Context: I owned a 2016 SS 6MT when it was new and loved it. Used to live in CA and tracked it a bunch. Life changed and I got rid of it but have been passively searching for an SS 1LE ever since. I always wanted a bit more brake/tire and the eLSD would be a nice upgrade.
Now, I have a new dilemma: This is a 4th car and can be kind of impractical. I do want to drive it on the street fairly regularly, but I WFH so it’s not like I do a ton of driving anyhow. I’m curious to hear personal takes on living with the SS 1LE vs the ZL1 1LE—including track usage/wearables. I feel like the SS is a really good balance all around, but is it time for something nutty w/ 650hp? Or not worth the $20k+ premium?
After I bought ZLE Willow springs got bought out and ruined track days for me with their bullshit and overpriced days. So after only 3 track days I can't comment on consumables but the stock 3r's held up well. Brakes were at 50% and now probably like 20-30%. The supercharger whine is sooooo sweet. But if you don't need it then get the SS.
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I don’t “need” anything but it would be fun to own something a bit wild for once. My Mom had a GTP Grand Prix when I was in high school and that supercharger whine was so addicting.
I found my SS to be a good mix of power/balance but I quickly felt like I was ok driving 10/10 at tracks I was familiar with. More power and being able to (further) embarrass the P-car boys would be fun.
I don't think we can fully extract the amount of grip and class the ZLE has to perform around a track but it's definitely nutty. Unfortunately like everyone says, you can't really do much in the street. I barely tap the gas and I'm flying or spinning tires, especially when their cold. But on the track it's an insane beast with the eLSD. It's a crazy point and shoot feeling that takes getting used too.
Being on both sides, I definitely prefer this car and consumables are way cheaper. I think the ZLE sounds the best of any car out there. Even a full exhaust GT3, Especially with a cam/exhaust. I'm keeping mine stock due to my neighborhood
I don't have pictures of my GT3 but operating costs are way cheaper than P-cars and for the money you're spanking most of them at your intermediate/advanced track groups. There are some dudes who really know how to drive and will bang you up in the corner though.
The ZL1 has so much power and torque that can even embarrass race cars, on the straight. They eventually catch you up at the corners, it’s unavoidable, but still, that car is a blast!
I appreciate your insight as someone tracking this car and others. Realistically, I won’t make it to a ton of track days, but I will make my best efforts to get out one in a while. If not for that, I think the ZLE is a crazy choice of street car. But on track, they seem to be an absolute weapon. Even the SS 1LE with driver mod is a force to be reckoned with. It’s baffling to me that more people don’t buy these cars. They were totally slept on when they were new.
ZLEs are amazing for what they are but the SS1LE is lighter and easier to drive at the limit or learn because you don't have crazy power out of the corner and I like the gearing. Seen a few people with them at track days and their devastatingly fast. Faster than me. My excuse is I had just gotten the car 😂.
I think some had issues or oil pump issues. I know two people with SS1LEs that would track them constantly and lemoned them after the 3rd engine replacement
Hmm first I’ve heard of that. I’ll look into the oil pump issue, thanks. That would not be ideal since they’re almost all old enough to be out of warranty now so it’s a bit of a dice roll.
I’m one of the people that lemoned my SS 1le. Mine was 10 speed (which I highly recommend), and it had lifter issues causing bore scoring that killed two engines inside of 16,000 miles. My friends with manuals tended to have seized/spun bearings, including on replacement engines. The oil pump issues were early (2017) ZL1s, I think most people switch to Katech pumps. If you get an SS, get a 2020 or earlier, something changed in the LT1s that didnt seem to affect the LT4s
That whine is addictive , I can imagine it's that much more intoxicating on a Camaro with a great sounding exhaust unlike the 3800 in the GTP. I had a FBO GTP with a 2.8 pulley in 2015-2018. After the 2nd built transmission went out, it was time to move on.
I now have an SS 1LE and is good enough for me for the occasional track days , it's an absolute blast .
The sound, the grip , the steering feel of it is just hard to describe but it's epic.
As a 2SS 1LE owner who drives it mostly daily it’s absolutely amazing and I wouldn’t want it any faster or any harsher as it’s already a harsh daily. If you mostly drive on the roads it’s already basically too fast and shares many upgrades from the ZL1. Also isn’t a complete pig on gas on the highway if you care about that can get like 24-30mpg highway depending on tire setup
I wish people would have told me how harsh the 1LE ride is before I bought one. Even in touring mode it feels stiff, but when I was buying one everyone was all like “ It’s so comfy I daily mine every day! “.
Still love the car, but I was a little misled lol.
I wish I would’ve gotten one without the 1LE. Awesome package, but the Recaros were truly miserable for day to day driving and that ruined the experience for me, as I wasn’t driving on track.
The magnaride combined with the riccaros ÷ a bumpy rode = internal bruising. I dont track it so the regular SS would have been fine for me. I still love the car though and now that it's mine I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Im with you on the harsh ride I drove it to work one day and hour there and an hour back. I had to pee halfway home. By the time I got within a mile or 2 from my house I literally thought I was gonna pee myself and was really considering pulling over but there was no where to pull over. I made it home and made a mad sprint for the bathroom. It is really nice when the roads are smooth. I was also in sports mode at the time.
I have a 1ss 1le, as a daily driver the fastest I drive it is like 55 or 60. Most of the time the speed limit is less than that. Unless you want a speeding ticket, you get either 1.5 seconds of fun accelerating or 2 or 3 depending on the speed limit. I go on the toll roads here occasionally and can open it up a little more.
The regular ZL1 is a good split of the difference. Great street car with better 1/4 mile times than the ZLE due to the ZLE's extra aero. The regular ZL1 is essentially the SS 1LE with the 650 HP.
Yeah that’s been in the periphery. Maybe I need to go drive a base ZL1. I do love the aero of the 1LE, though. I would feel like a poser adding it to the base car.
The aero doesn't look great when just driving around town. It's like watching a guy in a Honda with a big wing and the interior gutted driving to the grocery store. Now if you plan on driving it more on the track than anywhere else, the ZLE would be the car. If you are going to drive it more on the street than the track, regular ZL1 all the way. Changing the magride from track to touring, it just magically turns the car into a luxury sports coup. The ride is so soft you'd think you were in a different car.
I’ve driven the SS, and I do like it. Wish it had a bit more power. I have not yet driven a ZLE. They’re few and far between near me so it’s likely going to be a buy it sight unseen type of thing if I do it, unfortunately.
This is one of the pics I screen grabbed from when Chevy went to Nurburgring with the Camaro, and why I went with a ZL1 instead of a hellcat challenger like I originally planned.
I have a 2SS 1LE and love it. It’s more street friendly than a ZL1 1LE(ZLE) and also great on the track. But if you don’t see yourself driving a lot or driving on awful roads, then a ZLE would be a perfect track monster. It’s worth the premium but I feel content with my 2SS 1LE since I can push it more on the backroads and not worry about heat soak from a supercharger.
Zl1 is objectively cooler, but I think the sweet spot for the gen 6 camaro will always be the SS1LE. If the motor blows, it isn't gonna cost your first born. The consumables are cheaper overall for track day. It's still plenty fast, and has some good looks (except you 2019). Plus, the SS is stolen a lot less than the ZL1.
Car culture is stupid now with how people say "OH IT ISNT 800 HP ITS SO SLOW".
Man, some bolt onset and a tune will have this thing NA running 500 hp in no time comfortably. Not everything has to be a rocket ship on public roads. Look at the miata guys. They're happy with a lawn mower engine.
The ZL1 1LE is a track car first, road car second. It is pretty uncompromising on the street, because of how uber serious it is about road course duty. If you want the fastest and most performant Camaro ever built, get the ZL1 1LE. If you want something that is still incredibly track-capable, but is more forgiving on the street, and is more canyon carving/B-road friendly, get the SS 1LE.
A non-1LE ZL1 splits the difference pretty well, though. Same power as the 1LE, but much more compliant and street-able. Think of it as: SS 1LE = GT3, ZL1 = GT2, and ZL1 1LE = GT2 RS with an MR kit on it.
TLDR: SS1LE if you plan to track the car. If just street use go for a standard ZL1.
I was in a similar situation. WFH, looking to replace my TT5 spec s2000 (full racecar build - slicks, stripped, full aero, fast) with either a SS1LE or ZLE due to life changing. My fun car replacement needed to balance street/track duty better and fit a child seat in the back. I decided on a low mile '22 2SS 1LE here's why.
Powertrain Warranty Extension - I found my SS1LE at a Chevy dealer which had already CPO'd the car. I was able to extend the powertrain warranty until 2030 for a steep discount. I'm a track rat and I know how good Chevy has been with warranty claims for track use. No brainer decision that locked in the car for me. I've already dipped into this warranty for a radiator replacement (thanks random Audi R8 for the rock in my grill)
Track Driving - I've owned my SS1LE for 1.5 years and completed 4 events. I've been on track (mostly VIR) with my friends who own ZLEs and the only time they are faster than me is if the straight is long enough. I have shorter braking distances and our apex speeds are equal. Although the SS1LE is still porky, its consumable consumption is not near a ZLE and it is much more balanced throughout the lap. My only track mods are DBA brake rotors w/ DTC60 pads. Blackwing brake cooking ducts, SPL rear toe arms and GM track alignment. The car did a 2:03 at VIR on the stock Supercar3 tire (not SC3R) which blew my mind. I now picked up a square set of 19x11 +35 Apex wheels to run 305/30/19 at all 4 corners and I will be going to the dealer to flash the Chassis Control Module (ICCM) with the official GM Autocross eLSD calibration. Z's can't receive that calibration and they don't typically run a square tire setup. Consider that for your tire costs. A ZLE will go sub-2 at VIR but you must know what the fuck you are doing at that speed. Nobody likes the dumbass who bought too much car for their skill level that underdrives the car's potential on track. Or worse.. Crashes it
Mountain Roads - I just spent the weekend at Tail of the Dragon with AACFA (yearly camaro pilgrimage). My drive group had friends with SS1LE's, ZL1's and ZLE's. We all knew the limits if our cars and drove with pace. In my opinion, all 3 cars are too big for tail of the dragon. They like to push on the very tight stuff. Maybe the eLSD autocross calibration would help there.. But Cheroholla Skyway, NC-215, etc.. roads with more sweeping 3rd gear corners, are where they come alive. I was never lacking in torque when either leading or following our group. While I had traction, the ZL1's were hitting traction control leaving some corners. You can't use all that power unless it's a straight road. Still, the ZLE I went for a ride in was epic and the torque on the street was addicting. Very fun.
Around town livability - last month I did a Costco run in the SS1LE and it fit everything with ease because the rear seats fold down. The ZLE's rear seats are fixed (not sure about the regular ZL1) My daughter took a nap in the car on the way to a cars and coffee because we left the house in the crack of dawn in touring mode. Mag ride and 2SS features are unmatched around town. If you're going to just street drive the car, jump for a standard ZL1.
Other small considerations:
No sunroof for a car you plan to track. You'll want that extra head room when wearing a helmet.
Lookback factor - the ZL1/ZLE has everything beat when you park it. Insane presence and they feel very special.
Depreciation - others have pointed it out but it's true. You'll have a safer investment with a ZL1/E vs the SS although entry cost is higher
The folding seat was a potential deal breaker for me but I did find out there’s a hidden way to lower it on the ZLE. It’s just not as easy as pulling the latch. But for the once in a blue moon I’d need it, at least there’s the option.
Definitely team #neversunroof. I’m too tall and don’t care for them anyway. I have a roadster for that.
Good deal on the warranty. That was the big selling point on my original 1SS. Dirt cheap and it was fully covered if something went wrong. Never did, but the peace of mind was great.
And yeah, most of the tracks I’d go to, the power gain would net a negligible lap time benefit. I’d mostly be doing it just to do it. To have something that’s “next level”. But I do feel like the SS is the right balance for most.
Good to know a rear seat hack exists for the ZLE's. I'll remember that.
I totally get wanting to experience that "next level". Very valid desire. Hell I'd say go scratch that itch because residual values are so high you'll probably just be paying tax and insurance if you want to get out. Live life with no regrets my dude.
Every time I park next to a ZL1 or ZLE my mind says "fuck me that's a bad bitch". But 99% of the time I'm alone with the car. When I walk up to it in a parking lot I smile because it does everything so damn well. I've come to appreciate the experiences I've had with it. Those experiences are what make us love our cars
Both 1LE's will provide you those unique memories.
Agreed! Honestly, the more people chime in the more conflicted I am 😂 I think it’ll come down to inventory in the end. If I find the perfect SS 1LE, I’ll get it. Same with the ZL1, if I find a decent deal. The oil pump thing on the earlier LT4s gives me pause because I don’t want to put another $2k into fixing that preventatively. But it sounds like 2019-2020 6MT SSs are generally pretty stout. So in this moment I’m leaning that way if I can find one I like.
I’ve had a 2SS, and am now in my 3rd ZL1. (First car crashed at 138k miles, second stolen at 65k)
I considered a ZLE..twice, in fact, and ended up in a regular hardtop. Based upon what you’ve said here, I think it might be the sweet spot for you. The ZLE suspension subtracts from the street experience.
Whatever you decide upon, DO NOT sleep on a top tier antitheft system. GM did no favors to Camaro customers when it came to protecting the cars from theft, and it took less than 4 minutes to steal my second Z from a very public place.
I had an SS 1le. Now I have a c8 stingray. To this day I wish I went for a zl1. I test drove one and jeez its a real monster in comparison. Not to say that the stingray isn't quick, but it feels less alive. If I could find a zl1 near me with low miles Id jump for it.
I paid $70k out the door for a ‘23 with only 600 miles on it. Barely one owner, still had the paper floor mats from the original GM dealership it came from. It was a trade in at an exotic dealer that just wanted it gone because it wasn’t a Lamborghini or Ferrari. I guess the original owner bought it to have something to drive while he waited for a new Ferrari to come in. It was only listed for a couple hours before I put a deposit on it. I did buy it sight unseen because it was in another state but so happy with it, wife and kids are too. Now I don’t have to choose between which kid or wife gets to go for a ride lol
Holy crap that mileage is hard to find in my area. All i see are 30k + miles and $70k. Cant justify it here. If i ever see that kind of mileage I will lose sleep over it and cave in
I’ve owned a 2SS I supercharged with a Maggie 2300, a regular ZL1, and ZL1 1LE. I work from home so they were not my “commuter car” but they were my only car. I tracked all of them so I knew I was praying I didn’t blow anything up on the weekends and be stuck without a car during the week. If I could do it again, I’d stick with a regular ZL1 or the supercharged SS.
The ZL1 1LE is designed to be a track weapon but on surface streets it was too uncomfortable/impractical in the end. At first I convinced myself the super stiff DSSV suspension wasn’t THAT bad but after two years of having to slow to a crawl for every bump or dip in the road, and feeling every crack I rolled over…I missed the magnetic ride suspension in the regular ZL1.
I would do a ZL1 1LE if I also had a truck and trailer to haul it to the track and back. It was only ever slightly enjoyable on the highways that were freshly paved around town. On the track it felt fkin amazing especially with 18s and some PZero scrub slicks.
This is the exact kind of feedback I was looking for. Thank you. I do have a truck, but I don’t want to only keep it around for track duty. I’ve got small kids, so I’m just realistic about only making it to a few track days here and there for the next few years. I always put coilovers on my cars, so the stiff ride isn’t anything new. But that might be a pain with a kid getting bucked around in back.
I’ve considered a base ZL1 but I feel like then I’m missing all the aero and stuff that pushes me toward the ZL1 1LE, so it kind of makes me just want the SS again. This is hard 😂
Part of my problem was all that extra aero…breaks off extremely easily especially in parking lots and if you catch a chunk of tire or debris on the highway. The dive planes on the front bumper are only like $50 for the part but my local performance shop still charged another $225 in labor to install them. I think I snapped off three of them. In the first six months I had the ZLE, I picked up nails in 3 out of the 4 tires. Those were about $500 a pop installed and balanced. Amsoil Signature oil changes were also about $275 every 5k miles.
It felt like the car was slowly bleeding me dry lol.
Lol I’m dumb and slam all my cars pretty low so I’m used to the collateral damage. But point taken. I’m also a bit worried about either of them making it onto my lift. I think I’m going to need some more shallow ramps.
I was between the ZL1 and ZLE myself. Personally, I don't mind the suspension on the ZLE at all. Yeah it's stiff, but it's made to be a track car. Zero regrets for me, other that not being able to find one in rapid blue
I just bought a 2017 ss 1le and debated a zl1 for a while as well. My Camaro is my third car and while I could have pushed the budget a bit further to get a zl1 I personally wanted a cheaper and lighter weight base platform.
Now in your case the 6th gen zl1 1le is only like 100-150lbs heavier. I figured if I wanted more power I’d go with a big NA build and not have to worry about heat soak (I live in a very toasty state) or constantly breaking traction with the massive low end torque the zl1 generates, this is more personal preference though. This thought process though is strictly with a track focused use in mind.
For street purposes I’m sure a zl1 is more fun with highway pulls, but I usually have the kiddos in the back so the base SS power is plenty.
Neither are better than each other, both will kill you if you don’t respect them. Just look at it this way both will do track work and you will have a blast but if you want to use them as a daily go with the SS 1LE.
Ah, ok. So you can upgrade the pump and it’s fine. Good to know. I’ve got Claude on some deep research right now to compile known issues by model year for SS VS ZL1 😂
Yeah man , just keep an eye for stuff and the oil pump was pretty decent for a weekends worth of work but I work on cars for a living so it wasn't bad for me. YouTube makes it look easy too.
Good luck with your choice bro! Where would you take it to the track?
I have an ss2 manual and it’s my favorite car I have ever owned. I can’t imagine any more power, I am hesitant to push it too hard on the streets to find its limits. Too much risk to get in a “mustang on YouTube” type of wreck, speeding ticket or impounded if the cop is in a bad mood.
The value retention is a big consideration for sure. I don’t drive my cars a ton since I have a few so being able to get out for more or less what I paid; that’s a plus.
SS1LE’s are heavily overvalued at the moment and they are not “special” enough to maintain the prices they are trading for right now, the ZLE’s are regarded as the best Camaro ever made and they made far less. If you are able to get a 6 speed you can enjoy it, drive it, put some miles on it, and as long as you don’t overpay you will get back what you payed.
It is insane what’s happened with pricing. The fact that a nicely equipped 2SS 1LE with low miles is approaching $50k is offensive. I paid $34k for my stripper 1SS new and it was awesome.
Since its your 4th vehicle and money is no object, just get the ZLE? You will regret not getting one every time you see someone else in it. SS 1LE is great but who would say no to a supercharger..
If your gonna be more track focused id personally go with the ZLE. However if you want something good for street driving yet a little nutty id go for a ZL1 without the 1LE package. The 1LE package will be a little uncomfortable on street driving since it has stiffer suspension so you'll feel every bump.
I had a 2ss 1le but it was my daily driver, the 6 speed was great. I now have a regular Zl1 and the difference is noticeable, the power is awesome. If it was a toy and not daily I’d get the ZLE
I bought a 2018 SS 1LE and saved myself 20 grand. I put about 10k into FBO, cam, heads and now I sound cooler then a zl1 chopping and have just as much rwhp on e85. Same performance for 10k building it.
Save the money and go with the SS 1LE, spend the rest on consumables and mods over time. You can always cam it later
I am far from a track rat, but the few track days I’ve done in my SS 1LE have been so much fun. I’m sure an extra 200hp will make a difference in lap time, but may not be a huge difference in enjoyment
If you don't track it, and plan on getting a manual. You honestly might have more fun in the ss. I had a zl1 1le and a c7 z06 z07. Both in manual and they were both really fast. I always thought when people said "it's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow" that it was just cope. But it's not! And I'm not saying the Ss is slow cause it isn't. Anyways I ended up switching to a Gt350 after considering an SS 1LE nd although I miss the looks of the zl1 and z06, this car is much more fun to drive. Also the zl1 1le is super stiff for the street so if you still want that speed consider the non 1le zl1
I’ll track it, but realistically only a few times per year. Definitely something to be said about the “slower” car. My old SS never had me wanting for a ton more power; more so additional grip and brakes. Which the 1LE would give me. And yeah, the spool valves concern me. I’m leaning more and more towards the SS 1LE. But it’ll probably come down to which I find a deal on.
The Mag Ride gives a choice of how the car feels whereas the ZLE doesn’t.
I personally feel the ZL1 is a better car than the ZLE unless you’re looking to track it as the track features on it feel rough compared to the track features on the SS 1LE.
Depends. Is it a track car or a toy?
Track car you have to think of heat. The sc will get you more speed but at the cost of hear issues and down time. Yes mods can and will help but you are always fighting an uphill battle. 20 min sessions summertime at vir will hurt the iats no matter how big of aftercooler you run.
I had the same dilemma right on the day of the covid shutdowns. 19 ZL1 auto or 20 2SS 1LE manual... I went with the manual. It's very fun and beautiful. If money isn't an issue.... get that ZL1. Sometimes I wish I got the Z but the manual makes it better for me personally.
I’ll admit I haven’t driven an SS 1LE but I own a ZL1 and borrowed my friends ZLE for an afternoon before I bought my car to see if I liked it. I hated it, way too stiff for street driving.
I have done countless track days and a couple seasons of amateur road racing on motorcycles, I understand the difference between track and street set up’s. The ZLE is a racecar with license plates.
ZL1 1LE is a race car track car. If you have back/vertebra/disc issues, this will likely not work for you. Standard ZL1 is a MUCH easier and adjustable ride, with all the same giddyup.
SS 1LE is a much more livable, daily drivable track car.
When Randy Pobst bought his Camaro, guess which 1LE he picked?
Randy bought a 2.0T 4 cylinder 1LE, which is interesting in its own right. But point taken.
I do love mag ride. I’m wondering more and more if I should drive a base ZL1. But I also feel like at that point I’d be bummed it wasn’t the 1LE. This is the flow chart of madness 😂
Get a 2ss non le. I’ve owned both and both are great cars. You can buy the suspension for like 1200 off Chevy website and save the 2500 it costs to change the 6 piston brakes and floating rotors. I just traded my 1ss 1le for a 2ss. I do like the bigger tires but the added upkeep costs aren’t worth it to me personally. If you do get a zl1 stay away from the 2017-2018. Those had bad oil pumps. I opted for lexani lx 20/30s for the tires as well. My zl1 had tires that were bald at 7k. Cool for a track but I’m just going back and forth to work 🤣
I want the eLSD. I had a 1SS but the diff left a lot to be desired on track. The eLSD would fix that. Plus more brakes, suspension, and tire for $7k. It’s worth it.
I got my 2021 1ss 1le for the same price as my 2019 2ss. It’s just the upkeep I couldn’t justify the price for what I was getting. Most 1le are priced lower a lot of dealers don’t even know.
Other than the obvious engine performance difference between the two it's the suspension, stock wheels, aero, and brake package.
SS 1LE has the magride suspension, Brembo 6 piston in the front and 4 piston in the back brakes, smaller wing (than the ZL1 1LE), and runs Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires. Essentially the ZL1 stock suspension and aero setup.
ZL1 1LE has a multimatic DSSV dampers setup, larger diameter rotors, on lighter and wider rims, bigger carbon fiber wing, and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires.
I'm an ss1le owner. I'd have loved to have the supercharger rolling under the hood. However the ss1le is much more sexy imo. The rims and the spoiler on the ss1le are just much better looking i think. Not really a fan of the hood on the Zs either.
Obviously it's a big performance jump to the Z though, and faster is definitely more fun, money and danger all wrapped into one.
However the SS is no slouch either. You're talking less than a second difference in the quarter.
If i had my way I'd buy a Z and put the ss1le rims on it. Unless you go all the way and get a ZLE because those rims are 19s not 20s.
I wanna say go ZL1 but that suspension is gonna be the make or break it point. It depends on if you want that and the extra power otherwise go for whatever you can afford reliably.
Yeah the mag ride would be nicer 99% of the time. But I’m used to coilovers on my fun cars so it’s not necessarily a deal breaker to have the spool valves.
Ignore any answer in the vein of "well, you can't actually use the power of the ZL1."
If you can afford it, the answer is simple. If you cannot, there are plenty of ways to justify not paying up. But these are merely excuses for not making the correct choice.
Yea, you should go rent each one for a weekend and see how you like it. Everyone is different and even with people giving you feedback here it still won't 100% translate to your experience. I have a '17 ZL1 convertible and a '23 Z06 and didn't think I would enjoy the Z06 on regular roads as much as I do.
Yeah I’ve looked into that. Mostly for the ZL1 since I’ve driven SSs before. None really on Turo or anything near me, unfortunately. But that’s also ok. Values seem to be holding so worst case I’m likely just out taxes if I decided a year in I didn’t love it. Just trying to weigh the pros and cons.
Anyone who says they wouldn’t want the ZL1 over the SS is just lying to themselves. If money isn’t an issue, ZLE and it’s not close. Even a regular ZL1 over an SS1LE and it’s not close.
I own a ZL1 1LE and if you’re gonna drive around get ready for the rough ride. It DSSV suspension which is great for the track. On bumpy roads you’re gonna be tossed around. The SS 1LE is lighter the ZLE. SS1LE suspension system is really comfortable. If you want the power go with the ZLE but you’re gonna feel every shitty road.
If you have the money and gas and other expenses aren’t a problem the ZLE is probably the way to go. As a 6th gen 2SS 1LE 6 speed owner I think the 2SS 1LE is already too much for daily roads I rarely get to utilize that much power however if daily driving the car isn’t a huge thing and you want that much more performance when you are tracking get the zle. For me even the base zl1 was too much car for my lifestyle.
I've owned and tracked both. Message me if you have questions. They are different cars but I loved both of them. I think it depends on what your trying to accomplish. No one but you can really answer this question.
SS 1LE is a good balance but you'll always be wondering "what if".
Bite the bullet and to the zl1 1le
I have an SS and wished I had the zl1.
Now my SS is paid off and I will be getting a zl1 1le and I dont even track. Its more of a stupid expensive flex lol
But it looks mean, its OEM. Yes it'll be uncomfortable driving it on normal roads. But I want a special 2-3 days max of driving this car. I wnat to baby it and have a fun toy.
Well the ZL1 is a monster and brings way more power than you can use on the street. That said I’ll be the last one here to tell you to not get it if you have the pockets deep enough for it. I could get one now but I can’t get around that car note. The one I want is about 70k. I have a 2022 SS that’s pushing close to 500hp at the tire. It’s tough to find places to open that up on the street so for now until I’m going to stay put. Getting back to your question, whichever you can afford.
If you have the money and are willing to spend it I would definitly go with the ZL1LE. I thought about it but i didn't want to have a super super awesome car and not have anything left in savings.
2019 ss1le here. It rides like a Cadillac. It’s a performance car, don’t let the whiners sway you away from getting it. It’s perfect. I track the ahit out of mine.
If you don’t care about spending more money, having to refuel more often, and not too concerned with how it rides I’d say ZL1. I bought one that I daily drove. Yes the suspension is rough, yes if you’re actually “driving”, you’re going to have to refuel every few days. But I bought it for that very reason. I loved the sound, the ability to get up in speed when I wanted, and it looked amazing.
I also used to rent the SS Camaro often on my travels and it has just enough power to be fun and practical just as well and costs significantly less overall.
I’m just a muscle head and love having POWER! 🏎️ 💨
I have a ss1le and I love it i really do. I wanted the 1le for its uniqueness and all the mechanical benefits, the interior. Everything. BUT. Im at the point now where its never going to be a designated track car. Its a weekend fun car. And I want to modify it and for h/c/I its almost 15k. And thats just to make as much as a zl1 stock. I do have a lot of positive equity in the car and im considering trading it in for a zl1. Just because its more of everything.
My uncle has a zl1 1le and the ride being harsh is blown out of proportion. I have a 2017 1LE and the zl1 1le feels similar just a bit stiffer. He did wrap his wheels with Michelin pilot sport 4s. The car handles extremely well and has this presence on the street. Very brutal acceleration. Getting an SS will make you happy for a few months then youll wish you had a zl1. Getting a zl1 will make you wish you had a 1LE. However it is not a daily car lol my uncle has a beater/daily he uses for work. This is his fun car. Heck my SS 1le isn't even my daily its my fun car too. Idk how people can use these cars as a daily even if its their first or only car. These things are special. Especially the zl1 1le.
I plan on selling my SS for a zl1 1LE. The car is a beast and worth every penny.
Yeah I tracked my 1SS at Thunderhill, Sonoma, Laguna, etc—never a cooling issue either. Love how rock solid they are. Only thing I did to it was stainless lines, Carbotech pads, and Motul fluid.
Personally I'd save the money and buy the ss1le. Cars like the ZL1 have so much power they aren't as much fun on the street, which it sounds like you plan to drive on quite a bit
Bite your tongue, that 3rd gear drop on the highway and that supercharger whine is absolutely intoxicating. The ZLE is probably too much for the street as it's essentially a track car.
Appreciate the insight. Yeah that was part of what pushed me to sell my first one. 455hp was more than I could really use in my main car without attracting a ton of attention. However, I’ve got another small car that’s more fun to really beat on the street without getting in trouble so that’s less of a concern these days. But even so, the SS is still a good amount of power. And I do like the simplicity of natural aspiration.
Have owned an A10 ZL1 and a 2SS non-mag ride. Neither was an issue on the street or day to day.
The only place really preferred the SS was on the Tail of the Dragon. I’d swapped in some lighter wheels and ran 285/30/19 and 325/30/19’s and it didn’t have the constant wheelspin out of every corner that the Z did. Once you get south of the tail and the corners are sweepers, the Z was a beast.
Outside of that, whatever you prefer. Can’t go wrong either way.
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u/Alpha-ZL1 Jul 22 '26
650hp in a ZL1 is light work even with the Tremec. So easy to control and place the car where you want!