C8 Ride Quality without MRC

[N4SPEED]

I know the Z51 question has been asked and answered, but my question is would C8’s ride without MRC be supple enough? I don’t mind spending the money for Z51 and MRC, but absolutely dislike the rear spoiler. I do like the front splitter, but I think I can add that later.

With my C7 Z06/7, I always had the suspension in touring, even when I was on the track. My understanding is that without MRC, there is no control with regard to ride firmness and if I am stuck with only one setting, would it be comfortable and how does it compare to MRC set on comfort.

Any feedback is appreciated.

[DR X]

N4Speed, Here is my input. I just traded my 17 Grand Sport to my local dealer, it had the mrc mag. shocks and it rode "firmer" (even with the mrc update ($ 350.00) performed, much firmer than my 14 Stingray with the bilsten shocks, in touring mode mostly. Wife didn't like the ride! That's why I'm sticking w/NON-Z51 & no MRC. Assuming we'll get a smoother ride on trips & such with the regular shocks. Hope this helps.

[vettekat]

The base suspension (FE2) is supposed to be tuned to ride a bit firmer than the MRC in TOUR mode.

[JB]

Fwiw i daily drive my 2008 c6 z51 with no mrc and i think over the past 134 k miles it rides great...

the base suspemsiom is even more compliant.

if you dont like the rear spoiler and you could care less about a few tenths of a second to sixty...

then by all means feel confident the base standard suspemsion is still wonderful.

as a sports car enthusiasts we laugh at how full of **** we are that we need z51 and mrc..


speaking as one car guy to the next..its all bullsh t..so that we are pretending to be race car drivers...

if you dont want the z51 with mrc shocks...

dont even give it a second thought...from a ride quality comfort perspective...the standard suspension shock system will make for a wonderful grand tourer..

btw did I mention that i am ordering the z51 fe4 mrc shocks as the only options on the c8...

i like the heavy duty nature of the z51 fe4 package setup.

[meyerweb]

First, understand none of us KNOW for sure how the suspension on the C8 will compare to the C7, base, Z51, MRC, or otherwise. Nor do we know what you consider stiff, or too stiff. Maybe you think a Caddy is just right, maybe you have no issue with a Lotus Seven.

Somewhere on this site a GM person is quoted as saying something about the significant improvements in ride and handling. So maybe the Z51 C8 will ride better than the base C7. But I doubt it. We just don't know at this point.

On the C7, the base suspension rides softer than the Z51, with or without MRC. MRC can only affect the shock damping, not the spring rate, and the springs on the Z51 are stiffer than on the base model. I have a base suspension C7* and the ride is very comfortable. Even my wife thinks it's fine, and she's not a sports car gal. It's not too stiff by any stretch of the imagination. I think softer than the Z51 MRC suspension in tour, but I've not ridden or driven them back to back, so I can't say that with 100% confidence. 99%, maybe.

If you're not tracking the car, don't want the wing, and prioritize a comfortable ride, I'd suggest the base suspension, at least based on the C7.

* I did replace the stock front-only sway bar with the bigger, stiffer, Z51 front / rear bar pair. It STILL rides very well, but has less body roll.

[DR X]

Thanks Meyerweb for your input, greatly appreciated & we're thinking along the same wavelength! I'm not tracking, doing touring & car shows, appreciate the Michelin all-season radials, definitely would love to have the Z51 wing, but we can't have it all I guess. I'll wait to see what ACS may have up their sleeve, wickerbills maybe???

[Racer X]

FWIW those of us with earlier base C7'S they also shipped with higher profile 18/19 wheels with higher sidewalls than the Z51 variant, also contributing to a "softer" ride. This is one reason i have resisted upgrading my wheels to a the lower profile 19/20s even though i like the look a bit more, the 5 spoke base wheels are still really sporty.

[TOMDOM69]

I know the Z51 question has been asked and answered, but my question is would C8’s ride without MRC be supple enough? I don’t mind spending the money for Z51 and MRC, but absolutely dislike the rear spoiler. I do like the front splitter, but I think I can add that later.

With my C7 Z06/7, I always had the suspension in touring, even when I was on the track. My understanding is that without MRC, there is no control with regard to ride firmness and if I am stuck with only one setting, would it be comfortable and how does it compare to MRC set on comfort.

Any feedback is appreciated.

I know that Tadge said that the seats are directly between the front and rear wheels, so they were able to make the suspension stiffer and you cant really tell because you are in the center. I think he compaired it to being in the center of a teeter totter. I immediately thought of a jeep, it's fine in the front seat, but if you are in the back seat you'll catch air. So I'd guess you are safe with the non Z51 and no MRC, if you are using the car as a tourer. The base suspension will definately be more compliant then the Z51 without MRC for sure. There is a slight chance that the base is smoother then the Z51 even with the MRC. I'm pretty sure the Z51 package has had thicker sway bars and stiffer springs in the past, I don't see why that would change. anyway take that for what it's worth, depending on pricing I may have to make tough choices.... hopefully it's not between Z51 w/mrc vs convertible, because I have to get the 2LT.

[Michael]

I asked this very question at the Peterson Museum reveal. The base car has about the same ride quality as Z51 with MRC in Tour mode.

[N4SPEED]

Thank you all for your feedback!! I am leaning toward not getting the Z51. My plan is to keep the Stingray until the Z06 variant comes out, and trade it for a Z06.

[Teamzr1]

Since only 41% of the cars weight is on this mid engine design and the front end rolls over bumps, curbs, etc
I would think the MRC is needed as GM design would have more control of ride control for that lack of front end weight ?

With the less weight on front and any lift changes the load on those coil-over shocks and again the MRC I would think in design allows to compensate for those conditions
which could be worse with non Z51 aero features

C8 is a total unknown as driving a mid engine such as having more understeer/push and want the shocks being adjusted as added lift changes load to shocks
As with the C7 3rd party vendors developed software changes for MRC so it would be nice to have that option in future plus any controller software updates GM does.

[electroVette]

What are the roads like in your area? If they're bad then you will regret it if you don't get the MRC.

Honestly I cannot imagine skipping the MRC option. It's industry leading technology that is so good that Ferrari licensed it from GM. To buy a mid engine Corvette that's been anticipated for longer than I've been on this planet, yet skip the most advanced suspension technology in the world, that's not right. Go for broke. Let the Z51 spoiler grow on you.

[John]

Every Aston Martin comes standard with the GM magnetic selective ride system.

As I mentioned at least a month ago, this was one of the most hotly discussed, sometimes debated, subjects during the entire C7 generation. Looks like it again will be for the C8. Where we live we have not great roads, some downright poor, and as we do significant road trips mostly chosen to be back curvy, country, Corvette roads, so to us getting MSRC is a top five option. Friends however who live in the part of Florida which has great roads, do not get it, and do not need it.

[ltomn]

The GM magnetic selective ride control is a GM patent. It is licensed by other car companies for their use.