Thinking of buying a 2010-2015 Camaro SS - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

darrensls1 · 01-30-2018, 08:10 PM

I'm thinking about buying a 2010 to 2015 Camaro SS. I would only buy a manual so it would definitely be the LS3 version. I'm just wondering if there is any reason to buy certain years over the others. I remember with the LS1's that the 01 & 02's came with better heads and the ls6 intake making them more desirable. Is there any reason to prefer certain years over others or is a 2010 just as solid as a 2015?

I'm not worried about the cosmetic differences like the gauges or taillights. I'm thinking more about mechanical reliability. I will be going full exhaust, cam and 50-100 shot of nitrous if that makes any difference.

Thanks in advance.

c0r3yr0s3 · 01-30-2018, 08:18 PM

I'm pretty sure it's just cosmetically different..the 14 and 15 refresh is just different taillights and a squint to the front plus the ss has a different hood and no mail slot on the refresh. 13 was the start of mylink. The gauges is a 2ss thing. I don't think there is any difference as far as performance but I'm just going by research.

c0r3yr0s3 · 01-30-2018, 08:21 PM

Oh, I think npp is a refresh thing too

LT1Zob · 01-30-2018, 08:50 PM

NPP came in 13. My 1LE has it. Personally, I prefer the 10-13 look, but you cant go wrong with the 5th gen. Some minor differences under the hood too in 10 and early 11 vs 12-15.

darrensls1 · 01-30-2018, 09:09 PM

Cool. Sounds like I'd be good with any year. I just wanted to be sure there was no reason to avoid say 10's and 11's since the first few years of a new car line tend to have the most bugs that need working out. Like Ford with their stupid head design that breaks spark plugs but was fixed in 08.

Thanks for the replies.

go_go_gadget88 · 01-30-2018, 09:15 PM

I think performance wise, they got electric power steering in 13', and that's about it. So a whopping 5-8rwhp difference. And some minor suspension tweaks between years but I don't have specifics. I think 2013 was also year for npp and touchscreen and stuff to get added.

I prefer the 10-13 body style, but I don't dislike the 14-15's. I'll take any of them over a 6th gen!

Side note: if you are used to working within the confines of a 99 formula engine bay...you are going to love working on this thing. Someone definitely thought ahead for the modders when they designed these. I can get to my spark plugs!

c0r3yr0s3 · 01-30-2018, 09:26 PM

If I could rewind time, I woulda went with a 13. I prefer the look of the 10 to 13 too but like posted above, I would gladly own a refresh over a 6th gen for looks. Shortly after I got mine, I stopped at the dealership and they had a 13 iom ss vert and part of me wished I would have waited

Cheap Guy · 01-30-2018, 09:48 PM

A relative who has a highly modified 2010 warned me that I should at least get a 2011 just for the HUD. I didn’t think it was a big deal but now I understand why - because the dash gauges are so bad I almost rely entirely on it.

CamaroFred · 01-30-2018, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_go_gadget88

I think performance wise, they got electric power steering in 13', and that's about it. So a whopping 5-8rwhp difference. And some minor suspension tweaks between years but I don't have specifics. I think 2013 was also year for npp and touchscreen and stuff to get added.

I prefer the 10-13 body style, but I don't dislike the 14-15's. I'll take any of them over a 6th gen!

Side note: if you are used to working within the confines of a 99 formula engine bay...you are going to love working on this thing. Someone definitely thought ahead for the modders when they designed these. I can get to my spark plugs!

2012 was the first year the 1LE handling package was offered.

All the Camaros received a wider rear sway bar with outboard attachment points. It's not difficult to modify a '10-'11 to use the upgraded bar.

If you are looking at 'verts there were some issues with the tops on 2011s.

They relocated the heater hoses beginning in 2012 from the top of the engine to the side of the fender. Supposedly there were issues with air becoming trapped in the heater core.

2012+ changed the passenger seat to power instead of the manual seat in the '10-11's.

go_go_gadget88 · 01-30-2018, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroFred

2012 was the first year the 1LE handling package was offered.

All the Camaros received a wider rear sway bar with outboard attachment points. It's not difficult to modify a '10-'11 to use the upgraded bar.

If you are looking at 'verts there were some issues with the tops on 2011s.

They relocated the heater hoses beginning in 2012 from the top of the engine to the side of the fender. Supposedly there were issues with air becoming trapped in the heater core.

2012+ changed the passenger seat to power instead of the manual seat in the '10-11's.

A) thank you for elaborating on some of that, I knew someone with more knowledge would chime in

B) DOUBLE thank you for the heater hose comment!! I have had what sounds like air in my heater hoses/core. Going to look and see if conversion is easy while I have it all apart anyhow!

John_C · 01-30-2018, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroFred

They relocated the heater hoses beginning in 2012 from the top of the engine to the side of the fender. Supposedly there were issues with air becoming trapped in the heater core.

Wonder if we can update our 10-11's with the new heater hose so we won't have busted heater cores?

go_go_gadget88 · 01-30-2018, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_C

Wonder if we can update our 10-11's with the new heater hose so we won't have busted heater cores?

A quick search shows, yes!

http://www.jdpmotorsports.com/jdp-mo...n-kit-jdpe2001

I don't feel like pulling apart dash for heater core repair..so I'm buying something like this tomorrow. Car is already torn down for cam swap, and coolant drained. Now is an ideal time for the upgrade!

LT1Zob · 01-30-2018, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroFred

2012 was the first year the 1LE handling package was offered.

All the Camaros received a wider rear sway bar with outboard attachment points. It's not difficult to modify a '10-'11 to use the upgraded bar.

If you are looking at 'verts there were some issues with the tops on 2011s.

They relocated the heater hoses beginning in 2012 from the top of the engine to the side of the fender. Supposedly there were issues with air becoming trapped in the heater core.

2012+ changed the passenger seat to power instead of the manual seat in the '10-11's.

2013 was the 1st 1LE, first and last year in the original gen5 body style. Took me a while to track down the exact one I wanted as I started looking too late in 2013 to order it. (Ordered a 2012 45th Anniversary a year earlier and thought that was exactly what I wanted until I saw an Ashen Grey 2SSRS 1LE in 2013). Otherwise, you're spot on.

darrensls1 · 01-30-2018, 10:23 PM

After reading all this I can't help but think that 2013 might be the best year for me. I prefer the looks of the 10-13 slightly over the 14 to 15's.

Great info in this thread. Thanks so much.

01-30-2018, 08:10 PM	#1
darrensls1 Drives: 1999 Formula, 2007 Mustang GT Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Sandwich, IL Posts: 10	Thinking of buying a 2010-2015 Camaro SS I'm thinking about buying a 2010 to 2015 Camaro SS. I would only buy a manual so it would definitely be the LS3 version. I'm just wondering if there is any reason to buy certain years over the others. I remember with the LS1's that the 01 & 02's came with better heads and the ls6 intake making them more desirable. Is there any reason to prefer certain years over others or is a 2010 just as solid as a 2015? I'm not worried about the cosmetic differences like the gauges or taillights. I'm thinking more about mechanical reliability. I will be going full exhaust, cam and 50-100 shot of nitrous if that makes any difference. Thanks in advance. __________________ 1999 Arctic White A4 Pontiac Formula with 4.10 gears, 4400 stall, 236/240 112 lsa cam, fast 90/90 intake, TSP lid, Pacesetter LT's, ORY & PB UDP. dyno = 392 rwhp-1/4 mile = 11.5 @ 117 (SOLD) 2007 Vista Blue Mustang GT with 5 speed manual, 4.10 gears, JLT series 3 CAI, CMDP, UDP, Hot Rod Cams, LT headers, ORH, Magnaflow & 100 shot wet kit (SOLD)

01-30-2018, 08:50 PM	#4
LT1Zob Drives: 23 LT1 / 19 Z06 / after 6 5th gens Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: MI Posts: 1,990 View My Garage	NPP came in 13. My 1LE has it. Personally, I prefer the 10-13 look, but you cant go wrong with the 5th gen. Some minor differences under the hood too in 10 and early 11 vs 12-15. __________________ "Make yourself sheep and the wolves will eat you"

01-30-2018, 09:09 PM	#5
darrensls1 Drives: 1999 Formula, 2007 Mustang GT Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Sandwich, IL Posts: 10	Cool. Sounds like I'd be good with any year. I just wanted to be sure there was no reason to avoid say 10's and 11's since the first few years of a new car line tend to have the most bugs that need working out. Like Ford with their stupid head design that breaks spark plugs but was fixed in 08. Thanks for the replies. __________________ 1999 Arctic White A4 Pontiac Formula with 4.10 gears, 4400 stall, 236/240 112 lsa cam, fast 90/90 intake, TSP lid, Pacesetter LT's, ORY & PB UDP. dyno = 392 rwhp-1/4 mile = 11.5 @ 117 (SOLD) 2007 Vista Blue Mustang GT with 5 speed manual, 4.10 gears, JLT series 3 CAI, CMDP, UDP, Hot Rod Cams, LT headers, ORH, Magnaflow & 100 shot wet kit (SOLD)

01-30-2018, 09:15 PM	#6
go_go_gadget88 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS ABM 6M Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Kansas Posts: 617	I think performance wise, they got electric power steering in 13', and that's about it. So a whopping 5-8rwhp difference. And some minor suspension tweaks between years but I don't have specifics. I think 2013 was also year for npp and touchscreen and stuff to get added. I prefer the 10-13 body style, but I don't dislike the 14-15's. I'll take any of them over a 6th gen! Side note: if you are used to working within the confines of a 99 formula engine bay...you are going to love working on this thing. Someone definitely thought ahead for the modders when they designed these. I can get to my spark plugs! __________________ 2010 ABM 2SS/RS LS3 6 Speed -- Rotofab CAI \| Speed Engineering 1 7/8" Longtubes w/ cat Delete \| Magnaflow competition catback \| TSP 231/246 cam\| TSP/PAC .660" Spring Kit \| TSP CNC Ported Heads \| Bo White PTB \| GPI Ported/RM Intake \| 3.91's \| BC Catch Can \| MGW Shifter \| BMR 1" Drop Springs \| BMR Trailing arms/Toe Rods/Rear UCA Bushings \| Pegasus Subframe Mounts

01-30-2018, 09:48 PM	#8
Cheap Guy Drives: 2011 Camaro SS Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 679	A relative who has a highly modified 2010 warned me that I should at least get a 2011 just for the HUD. I didn’t think it was a big deal but now I understand why - because the dash gauges are so bad I almost rely entirely on it. __________________ My Little Mid-Life Crisis Cure! First - 1997 Camaro 3800 Y87, M5, Green - Gone \| Second - 1997 LT1 Z28, M6, Silver - Sold \| Third - 1999 LS1 Z28, M6, Pewter, Almost Stock! - Sold Current - 2011 Camaro SS, M6, black, 1LE suspension parts - Current

01-30-2018, 08:18 PM	#2
c0r3yr0s3 Drives: 2012 camaro 2ss Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: US Posts: 378	I'm pretty sure it's just cosmetically different..the 14 and 15 refresh is just different taillights and a squint to the front plus the ss has a different hood and no mail slot on the refresh. 13 was the start of mylink. The gauges is a 2ss thing. I don't think there is any difference as far as performance but I'm just going by research.

01-30-2018, 08:21 PM	#3
c0r3yr0s3 Drives: 2012 camaro 2ss Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: US Posts: 378	Oh, I think npp is a refresh thing too

01-30-2018, 09:26 PM	#7
c0r3yr0s3 Drives: 2012 camaro 2ss Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: US Posts: 378	If I could rewind time, I woulda went with a 13. I prefer the look of the 10 to 13 too but like posted above, I would gladly own a refresh over a 6th gen for looks. Shortly after I got mine, I stopped at the dealership and they had a 13 iom ss vert and part of me wished I would have waited

01-30-2018, 10:23 PM	#14
darrensls1 Drives: 1999 Formula, 2007 Mustang GT Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Sandwich, IL Posts: 10	After reading all this I can't help but think that 2013 might be the best year for me. I prefer the looks of the 10-13 slightly over the 14 to 15's. Great info in this thread. Thanks so much. __________________ 1999 Arctic White A4 Pontiac Formula with 4.10 gears, 4400 stall, 236/240 112 lsa cam, fast 90/90 intake, TSP lid, Pacesetter LT's, ORY & PB UDP. dyno = 392 rwhp-1/4 mile = 11.5 @ 117 (SOLD) 2007 Vista Blue Mustang GT with 5 speed manual, 4.10 gears, JLT series 3 CAI, CMDP, UDP, Hot Rod Cams, LT headers, ORH, Magnaflow & 100 shot wet kit (SOLD)