Originally Posted by Cujet
I need a car and am thinking about the C7 with Z51 and automatic.

While I'm not in love with Corvettes in general, and really could use something with better economy, I do love sports cars and dislike pedestrian appliances.

Any input from C7 owners would be appreciated.

Clearly, the base model with the Z51 handling package and magnetic shocks has a nice Smith ride and Indy seats.

I drive a lot, so comfort is important.

I used to own a c6 z06. Since then, obviously, the car has become more refined, but the one thing that has bothered me about sports cars is the low grade noise of tires+pavement+lack of insulation, resulting in my head feeling stuffed with cotton after 4-500 miles.

I used to poopoo the idea of more luxurious vehicles, but then I got into vehicles that cruise at around 65dB, and let me say, Im a believer. Maybe at 33 Im just getting old.

Personally? Id snag something from the ///M or AMG division before I went c7.

*i just checked, my 2011 z06 was within 1dB of the c7. Both over 71dB at 70mph. My current cx5 is supposedly around 65dB. To me, sound matters more to my fatigue level than any other factor.

 

[Revving2Redline]

Isnt Z51 or ZR1 the Lotus engine?

 

[Ws6]

Originally Posted by Marco620
Isnt Z51 or ZR1 the Lotus engine?

No, z51 is internal GM code for the suspension and a few other things. The zr1 4v lotus engine was decades ago, and never again.

 

[E365]

New or used? If new, I'd at least wait to see what the C8 will consist of.

I'd actually buy a current Camaro over a current Corvette. Better chassis on the Camaro - puts down power better.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I've driven every current "common/non exotic" sports car and the only one I really like is the 370Z. I agree with Cujet. I like something fun to drive as well. I almost went to look at what was advertised as a collector's condition 1991 300ZX. I got them to text me some pictures since it would've required a road trip top go look at it,and well,it was one step away from going to the junkyard.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

ZR1 was a Mercruiser. Sounds like you need a touring car more than a sports car. Corvette will never be a good everyday car.

 

[Ws6]

Originally Posted by aquariuscsm
I've driven every current "common/non exotic" sports car and the only one I really like is the 370Z. I agree with Cujet. I like something fun to drive as well. I almost went to look at what was advertised as a collector's condition 1991 300ZX. I got them to text me some pictures since it would've required a road trip top go look at it,and well,it was one step away from going to the junkyard.

I had a 2012 Sport/Touring. It was a nice car. Only complaint was the jittery suspension.

 

[rubberchicken]

Originally Posted by 2strokeNorthstar
ZR1 was a Mercruiser. Sounds like you need a touring car more than a sports car. Corvette will never be a good everyday car.

Technically Mercury Marine, but I get what your saying.

 

[MCompact]

I think that the C7 is a great sports car. At 62 I could easily live with one as a DD- but then as you can see from my sig, my garage does not contain a single cushy geezermobile.

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted by Cujet
I need a car and am thinking about the C7 with Z51 and automatic.

While I'm not in love with Corvettes in general, and really could use something with better economy, I do love sports cars and dislike pedestrian appliances.

Any input from C7 owners would be appreciated.

Clearly, the base model with the Z51 handling package and magnetic shocks has a nice Smith ride and Indy seats.

I drive a lot, so comfort is important.


Since you mentioned comfort, why not consider a base model without Z51? My 2018 is just the basic 1LT package and on top of that I only added the Z51 spoiler, black wheels (the 2018s and newer come with the Z51's 19/20" wheels standard), red calipers, battery tender package, carbon flash badges and the A8 trans. It kept the price lower but it's got everything I need and I find the ride to be extremely good for a sports car, long trips are very comfortable. The Z51 with magnetic ride has a comfortable ride when set into touring mode but it's still a bit stiffer than the base suspension. And the base suspension is no slouch, it'll corner over 1g no problem. I lowered mine an inch (which didn't hurt the ride comfort) and that helped to keep the body lean down in corners.

I have had mine since Dec 2017 and am just about at the 10,000 mile mark now and it has been flawless! By far the most fun car I've ever owned. It has an onboard acceleration timer and my best 0-60 has been 3.8 seconds so far (and I think I can knock that down another tenth) But yet on the highway it approaches 40 MPG if I let it go into 4 cylinder mode and keep it at 60-65 MPH. Simply incredible! The fit and finish of the paint and body panels is very good too, mine was painted in the new paint facility that they built in the fall of 2017, so any car built after that point will show better quality than the earlier C7s did.

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted by Cujet

Clearly, the base model with the Z51 handling package and magnetic shocks has a nice Smith ride and Indy seats.


Let's try that again: Smooth and Comfortable. Not Smith and Indy.

Autocorrect.

 

[Cujet]

Thanks Patman,

I drove the magnetic ride version and thought it was actually smoother than the base model when set to "soft". In any case, the ride is 100% smooth enough on either model. I am not looking for luxury, just something with sufficient comfort to commute in.

Really, today's crop of SUV's are very comfortable and easy to get into and out of. But I flat out hate them when driven hard. Even the sportiest versions are subject to "head toss" over bumps and are a roll-over risks on my local roads.

I tend to enjoy a vehicle that immediately does what I ask. It does not have to be the fastest thing around, but it must have good manners. The R package Miata was always a joy. My S2000, not so much, as the (previously installed) turbo kit with it's 2 seconds of lag drove me nuts. Although the S2000 drove quite well in all other ways. My current Jaguar X-Type is also OK, whereas a Camry is not.

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

Originally Posted by Cujet
Originally Posted by Cujet

Clearly, the base model with the Z51 handling package and magnetic shocks has a nice Smith ride and Indy seats.


Let's try that again: Smooth and Comfortable. Not Smith and Indy.

Autocorrect.


The word I would suggest for that is "autoincorrect".

 

[clinebarger]

I don't think you could go wrong with a C7, The LT1 will definitely puts a smile on your face! And the chassis is well sorted!
Don't know if I would consider one a comfortable long distance cruiser though.

This may seem left field, And the Hyundai haters will cry.......But, Have you driven a Genesis Coupe with the 3.8L/6 speed & Brembo's?

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted by clinebarger
Have you driven a Genesis Coupe with the 3.8L/6 speed & Brembo's?


Yes, a friend has one that he does track days with. He has a few bolt on mods, but mostly stock. It's a pretty fun car, but not particularly fast. I think they have been discontinued.

 

[RooflessVW]

Originally Posted by clinebarger
This may seem left field, And the Hyundai haters will cry.......But, Have you driven a Genesis Coupe with the 3.8L/6 speed & Brembo's?

Doesn't compare to even a base 'Vette in speed, handling, build quality, or prestige.

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted by clinebarger
I don't think you could go wrong with a C7, The LT1 will definitely puts a smile on your face! And the chassis is well sorted!
Don't know if I would consider one a comfortable long distance cruiser though.



It definitely is. I can drive my C7 for hours and still be perfectly comfortable, my wife's BMW not so much, the seats aren't supportive enough for comfort beyond about an hour of driving.

 

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by rooflessVW
Originally Posted by clinebarger
This may seem left field, And the Hyundai haters will cry.......But, Have you driven a Genesis Coupe with the 3.8L/6 speed & Brembo's?

Doesn't compare to even a base 'Vette in speed, handling, build quality, or prestige.


Prestige......Really?

I really like the C7, But......Not many outside a divorced Boomer in full crisis mode thinks they're "Prestigious" or any kind of status symbol for that matter.

 

[Patman]

The Genesis Coupe is very nice (I'd love to replace my Civic with one!) but there is no doubt it is not as prestigious as a Corvette. The C7 is obviously not in the same league as a Lamborghini, Ferrari or other exotic, and would go unnoticed in a place like Miami or Los Angeles. But trust me when I say the C7 gets a lot of attention and a lot of thumbs up from the average person in most areas. It definitely gets more attention than my C5 and C6 Vettes got (being bright red probably helps a bit there admittedly)