As the owner of both a Z (350Z) and an SS 1LE I'm a fan of both vehicles. And I've owned several other Zs over the years including a 370Z. Although this is my first Camaro, its my second Chevy V8 powered car. I had a 2006 C6 with a 6 speed manual. The Z is historically a smaller and more nimble car than the Camaro. With the exception of the Z32 twin turbo the stock Z has been under powered when compared to other V8 powered competitors like the Camaro.
Early last fall I was looking for a new car to replace my BMW. I had been following the announcement by Nissan that the new Z was coming. However, it became obvious very quickly that the new Z was not going to be launched as quickly as expected. I have been a fan of the SS 1LE since it was first launched so I began looking for one. In my opinion it's the best bang for the buck all round performance car on the market.
I am interested to see what the new Z is like to drive and what kind of reviews it gets from automotive journalists. If you will note the pre production prototypes have been out there for a while, but Nissan hasn't allowed anyone to drive one and review it. Also, Nissan has yet to officially release pricing. And Nissan recently announced that the car won't be available until the summer.
Styling is subjective, but I like the blend of retro styling in the car. I can't wait to see one in person. Stock vs stock I still think the SS will have an advantage in a straight line, but we will have to see. I'm not sure about handing, but I expect the 1LE should have an advantage.
