[DC5]

I recently traded-in my 2018 1SS for a 2019 1SS equipped with the 1LE package, and the improvement in both handling and ride quality is quite impressive. I have absolutely zero regrets!

[Bosse'sBoss]

I didn't vote, because all depends on the vehicle's purpose. If you are planning to track it often, then get a Camaro SS1LE, is an excellent budget performance car that would go H2H with more expensive exotics, including the Shelby GT350 (non R). But if just for spirited driving and able to beat a BMW M4 then a Camaro SS would be sufficient and able to ocassionaly enjoy some track time.
I admire the performance of the amazing SS1LE and the ZL1 Camaros but for my personal use and budget the SS Camaro with a stick is sufficient as my weekend toy. Not interested on the 6 cylinders nor on the 4T engines.

[ScatPack]

If the SS 1LE came with the auto, it would be the perfect camaro in every way. Its only downfall is the manual only option.

[Chevyfan4life]

Originally Posted by ScatPack

If the SS 1LE came with the auto, it would be the perfect camaro in every way. Its only downfall is the manual only option.

if it was offered, i just might have gotten one.

[Ventura 1LE]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

AGREE!!

I never scrape either. This isn't a race car (well it kinda is but...) with a race car front spoiler. I clear all parking lot concrete blocks and driveways that are normal (just don't come into then fast and brake hard). I believe it's required by law that the front spoiler not be below a certain distance from the ground.

I average about 16k miles a year and budget 1 full set every 6 mths and that is with a track alignment and on the stock GY tires. Works out perfect for me. Mine is a daily and I LOVE IT TO DEATH. It would take a Porsche GT3 or GT4 to get me out of this car right now. realistically, I see it being replaced with a C8 Grand Sport version in about 3-4 years.

+1

[JamesNoBrakes]

Originally Posted by Mov Ov3r

I bought a 1LE and never looked back

This, and at least where I frequent, Seattle, Texas, AZ and a few other places, I've only ever seen 1 other one. Maybe there are more when you live in these cities and see the traffic every day, but it's more rare than M3/M4s and others in my observations.

The car is a monster in terms of what it's capable of. I see so many other cars go by that I think are nice cars, but I'm not begging to own/ride in them, because I know I can pull something like 1.13Gs.

The car is no more impractical than something like an M4, it's no lower and you have the same issues to deal with in terms of the front end. I got the 2SS to have the added safety of the blind spot monitoring and cross-traffic. The cross-traffic alert is particularly nice, as if there's anything even close to your area moving sideways, it lets you know well before it gets too close. You learn to take curbs/transitions at angles, to avoid bottoming the spoiler or something similar. I started doing that back when I had a WRX, with the engine in front of the axle, the whole front end stuck out pretty far. You learn to not go into places that you aren't sure you can get out of. You park away if you have to and scope it out. This is still pretty rare, but it's the worst-case scenario. Getting and in and out is a little challenging, that is a legitimate gripe, especially if you are running side skirts (which look REALLY good on this car), so you need to be careful and make sure you have enough space to open the door pretty wide.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people park cars by ramming their front wheels into the curb...

All of these concerns are the same as with an SS. I had a 2010 SS with ground effects, so nothing has really changed as far as that is concerned.

The 1LE is a bit stiffer, especially for sway-bars, the tires are expensive and tram-line in ruts, but this is basically what you'll get with any car like this, GTR, GT3, M4, etc.

One big selling point for me was that this car is only offered as a manual.

IMO, this is one of the last great manual cars. Not all cars lend themselves well to an automatic or manual. It has to fit the car and it's other capabilities. The WRX 4EAT (which I did NOT have) was a terrible combo, bogging in between gears and before the turbo borderline, vs. the trans on a GTR or something similar makes the car what it is, lightning fast shifts and massive power for acceleration. This car is pretty forgiving and you can drive for days just at or above 1000rpm, but if you want to go fast in it, you need to know how to drive a manual and make the most out of the powerband. The rev-match function is brilliant and the HUD really comes into play when you are hanging out at those higher RPMs.

The other way to describe this car is that it's basically the ZL1 without the supercharged engine. Interior wise, my 2SS is pretty dang close, but suspension/brakes/etc.-wise, it's basically the same car as the ZL1, save for a few tweaks they make due to the difference in weight between these two cars.

[JamesNoBrakes]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

Actually the car isn't stiff at all, especially in comfort mode. The springs are actually pretty softly sprung because of how firm the MRC shocks can go.

Try comparing the 1LE by the amount of dip the front dips down when going over a speed bump. Hell, my GF's Mazda CX5 has less dip in it when going over a speed bump even compared to my car in track mode.

What makes the 1LE appear stiff are the sway bars which cross talk when going over uneven bumps.

The SS 1LE with MRC is the most smooth riding performance car I have even owned that has the capabilities that it has. 120MPH feels just as smooth and solid as 60MPH. That is a hard feat to achieve with non-MRC shocks. You either can have one or the other, but not both. I had Ohlin coilovers on my M3 and the handling was amazing, but you paid a big ride quality penalty for it and if you hit a large bump as 120MPH, you would be out of your seat and your head into the roof liner.

I wouldn't say it's "soft", maybe in some ultra-sportscar-world comparison, but the mag-ride is pretty capable as far as damping and the different settings and you nailed it about the swaybars being the real issue here. That CX-5 may ride like that to make it skid rather than dig in and roll-over due to being too soft. I've definitely experienced SUVs like that.

I love how when you put it in "track" it feels like it's being "sucked down" into the ground

[NA18CamaroSS]

Yes, 1LE. Three things I was looking for in my new car. V8. Manual Transmission. Good brakes and suspension. SS 1LE was the only way to go. The only issue I had was which color to buy.

[dangjohnny]

I would choose the 1LE just for the wheels.

[zr1chris]

Wheres the option for bought a 1LE and glad i did? Lol

[Pillow]

That is an easy one to fix. I bought a 2SS leather steering wheel and shifter, swapped them out and sold the alcantara pieces on the forum, I almost came out even.

... What I was thinking as well!

In 12K miles I have never scraped anything and I drive up steep driveways and speed bumps daily

Great to know. I'm paranoid about ruining the front lip!

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Pillow

Great to know. I'm paranoid about ruining the front lip!

I have the same GM splitter and it hardly reduces front ground clearance, the difference is maybe half or three quarters of an inch, and my regular SS sits a bit higher anyway. Never scraped either, just have to be careful when parking head-in.

[metros11]

I own a 1LE and probably would own anything else.

[nancygrl]

Originally Posted by zr1chris

Wheres the option for bought a 1LE and glad i did? Lol

Ditto