torn between the ZL1 or 1LE

[73camarolt]

I say go 1Le. Most likely ur gonna buy a ZL1, be happy then want more power. Gonna void the warranty which is really the only upside to a ZL1 over a 1le. If u plan on doing alot of racing or modding 1le for sure. if u just gonna keep it stock, ZL1

[Msmall143]

Originally Posted by 73camarolt

I say go 1Le. Most likely ur gonna buy a ZL1, be happy then want more power. Gonna void the warranty which is really the only upside to a ZL1 over a 1le. If u plan on doing alot of racing or modding 1le for sure. if u just gonna keep it stock, ZL1

Where are people getting ideas that the only upside is a warranty.

A 1le is an ss with a suspension package and a wheel tire upgrade. A zl1 is a completely different car.

I am really getting confused as to why people think a ss with a $3500 option is out performing a zl1!

[StoutSnout]

Originally Posted by 130R

You're comparing a $58,000 car to a $37,000 car. For ~$7K, you can get just as much horsepower out of a 1LE.

For another $2K you can get a good set of coilovers with better (than stock 1LE) and adjustable damping, spring rates, and the ability to lower the car.

Again, the 1LE is 260 pounds lighter than a ZL1. So, for ~$46K, you have a car with equal (or more) horsepower, that's 260 pounds lighter, has better weight distribution and a lower center of gravity (if you go with a cam over FI), with $13K left over for more mods if needed.

PHYSICS, PHYSICS, PHYSICS! Given the same platform, same horsepower & similar tires, the lighter car will stop shorter (and brake later), accelerate faster and corner better. There's just no argument to be made here...

$46K worth of 1LE will walk all over the $58K ZL1 all day long on a road course or auto-x event. And since the OP is asking about the 1LE, I'm assuming he's more into canyon/road racing/auto-x, over drag racing.

I'm simply dumbfounded why anyone wouldn't go the 1LE route. But I do understand how important status is to some people. The ZL1 does have street credibility that a 1LE or modified SS doesn't have, and the Zl1 will also be much more compliant on city streets, but at the end of the day, that's all it will have over a 1LE with ~11K put into it (or $12K less than a ZL1).

Now I understand. I wasn't aware of the 1LE's magical ability to maintain its weight advantage, and weight balance, after the inclusion of power adders and supporting components.

It's all so clear now.

[Msmall143]

Originally Posted by 130R

You're comparing a $58,000 car to a $37,000 car. For ~$7K, you can get just as much horsepower out of a 1LE.

For another $2K you can get a good set of coilovers with better (than stock 1LE) and adjustable damping, spring rates, and the ability to lower the car.

Again, the 1LE is 260 pounds lighter than a ZL1. So, for ~$46K, you have a car with equal (or more) horsepower, that's 260 pounds lighter, has better weight distribution and a lower center of gravity (if you go with a cam over FI), with $13K left over for more mods if needed.

PHYSICS, PHYSICS, PHYSICS! Given the same platform, same horsepower & similar tires, the lighter car will stop shorter (and brake later), accelerate faster and corner better. There's just no argument to be made here...

$46K worth of 1LE will walk all over the $58K ZL1 all day long on a road course or auto-x event. And since the OP is asking about the 1LE, I'm assuming he's more into canyon/road racing/auto-x, over drag racing.

I'm simply dumbfounded why anyone wouldn't go the 1LE route. But I do understand how important status is to some people. The ZL1 does have street credibility that a 1LE or modified SS doesn't have, and the Zl1 will also be much more compliant on city streets, but at the end of the day, that's all it will have over a 1LE with ~11K put into it (or $12K less than a ZL1).

And when I upgrade a pulley for $250 and add 100hp then what.

Yes, a lighter car stops faster....if the brakes and rotors are the same....which they are not.

And that hp you're adding is going to brake things. Good luck doing it cheap. Know one has said it can't be done, but people saying it can be done cheap are flat wrong.

This is the type of build quality that runs with or better than even modded zl1's. http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=340617

He's probably got close to 6 figures in the car.

Your absolutely crazy if you think 10k gets an ss to a zl1

[Msmall143]

Originally Posted by 130R

Sorry, but you guys are out of your minds…

Go ahead and add 100HP. Now you'll have too much HP to come out of the corners well.

The bigger brakes on the ZL1 don't stop it faster. They're simply there to reduce brake fade. Brakes stop the wheels, tires stop the car. With equal tires on both cars, the lighter car stops shorter…

As for building the car, I've done it, but with an SS. I put a supercharger on it, but if I were to do it again, I'd go NA with a cam.

I have $10K in parts (did all the work myself). I have over 600 HP. The car when corner-balanced weighed 3700 pounds with 1/2 tank of gas (Vs 4120 pounds for a ZL1). I consistently brake and hit peak lateral loads of 1.2g (essentially the limit of street tires).

I've driven the car HARD for 2 years and 36,000 miles without issue.

It's nowhere as difficult, nor as expensive as you'd like to think...

Your right... What was I thinking? It's clear to me now that if you put a sc on an ss it's better than a zl1. Thanks

If only I would have known this when I OWNED my 1LE. Owning both I don't know how I could have possibly missed the fact that all I needed to do is add a SC to convert my 1le to a zl1 killer.

[AWSME SS]

This is a no brainer, ZL1 ftw!

[DavidW]

the only reason to go with the 1le is to save money slice it how you wanna slice it but its really that simple.

[Todd in Vancouver]

Originally Posted by paul44

Sure you can add a supercharger to a 1LE or an SS but it will never have the reliability of a ZL1. With the ZL1 you would have a car that is still under warranty, and although the 1LE is a very capable car, the ZL1 comes with more handling technology. IMO if your budget allows it, go for the ZL1.

Well said and exactly what I was going to say.

[blessedhellride]

Originally Posted by 2012-1822

What you(and a lot of people) are discounting is that some people who can afford a Corvette actually want a Camaro. Like me. I really just wanted a Camaro. I had good fortunes and very easily could have paid cash for a ZR1, in fact the day I bought my car they had a brand new, very good looking Grand Sport, in black, on the lot starring at me. But I wanted a Camaro. Very happy with my choice.

You are absolutley right, I wanted the ZL1, I like the Stingray, but I love everything about the ZL1. C7 Z06 is a different story, if that was out, I would have opted for that.

[CRTZL1]

Originally Posted by Msmall143

I bought my zl1 for 42,300 with 4k miles. Youd still be spending more than I did on a 1le after buying it and putting 10k Into a 1le and would still be behind in looks and durability.

Did you mention the fact that your 42,300 Z was for a wrecked car.



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[CRTZL1]

Everybody wants to debate what car is better the blown 1LE or the Z .
Obviously everyone that owns a 1LE is going to be partial to what they have and vice versa with the ZL1 owners. There both great cars in there own ways.
I can go spend 15k on a foreign crap car like a Subaru, put 10k into and make it out perform both.
So just end the pissing match, there both great. It's all in what you want O.P.
me my car is a fun car for the summer and I've driven both, and to me the 1le is more fun when you have work done to it.
With that said if it were my daily driver I would definitely own the ZL1

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[2012-1822]

You know what I still love about this forum, if you get on here and make fun of V6's you get warned for intermodel condescension, but if you call a car up the chain a piece of crap and the people that bought it a bunch of idiots it's cool.

[Todd in Vancouver]

Sorry but this thread is hilarious to me. Those engineers at GM must be complete idiots because to go faster then a ZL1 all you need to do is take a SS and add a few performance parts and at GM's cost can't be more than a $1.49 for everything.

Think I'll go out and add a leaf lower to Cobalt and go stomp some new C7s because like it says in my signature, How Hard Can it Be?

[CRTZL1]

Children!!!!! unsubscribed!!!

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