Quote:
Originally Posted by JROC
A SS 1LE is basically a ZL1 with a different look and an LT1 instead of an LT4. The brakes are slightly different as is I believe the front springs rate, but this is because GM is compensating/trying to offset as best they can for an extra 200 lbs on the front of the car with the blower and the cooling systems required for it. Same MRC, swaybar setup, (I'm 95% sure they use the same anti-swaybars) same eLSD equipped rearend, and the SS 1LE even uses the ZL1 fuel pump. The SS 1LE and ZL1 share much of the same components so in many ways a SS 1LE is more similar to a ZL1 than a non-1LE SS.
Generally speaking your lighter, N/A cars are your more track focused cars that prioritize handling over all else. Like was already said cars like a 911 GT2 vs GT3, or C7 GS vs Z06, or C6 Z06 Z07 vs C6 ZR1, or GEN5 ZL1 vs Z/28. The N/A car is generally preferred by track and handling enthusiasts even if they're ultimately less capable due to the HP gap. And yes this is intended and claimed by the manufacturers as well. It's because of their balance and manageability. (Also cooling issues are far less likely with N/A cars) You can push them a lot harder without getting into trouble. Trying to muscle a car that will spin it's tires at 75 MPH or in 3rd gear thru turns takes a lot more skill and disciple.
Also none of these N/A cars are slow under acceleration. They're all potential 11 second cars in stock form. C6Z's (and maybe 911 GT3's) have even ran in the 10's bone stock. Now breaking into the 11's with a stock SS 1LE may be a hero run, but for a good driver, on a good surface, in ideal conditions the potential is there. Kind of like a LS1 GEN4 car is a potential 12 second car bone stock, a GEN6 with an LT1 is a potential 11 second car bone stock. My point being that while of course a ZL1 with an extra 195 BHP is a faster car, even a basic LT1/SS is a fairly fast car. (At the very least they make strong power and are quick) People like to act like they're slow and I don't agree. That's not me saying not to mod more power out of them as there's a lot of potential left in them from the factory, I'm just saying that they're pretty strong even stock.
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I never said the SS or SLE are slow cars. They are fast. However there are plenty of people for whom they are not fast enough. Kinda like, a new CBR600 is a very fast bike. But when you're used to riding faster bikes then the 600s seem like they are not enough. It does not take away from the bike...or in this case, the SS/SLE. It's basically a matter of what the individual driver is used to. Someone who DDs highly modded 900+ RWHP cars would probably get in my cars and think they are slow compared to what they are used to driving.
If the SLE has all the same components as the ZL1 then yes, it MIGHT handle better due to being lighter. However even that is not a definite since there is only soo far you will get with such a small difference in weight. It isn't like there is a 500 pound difference. The difference is about 140 pounds as compared to the manual trans ZL1. So that might not even be enough to make a difference on a track these days. Or enough of a difference to say the SLE is the better choice between the two. That might be more or less just like splitting hairs between the two. Are they worlds apart? Absolutely not. Is it possible that the SLE just might edge the ZL1 out in handling aspects alone with no other measurements involved? Perhaps. I doubt it. But perhaps. If so, then is it enough of a difference to even mention? Or is it even worth mentioning? Probably not. Would I let any of these decide which car to get? No. Because whatever the difference is, only a pro could tell and that is even if they can. And I do understand everything you said and I agree. However I still feel that the ZL1 IS the better handling car between the two.