Raazor

giddyup and hang on!!

golfbone

I agree. I had the F55 and now have the Z51 and prefer it for better handling and quicker gearing. The ride is perfect for a sports car. I never liked the tour mode on the f55...it felt too loose and tipsy.

2006c6keller

The only way to get F55 to handle decently is to add Z51 sway bars which gets the rolling out of the car and gives you "precision steering". The Z51 sway bars reduces the play in the steering wheel from approximately 2" down to 1/4". Now after the new bars you drive in "Tour" unless driving aggressive, then you need "Sport" unless the road is REAL bumpy on sweeps and the rear can jump out.

MID LYPH

I want the latest technology on my car and this is an area where a Corvette buyer can spend a couple thousand and get the same thing used on Ferrari's, Audi R8's, the awesome ZR1 and many other cars costing 2, 3, or more times the cost of a Corvette. I spent almost a year on the Forum and test drove all three suspensions on several occasions before deciding how to order my first and probably only dream Corvette. I could have accepted a different color or interior but the F55 option is the most important part of my Corvette to me.

mgtr

My interest in the C6 was as more of a "boulevardier" than as a sports cars. I have no interest in track days (those days are way behind me), but rather in short trips that my wife and I (sometimes our cat) can take in comfort. The coupe with base suspension serves us well in that regard. Those who I have taken for a ride remark on the acceleration, the speed, and the style, but not until they mention that is was more comfortable than they expected.

widgetsupply

I just got the Z51 Sways and Bilstein Sports installed onto my base coupe. It definately does not ride as smoothly before. However, it is far from harsh. It is definately not kidney crushing, but I do now feel most of the irregularities in the road. I think I finally understand what the magazines say about road feel. I haven't really driven it that much since it was done, probably less than a hundred miles and mostly on the freeway. However, every time I get into it I like it more and more. I think it is really going to be awesome in its element, on winding country roads.

For the first 4-5,000 miles or so I was 100% happy with the base suspension. I eventually started feeling that the suspension needed more control. I felt way too much travel in the suspension as well as cross front to rear movement, ie between the passenger front wheel and the driver rear wheel. Certainly not floaty like an old Cadillac, but way more floaty that a sports car should be.

If I had it to do over again, with price not an object, I would definately not purchase the base suspension again. I got an awesome deal on mine and I'm happy with my choice. However, if I was checking boxes I would definately choose the Z-51 or new Grand Sport. It is such a big purchase with so very little chance to really compare that I feel like I should give my true feelings on this issue.

Dvlray6

The Z51 was not firm enough for me. After coilovers and adjustible sways I am happy with the setup. The car is amazingly balanced now under cornering loads. YMMV.

Bandit1

Z51

vettedoogie

I want some of what you are smoking!

peter pan

Get the base and install bars, still will have the shocks that are more cushy, and softer springs for a non track car. Bars are $200 or so vs more for the option. What I did on our 09 it is not a track car at all, plus I put on Koni FSDs that came off my C5 and the ride is fine for a street driven Vette

2006c6keller

You are so gassed up that you can't even complete your profile.

vettedoogie

"Precision Steering"?
So tell me where you get the idea that the addition of slightly larger anti-sway bars cuts 1.75" of play out of your steering with no other modifications?

JERGENSEN LS3

Unless you plan on tracking your car, the base is fine.

Also the Z51 front & rear bars are cheap and you can install them yourself.

I have the base, and my buddy has the Z51, so far under normal driving, niether of us can really see the difference. But I'm sure that on a race track, there would be a very noticable improvement.

vettedoogie

As I was saying..."Precision Steering"? 1.75" less play in the steering wheel??

2006c6keller

Way, way to much body roll in F55 setup and that has been commented by others and also better steering and this, "precision stering" has been quoted by others as a way to compare before and after modification with Z51 sway bars. Instead of car making slight steering corrections the body would roll instead. This topic was highly discussed and tested in the early 2006 and 2007 models and many individuals have changed sway bars from the study. The base F55 is more of a "Sunday" driver until modified with Z51 sway bars, if you owned a F55 and drove it aggressive, you would definitely know what I'm talking about. Fine for a simple cruising but not for aggressive driving with Z51's and Z06. I had a very tight experience on a blind curvy narrow back road bridge with an eighteen wheeler, way too much play in the steering trying to cross that bridge, had no choice. I would think you would probably be very unhappy with an unmodified F55.

vettedoogie

As to Precision Steering, I've never heard anyone mention that one. As to the people being unhappy with an unmodified F55 Vette..sorry, I call . There are many, many F55 owners who are very happy with their unmodified F55 Vettes. I'm one of them.

I have bought the Z51 sways to put on in the spring just because I have heard it is a good, easy mod but I really like how it grips in the corners, even when it is a bumpy corner.

2006c6keller

After putting the Z51 sway bars on the F55, you will really be praising the modified F55/Z51 sway bar set up, then you can run the corners competitive with the Z06's and Z51's. It will be a whole different car, just think how poor the 2009 ZR1 would be with "base" sway bars which come on the F55. Welcome to the "Baby ZR1". I run with alot of cruises and the F55 would get wiped out by the other cars. I'm talking about AGGRESSIVE driving, not Sunday cruising, lateral G's in the .7 and .8's, maybe more. I think you get the idea. We have even been escorted by TxHP LEO into major TX city for our lunch date. We enjoy driving our cars, that is what they are made for.

vettedoogie

I test drove 3-4 Z51's before I bought mine. I chose the F55 because the Z51's asses tended to hop thru AGGRESSIVE turns with any kind of bumps in them and thus were LESS in contact with the road during aggressive driving than the F55 in Sport Mode.

Will the F55 with thicker sways be an improvement, I suspect it will be or I wouldn't have bought them. A little less body roll is always good. The Z51 could easily be improved also. Your point about "precision steering" solving 1.75" of steering wheel "play" is a joke.

I could care less who escorts you - like that means anything. I think you get the idea.

2006c6keller

Go run your car in triple digits+ and I think you will get the idea and that's NO JOKE!

09C6VRGG

I ordered mine with the Base on purpose. The suspension is still stock and I love it. I tested out the Z06 suspension,F55, Z51, and the Base. Just put some Z51 sways on and non runflats and you will notice a difference.