[ocurtis]

Hey all,
I found this thread while researching my future new car. When I was in college and dirt poor I spent all the money I didn't have on a 1998 Z28 Convertible w/6speed manual. 14 years later, I am ready to do it again but this time I waited until I can afford it!!!

After getting the wife's by in, I plan on buying myself a new toy sometime in May or June. I spent some time going back and forth between the ZL1 and the SS. At the end, I decided that the ZL1 is just more car than I will ever use or need. This is going to be a Friday and weekend car (althought I am pretty sure my wife will bypass the minivan for this when its sitting in the garage!)

Since I am looking for a 2nd toy, I am planning on buying certified preowned.

Ideal car; 2018+ Black 2SS Convertible w/black wheels, automatic, magnetic ride control. Automatic and convertible are requirements given to me by the wife.

I am open to blue, red, or magnetic gray as well.

thought I would reach out here and see if anyone has anything I should look out for on my search... packages, preferences, etc!

[vtirocz]

I owned a 2000 Z28 M6 for 12 years before selling it and getting a 2017 1SS manual. You'll love the upgrade, particularly in chassis dynamics and the whole car is in a completely different league than the 4th gens. With that said, I thought my '00 (with SLP "dual dual" exhaust) sounded better and also had a better shifter feel (attached directly to trans with no linkage) - it was also a lot of fun to drive! The old car also had the 1LE springs, swaybars, and Koni shocks and handled pretty good, but nowhere near as good as the 6th gen!

I was trying to keep the price down, so I went with the 1SS, but 2SS has some cool features (HUD, cross-traffic alert, blindspot monitoring, leather, etc). NPP does sound good and gets you the painted rear 'diffuser' with quad tips.

Since you're looking at 2018+ cars, I think the main thing you need to decide is which front/rear styling you like best between '18-'20 and then narrow your search from there.

Good luck in your car search!

[He11bent]

Originally Posted by ocurtis

Hey all,
I found this thread while researching my future new car. When I was in college and dirt poor I spent all the money I didn't have on a 1998 Z28 Convertible w/6speed manual. 14 years later, I am ready to do it again but this time I waited until I can afford it!!!

After getting the wife's by in, I plan on buying myself a new toy sometime in May or June. I spent some time going back and forth between the ZL1 and the SS. At the end, I decided that the ZL1 is just more car than I will ever use or need. This is going to be a Friday and weekend car (althought I am pretty sure my wife will bypass the minivan for this when its sitting in the garage!)

Since I am looking for a 2nd toy, I am planning on buying certified preowned.

Ideal car; 2018+ Black 2SS Convertible w/black wheels, automatic, magnetic ride control. Automatic and convertible are requirements given to me by the wife.

I am open to blue, red, or magnetic gray as well.

thought I would reach out here and see if anyone has anything I should look out for on my search... packages, preferences, etc!

Spend the extra cash and get the 2SS instead of a 1SS, you wont be sorry. The magnetic ride is a must have as well. Good luck!

[ocurtis]

Originally Posted by vtirocz

I owned a 2000 Z28 M6 for 12 years before selling it and getting a 2017 1SS manual. You'll love the upgrade, particularly in chassis dynamics and the whole car is in a completely different league than the 4th gens. With that said, I thought my '00 (with SLP "dual dual" exhaust) sounded better and also had a better shifter feel (attached directly to trans with no linkage) - it was also a lot of fun to drive! The old car also had the 1LE springs, swaybars, and Koni shocks and handled pretty good, but nowhere near as good as the 6th gen!

I was trying to keep the price down, so I went with the 1SS, but 2SS has some cool features (HUD, cross-traffic alert, blindspot monitoring, leather, etc). NPP does sound good and gets you the painted rear 'diffuser' with quad tips.

Since you're looking at 2018+ cars, I think the main thing you need to decide is which front/rear styling you like best between '18-'20 and then narrow your search from there.

Good luck in your car search!

Thanks!

I loved my 1998, but it is nothing compared to the new. Also, I was poor as crap and had no business owning it, so sold it after 6 months of driving. I rented a 2SS in Denver and drove it to Grand Junction last year. Truly an incredible car.

I am actually open to 2017 too, since it is essentially the same as the 18. I don't know that I have a preference of 17/18 vs 2020... 2019 front end is a little funny looking. I think I actually like the tail lights of the 17/18 better.

I like the certified option because of the 7 year 100,000 mile warranty (compared to buying from a private party or non GM dealer.)

It is interesting, all the cars that match my search requirements are at least 1300 miles away!

[cnc237]

Originally Posted by He11bent

Spend the extra cash and get the 2SS instead of a 1SS, you wont be sorry. The magnetic ride is a must have as well. Good luck!

^x2 this

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by He11bent

Spend the extra cash and get the 2SS instead of a 1SS, you wont be sorry. The magnetic ride is a must have as well. Good luck!

^x3. Actually, at this point I would probably get a 2017 or 2018 ZL1 if I were you, there are some nice low mileage deals to be had. I know you said it would be too much car, but since it seems you're a Z28 kind of guy, you will probably start wondering about the what ifs eventually.

If you still want an SS, I also recommend the dual mode exhaust, it sounds absolutely great and control over the exhaust note is integrated into the mode switch and the infotainment.

Finally, the color, I wouldn't buy a black car: while they pack serious punch in the looks department when clean, detailed and paint corrected, it's next to impossible to keep them that way. The two best colors IMO are garnet red metallic (my car! ) and hyper blue metallic (2016-2018 only).

[ocurtis]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

^x3. Actually, at this point I would probably get a 2017 or 2018 ZL1 if I were you, there are some nice low mileage deals to be had. I know you said it would be too much car, but since it seems you're a Z28 kind of guy, you will probably start wondering about the what ifs eventually.

If you still want an SS, I also recommend the dual mode exhaust, it sounds absolutely great and control over the exhaust note is integrated into the mode switch and the infotainment.

Finally, the color, I wouldn't buy a black car: while they pack serious punch in the looks department when clean, detailed and paint corrected, it's next to impossible to keep them that way. The two best colors IMO are garnet red metallic (my car! ) and hyper blue metallic (2016-2018 only).

The 2SS was always a must, magnetic ride control isn’t a must to me but maybe just because I haven’t tried one.

As far as a ZL-1, I love them, but I want to be able to drive this car at better than 16 mpg, and I’m also worried about longevity of a motor producing 650 HP. Also I can get a certified 2SS for $35-40k




The colors, your absolutely right, black is a PITA To keep clean, onl reason I’m considering it is it isn’t a daily driver. My wife wants blue so I’ll checkout the color you said.

Thanks for the feedback!

[protovack]

don't let people make you think the mag-ride "is a must".
Is it nice to have? Sure, if you are tracking the car you'll notice the difference.
But make no mistake, the stock suspension on the SS is awesome.
I actually prefer the non-MRC suspension for just all around driving, it feels more organic.
Watch the Matt Moran videos on 6th gens, he feels the same way.
You don't have to drink the kool-aid.
It's an amazing tool for keeping the car dead-stable through the curves especially on uneven or varying road conditions.
But you can also look at it as just one more nanny. It reads the road for you, and lets you get away with much more aggressive driving than you could feasibly pull off given your experience level.

MRC is good for:
A. casual drivers who just want to drive fast and not think too much about it. Think just hitting the go pedal and effortlessly gliding over any road condition, while you sit in comfort.

B. hardcore track guys who want the fastest lap times possible, because that extra stability gives them a slight advantage through the corners.

For everyone else in between, it's really rather pointless, IMO.

[closs2sx]

I don't care if the the car has mag ride or not I'll drive it hard through corners that being said the mag ride is nice to be able to go from soft to stiff when you want. Mag ride is the way to go in my opinion.

[arpad_m]

Actually, I have to side with protovack on magnetic ride control. I have it in my 2SS and did not in my previous Camaro, it's good to have but doesn't really feel like a game changer (note I do not track the car). When buying a used car, though, I don't think it adds too much to the price, so I would only forgo it in a search if there is an absolute killer deal that comes without it.

[LT4Greg]

I agree with arpad_m about a used 2017/2018 ZL1! That’s what I bought last year and have really no regrets! I upgraded from a 2016 2SS to a used 2017 ZL1 with 5 options mainly because of the low mileage(less than 500 miles) and the price was good too. I agree with others that MRC is a good to have option and buy a 2SS if you can and the optional NPP exhaust is good to have also. Since the Camaro will be a weekend toy and cruiser I would go with a ZL1 convertible but that’s just my thoughts! Good luck on your search for whichever Camaro you decide to buy!

[Petrol Head]

Originally Posted by ocurtis

requirements given to me by the wife.

That's why I'm not married

Just kiddin..... wasn't it Shakespere that said love is the noblest of all human emotions?

Mag ride sort of makes you forget you're on a road. It's not floating soft like an old Cadillac, but it's certainly much smoother than most other cars I've driven.

[closs2sx]

when you go for drives do you plan on going inland at all? If so you should take a convertible for a ride with the top down on a hot day with the wife. She may not like it and if you buy a vert and leave the top up most of the time you may as well have bought a coupe. Take one for a ride on a hot day to be sure you will like it.

[ocurtis]

Originally Posted by closs2sx

when you go for drives do you plan on going inland at all? If so you should take a convertible for a ride with the top down on a hot day with the wife. She may not like it and if you buy a vert and leave the top up most of the time you may as well have bought a coupe. Take one for a ride on a hot day to be sure you will like it.

I live in San Diego, it is 80 year round! haha, it does hit high 90's in the summer a few times. I am on board with the convertible too, I just think the coupe looks better when the top is up.