I'm coming from an F80 stage 2, with a manual transmission and Bilstein coilovers.
https://youtu.be/IG_N0abaXT0
Just got a 2021 ZL1 1LE a month ago, did the 1500 miles service yesterday. I call it an M3 on steroids.
I love the car and do not regret getting it. It generates a lot of emotions, that many modern sports cars lack to deliver. The TREMEC manual transmittion in Camaro is far more superior to the one used in M3. I actually hated the manual in M3 and regretted not getting DCT, as that manual had a plasticky feel to it, not precise shifting at all and caused me to miss gears at times. On the Camaro it's totally the opposite, manual is very precise, has metallic "bolt-action" feel to it, really a joy to use. The clutch on ZL1 1LE is a bit heavy though and grabs at the very top, requires getting used to it. Do not fear the added weight, it is only like carrying 1 passenger in the M3, and the new one G80 added quite some pork and is now actually heavier than the Camaro. For comparison, the Mustang GT500 is >300 LBS heavier than the Camaro ZL1 1LE, so this car is not heavy, it's middle weight! As for your grip concern, on my M3 I was running 275/35 R18 all round and Nitto NT01 tires. With that setup and coilovers it had quite some grip, but absolutely no match for the Camaro's, as it has 305 tires front and 325 rear and running a 100TW tire from factory. You can't fit 305 up front on the M3 without modifying wheel arches. The traction electronics and E-DIF in the ZL1 1LE are also far superior to those in the M3.
What I DO NOT like (and what you will not like too, I assume):
1. Less prestige, not a GERMAN car. This is especially obvious if you go to service, GM's service lacks class big time. It's just not the place you want to go as an owner of $70K+ car. They should make a special lounge room for 1LE and Corvette owners or something like that lol.
2. Interior is OK but not as refined as German cars. I had M3 F80 and then M5 F90, now own a Porsche Macan also. German interiors are the best quality, period.
3. High fuel consumption. I expected this, but it eats twice as much fuel as my M5 F90 which also had V8 4.4 engine. And now fuel is $5/gallon, so it's quite noticeable. I've used to live in Northeast and been to Lime Rock, Thompson, Palmer and other tracks. Not all of them have fuel on site (or it may be closed). This car's tank is good for 1-2 sessions. So I suggest taking extra fuel with you just in case.
4. Small things that bother. Car remembers the driving mode that you were in during last drive. It can be Tour or Sport. But if you were in Track - it doest not remember that mode.
Therefore if you like driving around in Track and hearing the exhaust/backfire more, then you have to switch to that mode EVERY TIME. Also car does not remember auto rev matching, I have to SWITCH IT ON EVERY TIME. Comon GM, why you could not sort this out by having an option in the MENU?
5. DSSV dampers are very stiff, they match aftermarket coilovers in terms of stiffness, if someone had those - you know. Stock 3R tires have poor traction in RAIN, and yes sometimes you have to drive in RAIN. After the 3R's are done I am planning to swap tires to Michelin PS4S for driving around town and RAIN track days. And will get a dedicated set of track tires, wheels. Maybe even same 19" factory wheels (second set), as they are really nice and lot's of tire selection in 19 size.