Former Z/28 owners... any regrets moving on to a ZL1 1LE?
 

I've been on again/off again about making the switch. I loved my 2014 1LE as well as my current 2015 Z/28, but the 6th gen's chassis, suspension, and entry price are just too good to ignore. Finally... righteous front camber in an OEM strut car.

I’m not a Z/28 owner but I have a 2011 with the Z/28 wheels, tires, rear diff, and a 416 stroker so it’s in the ballpark. I bought a 2018 ZL1 (not 1LE) and I’m totally impressed! A much more refined handling experience. I can only imagine what it would be like with the 1LE package. Zero regrets here!


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I drove a 2015 Z28 and it was amazing but that was a year before I bought the 2018 ZL1. The ZL1 is better in every way. Mind you this is from impressions on the street and not the track. It’s faster, looks better, and is wayyyyy more comfortable.

I put 36k on my 15 Z/28. I haven’t look back.

The ZL1 1LE is a much better track car. Just is. I've tracked both fairly extensively. The additional HP, updated/upgraded suspension, the Gen 6 feels more "nimble", I'm still learning the ZL1 1LE and already cutting many seconds off my Z/28 PB's this season.

That said....I will NEVER part with my 2015 Z/28. While I no longer track it, when I DD it I have permagrin the entire day. It is a fantastic car and I'm guessing it will be the last Camaro built with anything close to 7.0 Liters.

Just my $0.02.

David, I've talked to you a few times at the national events in Lincoln Nebraska and you helped me when I ordered my forgestar wheels for my 14 1LE on getting the correct offsets so thanks again for all the past information, I personally made the jump from the 14 1LE to the ZL1 1LE.

Other than the current issue that nobody makes a wide enough rear 200tw 19" tire for the back of the car unless you want to jump down to 18" wheels or are planning on going the Hoosier route in which they have correct sized tires for the car. Besides the tire issue the ZL1 1LE is pretty ridiculously tight car on the autocross course I am still amazed how quickly it can rotate and change direction you will be even more amazed since you're a much better driver than myself and be able to make the car work even harder I'm sure. I've only got about 3 events with the car this season and am still trying to learn to tame the horse power vs. my 14 1LE.

The additional camber is extremely nice, with the camber plates in the "track setting" without even touching the two adjustment bolts on the strut itself got the car right at 3ﾟ of camber in the front. (The cooled seat are also great on the autocross course haha)

My 15 Z/28 was an awesome car. Fantstic motor, best factory exhaust sound with the fuse pulled, very best rear end ratio and locker. The handling was IMO very similar to the ZL1 1LE, but edge to the latter. The interior amenities on the ZLE are decades ahead of the Z/28. The trans ratios in the ZLE are the best (closest) l've found in a factory performance car.

I only street drive (drove) these cars, and never raced...or will race them. l bought them both for weekend driving over the nearby mountains and just as great fun cars that emphasize handling and power...and with that thought...the ZLE takes the title. The extra 150 hp helped!

I really believe both are the best high performance cars put out by an American maker in decades. l had a '13 Boss 302 which didn't come close...and the new GT350R's can't seem to hold their motors together...

JJ

If they made a ZL1 1LE chassis with an LS7....

That being said, I absolutely love my 1LE. Amazing car. I sold a C7 Z51 for it and it feels like a newer generation car to me.

Not a Z owner, but my GTO has a pedders track 2 suspension and steering rack, sticky Bridgestone tires and serious weight reduction. Handles better than a C6 vette. But no comparison to my ZL1 1LE. Just a whole 'nother level of handling and response.

The Z/28 was fine for its time. The ZL1 1LE is everything the Z/28 was plus more.

The Z/28 and the ZL1 1le or different cars, yes the 1LE is more refined in the way it handles, add to that almost 150HP advantage over the Z/28 and you have a faster car, But has any one drove a Z/28 with that much power? I have and that Z/28 will win any track event if you know how to drive it, with 700+ Hp that car is a monster, with more TQ then is needed, its good to have friends with nice cars.

Thanks guys for the feedback! Really appreciated.

All of this actually started to set in motion since I first drove a rental 6th gen SS back in 2016. I couldn't believe how tight and nimble it felt right out of the airport, and it immediately had me wondering how much better it'd be with 1LE treatment, nevermind a ZL1 1LE.

Took a couple runs in a good friend's 2017 SS 1LE last season and it does everything as good or better, sans brakes. Truly eye-opening considering the wheel/tire size differences.

There is a Summit White ZL1 1LE that's just been delivered 5 miles down the road from where I work. It's just too easy!

Do it we need a national level driver in one to see how it can place.