GM Kinda Listened

I recall a thread where people were discussing the idea of putting Z/28 suspension on a V6 Camaro to make a (relatively) cheap autocross car. Well, it looks like GM was listening, because we are now getting the 1LE Package on the V6 model Camaro. It gets all the good suspension bits off the SS and upgraded cooling, braking, tire and aero bits. Plus it weighs 200lbs less than the SS and 300+lbs less than the old V6 model while making 335hp. Should be interesting. If there is enough interest, they will consider a turbo-4 1LE as well

Pretty amazing there. Not too long ago those would have been Corvette specs.

Are they still huge?

Now that's an interesting car. The only thing I don't like are the 20 inch wheels and the 'small' rubber, but I'm betting this will be as fast an AX car as the SS version in the street classes.

Woody wrote: Are they still huge?

They're ATS sized, so still big, but quite a bit smaller than the last generation.

mazdeuce wrote:

Woody wrote: Are they still huge?

They're ATS sized, so still big, but quite a bit smaller than the last generation.

And quite a bit lighter. I think the SS is like 400lbs lighter than the outgoing SS. They're also hellaciously fast for what they are. SS will run 12.4s right out of the box.

I hear (as in I haven't sat in one yet to verify) that you still can't see out of them.

NickD wrote: I recall a thread where people were discussing the idea of putting Z/28 suspension on a V6 Camaro to make a (relatively) cheap autocross car. Well, it looks like GM was listening, because we are now getting the 1LE Package on the V6 model Camaro. It gets all the good suspension bits off the SS and upgraded cooling, braking, tire and aero bits. Plus it weighs 200lbs less than the SS and 300+lbs less than the old V6 model while making 335hp. Should be interesting. If there is enough interest, they will consider a turbo-4 1LE as well

No. They're putting base SS suspension on it, which is junk - not the FE4 1LE stuff that is actually worth paying for. Dont believe the hype.

In reply to Dietcoke:

I reread the article and it sounds like you're right. The 1LE package is different for V6 and V8 cars. That sucks.

Dietcoke wrote:

NickD wrote: I recall a thread where people were discussing the idea of putting Z/28 suspension on a V6 Camaro to make a (relatively) cheap autocross car. Well, it looks like GM was listening, because we are now getting the 1LE Package on the V6 model Camaro. It gets all the good suspension bits off the SS and upgraded cooling, braking, tire and aero bits. Plus it weighs 200lbs less than the SS and 300+lbs less than the old V6 model while making 335hp. Should be interesting. If there is enough interest, they will consider a turbo-4 1LE as well

No. They're putting base SS suspension on it, which is junk - not the FE4 1LE stuff that is actually worth paying for. Dont believe the hype.

That's why I said "kinda". Still better than the stock V6 Camaro suspension, not to mention that the '16 Camaros are on a smaller, lighter, newer chassis. So base SS suspension now means more that a '10-'15 base SS suspension.

You still have the "we know how to make this better for the same money, but we decided not to" thought process, which pisses me off. Ford does it with the V6 Mustang too, which also pisses me off.

NickD wrote:

mazdeuce wrote:

Woody wrote: Are they still huge?

They're ATS sized, so still big, but quite a bit smaller than the last generation.

And quite a bit lighter. I think the SS is like 400lbs lighter than the outgoing SS.

What is that in real #s?

ProDarwin wrote:

NickD wrote:

mazdeuce wrote:

Woody wrote: Are they still huge?

They're ATS sized, so still big, but quite a bit smaller than the last generation.

And quite a bit lighter. I think the SS is like 400lbs lighter than the outgoing SS.

What is that in real #s?

3,685lbs for the SS (3908lbs for 5th-gen), 3435lbs for the V6 (3729lbs for 5th-gen), 3339lbs for the Turbo 4

mazdeuce wrote: You still have the "we know how to make this better for the same money, but we decided not to" thought process, which pisses me off. Ford does it with the V6 Mustang too, which also pisses me off.

True. GM is always going to want you to get the big V8 model. But at least it's better than the 5th-gen where the V6 was just cheap-ass spec. You couldn't option those with sportier suspension or tires at all.

NickD wrote:

Dietcoke wrote:

NickD wrote: I recall a thread where people were discussing the idea of putting Z/28 suspension on a V6 Camaro to make a (relatively) cheap autocross car. Well, it looks like GM was listening, because we are now getting the 1LE Package on the V6 model Camaro. It gets all the good suspension bits off the SS and upgraded cooling, braking, tire and aero bits. Plus it weighs 200lbs less than the SS and 300+lbs less than the old V6 model while making 335hp. Should be interesting. If there is enough interest, they will consider a turbo-4 1LE as well

No. They're putting base SS suspension on it, which is junk - not the FE4 1LE stuff that is actually worth paying for. Dont believe the hype.

That's why I said "kinda". Still better than the stock V6 Camaro suspension, not to mention that the '16 Camaros are on a smaller, lighter, newer chassis. So base SS suspension now means more that a '10-'15 base SS suspension.

Yeah, in the sense that a 2016 prius means more then a 2010 prius.

Snooze.

The base V6 car was so bad, I just hope this one is better. My wife cross shopped a Camaro, Wrangler, and FJ Cruiser. The dealer put her in a base V6 car (because girl) and as soon as she stepped out she said what a piece of crap it was. The worst driving experience of the three by far. She wanted to like it too. Her grandma had a 68, her mom still has a 1997 30th anniversary edition, and she wanted to keep the chain going. She hated it.

mazdeuce wrote: The base V6 car was so bad, I just hope this one is better. My wife cross shopped a Camaro, Wrangler, and FJ Cruiser. The dealer put her in a base V6 car (because girl) and as soon as she stepped out she said what a piece of crap it was. The worst driving experience of the three by far. She wanted to like it too. Her grandma had a 68, her mom still has a 1997 30th anniversary edition, and she wanted to keep the chain going. She hated it.

Yeah, the old V6 was pretty awful. The engine sounded like an asthmatic playing a kazoo, the clutch was an on-off switch, and the shifter felt like it was cribbed from a truck. Personally, I wouldn't get a V6 Mustang/Camaro/Challenger anyways. Less than 8 cyinders in any of them is just unnatural.

I like this move. I hope they make it available on the Turbo 4 too.

I saw a new ATS Coupe last weekend, and was pleasantly surprised at the size. It was just right! It looked smaller than a 3-Series coupe (or 4-series now) and looked like you could actually see out of it. It also looked a lot smaller than the 2010-15 Camaro. The 2016 Camaro is built on that chassis, so I have high hopes.

In reply to NickD:

That's almost as light as the new vettes. Incredible.

I'd be very interested...If I could see out of the thing.

Flight Service wrote: I hear (as in I haven't sat in one yet to verify) that you still can't see out of them.

Confirmed. They might be better than the last gen, but it's still like sitting in a pillbox.

STM317 wrote:

Flight Service wrote: I hear (as in I haven't sat in one yet to verify) that you still can't see out of them.

Confirmed. They might be better than the last gen, but it's still like sitting in a pillbox.

Forward visibility isn't bad. It's just the rear that isn't great. Backup camera and side detection and such kinda crutch it. Still better than a '71-'73 Mustang with the horizontal rear window.

NickD wrote: Yeah, the old V6 was pretty awful. The engine sounded like an asthmatic playing a kazoo

xflowgolf wrote:

NickD wrote: Yeah, the old V6 was pretty awful. The engine sounded like an asthmatic playing a kazoo

What can I say? I'm a literary genius.

They should have a sportier V6 with this new body style. It is small enough to be a nice sporty ride. Although I like my V8s I like the V6s as well. Even if they do put together a good package they will have other packages you will have to get as well. In 01 you couldn't get a Y87 without power windows, locks etc. I opted to stick with the base model. It was still a fun car. Let's see what the aftermarket comes up with.