C8_or_GT4

Hey guys - I'm new to the brand so I'm not 100% up on the marketing or positioning of the various levels of the vette. I currently have a Cayman which is Regular, S, GTS, and GT4. The GT4 being the car built for the track.

The vette for the C7 has the following progression: Stingray, Z51, Grand Sport, Z06, ZR1.

As far as I can tell Chevy markets the corvette as being track ready across the versions. Z51 package, GS, Z06, and ZR1 are all track ready from what I've read.

In practice what has been your experience? Is the Z51 package on a base car a good track day car?

If I'm interested in the C8 do I gain a lot if I wait for the Grand Sport version?

As badass as the supercharged cars are I will pass. I'm more interested in NA. I know my limits as a driver and I know a Z06 and ZR1 while awesome are just too wild for my taste.

Exia

The base car without the Z51 package can be tracked but it really isn't recommended. Z51 absolutely can be tracked and it is a good car. Grand Sport takes it up a notch by making a lot of the optional items on the base car and the Z51 package standard equipment and giving you even bigger brakes/tires. The Z06 takes the Grand Sport's standard equipment and adds more power. The ZR1 takes the Z06 and adds more power and better aero.

While we don't know what GM will do for the C8, based on history the Grand Sport will be the best NA C8 Corvette you can buy.

Think of the Porsche S version as the equivalent to the Z51. GTS is like the Grand Sport.

If I were you I would wait for the Grand Sport, but you may end up waiting 2-3 years. If you can't wait, get a Z51 and then sell/trade it in for a Grand Sport if your finances allow you to.

C8_or_GT4

As much as I want the new vette now I want to get a chance to test drive one, and hear of early adopters experiences on track.

jcp911s

When I bought my car, I cross-shopped a Cayman S. Here's my takeaway...

2016 Z51... great power, the MRC shocks are fantastic, world-class technology... the steering is OK, but gives little real-world feedback, the MPSS tires are hit or miss... can bite you if cold.... bottom line, my car is very fast, but pushed past 9/10ths, can also bite you in the ***... hello tire wall...

The GS adds more tire (more tire is better, btw).

Cayman... less power, but much more predicable handling... not faster, per se, but much more controleble at the limit...

So, do you want a 100 that you can only drive at 80%, or an 80 that you can drive at 95%.... do the math.

A used GT4 will cost you $90K.... you can buy a new C7 GS for $55K. A 2014 Cayman S will run $40-45K.

gthal

I just sold my GT4 and am buying a Z51. The Z51 will be a very capable track car with a simple brake fluid and pad change. I would do this in the GT4 too so no different. The base car has different aero, different LSD and smaller brakes... it's not how I would spec a car that will see track time. I owned a C7 Z51 and I was as fast in it on most tracks as I am with my GT4. The C8 Z51 will, IMO, be faster than even the 718 GT4 if I'm a betting man.

The GS should be even more capable with likely suspension and brakes from the Z06. The GS in the C8 will likely be faster than almost any of its competition... the C7 GS is already. The C8 Z51 will, if I am betting, put up better lap times than the C7 GS and, therefore, will be in the GT3 league of times. The C8 GS will be faster again and the Z06... well...

Quinten33

Comparing the C8 to the 718 is almost unfair at this point.
Here’s how I expect the C8 to stack up to the 992 911 family, if the C8 follows the C7 model structure:
Stingray=Carrera S
Z51=Carrera GTS
GS=GT3
GS Z07=GT3 RS
Z06=Turbo S
Z06 Z07= GT2 RS
ZR1= Good luck, Chuck.

gthal

Except the C7 GS is putting up GT3 numbers today... there is little doubt in my mind that the C8 Z51 will outperform the C7 GS. I would be $20 that the C8 Z51 runs most tracks at the same pace as a 991.2 GT3

jcp911s

How about you bet $20,000... that's what a visit to the wall will cost... I did a 2:13 at WGI in a dead stock Z51 C7 on MPSS. No safety equipment...NOW... race speed with Hoosiors and a cage, I'd guess... maybe 2;06 ish... 2:04 ish... ahhh

C8_or_GT4

Nice thoughtful answers guys thanks for the info.

A few other thoughts:

How are C7 Z51s, GS on bumpy back roads? The gt4 is a pleasure for "canyon carving." I like having a car that can do it all.

Do you guys have trouble scraping on bumpy roads? (For norcal locals think 130 up to hamilton)

Also - How is the TC on this car? I never turn off the TC on my GT4 and I never feel it shutting me down because it's that good. I know I'm not that great a driver. So it is doing its magic.

Ultimately I didn't buy the C7 because of my 80s gm car experience sadly.

But I'm really thinking C8. But another option has crept into my mind - get ultra discounted '19 Grand Sport? Still can get a manual, and maybe a different / fun experience.

oregonsharkman

My 2019 GS is great on bumpy roads - just switch it over to the tour setting. TC can be varied to any level you need. For the street, sport is more than adequate if it kicks in, you are going WAY to fast for public roads... I scrape a bit on my steep driveway, but it's really only the underside rubber bumper - no damage. I am looking forward to the C8 lift though.

Big Lebowski

‘These sound like great questions to ask over on the C7 side of the forum.

C8_or_GT4

FWIW I'm asking to try and understand how the C8 will be since no one has their hands on one yet except chevy. I'm trying to decide whether I want to withdraw my deposit / order for the '20 718 Cayman GT4.

Tom73

Sad, not buying because of experiences you had 40 years ago.

themonk

I'm sure everyone's noticed this already but the C8 Z51 doesn't have slotted rotors like on the C7, I wonder why that is?

50MileSmile

I’ve heard racers and brake engineers talk about slotted rotors causing excessive pad wear - and that the rotors themselves wear faster along the edges of the slots, reducing braking effectiveness. I don’t have any practical experience on this issue, but I’m curious. What do you say, racers and track-day participants?

gthal

Slotted rotors are largely aesthetics. Not needed for the track. Many hardcore track rats swap out drilled/slotted rotors for blanks like the C8 has. Drilled rotors are the worst as the crack. Slotted better but can eat up pads and don't really contribute to better performance.

quick04Z06

I have a 2017 GS M7 with the iron brakes and of course mag ride, and I agree with this gentleman’s assessment above. I also track the car with no changes other than brake pads and brake fluid and following GM’s track prep recommendations in the manual. It manages heat well, and is very quick on the stock super sport tires.

The active handling system has a number of different settings and you can make it as unobtrusive as you want it to be, up to and including turning all of the nannies off except for ABS. I don’t think you’ll have a problem with it if they are consistent on the C8..

If you put the car in touring mode, the exhaust is quiet and the ride is comfortable. It’s a great all-around car.

I’m assuming the C8’s Z 51 top-end package (there are 2 Z51 packages, one rated higher than the other, and the high-end package has the mag ride shocks) should be very similar to my C7 GS in terms of driving impressions. I assume it will be quicker than my C7 around the race track.

quick04Z06

Last time I looked at the C7R’s brakes up close at the Petite LeMans last year, they were running a dimpled rotor. This apparently provided some additional surface area, gas dispersion and cooling.

The slotted rotors work fine and probably do provide some additional performance benefit, and I’ve certainly seen pure racing cars with slotted rotors at racetracks. AP Racing sells its version of slotted rotors they call a “J hook” for its track brakes.

Drilled rotors, however, are purely cosmetic and the drilled holes crack.

That said, there’s no reason a smooth flat rotor cannot work quite well so long as it is internally vented.

There are several forum vendors who are extremely knowledgeable about brakes and can give you more clarification on this.

RapidC84B

Z51 standard car is a great trackday car. If you get the comp seats and mag ride it will need nothing. Track the crap out of it, let GM fix whatever breaks. That's my plan.

jvp

Hopefully it doesn't take the boys at Vetteworks too long to get a Sharkbar fitted into the C8 somehow. Having harnesses is just too handy, IMHO.