Didn't get Magnetic Ride Control, big mistake?
 

When I was placing my order for my Stingray last month, I asked about the MRC option, but the dealer told me it wasn't necessary. After reading through some of these threads, I feel like I made a big mistake. I did get the Z51 package and upgraded performance exhaust, though. Will there be that big of a difference? It's too late to change my order, but I'm trying to make myself feel better here! :eyebulge:

Wish I could lye to you but if you are going to performance drive or track at all you will be pissed. By getting the mag ride you also get the Performance traction Management which is synced to work together. Having both a Z06 without mag ride and a Zr1 with mag ride there is a noticeable difference in the way the car will handle under power.

If you are strictly street driving than don't sweat it wont be a issue.

I probably won't be taking it to the track too often. I'm in Ohio, and for 3/4 the year it's winter!

resale value....

If you decide you want the MRC suspension after driving for a while then just trade in your "14 C7 for a MRC susepnsion equipped C7 next year. Although the MRC C7 can be marginally lowered, I would expect the C7 w/o could be more effectively (performance and appearance) lowered.

Laborsmith

I have a 2012 ZL1 with 3rd Gen Magnetic Ride, the same as the new Vette. It is a fantastic system. Firms up for the track and softens up for cruising on rough roads. It is one of the reasons Ferrari uses the same system on their cars. It is still two months before actual production starts, are you sure you can't change your order?

Agreed. Until it gets queued for production I believe you can change your order. Check with your dealer. or ask Becky on here.

Whats your status code? I have seen others on CF get their orders changed as long as the code is not above 3000.

Only the dealer can request a change at 3000 and even then such a request is often not allowed. The dealer still has the allocation but one may bounce back to 2000.

If not tracking and especially if planning on lowering the MRC suspension may not be the best choice. Don't get me wrong, I had it on my C6 and loved it, but it does limit or make prohibitively expensive some after market suspension choices.

Laborsmith

Messed up too...got the Z51 w/out MRC. :facepalm:

I'd buy MRC primarily for street use as it tames Z51 for daily driver usage. MRC also has many benefits on the track, but I wouldn't want Z51 without MRC unless I'm a pro driver (I'm not) and only using the vehicle on the track. Get ready for an awesome handling vehicle with a REALLY rough ride.

I too plan on keeping the car for decades, so this was a consideration. I figure if the ride is just so rough I can't stand it (unlikely), I'll just go aftermarket with it.

CNET did a test with the C7 Z51 without the MRC Option:

"However, most of the models I drove lacked this option, and just had the fixed suspension, which felt surprisingly soft. Given the stiff body, the suspension tuning made the ride feel like a down-filled mattress top strapped over an airplane wing. Chevrolet encouraged me to drive the Stingray over some very roughly paved roads, and I was impressed with the level of comfort. However, I felt cornering suffered a little, as the car leaned a little in each turn.
Taking up any cornering slack from the suspension, Chevrolet fits the Stingray Z51 with an electronic limited slip differential, a bit of technology that improves on the mechanical limited slip diff used in the standard Stingray."

http://reviews.cnet.com/coupe-hatchb...-35826211.html

This isn't consistent with many other reviews and I don't believe his comments were necessarily related to the Z51. There are several other reviews that say the Z51 without MRC is very harsh and rough. The base car without Z51 was reported to be soft. The review comments above are consistent with a base car without Z51 so I'm a bit confused. After reading this again, I think the reviewer drove a variety of cars and his comment above wasn't specifically about the Z51 w/o MRC. The only car that has been reported to lean some was the base, non Z-51 car so my bet is the softness he is reporting is relative to that same car.

There are about 12 reviews out at the moment and I'd check them all out. Most are Z51 cars with MRC and there are only a couple that discuss the base car or Z51 w/o MRC. All I have read with the Z51 w/o MRC report a very harsh ride.

Here is the link to Leftlane... Leftlane news review.

Here is the quote from Leftlane where they discuss the Z51 w/o MRC versus the standard car...

Other reviews of the Z51 with MRC report it is very good on touring mode and very stiff on track mode. I think it blends the base car and Z51 w/o MRC into one car. The bottom line, however, is what is "too stiff" for one person is "just right" for another. :D

Maybe I am missing something but what I have read tells me the ride in not too harsh w/o the MR.I didn,t order it with my 51/auto.At 70.6 I won,t be at the track.Well I don,t think so.I had it on my ZL 1 and while it was nice I really did not use it.

Hate to break it to you....but that magnetic ride is huge deal, even just for cruising.:word:

If I'm able to infact get one, I'm certainly planning on tracking it and will indeed be getting Magnetic Ride. Now, let's get that Facebook stock up more to help make this happen ;)

So far it seems that the Z51 with mag will be a suitable daily driver.

Can anyone agree or disagree with this set up now that there are more miles on the C7.

I have crappy roads in my area.

I have a Z51 without mag ride, and have just over 5000 miles of real-world driving. The roads around here are less than ideal (like most of the country!). To sum up my experience, THIS CAR IS SPECTACULAR! The ride is firm, but far from harsh. You could drive this car all day and not suffer for it. It handles far better than any previous Corvette, and likely all but a handful of cars, period. Yes, the mag ride may give you slightly softer cruising, yes mag ride may give you a slight edge in the turns on a track. But a Z51 without mag ride is by far a superior riding and handling car compared to virtually everything else out there. I don't feel anyone who has this combination is losing out in the long run.

And if it turns out you want less performance and more cushion, you can always switch to the base C7 shocks. For a little more firmness on the track, I'm positive the aftermarket will step up with shock, spring and sway bar packages in the near future. You just can't lose in any way!

Thx purp,

Good to know. Perhaps like you mentioned Z51 /w mag will be a little more soft in tour mode, and since you're saying it's descent without the mag so far it helps ease my mind. This is predominantly my DD, don't want to suffer but couldn't pass up track opportunities and all the added features for a relatively small price. Plus I needed those black wheels :p

I 2nd your statements on the Z51 without mag ride. I purchased mine the same way. I guess I was prepared for a rough ride because I was purchasing a sports car but I was pleasently surprised when I picked her up and drove her. I too have logged nearly 5000 miles in my car and don't regret the decision at all not to purchase the mag ride. This is not to knock anyone that did. The C7 is just a great car overall.

I was at 3000 and able to change my order to get mag ride...your dealer has to get your order dequed, adjust the order and add mag ride and then resubmit the order back into the system. I didn't lose my spot in the prod queue.

Zimm888, mine is my daily driver too. I've even been driving it in snow! No troubles whatsoever. Weather mode really does help when the weather turns crappy. The ride quality is far better than you'd think considering its a hard-core sports car. The mag ride would merely be an extra layer of icing on a triple-iced cake!

Thx again purp,

Just used to my sedans

Just curious, for those who ordered a Z51 w/o MSR, why did you not get MSR?

I hate to say it, but you messed up. I have had this on my 2010 Cadillac CTS-V and it was a no-brainer to get it on my new Z51 Stingray. I have had the opportunity to run hard on the track with my V. The option also includes other traction performance features. It is a fantastic suspension system which was also purchased from Cadillac by Ferrari for use on their cars. Unfortunately only put 115 cold weather miles on my Z51 before Winter storage. Sping can't come soon enough!

Kochaloch, for me the reason was mostly maintenance costs down the road. There are many sensors that are part of the mag rude system, any of which when failing will cause all kinds of headaches. While not an issue during the warranty period, I plan to keep my Stingray for a loooong time (I've had my '74 Stingray for over 20 years!). Friends of mine have had to replace the mag shocks and they run around $1000 EACH. You can get full race-capable, rebuildable, adjustable suspensions for price of a set of mag shocks. Also, if anything in the mag ride system fails, the computers drastically limit top speed and other performance items until the system is repaired, as a safety feature.

As for messing up for not getting mag ride, I wouldn't say that. Its as much a personal preference as anything. One could say the same for people who didn't get Z51 in the first place. Or the carbon top. Or competition seats. Or etc.

way way way overblown...I have been in a z51 without MRC and it not "too harsh" at all - granted its a bit stiffer than my base suspension, but I'd have no problem buying it for a DD if I wanted to buy all the other stuff the z51 has (I did not)...

I AGREE! (had Both).:thumbsup:

I didn't get it will have my car in a week or so. I will determine it then was going to get it but my I really did not know if it was worth the money. Even my dealer said yes it is better but not so much better that is even worth getting. Also I live in Shreveport, LA that has some of the worst roads that even a hovercraft would have trouble handling.

Thanks purpleRac3r for your candid and detailed opinion. I happened to get my C7 from an order that some doofus got too inpatient and bought something else. It was ordered with everything I wanted except MRC, I hoped that wasn't a big mistake. After reading your comments, I do feel better about it.

Heh, H20Stingray, I live further south than you in Lake Charles.....roads suck here! But, my C7 is not my daily drive. I have just under 1k on mine, not an issue at all so far. It is light years ahead of my previous C5....I'm happy!

Yep mine will be a daily driver except for when I alternate with the motorcycle. Once I get out of the Shreveport area the roads start to smooth out then as soon as you cross the state line in to texas the roads are great.

My Z51 has no MSRC.... had it since late Oct. No regrets... as stated, it's blown out of proportion. Heck, even Harlan Charles and John Fitzgerald personally told me that I wouldn't miss MSRC. They're both absolutely correct. I drove all 3 types of Stingrays too (FE1, FE3, and FE4). FE3 is a good middle ground... sporty & firm handling yet your Stingray is still liveable as a DD. Obviously having MSRC is the ultimate option for suspension control but it doesn't mean that without it, the Z51 would be much less compliant on urban & rural driving. If you can get it, then get it... if not then not a big issue nor a deal breaker... nor a big mistake. The Stingray even in base trim is an excellent handling and well-balanced sports car that you can easily drive everyday in comfort and in confidence.

In my opinion it's not really a big deal. . .Had mine since October without MSRC and with Z51 package and the ride is fine. Although mine is not a daily driver, I would still feel comfortable driving it everyday. In fact, I wish I could drive it everyday. I'm trying not to put too many miles on it. . .

My reasons for not getting it.
Money, maintenance, not worth it (my opinion). I went for a ride at the dealership in a car with mag ride and after that I picked Laguna Blue, Z51, 2lt, npp, black rims, black tail and mirrors.

I am 67 in May my older brother who always had the cool cars, (he was driving a 66 427 Vette roadster in 68 while I was the proud owner of an Opel Kadette), died leaving me a very thoughtful inheritance. I intend to honor his memory by purchasing a 2014 Lt1 Z51 with the Crystal Red paint, black wheels, performance exhaust and manual tranny. I want this Vette to drive as close as possible to his old 427, I want that rumble and hard ride and I think this combo of options will be as close as I can get to that. Long story but I think he wants me to do this and I am as excited as a kid at Christmas waiting to get called to place my order. Everything I've read translates into this is one heck of a ride.

That's why I never listen to the dealer.

It's my money and my car, I wanted Z51 and magnetic ride so I got it even though the dealer thought I didn't need either.

Again, my money, my car.

Plus my ZL1 had it and I loved it.

If you're going to take it to road courses then yes it is nice to have but not necessary. Car still pulls a G without it..
Are you planning on hitting the race track?