[Maverick ZL1]

I don't currently own a ZL1 but I'm in the market for one.
I've never owned a muscle car but I've had many sports cars including an Acura NSX, C7 Corvette, Porsche Boxster, Subaru STI, Ariel Atom and I currently Drive an ND2 Miata and a T-Rex.
I test drove a Mustang GT and wasn't impressed.
I've also read that the best handling of all the muscle cars is the Camaro.
I've seen many videos on the ZL1 Camaro and it's such a raw visceral type of vehicle that I'm seriously thinking about a ZL1 because of the Driving Experience, that roaring exhaust the slick shifting manual transmission the great performance it has.
How is the overall ride quality in the ZL1.
I've read that the magna-ride is brilliant.
I don't plan on tracking my car, except maybe on a drag strip.
Is the overall performance and experience of the ZL1 vs the Camaro SS 1LE noticeable in terms of fun factor and worth the extra money?
I would consider a C8 Corvette Z06 if it had the option for a proper manual transmission.
Unfortunately these days there are not many exciting cars left with manual transmissions.
I did test drive a Shelby GT350 and liked it a lot, the handling, sound, power & performance, however what turned me off was the unreliability of that flat plane crank engine.
Overall how has the ZR1 being for reliability, and if I purchase one would you recommend getting a warranty?

[2023_ZL1-AUTO]

Welcome to the club, almost! Void the warranty immediately ! Add mods and get that ZL1 ripping !!! But, that isn't for everyone! Car is great, reliable and awesome to drive. Depending if you can find a new one or picking up used. Just watch the years that might have the oil pump issue. I think they got that resolved in 2022 & 2023 ! Good luck !

This has been my journey !

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=611982

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by Maverick ZL1

I don't currently own a ZL1 but I'm in the market for one.
I've never owned a muscle car but I've had many sports cars including an Acura NSX, C7 Corvette, Porsche Boxster, Subaru STI, Ariel Atom and I currently Drive an ND2 Miata and a T-Rex.
I test drove a Mustang GT and wasn't impressed.
I've also read that the best handling of all the muscle cars is the Camaro.
I've seen many videos on the ZL1 Camaro and it's such a raw visceral type of vehicle that I'm seriously thinking about a ZL1 because of the Driving Experience, that roaring exhaust the slick shifting manual transmission the great performance it has.
How is the overall ride quality in the ZL1.
I've read that the magna-ride is brilliant.
I don't plan on tracking my car, except maybe on a drag strip.
Is the overall performance and experience of the ZL1 vs the Camaro SS 1LE noticeable in terms of fun factor and worth the extra money?
I would consider a C8 Corvette Z06 if it had the option for a proper manual transmission.
Unfortunately these days there are not many exciting cars left with manual transmissions.
I did test drive a Shelby GT350 and liked it a lot, the handling, sound, power & performance, however what turned me off was the unreliability of that flat plane crank engine.
Overall how has the ZR1 being for reliability, and if I purchase one would you recommend getting a warranty?

The ZL1 and Camaro in general are not muscle cars, they are sports cars. The ZL1 has far more in common with the Corvette than it does with a Dodge Challenger.

[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by Maverick ZL1

I don't currently own a ZL1 but I'm in the market for one.
I've never owned a muscle car but I've had many sports cars including an Acura NSX, C7 Corvette, Porsche Boxster, Subaru STI, Ariel Atom and I currently Drive an ND2 Miata and a T-Rex.

Compared to what you have driven, the Camaro will feel as heavy as it is (3900lbs). But for it's weight, the handling will surprise you. It's more sports than muscle, despite what you might think at first blush.

The magnetic ride is indeed excellent (ZL1 non-1LE, the ZL1-1LE has multimatics, not magnetic ride). Tires matter, as always. The OEM tires are excellent on the track for the money, but will try to kill you on the street in rain.

Follow the track prep instructions for alignment, fluids (especially brake fluid: big weight & long straight = lots of heat), etc.

[2023-SS]

random dumb question: does the ZL1 come in convertible?

you cannot always go fast (650hp on street is hard to enjoy)

but you can always LOOK GOOD (convertible)

the 450hp convertible is not blazingly fast, but it seems like plenty for DD & weekends, and the convertible makes every trip fun

a good friend is in the same predicament: he wants something cool & snazzy, he has a Tesla & a Coyote GT, but he wants something out of the ordinary, a ZL1 and V6 Camaro look about the same to him. he doesn't like the C8 body style.


here is a good read on how capable the 1LE is:
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=496996

and Launch Control on the base model:
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...launch+control


FWIW, I got the Launch Control to work on my SS this morning, as SOON as I launched, some Kid in an Accord come blazing up, turned right on red & merged into my lane. so 450hp was all i needed to almost pile it up this morning :/

[2023_ZL1-AUTO]

Originally Posted by 2023-SS

random dumb question: does the ZL1 come in convertible?

you cannot always go fast (650hp on street is hard to enjoy)

but you can always LOOK GOOD (convertible)

the 450hp convertible is not blazingly fast, but it seems like plenty for DD & weekends, and the convertible makes every trip fun

a good friend is in the same predicament: he wants something cool & snazzy, he has a Tesla & a Coyote GT, but he wants something out of the ordinary, a ZL1 and V6 Camaro look about the same to him. he doesn't like the C8 body style.


here is a good read on how capable the 1LE is:
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=496996

and Launch Control on the base model:
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...launch+control


FWIW, I got the Launch Control to work on my SS this morning, as SOON as I launched, some Kid in an Accord come blazing up, turned right on red & merged into my lane. so 450hp was all i needed to almost pile it up this morning :/

So cars are heavy on opinion and preference of the owner/driver. What's cool to you isn't cool to me and what I think is a lot of power might be crazy power to you. Point being, preference questions really what find you much of an answer, unless answered by someone with your same opinion. That said, my ZL1 is not a vert, but I guarantee you this, I look pretty dang cool in my ride every day I drive it !

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by 2023-SS

random dumb question: does the ZL1 come in convertible?

Yes, it did. Here are a few examples currently for sale.

[Maverick ZL1]

Thanks gents for all your feedback.
I called my insurance to get quotes for a base LT1 Camaro and for a ZL1.
The price for the LT1 is $40,000 CAD and $85,000 CAD for the ZL1, and the difference in the insurance was only $64.00, I couldn't believe it.
I thought for sure the ZL1 would have been $1,000 more considering the price and performance differences.
I might be able to take out an LT1 for a test drive, would that give me a good enough idea of how a ZL1 drives & performs?
Just wondering if there is a ZL1 owner in Southern Ontario that still has their car on the road that could show me their car and possibly take me out for a ride on a nice day, that would be much appreciated.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Maverick ZL1

I called my insurance to get quotes for a base LT1 Camaro and for a ZL1.
The price for the LT1 is $40,000 CAD and $85,000 CAD for the ZL1, and the difference in the insurance was only $64.00, I couldn't believe it.
I thought for sure the ZL1 would have been $1,000 more considering the price and performance differences.

That's a stroke of luck, insurance is usually much more expensive for a ZL1.

Originally Posted by Maverick ZL1

I might be able to take out an LT1 for a test drive, would that give me a good enough idea of how a ZL1 drives & performs?

Not really. The ZL1 has way more power, better suspension, more tire, better technology and it weighs more, too. While the general shape of the car, its exterior and interior dimensions are the same, the ZL1 will drive very differently as soon as you try to apply power or make harder turns to generate more g-force, the magnetic ride suspension has different modes with varying degrees of softness that the LT1 will not approximate etc.

So, if you care about details and the actual driving experience, the LT1 will probably not give you a representative picture.

[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by 2023-SS

random dumb question: does the ZL1 come in convertible?

Not just any convertible

A SIX-HUNDRED FIFTY HORESPOWER CONVERTIBLE !!!

[LuckZL1]

I love the ZL1 over the C7 manual because the manual trans in the Vette is a 7 Speed and the Camaro is a 6-Speed. I even swapped the C7 Z06 shifter to MGW (Not available on 6th Gen Camaros) and I still like the Camaro better. The Camaro is definitely a better cruising car, being higher off the ground and heavier, having a back seat as well as a trunk, then the consumables and maintenance is lower cost (Depending on your C7 trim level) but after that, the C7 Z06 is better in every way performance wise.

It is much faster and if you have a 2019+ C7, it shares parts with the C7 ZR1 so it is a better car for the money, but just because it is faster, it does not give me the same confidence in spirited driving that the Camaro does, especially when adding more power. I choose to keep the Camaro instead of going back to a C7 because I do plan to add more power and the chassis of the Camaro (I feel) is just better suited to handle the full potential of the LT4. When I added more power to my Vette, it became scary to drive with just 660+ Horsepower at the wheels as I did not touch the suspension components.

I think you will love a ZL1, I wanted a ZL1 1LE but glad I got the regular ZL1 and have been taking my time doing tasteful mods on it instead of how I did a full E60 Meth upgrade set on my C7. Depending on the year, if around 2018 (Lots of oil pump failures) and maybe 2020-2021 (missing parts due to COVID). You would want to get a warranty if you purchase those years, but not if you plan to mod them immediately.

Definitely invest in aftermarket security systems (I have Compustar T13 + IGLA) as these cars are the most stolen in America currently. (Attempted car jacking on mine out of secure parking while on a road trip). Because I had IGLA, the only way they would have been able to take it is by towing it.

Goodluck on your purchase!

[Megahurtz]

Buy ZL1, install 2.3 upper and flex fuel sensor. Have it tuned by Snackbar and drive the hell out of it. It will be a blast and faster than anything you've mentioned. It is a totally different than a C7 Corvette. I've owned multiple Gen 6 Camaro's and C7's. Both have their positives and negatives.

[bishopts]

Don't forgot the ZL1 is one of the most stolen cars right now. Alternative security measures are highly recommended.

[DeuceCam]

Driving an LT1 wouldn't be a waste of time. At least you'd get an idea of what driving a Camaro is like, from and interior and dimensions standpoint. (Some people think interior is cramped, have trouble seeing out of the vehicle, etc.) But yeah, the performance won't be comparable.