Curious about the 2014-15 1Le and it's differences between the 2014-15 Zl1

[Ls_Camaro]

Hey guys I’m interested in both the 2014-2015 ss 1Le’s and Zl1’s. I like the fact that the ss 1Le is cheaper so I can have more money to do mods but is it fast stock? Is the Zl1 much faster and a better buy compared to the 1Le? Is it worth modding a 1Le or better to just get the Zl1 instead? I have test drove the Zl1 before but never the ss 1Le as they are pretty rare and hard to find. To those who have had both was it worth it to upgrade to the Zl1? Thanks for your responses in advance!

[avante2184]

It really depends on what you want to do. If you’re doing digs I would go with the ZL1. The zl1 has. 9.9 rear with 3.73and the 1le has a 8.6 with 3.91. The zl1 has a LSA and the 1le has a ls3. So you’re looking at forge vs non forged. You can get power out of both but from what I’ve seen after 800 to 850 wheel your looking for trouble in the 1le since it basically a SS with 3.91s and a track suspension.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[avante2184]

I have a SS that I have basically turned into a zl1 but you’re looking at dropping some coin. If it was 2015 I would say get the 1le and then spend the money to upgrade but you can find a zl1 cheap and you’ll have a better starting platform. Honestly I’m going to end up ripping the Ls3 out and going to a lsx built motor. But like I said it starts at what you’re trying to achieve.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[olblue75]

Do t forget the Z has mag ride and the 1LE has mono tube shocks and bigger sway than the ZL1 and like as already stated what’s your goal?
Drags
Road Course
Auto X

[Tomsusername]

If you want to do drag racing, highway pulls, and car shows, get a ZL1. It'll ride better, pull harder, and has more presence... Plus people actually know what it is.

If you want to do track days, auto-x, and carve back roads, get a 1LE.

As the 1LE has a close-ratio transmission, I've heard that it's slower in a drag race/highway race than a standard SS due to the shift points. However, those same differences in gearing help to launch you out of the apex on a road course. Ultimately, the 1LE was designed to be a track car that you could daily. ("budget" track car, after the Z28 came out... Side note, if your interested, a Z28 is also closer to your price range than you think). The ZL1 is more the luxury-GT rocket of the lineup.

Also, you will meet ZERO people who know what a 1LE is.

It all depends on what you want to do with the car. You may want to modify it, but at the end of the day, there's no substitute for factory engineering for piece of mind. And choosing the right car will give you a more robust starting point.

[Tomsusername]

I just noticed you're in Florida.

You have plenty of long highways, a 75mph speed limit, and a limited number of road courses & curvy backroads.

Get a ZL1. You won't regret it!

[Ls_Camaro]

Originally Posted by Tomsusername

If you want to do drag racing, highway pulls, and car shows, get a ZL1. It'll ride better, pull harder, and has more presence... Plus people actually know what it is.

If you want to do track days, auto-x, and carve back roads, get a 1LE.

As the 1LE has a close-ratio transmission, I've heard that it's slower in a drag race/highway race than a standard SS due to the shift points. However, those same differences in gearing help to launch you out of the apex on a road course. Ultimately, the 1LE was designed to be a track car that you could daily. ("budget" track car, after the Z28 came out... Side note, if your interested, a Z28 is also closer to your price range than you think). The ZL1 is more the luxury-GT rocket of the lineup.

Also, you will meet ZERO people who know what a 1LE is.

It all depends on what you want to do with the car. You may want to modify it, but at the end of the day, there's no substitute for factory engineering for piece of mind. And choosing the right car will give you a more robust starting point.

Good post man thanks for your reply! It seems like the 1Le specializes more for track use and cornering while the Zl1 is better for straight line performance. Is the Zl1 not able to handle as well as a 1Le? Is the 1Le’s suspension setup much tighter and is able to corner better than the Zl1?
You also mentioned about the Z28 honestly I would love to pick that as my ultimate fifth gen Camaro but am still deciding on that car as I am a little nervous on the maintenance on it especially when it comes to brakes and rotors. I did make a thread on the Z28 vs Zl1 and have had a lot of good feedback and still have to decide. Both of those cars have their pros and cons for sure.

I’m glad that you recognized I’m in Florida seems like your pretty familiar with its road setup as it is true we hardly have any curves and more straight roads which may seem like the Zl1 is the perfect fit for that. I’m not really looking to take the car to the track or anything it would be more of a daily driver and if I had to pick an SS I would like one that’s a 1Le for sure because of that handling package and the fact that it looks better than a standard ss and I don’t mind the stiffer ride from the 1LE. But from time to time I would like to take the car (if it happens to be a ZL1) and throw some curves at it that I know of and hopefully it will handle well.

Also when it comes to modding the car from the research that I have done it seems like I can get more bang for buck with the Zl1 since it seems simple to do a pulley upgrade and get big power out of it versus a N/A car that may need more money into to get the same amount of power from a pulley upgrade in a Zl1. But hey an ss 1Le is cheaper than a ZL1 to dump more money into it so they both have their own benefits.

I wouldn’t get too crazy with performance modifications as I have never done any performance mods to a car yet. I may start small with the car by first doing a tune, then intake, and headers and grow little by little with it that way. The LSA in the ZL1 is interesting as maybe one day I could start with a pulley upgrade. This all might seem like a handful as I do go back in forth with this lol.

[Ls_Camaro]

I'd like to thank all of you for your time so far in replying to my post. So far it's been helpful!

[ariZona28]

Been watching all of your posts and I wish I had done the same type of research you are conducting. My original intention was to purchase an LS powered Camaro that I could tinker with an learn related H/P tricks. Well, I "screwed up" and bought a potential collectable. (Oops!). It is so perfect I don't want or need to mess with it. I will eventually seek out a 1LE for the performance reasons stated by other folks. I just have to make sure I don't buy a perfect time-capsule that I won't want to mod. Of course I'll keep the Z as a unmolested therapy car. As mentioned, you have to consider what your intentions are. No matter what, an SS, Z-L1, or Z/28 will provide plenty of excitement and you'll have the coolest car in the neighborhood. Maybe try this: let availability decide. Plenty of nice cars on this forums classifieds. Maybe 1 out of your 3 choices shows up at a fair price and speaks to you.

[Ls_Camaro]

Originally Posted by ariZona28

Been watching all of your posts and I wish I had done the same type of research you are conducting. My original intention was to purchase an LS powered Camaro that I could tinker with an learn related H/P tricks. Well, I "screwed up" and bought a potential collectable. (Oops!). It is so perfect I don't want or need to mess with it. I will eventually seek out a 1LE for the performance reasons stated by other folks. I just have to make sure I don't buy a perfect time-capsule that I won't want to mod. Of course I'll keep the Z as a unmolested therapy car. As mentioned, you have to consider what your intentions are. No matter what, an SS, Z-L1, or Z/28 will provide plenty of excitement and you'll have the coolest car in the neighborhood. Maybe try this: let availability decide. Plenty of nice cars on this forums classifieds. Maybe 1 out of your 3 choices shows up at a fair price and speaks to you.

Hey Arizona, glad you have been following along seeing my other posts! I’m new to the forum and try to get as many opinions as I can for sure. I’m so glad I made some posts since I have gotten great feedback so far! I will definitely be making more as I enjoy being social around here with everyone. I have seen some of your comments from my threads and it seems like you have a good head on your shoulders! Thank you for commenting as you can see I’m kind of all over the place with these cars and just trying to find the right one that would suit me best for the long term which can be hard at times. As you said maybe the right one will come for me in such a way so I will keep an open mind at that and see!

When you do get a 1LE one of these days what do you plan to do with it? Maybe you could trade your 2015 2ls for one? By the way I seen some pics of your Z28 it’s really nice! I remember seeing it the first and second time and how I would love to have that car. But we will see what the future has in store for me!

[ariZona28]

Plans for a 1LE would be a lot of the basic add-ons. Headers, intake maybe cam and head work. Once again, those LS 3 engines make good power from the factory. I'd like to make it a track car (road racing variety) but I still am not sure what direction I will go in. I also have been looking at 2004 Z06 Vettes and mid 2000 Chevy Pickups as possible next builds. Probably be a while, have a few house/garage/driveway improvements on the agenda. The 2LS will be around for a while, that was the first new car I ever purchased so it is special to me and I really enjoy driving it.

[GearheadSS]

I bought a 1LE because I knew I wasn't going to mod it. If modding was a possibility, I would have just bought a ZL1 and saved the time and hassle of modding the 1LE. ZL1 with some bolt ons would be a really fun driver. I love my 1LE but I'd be a liar if I said I didn't want a ZL1 now.

[Ls_Camaro]

Originally Posted by GearheadSS

I bought a 1LE because I knew I wasn't going to mod it. If modding was a possibility, I would have just bought a ZL1 and saved the time and hassle of modding the 1LE. ZL1 with some bolt ons would be a really fun driver. I love my 1LE but I'd be a liar if I said I didn't want a ZL1 now.

Interesting, you could always mod the 1LE too right? Just out of curiosity why do you feel it would be a hassle to mod the 1LE and easier for the Zl1? Is it because of its supercharger and potential pulley upgrades are easier to work with? By the way you have a really nice 1LE! I heard they sound awesome and even more muscle car like with speed engineering headers.

[Ls_Camaro]

Originally Posted by ariZona28

Plans for a 1LE would be a lot of the basic add-ons. Headers, intake maybe cam and head work. Once again, those LS 3 engines make good power from the factory. I'd like to make it a track car (road racing variety) but I still am not sure what direction I will go in. I also have been looking at 2004 Z06 Vettes and mid 2000 Chevy Pickups as possible next builds. Probably be a while, have a few house/garage/driveway improvements on the agenda. The 2LS will be around for a while, that was the first new car I ever purchased so it is special to me and I really enjoy driving it.

Very true LS3 engines are bullet proof, reliable and I hear can handle boost pretty well. That’s a good start with those basic mods should be fun especially when you play with it little by little and see how it responds. Also those C5 Z06’s are an awesome platform to build from too. They are lightweight fast out of the box and respond to mods well. Definitely a good cheap performance car bang for buck and to have enough money to put into it to enjoy. Whichever one you choose let me know!