Nutdriverss

The last Corvette I owned was a 1984 with the Z51 suspension. These cars had a horribly stiff suspension, that was 20 years ago.
Now I'm considering a C5 and don't want that harsh ride. I would like to know how the Z06 rides vs the standard C5?
Thanks

Evil-Twin

Its a sports car with very aggressive handling. its not a Lexus. Harsh is a very subjective term. A C5 rides like a C5 should. A stiff suspension is what makes the car handle as it does. Go test drive a few, then you can make the subjective determination. Every Corvette I've owned, never surprised me with its ride characteristics.

bikeriderga

No comparison to an 84. Test drive one.

The C5 is much better than the C4 in terms of the cabin, cabin room, and ride quality.

Vetteman Jack

I had an '84 Vette also - and the C5 is much better in the ride/handling department than that car ever was. But you really need to test drive a C5 and find out for yourself.

Kale

I had an 86 corvette with z51.

My 04 has the Z06 suspension.

The ride quality is different for a few reasons:
When you hit a bump in the C5, it just goes over the bump. No drama. 99% of bumps aren't jarring.

In a c4, whole damn thing slams and shimmies

The_Gray_Ghost

My C5 coupe is a Z51 car and rides pretty smooth IMO. Not a Lexus, but definitely not what I would call harsh.

Cybermind

Here is the main reason that a C5 will never ride or feel like a C4:

frame.pdf

Koufax

You may have to drive more than one. The first Z51 C5 that I drove was horrible. My teeth rattled as the car went over every bump. The second one felt like a sports car should -- yes, I knew the bumps were there, but the feeling was manageable. Why the difference? I don't know. Tires probably, and maybe the first one had been lowered.

SG Lou

I have owned a few C3, C4's and now a C5 and every Gen. just got better and better when it came to ride quality. When I got asked what it rides like I gave the comparison of going from a buckboard wagon to a Cadillac !

FLZapped

I like it. It is a car you can literally drive by the seat of your pants.

Nutdriverss

Thanks for all the feedback. I agree I will need to drive different suspended cars. But I am glade the ride quality has improved over the C4.

Kale

Seriously, going from a noodly c4 to a stiff-framed c5 is an amazing upgrade!

For example, if you jack up a C5, you can open the doors and only the opposite side wheels still touch the ground.

Leo23

No comparison from 84 Z51 to my present 99 coupe with Z51. The 84 rode like a buckboard, harsh and extremely rough, and the 99 is just firm and tight, as a proper sports car should be.

LTCHAPPA

On my 2003 I have the magnetic ride and I put on heavier sway bars from a C6. The car handles great and is very flat in the turns and the ride is not harsh but slightly stiffer than a regular C5.

c5arlen

ET responded 7 years ago to this inquiry.... It Still stands today.

F1Fan

My C4 was the squeakiest car I ever owned and my C5 seems to have none at all, very solid car.

C5MSG2004Vert

Where is ET today? He did provide lots of good advice.