[Bosse'sBoss]

Very interesting, I just noticed that the lap time of the Corvette C8 Z51 at LS per MT's Best driver's car performed by Randy Pobst is slower than the one previously posted by the 2017 Camaro SS1LE. That's amazing for the 6th gen Camaro
Corvette C8 Z51: 1:37.83
Camaro SS1LE: 1:37.77
Both of them on Summer street tires

[TRZ06]

The SS 1LE was ahead of its time, also the SS 1LE is more track focused than the Z51 package.

The C8 isn't into its performance models yet. While the Z51 does pretty good (with track alignment) The Z06 will be where the C8 platform comes into its own as a track car.

[Mountain]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

The SS 1LE was ahead of its time, also the SS 1LE is more track focused than the Z51 package.

The C8 isn't into its performance models yet. While the Z51 does pretty good (with track alignment) The Z06 will be where the C8 platform comes into its own as a track car.

If you take the specific car out of the equation and look at the equipment/upgrades of each car from their base (base Stingray and SS), they are very similar. From a standpoint of what Z51 is vs what a 1LE is, yeah, there's a bit of a difference. What the Z51 is trying to accomplish is a step under a 1LE (add wider wheels and tires and you enter into 1LE territory). Equipment-to-equipment, Stingray vs Camaro SS, they are similar cars.

C8 Stingray
(LT2 V8, 8-SPD DCT, sport/track seats)
Z51 upgrade:
-Larger brakes
-Performance tires
-Upgraded dampers (MRC = MotorTrend car)
-Performance-Oriented springs
-eLSD
-Heavy-duty powertrain/drivetrain cooling
-Track-oriented dynamics calibrations
-Front splitter and rear spoiler

Camaro SS
(LT1 V8, 6-SPD MT/10-SPD Auto, heavy-duty powertrain/drivetrain cooling)
1LE Upgrade:
-Larger brakes
-Wider wheels
-Wider tires, performance tires
-MRC dampers
-Performance-oriented springs
-eLSD
-Upgraded suspension bushings
-Track-oriented dynamics calibrations
-Front splitter and rear spoiler
-Recaro sport seats

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

The SS 1LE was ahead of its time, also the SS 1LE is more track focused than the Z51 package.

The C8 isn't into its performance models yet. While the Z51 does pretty good (with track alignment) The Z06 will be where the C8 platform comes into its own as a track car.

The SS1LE is also heavier, less powerful, manual trans and has worse weight distribution.

The Z51 package is too soft for its own good. It should be a 1LE equivalent option, but that’s too aggressive for Corvette.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

The SS1LE is also heavier, less powerful, manual trans and has worse weight distribution.

The Z51 package is too soft for its own good. It should be a 1LE equivalent option, but that’s too aggressive for Corvette.

I mostly agree with you, but depends on your definition of worse weight distribution. Maybe from a traction standpoint, mid-engine VS front engine.

HOWEVER, my 1LE on 4 fresh tires has zero understeer and the front and rear let go at just about the same time. That is a glorious feeling to not have to fight understeer mid-corner.

Since I street drive only, my rears wear at a rate of 2:1 from the fronts, so my car gradually shifts to slight oversteer as the rears wear, but with all 4 fresh, it is a perfectly neutral car at the limits. (which is between 1.15 to 1.2 G's on most on/off ramps)

The Z51 needs at least -3 camber up front to get rid of most understeer and since it comes with lesser tires, I think it only gets like 1.04 G's around corners. The Z51 to me is just a spiffed up base model. While the Z06 should be proper from the get go.

[Redlinez]

That is awesome info, thanks!

[ZRacerLE]

I say it every time I get the chance: SS1LE is the performance bargain of history to date.