$ for $ could you build an SS to take a ZL1?

[IPT]

With the extra $30K or so you'd save buying a used 2010 SS could you build a customized camaro to your specs (wheels, etc) that would compete with or outperform the ZL1? It might not have the same "status" or resale value, but if you were just looking for "fun" car where is your money best spent and why? What do all you Camaro fanatics think?

[K32 Camaro]

Originally Posted by IPT

With the extra $30K or so you'd save buying a used 2010 SS could you build a customized camaro to your specs (wheels, etc) that would compete with or outperform the ZL1? It might not have the same "status" or resale value, but if you were just looking for "fun" car where is your money best spent and why? What do all you Camaro fanatics think?

Very easily. Just buy a new 1SS for 31k drop +or-20k on the hennessy 650 and you're already faster and cheaper. Or spend about 12k and do it your self with alot more power to spare. Either way you'd out run it at the track all day. now if it's a road course instead of drag, then I think you'd be missing the suspension in comparison but the extra power should make up for it.

The main loss imo in getting a modded ss over the zl1 is the waranty. Just for fun though SS all the way.

[Apex Chase]

Originally Posted by IPT

With the extra $30K or so you'd save buying a used 2010 SS could you build a customized camaro to your specs (wheels, etc) that would compete with or outperform the ZL1? It might not have the same "status" or resale value, but if you were just looking for "fun" car where is your money best spent and why? What do all you Camaro fanatics think?

Absolutely. Like you mentioned, it wouldn't be a ZL1 with a factory warranty but with that kind of a budget you could build a unique car that was faster and handled better.

[papabearcamaro]

That's what I did.
Money ahead by doing what I did to my car,and in the end did not have that stupid looking front end.

[SlingShot]

I think you would find out the cost would be more than just buying a ZL1. The ZL1 isn't about going fast in a straight line, it's more about the ride and balance.

[K32 Camaro]

Originally Posted by SlingShot

I think you would find out the cost would be more than just buying a ZL1. The ZL1 isn't about going fast in a straight line, it's more about the ride and balance.

For those that buy the zl1 yes. For this guy... sounds like he wants to go fast.

[Emig5m]

I'm too lazy to do custom work and don't have time to drop it off to shops and wait around. I'd take a stock ZL1 for sure and just drive it!

[Rcfiddy1]

Yes

[vroomapunk]

Yes, fairly easily, but you wouldnt have the warranty. Actually, you could take an SS, add the ZL1 appearance stuff, and a s/c, and suspension mods. So you would look like a ZL1 and be able to beat it, for less than a new one. Magnetic ride would be costly to retro fit, but you can do so much to the suspension and have it handle better than the ZL1, without having magnetic ride.

[pierre777]

Yup, I did.

[two_wheel_mayhem]

You would want to mod the ZL1 too.

I know, I know you say you wouldn't, but you have said that before.

[IPT]

Originally Posted by Apex Chase

Absolutely. Like you mentioned, it wouldn't be a ZL1 with a factory warranty but with that kind of a budget you could build a unique car that was faster and handled better.

Essentially this is what I am looking for. I want somethng that's mine, and turns head to some extent, even if it just mine . Though I had an 80' Z28 back in the day and no matter what my freind did to his camaro it was still never a "Z". It's a bunch of words though and at the end of the day I just want a fun car. Though it a;ways seemed like he was trying to build his car to be what mine already was .

There is a small part of me that sees the value of having LE1. More for the collectable end of it, rarity, and down the road (re-sale?) value of it vs "just an SS". Of course any any way you look at a car like this a poor "investment" and not the purpose at all. The warranty would be nice, but you're right, I'd probably want to modify the ZL1 too . My old camaro sadly in the end became just a collection of cool parts with little value comapred to others with "matching numbers". Though I had a great time with the car I now see the value (or loss of it) by modifying it.

I guess I am still trying to figure out exactly what I want from this car. What I know I don;t wnat is a car that sits in the garage all time because I am too scared to leave it anywhere. It seems I already know my answer....but I thought I'd throw it out there and wee what you all thought and did with your own situations .

[StangKiller-SS]

No doubt you could. About $11k for an SLP S/C package that's the route I'm going.

[Fiftydriver]

Easily. There are many dozens of guys here on C5 that have already done it.

What I like doing is looking at how much the ZR1 vette costs and then sit back and think that my engine is already putting down more HP then the top end vette and when I get done with my last mod, I will have around 200 HP more then the Vette and for about $40,000 less then what they charge for the Vette but I will admit it will be around $20,000 more then what the ZL1 would cost but that includes a LOAD of upgrades, cosmetic, performance in power and suspension work.

If I bought a ZL1 I would drive it for 4000-5000 miles to prove everything and then it would be moded to hell also so in my mind I am better off with what I have done, especially when I get done with it. Plus I think mine is alot better looking then a ZL1. Had my car at the local dealers annual car show last weekend in the showroom with 6 new camaros including a new black ZL1. My ride got 10 times the attention of the ZL1 just by appearance alone, then when they looked at the specs they really got to buzzing!!!



Unfortunately the hood was not all the way down in this pic, they had the hood up for the show to show off the maggie and all the extras under the hood. They wanted a quick pick so they just lowered the hood but did not close it completely!!!

Here is a pic with me and my best little buddy standing next to HER car!!! Thats what she tells me anyway!!! Was pretty cool to have all these hot camaros in one showroom.

All that said, the ZL1 is a hot ride for sure but you can take it to such a higher level even still with the SS. Just depends on what you want and like.

[mikeSS]

i would rather have a ZL1, have warrnety, have insurance to cover most thing. etc just dont feel good about dropping 30k into a SS. if it was for the track thats different

[SSGUNNER]

Yes.

[camslambam]

You could have 200 hp more than a ZR1 and the ZR1 would still out perform the 5th gen in almost every category.

[IPT]

Originally Posted by camslambam

You could have 200 hp more than a ZR1 and the ZR1 would still out perform the 5th gen in almost every category.

Care to elaborate on this?

[newb]

If you want a purely fast car then a modded SS will be exactly what you want. But, it sounds like, and I do not speak from experience, the ZL1 makes a much better fast daily driver. Meaning, you can have fast and comfortable in the same car. There is no way I know of to get a MRC ride and handling in the aftermarket. A stock SS has the plush ride but to make it handle like a ZL1 you will have to stiffen the ride significantly. Losing the comfy ride. Just depends on whats important to you.

[Taser Deployed]

This is exactly why I'm modding my ZL1 lol!. To many modded SS's in my area to just ride stock plus I'm the type of person that has to put my own personal touch on a vehicle. After another 3,000 miles it's time to see what she's really working with. To answer your question OP, Yes I would say for about 10K maybe a little more or less you could definitely out gun a ZL1. The thing I notice mostly about my car is that appearance and sound wise it separates itself from a normal SS which gets you alot of attention. People are starting to realize what it is and I get constant stares and compliments which is cool. Kinda like when 5th gens first hit the streets.

[meissen]

Originally Posted by mikeSS

i would rather have a ZL1, have warrnety, have insurance to cover most thing. etc just dont feel good about dropping 30k into a SS. if it was for the track thats different

Agreed. Yes you can dump 30k into the SS to make it better than a ZL1, but when it comes time for the ZL1 and SS to sell, that 30k in mods isn't going to contribute to the price. The ZL1 will hold its value.

[Doc]

Yeah you can do some interesting things with a 2010 SS to make it your own and be very competitive performance/wise.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45165

If you start with a used 2010 SS you can make a terrific car for less than a ZL1. If you're buying new, get a 1LE and start from there.

[BowtieBelle]

If you have that kind of money to blow I highly doubt you're concerned with either warranties or resale value

[meissen]

Originally Posted by BowtieBelle

If you have that kind of money to blow I highly doubt you're concerned with either warranties or resale value

Touche - good point.

[Fiftydriver]

Originally Posted by camslambam

You could have 200 hp more than a ZR1 and the ZR1 would still out perform the 5th gen in almost every category.

And why is that? If you do the proper suspension work on an SS, add better rubber, add 200 HP, I do not think the magnetic shocks are going to save it from getting eaten by a modded SS. Sorry do not see your logic on this one, please explain.

Of course driver needs to know how to drive a car with 200 more HP then the ZL1, that is a given.