[prod]

What do you want the car for?
Daily driver, only car, fun transportation? Get the V6.
Are you a car guy that wants to take it to the track or shows, work on mods, join a club, have a muscle car for life? Get the V8.

[14Black1LESS]

Originally Posted by Cameron27

- The V6 has a cleaner look, no air intake on the hood. Many prefer the air intake. I wanted a very clean 6th gen look, RS package, blue.

Those are heat extractors not air intakes.

To the OP, like others have said, go test drive both and see what you like. If fuel economy and the possible increase in insurance are not a factor then I would suggest the V8. If they are then I would suggest getting the V6.

[Childs Play]

Originally Posted by silstream

Hey folks,

I can see this thread dividing the forum and up front realize we all have different views but I'm searching for a Camaro and my budget of $33-35k puts me in the sweet spot between either a high spec new/nearly new 2LT V6 RS or a 2016/2017 1SS.

I'm leaning heavily towards the V8 with lower spec but just wondered if others went through the same process and what the key contributing factors were behind your decision?

Honestly, either option would be a great car for me and I was initially only looking at V6 but budget has just crept up to get me into SS territory so keen to hear if the V8 really provides notably more fun on a daily basis and any concerns with the heavier engine impacting handling? Presumably the V6 feels lighter and more nimble or does the SS suspension enhancements (assuming base spec without magnetic ride / LSD) more than make up for that?

cheers,
Pete.

I picked up a used 2017 2SS with everything but sunroof (don't like them) and NAV (don't need it) for around 35k a couple months ago. Had 6400 miles and I had to drive it 880 miles home. Deals are out there if you're patient and willing to travel.

If you don't need any fancy stuff though a 1SS as you're looking for is just fine. I personally prefer V8s (as mine is just a weekender/Friday fun day car) when I buy a car like the Camaro, but the I4 and V6s are no slouches by any means. I'd have no regrets picking up an I4/V6 for a daily driver. Plenty of power and fun for a daily commuter and cheaper on gas due to better fuel economy and regular vs premium. I'm assuming insurance would be a little cheaper too? Maybe. You can't go wrong with any choice.

[SDG23]

I can see the use for a V6 but to be honest, if price wasn't an issue, who wouldn't have the v8?? I do love my 1SS but I can also see the point of the v6 as well, because let's face it, the power of the LT1 really won't be put to use that much on public roads. I don't drag race or anything either, so I can honestly say that I have no real need for the LT1 V8, but then again, the sound of the v8 and the overall feeling of having it is great. Ultimately get what you really want, and I'd venture to say that you (like almost everybody) would rather have the v8. Is it worth the extra insurance costs and having to use premium gas, in a way yes, but that's a decision left up the buyer to make.

[BadBowtieProductions]

Buy what you can afford, as long as you will be happy with your purchase. If you need to talk yourself into buying one or the other, don't buy it.

[JT58]

I just traded in my 2011 SS, 2SS 6 speed manual for a 2017 RS 2LT and went through the same thing. I went with the V6 and the 8 speed automatic. Mine even has 35 series aftermarket Adventus wheels, installed by the dealer giving it a mean ZL1 look. What convinced me as already been stated is the V6 delivers more than enough performance and the car is a fantastic every day driver with all of the creature comforts- leather, Bose sound system, Nav and sunroof. And it takes regular gas, not premium and I am already getting 25-28 MPG around town with only 340 miles on the car. My SS would get 19 MPG on the highway at best with a tail wind going down hill. So I love my decision of going from an SS manual to a V6 RS automatic. And the 2017 is a huge improvement in visibility, lighter and smaller is size.

[Rock-It Man]

I have owned a Gen 5 2SS since 2010. This was not my first V8 car but the last one I had was in the 1970's, so I had the urge for one again.

While the massive torque is fun, it is way too much for the street. I have taken the car to the drag strip a few times, which was a blast, but I'm not going to keep beating the car up like that.

For me, the downside of the V8 has been: premium gas and summer tires. The summer tires are gone now. They really don't work well on wet, cold roads. My car is stored for 6 months out of the year, yet, when the original summer tires wore out, I was glad to replace them with all-season tires. These work quite well on a sticky drag strip, BTW.

Cost is not a big factor for me, but if I move up to a Gen 6, it will be a V6.

[Risky Justice]

You should be able to pick up a used 2SS on your budget--I paid $33K for mine. Gas mileage is going to be about identical, but you get another 120 horsepower with the V8. Get a used 2SS and you won't regret it!

[SuperSound]

Originally Posted by silstream

Hey folks,

I can see this thread dividing the forum and up front realize we all have different views but I'm searching for a Camaro and my budget of $33-35k puts me in the sweet spot between either a high spec new/nearly new 2LT V6 RS or a 2016/2017 1SS.

I'm leaning heavily towards the V8 with lower spec but just wondered if others went through the same process and what the key contributing factors were behind your decision?

Honestly, either option would be a great car for me and I was initially only looking at V6 but budget has just crept up to get me into SS territory so keen to hear if the V8 really provides notably more fun on a daily basis and any concerns with the heavier engine impacting handling? Presumably the V6 feels lighter and more nimble or does the SS suspension enhancements (assuming base spec without magnetic ride / LSD) more than make up for that?

cheers,
Pete.

If your budget is really tight, don't forget to weigh in costs of ownership. The SS comes with summer only tires that will not last more the 20K miles under normal driving. More oil during changes, more gas obviously, higher insurance, etc...

Now if you just have X you are willing to spend on a car, and the costs are not a biggie...get the SS or a used one. You won't regret it.

As far as handling, there is no comparison SS to LT. The SS is vastly superior in grip and dynamics. You would need to get a LT 1LE to compete with the SS stock setup.

[talon90]

I found myself in a similar situation as you just a few months ago. I'm much closer to retirement than away from it so I'm starting to watch my expenses a bit. While I could have gone the V8 route, I also really like the creature comforts that one finds in the 2LT/2SS package. I've owned mostly Corvettes as my pleasure car for the last 20 years but I've always also had a daily driver/beater car to go along with it.

My last daily car before this Camaro was a Cadillac ATS Premium sedan. I had parted with my Corvette a year or so ago and really enjoyed the handling (and even the performance) of the ATS and the ability to not worry about the car when I had to go to Walmart and Home Depot.

When the Camaro moved to the Alpha platform shared with the ATS, it really peaked my curiosity. I had a chance to spend some time with a ZL1 1LE - wow, what a car but of course, not really a practical road trip and commuter car (and way out of any budget I had in my mind). I set a price in my head which planted me firmly in the 1SS or 2LT range. After much debate, I decided I wanted the creature comforts more than I needed the V8 so a 2017 2LT RS V6 A8 won out. I found the car I wanted about an hour away and went for a test drive. Bottom line for me is that the V6 is very capable. The technology has improved in the current LGX motor even over the V6 that I had in my ATS. The horsepower bump certainly didn't hurt either, LOL. The car handles amazing, gets really good gas mileage still has plenty of oomph on acceleration and I don't mind driving it around town or taking it to the airport for one of my many business trips. No regrets for me and I still smile every time I drive the car and I find a lot of excuses to drive the car and take the long way. The only advice I can give you (like others) is to drive both and check out both the 1LT/1SS and 2LT/2SS level trim and see what you want, need, like and can live with. At the end of the day, it's your money and you need to feel comfortable with your decision.

[rootus]

Drive both, buy whichever one puts a bigger smile on your face. Don't overanalyze.

[SPARTAN sui]

So I owned both, I started with a 2011 2LT in 2012, and now my 2016 2SS brand new off the lot.

The biggest thing that killed me with my V6 wasn't the fun factor, it was plenty fun and plenty fast for the road. It was the fact I paid $28,000 for it and two years later you could get a gently used 2SS for around the same price with some more miles on it. What killed me is I could have had more power and better components if I waited a little longer.

I held out for the new generation because I wanted to see what that was like, and I wanted to buy new because I've never owned a new vehicle, which is an awesome experience, and I would do that again even though it's extremely wasteful with depreciation. It's nice owning a vehicle that no one else drove or beat on before you. (I'm very meticulous about keeping my vehicle clean) So I do see the appeal of getting a brand new V6. BUT, a used V8 goes for about the same price, I would go with the V8 as long as you don't mind paying more for gas, oil changes, insurance, and possibly tires (or switching out summer tires for all seasons like I did).

There's pros and cons to both situations, IMO, go test drive both and see how you feel. The V8 power is intoxicating.

[IMadeYouReadThis]

The 3.6 with the NPP is beastly on the 6th gen for a daily driver. For a garage and track car get the V8 NPP

[Exia]

While the rumble of a v8 is always nice, it doesn't need to be your first. I went with a loaded V6 instead of a 1SS as I really wanted heated seats, leather, blind spot, cross traffic etc. This is my only car and I was not going to go bare bones.

The V6 is plenty fast, sounds pretty good with NPP for a 6 and is the only engine that takes regular. If your budget is tight, go with the V6 with the options you want. In time when your ready to move on, then get the V8.

However if you know your just going to get the V8 shortly after buying the V6 then just get the V8, it will cost you less in the long run.