Project b1adeZmobile 2.0 - 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray Z51
 

After 5 long years of driving the Z, I thought it was about time to upgrade. I wanted something that had similar characteristics to the Z - small, lightweight, great handling, and some power to go along with it. I fell in love with the C7 when it was first revealed and even more so once I finally sat in one at the DC Auto Show a couple years back. When I got a chance to test drive one this past summer I just knew it was the perfect car for me. It's got looks (both exterior and interior), performance (both power and handling), reliability, and quality.

So the one I ended up buying is a 2014 Corvette Stingray Z51 2LT in Laguna Blue. It has the 7MT, which is the first MT I have ever owned. It has the Magnetic Selective Ride Control (MSRC), NPP exhaust, Competition racing seats, CF interior, and CF roof options equipped. Haven't had it long enough to do a true comparison with the Z yet, but so far it seems like a huge upgrade in every aspect. Only advantage the Z has is with interior space. Definitely a tighter interior on the C7. I am planning on bringing it to ZDayZ this year, so I can probably give a much better comparison after that.

Mods
-Corsa Xtreme axleback exhaust with black tips

Here are some pics!

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...75&oe=57DE50E7

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ee&oe=57DD052B

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...b0&oe=573CA317

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c...0220161519.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...220161519a.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...220161519b.jpg


2/18/16

Installed the Corsa Xtreme axleback exhaust.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...08&oe=5750709A






3/14/16

Windows tinted with 3M Color Stable film at 20%.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...77&oe=5788FDC2

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...f7&oe=578AA42D

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...a0&oe=575D7A8B

Nice upgrade. Congrats!

If you bring it to ZDayZ, I'll throw rotten veggies at you.............Just kidding. :D A fellow co-worker got a '15. He loves it. He ordered it. He said that was a nightmare. He wanted some options, but not others. The dealer told he no problem. So the dealer ordered it, only to be rejected because of the options want/not want. The dealer never called him back about the issue for a couple of weeks. He was ready to come to blows with the dealership. But he got it with a couple of options that he didn't want. When he's not working. You have to pry him out from behind the wheel. :rofl2:

Nice, I'll be right behind you in a few, but I just love my Z so much I just don't wanna get rid of it.

Thanks! :tup:

Yeah I have heard about people having issues with ordering. It's because GM only allows each dealership a certain number of order allocations for Corvettes based on how many they sell in the past few years. Then there's also different factory constraints for some options based on production schedule, material availability, etc. If you order from one of the top Corvette selling dealerships in the country, it's usually not an issue. If you order from any other one, then you run into issues like your co-worker.

In that case, my recommendation is to not drive the C7 until you're ready to let go of the Z. As much as I loved my Z, after driving the C7 I could never look at it the same way again. :icon17:

^^^ Oh trust me, it's a no brainer and when I pull the trigger there will be no regrets.

Have you driven one yet? I went from "I'm gonna get this soon" to "I NEED THIS NAO!!!" after my first test drive. I did end up waiting like 8 months after that, but I came very close to pulling the trigger too early on it. Glad I waited though, I got a great deal and saved a ton of money without sacrificing any of the options I wanted.

No and the first Corvette I sit in will be the one I own, no test drive necessary. Just waiting for the perfect one to come along without me having to order new.
Black on Black or Black with Red Interior.

:yum:

Great choice! Down the line when I decide to upgrade from the Z, I'm pretty sure a Corvette will be my pick.

That's what I did as far as waiting for the perfect used one to come along. I would recommend getting one between Dec-Feb if you can wait for that. That's when used prices are lowest. They start going up around March and stay up for all of spring/summer.

It feels like the most natural upgrade from the Z. Seems like with most other choices I'd have to give up either the small size, handling, or power. Not with the Corvette though, it was an upgrade with all those things.

nice vette man! :tup:

Nice Vette. I have always had Vettes and Iam looking to add a Z with it.

Thanks! This is my first Vette and I can't say I'm missing the Z much because of how awesome it is.

Corvettes pick up big power with just bolt on mods. Very easy for you to get 600 hp with heads and cam if your into horse power. I saw a bone stock C7 run 11.80 @ 118 at Capital Raceway. It was on stock street tires.

:supergay:

Well it's my DD so nothing too crazy. I'm thinking maybe headers + E85 tune in a couple years. This is my first manual car so I'm trying to get used to that for now.

That's awesome, was it an auto or manual? I've been to Capital Raceway many times with my Z. Got bored of drag racing though, much more interested in road courses now. I'd like to do some HPDE's with the C7 but that won't happen for at least another year.

:nutswinger:

It was auto. I do HPDE and a little drag racing.

Well it didn't even make it to the 2 week mark while stock. I had a Corsa Xtreme axleback exhaust installed yesterday. I plan on making a video of it when the weather gets warmer, but the video below is the same one that I have.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...cb&oe=575C4CDD

Daaamn looks great man! I Have to see the vid but i cant cause im @ work lol

Thanks! Be sure to check it out later, well worth it. :tup:

Good choice in exhaust system. I have Corsa too.

That exhaust is pure sex. Not to mention the car. Nice upgrade :tiphat:

Few more years I wish for one too.

It was an easy choice for me. IMO the Corsa sounds much better than all the other exhausts.

Thanks! :tup:

Good luck with that :tiphat:

How about some real life interior pics if you'd be kind enough sir? This is on my short list in 18 months.

Edit: don't clean it up either, it'd be my DD. LOL.

I'll try and get some posted this weekend.

Here you go, a couple pics of the interior.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c...0220161519.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...220161519a.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...220161519b.jpg

I was alerted of a Vette that fit my search criteria, all Black with red interior in the exact price range I want to be in......................... But dam man, I don't wanna let this dam Nismo go!!! It's something about this car that has me holding off a dream car of mine since I was a kid. I only had it a couple of years and it's not my DD, but I'm gonna drive the ISH out of it till May and attempt to buy myself a C7 for my B-Day, maybe I'd be bored with it by then, LOL.

Sounded like a Z06 or was it on your video by corsa?

I thought I would miss the Z more, but I don't. Guess I'm just too excited over the C7 right now. Mine was also a bday present to myself :D

That was a regular Stingray with the Corsa exhaust, not a Z06 in that video.

I got the windows tinted a couple weeks ago, but didn't have a chance to wash the car until this past weekend. Now some better pics of the tint and the exhaust :yum:

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...77&oe=5788FDC2

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...f7&oe=578AA42D

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...a0&oe=575D7A8B

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...08&oe=5750709A

Nice upgrade and bday present to yourself! My TA was my bday present to myself as well, haha. Any plans other than the exhaust?

Thanks! :tup:

I definitely want to add some aero parts from the Z06 and CAI at some point. I keep going back and forth about weather I want to do long tube headers + tune after that or just throw on an x-pipe and call it a day. I'm leaning towards the x-pipe though to save like $3k. That money would probably be better spent paying the car off sooner or on track time for the driver mod.

Exhaust video as promised! :tup:

Sexy :yum:

Dude, I actually just got back from a short vaca in Jax. FL where I rented C7 for a few days and this is quite true. It really is a fantastic car and was a blast to drive. My problem is I would want to justify for a Z06...

For now I'm going to just keep loving on the Z.

I have to remind myself everyday to be an adult and not buy a Z06 or a GTR with cash... it's a hard struggle.

OMG driving this car on the Dragon is fvcking amazing!!!

What tires come stock on the Z51?