New Used Owner - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

XxCrystalline · 06-21-2019, 11:52 AM

Hey guys, so I have recently become the owner of a used 2011 Camaro 1LT with 128k miles on it. I have always wanted one since the concept in 2006 but as a high schooler omw to college, that wasn't happening lol. My boyfriend found it at a Nissan dealer for $9000 and bought it as an anniversary gift. I will baby this car for the rest of my life.

My father was a mechanic his whole life but I never got to build a car myself or even maintain without a shop since I was a full-time student. He passed a few years ago so I can't get his opinion or angry commentary anymore lol. I thought I would join the forums and see what you guys would recommend I start paying attention to or upgrading?

The car came with an aftermarket exhaust and of course Nissan didnt know the brand or anything, as well as the cold air intake with the round tapered oiled filter, and some matte black racer stripes that I cant stand and am working on getting off right now. I already replaced the battery with a Platinum Duralast and I think I need to tighten or muffle my heat shield but I haven't been underneath yet.

I appreciate you all for any advice you can give.

pyroguy · 06-21-2019, 12:04 PM

Welcome and congrats on your new to you ride!! Be sure to post some pictures of your new ride.

There's plenty of things to upgrade, it all depends on what direction you're looking to go on what to upgrade. A few things I've done and enjoyed for minimal mod money are LED side markers (Oracle), trunk and map/interior light upgrades to LED (Diode dynamics for those two), sequential taillight (Phastek), ZTA spoiler (Phastek), and painted fuse box lid (Roto-fab). Also, since you're going to wrench on it yourself, lowering springs are surprisingly simple to install yourself. I went with 1" lowering springs and it really changes the stance of the car. On long trips the car is a little rough, but everyday driving isn't bad at all.

Benman · 06-21-2019, 12:04 PM

Welcome to the forum, post some pics of the parts in question, somebody here can probably identify them on site. Hope you enjoy the ride.

hrpiii · 06-21-2019, 12:06 PM

welcome and congrats on the new ride!! Ask away, we are here to answer the best we can.

XxCrystalline · 06-21-2019, 01:44 PM

Thank you all for the welcome! Actually my signature image is the only image I have at the moment from when I picked it up, and I just grabbed some good gone to get the tinted lights off and tomorrow will go heavy on removing the stripes. I will post pictures then, I promise!

Also, what is the major purpose of lowering springs? I've always driven an SUV and only one of them was a newer models so I'm not really used to ride comfort lol, I just pull over and stretch anywhere after 4 hours or more. I don't have that issue here in DC just yet, but I'll take a trip to my mom in the country and let you know how comfortable it was or wasn't.

BAD DAB · 06-21-2019, 01:53 PM

Congratulations and welcome to the site. There's lots of great information on this site. Be sure to check out all the threads.

Aqua Blue RS/SS · 06-21-2019, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxCrystalline

Thank you all for the welcome! Actually my signature image is the only image I have at the moment from when I picked it up, and I just grabbed some good gone to get the tinted lights off and tomorrow will go heavy on removing the stripes. I will post pictures then, I promise!

Also, what is the major purpose of lowering springs? I've always driven an SUV and only one of them was a newer models so I'm not really used to ride comfort lol, I just pull over and stretch anywhere after 4 hours or more. I don't have that issue here in DC just yet, but I'll take a trip to my mom in the country and let you know how comfortable it was or wasn't.

Welcome aboard! I was born and raised in western loudoun on top of the blue ridge. My family is still there for the most part. Hope you enjoy your car! The lowering springs provide a lower stance and increased handling, they are normally a little more firm than stock springs.

XxCrystalline · 06-21-2019, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

Welcome aboard! I was born and raised in western loudoun on top of the blue ridge. My family is still there for the most part. Hope you enjoy your car! The lowering springs provide a lower stance and increased handling, they are normally a little more firm than stock springs.

Ohhhh ok. I'll have to think on that as DC is the hometown of potholes everywhere 🙃 Although with the other extras, they may already be on there. I'll probably take it into Chevy for a diagnostic and some general info on what else has been installed.

Mr.Jgunn65 · 06-21-2019, 02:18 PM

Welcome to the family!

witenite · 06-21-2019, 03:28 PM

Congrats & welcome!

Welker2 · 06-21-2019, 03:58 PM

Congratulations on the new ride and welcome to the forum. There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained here, so as already stated, ask your questions. Lowering springs will give your car a more aggressive profile, they will also improve overall handling to some degree; the down side is they will give your car a stiffer, harder ride.

As far as what to do next, it depends on what you want to focus on first; looks (personalization) or performance, as well as your budget.

pyroguy · 06-21-2019, 04:03 PM

I'd leave the stripes. Those things look cool! Matte black on a gloss black paint job,

As for the lowering springs, as was stated above they lower the center of gravity thus helping with handling and IMO the stance is killer. However, I've done a lot of driving in DC, and I'd keep your stock springs until you move out of the area otherwise you may be cringing a lot.

CamaroFan63 · 06-21-2019, 05:15 PM

Welcome and Congrats !!
Enjoy the ride !!
My current Camaro is number 4
with only 1 having been brand new

tomlink · 06-21-2019, 06:35 PM

I had to google the name you gave your car:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenrir

And most of us males attribute a female identity to our cars.

06-21-2019, 11:52 AM	#1
XxCrystalline Drives: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 23	New Used Owner Hey guys, so I have recently become the owner of a used 2011 Camaro 1LT with 128k miles on it. I have always wanted one since the concept in 2006 but as a high schooler omw to college, that wasn't happening lol. My boyfriend found it at a Nissan dealer for $9000 and bought it as an anniversary gift. I will baby this car for the rest of my life. My father was a mechanic his whole life but I never got to build a car myself or even maintain without a shop since I was a full-time student. He passed a few years ago so I can't get his opinion or angry commentary anymore lol. I thought I would join the forums and see what you guys would recommend I start paying attention to or upgrading? The car came with an aftermarket exhaust and of course Nissan didnt know the brand or anything, as well as the cold air intake with the round tapered oiled filter, and some matte black racer stripes that I cant stand and am working on getting off right now. I already replaced the battery with a Platinum Duralast and I think I need to tighten or muffle my heat shield but I haven't been underneath yet. I appreciate you all for any advice you can give. __________________ I call him Fenrir, the Great Wolf.

06-21-2019, 12:04 PM	#2
pyroguy Started#gottalovethatblue Drives: ABM #831 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: TN Posts: 6,918 View My Garage	Welcome and congrats on your new to you ride!! Be sure to post some pictures of your new ride. There's plenty of things to upgrade, it all depends on what direction you're looking to go on what to upgrade. A few things I've done and enjoyed for minimal mod money are LED side markers (Oracle), trunk and map/interior light upgrades to LED (Diode dynamics for those two), sequential taillight (Phastek), ZTA spoiler (Phastek), and painted fuse box lid (Roto-fab). Also, since you're going to wrench on it yourself, lowering springs are surprisingly simple to install yourself. I went with 1" lowering springs and it really changes the stance of the car. On long trips the car is a little rough, but everyday driving isn't bad at all. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #831 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

06-21-2019, 12:04 PM	#3
Benman Drives: 13 IOM 2ss RS manual Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Euless,TX Posts: 213	Welcome to the forum, post some pics of the parts in question, somebody here can probably identify them on site. Hope you enjoy the ride. __________________ Rectangular Dollars will beat Cubic Inches

06-21-2019, 01:44 PM	#5
XxCrystalline Drives: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 23	Thank you all for the welcome! Actually my signature image is the only image I have at the moment from when I picked it up, and I just grabbed some good gone to get the tinted lights off and tomorrow will go heavy on removing the stripes. I will post pictures then, I promise! Also, what is the major purpose of lowering springs? I've always driven an SUV and only one of them was a newer models so I'm not really used to ride comfort lol, I just pull over and stretch anywhere after 4 hours or more. I don't have that issue here in DC just yet, but I'll take a trip to my mom in the country and let you know how comfortable it was or wasn't. __________________ I call him Fenrir, the Great Wolf.

06-21-2019, 01:53 PM	#6
BAD DAB Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Black & Silver Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 8,228 View My Garage	Congratulations and welcome to the site. There's lots of great information on this site. Be sure to check out all the threads. __________________ STAINLESS WORKS HEADERS-TUNED BY JANNETTY RACING-C.A.I. INTAKE-TAYLOR 409 WIRES-SOLO AXLE BACK EXHAUST-ELITE CATCH CAN

06-21-2019, 12:06 PM	#4
hrpiii AKA "Beefcake" Drives: 2023 ZL1 Sharkskin Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Indy Posts: 8,529	welcome and congrats on the new ride!! Ask away, we are here to answer the best we can.

06-21-2019, 02:18 PM	#9
Mr.Jgunn65 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2/SS Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Augusta Posts: 344 View My Garage	Welcome to the family!

06-21-2019, 03:28 PM	#10
witenite Drives: 2010 2SS non RS Join Date: May 2014 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,253 View My Garage	Congrats & welcome! __________________

06-21-2019, 03:58 PM	#11
Welker2 Ret AF, cancer survivor Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS/RS & 2006 Corvette Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Mesquite, NV Posts: 2,741 View My Garage	Congratulations on the new ride and welcome to the forum. There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained here, so as already stated, ask your questions. Lowering springs will give your car a more aggressive profile, they will also improve overall handling to some degree; the down side is they will give your car a stiffer, harder ride. As far as what to do next, it depends on what you want to focus on first; looks (personalization) or performance, as well as your budget. __________________

06-21-2019, 04:03 PM	#12
pyroguy Started#gottalovethatblue Drives: ABM #831 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: TN Posts: 6,918 View My Garage	I'd leave the stripes. Those things look cool! Matte black on a gloss black paint job, As for the lowering springs, as was stated above they lower the center of gravity thus helping with handling and IMO the stance is killer. However, I've done a lot of driving in DC, and I'd keep your stock springs until you move out of the area otherwise you may be cringing a lot. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #831 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

06-21-2019, 05:15 PM	#13
CamaroFan63 Sullie63 Drives: '15 1LT Summit White Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Gateway to the West Posts: 526	Welcome and Congrats !! Enjoy the ride !! My current Camaro is number 4 with only 1 having been brand new __________________ Casper, Ghost of Camaro's past Black '86 Silver '85, VR '13 Auto/19's/Boston Acoustic speakers/Spare Tire Born 10/28/14 Adopted 04/09/18 with 17,491.xx miles Oracle clear side markers / LLmar tint sides and rear. Strut bar / Husky Floor liners Member of SICC. Southern Illinois Camaro Club

06-21-2019, 06:35 PM	#14
tomlink Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT RS Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 953 View My Garage	I had to google the name you gave your car: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenrir And most of us males attribute a female identity to our cars.