Thoughts on the Camaro V6 1LE?
 

Have you had the chance to drive one and compare to your 86, especially on the track? It's 700 pounds more, but the lap times are pretty respectable and it's built and warrantied for track use. They are comparable in price if you're willing to travel to another state to purchase. Mainly curious about the difference in "feel" between the two. I really love the playful dance that my car does exiting turns, but the gas pedal doesn't do much on the long straights especially going uphill.

Well, from my experience it was a second contender when I was buying a new car.
At the time I test drove/ rented a 2012 V6 Camero to Las Vegas
First impression was the huge A pillars. Front vision is a task. But you get used to it. The instrument gauges are lame, so is the radio, but new 2016's are better. So I seen.
As for the weight, it's a tad heavy but it has the power to back it up. All "300" hp of it.

It handles better than you think, it can be just as fun as the 86.
The only thing why I didn't buy the camero was these reasons:
1.Next years models are way better. At the time compared (2012) to the 2014, the '12,s are fucking butt ugly.
2.Mpg, I was driving 60mille round trip so I needed to save a few cents somewhere.
3.I got a killer deal on my BRZ. If I didn't I'll be in something else.

FYI, the V6 Camaro has 335 hp. 35 hp isn't a huge deal for a Camaro, but if we were talking about a BRZ it would be:lol:

Have you sat in one yet? Very tight for such a large car. Hope you don't have claustrophobia.

Not yet, I will this weekend. Unfortunately there aren't any V6 1LE's nearby.

I could get over the whole cockpit except that high door. Felt like a little kid in a bathtub.

The high door/dash and limited visibility make it feel like you are driving in an amored vehicle. It probably doesn't take long to adjust though.

Since I'm relatively short (and getting shorter apparently) I would just turn my cap backwards and drive low-rider style....problem solved.

I haven't sat in the current Gen, but I did test drive (several times) the last Gen (2012-2013) when looking at cars. I honestly didn't find it any worse than many other cars. I could see the road all around me fine, and since I'm not often chased by helicopters, didn't need to see "up".

MomHawk was a different story though. She couldn't see over the dash on the passenger side without jacking the seat way up.

I rented an SS convertible (MY2014 or 2015 I think...) in SoCal once (got lucky at the rental facility and got a free upgrade :happyanim:). Didn't have any upgraded suspension goodies. Coming from the FRS, you could definitely feel the weight. It held the road great, but everything was slower to react, and felt damped. I didn't feel as much in control of the car as my FRS if that makes sense. Maybe the 1le suspension resolves this.

Also, it was difficult to see out of even with the top down. Yes, I said that correctly.

I wouldn't consider a v6 camaro, but the sixth gen is a nice place to sit, very roomy and driver centric IMO. The SS is a great car, and definitely don't act like they carry as much weight as they do. A 1le would only handle better.

I had no problems with visibility when driving a fifth or sixth gen camaro.

FWIW - before anyone starts to stack rank cars... consider at least a day or two doing a high-performance driving school. The skills you pick up from those types of classes not only carry forward to just about any car you own in the future, but also give you some ability to test a car's ability.

I mean it's one thing to own say a 911 Porsche R... but if you drive it like your first Corolla in high school, well what's the point of spending all that money to only enjoy a small dimension of that car?

Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to drive a 911 to 99% of it's capability?

The thing I *love* about taking other BRZ owners out in my BRZ is when they say "I didn't know my car could handle like that!"

My 2-cents.

The lap times the 1LE models put down (SS and V6) are hugely impressive for the price.

I've thought about making the switch, but the outward visibility on the 6th gen is awful. Sat in one at the auto show and it is truly like sitting in a bathtub.

The other thing is I don't like how good of a driver "competition mode" makes you. A lot of the phenomenal lap times are a result of the impressive software those cars have. Call me old-school, but I want an analog experience. I wish reviewers would test (and do lap times) in those cars with the stability control fully turned off. Could potentially still be great, but just not sure.

Lastly the cost of track day consumables is going to be huge. I already hate paying for tires and pads on the FR-S, even with a BBK. I can only imagine how much worse they'd be in Camaro sizes. I think Chevy also requires you to change fluids every track day (risking your warranty otherwise) so that's another cost to consider.

Even with all those potential negatives, I still think about picking up a 1LE, but for me it'd have to be the SS/V8.

I already gave up on the V6 1LE. I can't find any in stock new or used within hundreds of miles that are priced reasonably. It's hard to even find V6 manual cars so that I can get a feel for the acceleration difference. The tire selection for the stock wheel size also sucks. You're either stuck with Eagle F1 all seasons or have to purchase another set of wheels. Those all seasons probably melt on the track.

I ruled out the SS because it has tiny brakes and it's just way too fast for me. All I want is a performance driving oriented car with a bit more acceleration capability.

What? You maybe need to travel more than 100 miles cause I see about 30 or so on autotrader all the time. Most are under 60k, manual, for under $17k.

If I was solely getting for track use, a different set of wheels would be first on the order. So that point is mute, same as tire choices.

Also way more choices beside the lame-o tire rack.com options.

I filtered by V6 and manual and looked through the cheapest 150 listings. The closest dealer for $28k V6 1LE is 700 miles away. The depreciation is probably going to suck, can't see why normal people would opt for V6 1LE over SS. Where are you seeing under $17k?

I only drive 10 miles a day, no need for a dedicated set of wheels. I've checked Hankook and Dunlop websites and neither have a 20 inch option for EHP tires.

1le cars have massive brembos and tons of tire options.... at least in ss trim.

Both the 1LE's come with max performance summer tires (V6 has Eagle F1 and the SS has Eagle F1 Supercar) so you should be fine with either for track use. I think I'd still want a separate square setup for track use (allows for tire rotations and probably better overall balance).

Also as Summerwolf mentioned, the 1LE SS has big Brembo's. Brakes should be stout.

For muscle cars, I can't buy V6 anything, I'd get pissed everytime a V8 went passed me.

Also, my head literally touches the roof on 6th gen Camaros, but the SS version is really nice...but at that point I'd just buy a used Corvette Stingray.

So there's your answer, no on the V6 1LE. Yes on a used C7.

The 1le is probably a better track car though

.....than a c7?

https://jalopnik.com/fourth-class-ac...-go-1823190855

along with the cooling issues that come with a transaxle

Not every c7 is a z06...... just a normal stingray or z51 is a pretty potent track machine.

Stock for stock an ss1le is a competitor to anything lower than a grand sport.... but still.

Oh.....the 1LT trim. Yeah my mistake, didn't see that.
Well shit man, your basically looking for 2016+ car. Those prices are not coming down for while.

Well, look at this from another view, it's the same engine, just with upgrade brakes and suspension. (And new body style). You could buy a cheap 2015 and just upgrade the same shit your self, bam bobs your uncle, now you have a 1LT model.

Hmm, will need to check if the SS and SS 1LE use the same brakes. Even if they do, I don't think I can afford to track an SS.

The only experience I have with max performance tires is the MPSS and those get destroyed from track use. Would prefer to stick with extreme performance tires, nice balance between daily driving and track. Yes, tire rotations especially for drifting and handling balance is a concern as well. From the little content they have of the V6 1LE, it seems to be really biased toward power understeer. I'm sure the staggered tires has something to do with it.

I never had that feeling. On the track, it's driver vs. driver if you're interested in comparing sizes. If anything, getting passed by a slower car is what is embarrassing. A V6 1LE would be quite capable on the track, with a Streets of Willow lap time one second slower than the M2.

Can't afford the C7 and it's probably too fast for me anyway. I've already ruled out the C6 Z51.

I'm not fast, but I have 30+ hours of seat time with my BRZ. If I get the V6 1LE, I will track it a lot. But I do agree what what you're saying. The difference in enjoyment between using 90-110% of the car and daily driving is massive.

The $28k one I'm look at is a 1LS 1LE.

If you have the funds, sit in one, test drive it. If you like it, buy it.

/thread

Uhh, with what car, the BRZ?! I've got MPSS on my Cayman and they do just fine on track. Not even remotely close to destroyed. Not as much ultimate grip as an RE-71R or Star Spec ZII, but I drive around 12,000 miles a year so MPSS are good all around.

LOL, and EWW.
That is all.

Pretty hard to lol at something faster than a supra

It wasn't hard at all. I just had to look at it.
Let me know when one makes 1000whp on the stock bottom end...

Tire wear depends on driver, environment, and alignment. MPSS have low heat tolerance and soft shoulders compared to extreme performance summer tires. They aren't designed for 20 minute sessions in 100 degree weather, just daily driving and magazine lap times.

Going with the Camaro :P

Ahhh while everyone in the thread is talking about road racing, you're over here talking about bench racing. Yeah, a thousand hp is awesomer.

It’s still a V6 Camaro.

its amazing how high your horse is while its getting lapped by the anemic v6

I'm not sure about the new engines, but my wife's RS has direct injection. Great powerful motor (I think over 300 HP is a lot, other may disagree) but unlike the FA20 motor that has the port injection AND DI, the RS has only DI and at some point if we keep the car, gunk on the intake valves will be a problem and Chevy is kind of well known for being ****s about warranty if you use a catch can.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Because V6 Camaro.

And yet they were fine for me at VIR lapping at competitive speeds.

Dunlop Direzza Star Spec Z1s were what I used on my S2000 for HPDEs. They were grippier than the MPSS, but neither the Z1/2 is available for the Cayman's stock tire sizes. MPSS are fine at the track - maybe they don't suit your driving style.

This is coming from someone who owns a car that can't even beat a miata in a straight line. :w00t:

Same old bullshit rhetoric. There is one year that has a marginally faster 0 to 60 and that could be wiped out by driver skill. All the others are far slower.

You realize that those are different generation miatas?