If i can afford a ZL1 why choose the 1LE?

[Fraxum]

OP it doesn't sound like tracking is big on your list. If you can afford it get the ZL1. It is a more all-around car with the MR and the stronger drive train. You can also get some good deals on a ZL1 if you know how to shop and bargain. Especaily with the CA6 being announced soon.

And a 1LE with a supercharger is not a ZL1. Oh it might be faster for a little while, but if you drive the car hard you will start breaking things. Once you add the supercharger/turbos, dual disc clutch, suspension upgrades, Diff and axle upgrade you will be spending ZL1 $$ or more on the 1LE. I had specific goals with my car and I am very happy with it, but I trashed my drivetrain warraty. The car is sitting in the garage right now with a broken diff. You have to pay to play.

I would have went with a ZL1 but I could not get over the heat soak problems all PD FI and to some extent centrifugal FI cars have. Plus the journey of having my 1LE my way has been fun.

All that being said last spring I took my twin turbo 1LE on a 2,500 mile road trip to Florida. The car is awesome on the interstate and I spent 10-12 hours days in the 1LE feeling fresh at the end. The car is just flat out fun to drive, even on the interstates, and especially on the back roads. But if you buy either Camaro plan on spending $1,000 - $1,200 on tires after about 15,000 miles.

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by sycraft

Let the haters blast me, but I started with a V6, yes a V6. It makes 430 RWHP, eats 1LEs on the track and was only .5 second behind a Z28. all the mods have only set me back less than 35K and I have a track monster. 3rd fasted at recent track day on Nitto NT05 tires, not anything special. Yes I love V8 and will own one again, but the weight savings and cost savings where I am is sure fun. Love making the jaws drop at the track. Yes the 1LE is the best bang for the buck, and with a few tweaks really shines. It is really the way to go IMPO.

No hate here. You did it your way. The V6 Camaro is a great car and every bit as fun as a V8. Sleepers rule. My 1LE is also somewhat of a sleeper.

[J-vette]

Get a zl1. I have a 1le, but the zl1 is a beast. Had I drove one I would have got it & would have probably sold all but one of my projects. I love my 1le, but the zl1 is the superior car. The 1le is the best bargin though.

[WHAMMO]

Depends on your budget Id say. A ZL1 can be turned in a hp monster easily, it has bigger brakes, bigger rear end, magnetic ride and its top of the line. The problem is weight. Having a 300lbs lighter SS will affect a lot of things. You add boltons/some weight reduction to a SS and its a tie.

I would wait for the 2015 Camaro ZL1. ..lighter and more hp!!!

ZL1 have heat issue and they loose a bunch of hp when running hard if not cooled properly; the pcm is reducing a bunch of timing. Id get a ZL1 for the hp potential. Great car. It will keep a better value too. A modded SS wont keep his value as much.

[Kendall421]

I had the same question! I ended up buying the1LE. Why? Styling. A big reason I was buying a 14 instead of a 13 was the new front facia. I like the narrower grill opening and new lower running light look. To me, it just looks lower and meaner. So my choice was based on esthetics more than anything else.
If the 2014 ZL1 had the new 14 front, I would have gone that way. But they left it with the 13 nose, but 14 rear.
I do not plan to track the car right away and just bought it as a street toy. The power on it is plenty for that purpose. I have done a few mods like CAI with scoop, catch can, and many appearance mods, but no other performance mods at this time.
I did put ZL1 rockers on it, ZL1 stone gaurds and front air defusers in front of the front tires. So I kinda made it have the ZL1 appearance, but with the 14 1LE from facia. I figure if I want to get the power, I can always slap a super charger on it, put a cam in it, headers, etc. Maybe down the road post-warranty period.
I have NPP and love it! I do have the M2W switch so I can make it stay in bypass mode all the time...and normally do. But on some long highway drives I turn off the M2W and it really quiets the car down on the highway cruises.
Also...with the 1LE you do not have the gas guzzler tax on the front end.

Overall, I am very happy with my decision. I bought a RRM 2SS/RS/1LE with Nav, sunroof, NPP, Recarro seat. You really cannot go wrong either way, the ZL1 is awesome and the way to go if you don't mind the older style front facia.

[ICTsccaCamaro]

Originally Posted by sycraft

Let the haters blast me, but I started with a V6, yes a V6. It makes 430 RWHP, eats 1LEs on the track and was only .5 second behind a Z28. all the mods have only set me back less than 35K and I have a track monster. 3rd fasted at recent track day on Nitto NT05 tires, not anything special. Yes I love V8 and will own one again, but the weight savings and cost savings where I am is sure fun. Love making the jaws drop at the track. Yes the 1LE is the best bang for the buck, and with a few tweaks really shines. It is really the way to go IMPO.

Not hating as we started with a RS but when yours blows up on course your modded V6 with a voided warranty will cost a lot to get back on the road vs. a under warranty ZL or 1LE being able to be rolled right into the dealership for warranty work, something for a perspective buyer to think of

[sycraft]

unless they get modified too... an engine can be had for 2k, swap and good to go again. An LS is a wee bit more...

[RyanR3KC]

If you can swing it go ZL1. All around superior car right out of the box and under warranty. Recaro Seats are must have option.

[BGKBCK]

Like most people have mentioned the Z will have pros and cons just like the 1LE. I drove them back to back after driving to the dealership in my 11 SS and the Z left the biggest impression on me.

For me, the ptm and mag-ride suspension stood out the most and more than justified the premium over the 1LE. Sure, the Z is fast, has monster brakes etc but the 1LE is no slouch either.

It really comes down to your preference as most people will tell you. I mean, they are purpose built cars that are equally rewarding. One just comes out of the factory with a few extras that you pay for but I still feel it's a bargain when stacked against cars with similar features.

Seriously, the suspension is that good in the Z and you can easily live with it on the street, strip or track. I've been around cars for 20 years and finding that balance is EXTREMELY difficult -- especially when you're closing in on 600 hp and I've had a few german cars.

Happy Hunting!

[wakespeak]

You can order a 1LE with CTS-V front brakes.

I would take the 1LE if I tracked often. Less to break, cheaper to fix, better throttle on balance (as I have heard), almost 260lbs lighter. Finally, cheaper to insure or absorb a loss. What tracks? Many just don't have the straight lines to exercise the ZL1 power advantage.

Edit: weight comparison 4120 zl1 vs 3860 1le manual vs manual.

[URBAN LEGEND]

Get the ZL1 and be done with it.

[GONIF]

In the end only you can decide . If you are going to leave them 100 % factory stock ,the ZL1 will hold it's resale value better. And 20 years from now the ZL1 will be worth mega bucks . If you can afford it the Z28 is always going to be the most collectable and fun to drive .

[markgws6]

I've not driven a ZL1 but I have driven a standard SS (V8) and I hated the suspension on it (a 2013). I can say, if I could have afforded a ZL1, I'd have had one. When I bought my 1LE, the C7 was a concept... Now that it's out, and if I could I afford it, I would have a tough decision not getting that car. BGKBCK said it well, the ZL1's suspension is superior to a 1LE and the car will be quicker on most if not all "road courses" with an equivalent driver and stock vs. stock. On a "tight" autocross course, the edge may be given to the 1LE. ZL1 may not go as quickly through the tighter/slower auto-x turns. Now mod either car and on-track comparisons may be more down to driver's skills.
-I edited my response, just noticed you already test drove them. doh!

[X25]

I really don't want to start an unnecessary 1LE v.s. ZL1 argument, but I'm not sure if ZL1's handling will almost always be better on any track. The 250 lbs weight difference is noticeable, and so is the engine's heat soak. Frankly, I do have more than enough power for road-course duty with the 1LE (I have headers only), and it is already quite fun. If I needed more power, I'd probably just go the route of C7 Z51 with much better HP/lb ratio.

I also love the fact that I can wreck this car, and my loss will be limited to ~$30K, which I can swallow much easier than $60K (with a C7 Z51). This was actually my main reason why I switched from C6 Z06 to 1LE.