by "Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
Published 04/02/2017 at 09:59
by "Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
Published 04/02/2017 at 09:59
Tags: Test drive
; ama
; Camaro
; Camero
; 1LE V6
STARS: 0
Took a look at Chevy’s new “cheap” track car, and went for a quick spin! Ask me anything!
It was the first one our nearest Chevy dealer received. Six-speed manual, with most of the options besides the Recaro seats and the sunroof. Sticker totaled
just
over $40k, but the V6 1LE we cheap enthusiast would probably buy would only be ~$37k.
Ok, not really, the one we enthusiasts would ACTUALLY buy would be over 5 years old and we would be the third owner! Seriously though, these V6 1LEs should be awesome performance values once depreciation kicks in.
I sat in it and climbed all over it. It was the first time I’ve really spent time up close with the 6th gen, so I had a lot of detailed questions for the poor salesman. I’m a 6'3" lanky dude, so my biggest question was will I fit? Unlike the other small engine, RWD, Italian/Japanese sportscar Oppo goes crazy for, I am happy to report that the Camaro fit me perfectly! The seat wasn’t even all the way back, but I did have it as low as it goes. No sunroof helped a lot.
Small note on the sunroof for the 6th gen - I really like all the little folds and creases in the overall design. The hood and roof panel are especially pretty in my eyes. BUT if you opt for the sunroof, that cool, subtle double-bubble roof gets all flattened out. :/
Don’t get a sunroof on your (mostly) track car.
I only took it for a quick drive so no real performance impressions, but I will say the steering was amazing. You could tell immediately that this thing was tuned for drivers.
The base seats were not bad. Plenty comfortable, but if you were really going to track this thing, you would want something with more lateral support. Going to look for another with the Recaros to try them out.
The dual mode exhaust was also WAY better than I expected from a V6. Only really loud when you want it to be. Very nice. Very racecar
Loved the feel of the manual. Super short throws and great clutch feel. The center console seemed pretty high, cutting into elbow room, which made the throw a tad awkward for my long arms. I’m used to my little economy car with no center console, so that was big difference to me. I feel an owner would adjust to it, though.
I sat in a Z51 Stingray with the Competition seats right after the 1LE and have to admit I almost felt like I had more room in the Vette. That’s a compliment to the Vette and a knock against the Camaro. The Competition seats in the Vette are amazing, btw. Some of the best I’ve sat in.
Anything else you want to know? Ask away!
"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
04/02/2017 at 10:10, STARS: 0
can you see out of it?
Too bad they don’t offer T-tops anymore.
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 10:27, STARS: 1
I specifically didn’t address this in the post because I wanted to see how fast someone asked about it.
You were pretty fast. ;)
Short answer is yes, you can see out of it fine. In normal driving I could see everything I needed to see. Look left, look right, look up at the stop lights, even checking your blind spots to change lanes was totally fine for me. While it doesn’t have the sight lines of a FWD economy car, with a little neck craning I could see everything I needed to.
I think the biggest reason people criticize visibility is because of the chopped roof design. It really feels chopped inside, (big)BUT that really only impacts visibility when trying to look up. In driving situations you don’t need to see the plane passing over you head, but if you tried you won’t be able to, hence poor visibility.
Reverse into a parking spot on the other hand? Backup camera is an absolute necessity.
TL;DR - Can you see out of it? Yes and no.
Also, T-tops are bitchin.
"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
04/02/2017 at 10:36, STARS: 0
This loaded up or a base Nissan 370Z Nismo?
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 10:36, STARS: 1
Went looking for a 6th gen with t-tops but all I found was this ‘78 with the 1LE back hood color scheme. Red like the one I drove!
"camarov6rs" (mren2011)
04/02/2017 at 10:42, STARS: 0
You track enough to need the 1LE? If yes why the Camaro?
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 10:46, STARS: 0
Oooo. tough one. I still really like the 370Z despite its age, but I’ve never driven the refresh let alone the Nismo.
I imagine I would have a hard time picking the V6 1LE over a full-on Nismo Z car. Now... for only a little more $ than the base Nismo, you can have the
V8
1LE SS.
I could not say no to the LT1 Camaro in that case.
"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
04/02/2017 at 10:46, STARS: 1
Base + mods will be cheaper then a NISMO. Base in Canada will be low $30k, NISMO will set you back high $40k.
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 10:50, STARS: 0
This was the question I kept coming back to as well. If you have to buy new in 2017, it would be hard to pick a better performance/$ car than the 1LE for the money.
While it was an incredible car and the reviewers all say it is more than track capable, I could not ignore how much used Corvette (+track equipment) i could get for $40k.
"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
04/02/2017 at 10:56, STARS: 1
But new Camaro has warranty, & Chevy will honor it if you track it.
"camarov6rs" (mren2011)
04/02/2017 at 11:04, STARS: 1
A lot of that decision seems to come down to if you need 2 or 4 seats.
"Hot Takes Salesman" (normiesgetoffmyboardreeeeeeee)
04/02/2017 at 11:44, STARS: 2
For ~40k, wouldn’t you rather just get an SS? I think it’s a personal choice really whether people want a track car or a Corvette engine.
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 1
Very true.... IF you consider the rear bucket storage shelf in back a “seat” haha
Seriously though even with the seat not totally back, there was no way someone with legs could sit behind me.
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 0
Good point!
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 12:20, STARS: 0
Yes, but to be fair the V6 1LE comes with a lot of the SS kit. Front brakes, suspension, wheels/tires. You do still get a lot of stuff from the V8 on the V6 1LE, just not the fanciest stuff (e-dif, mag ride)
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
04/02/2017 at 12:42, STARS: 0
GM says the hood is “wrapped.” Is there actually paint under there, because I couldn’t spend that much on a car drive around with the hood looking like I just did a DIY body repair?
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 12:56, STARS: 1
I did check this out because I was curious too!
It was a fully painted body color hood with a matte black wrap applied. It was trimmed very neatly about 1/2"-3/4" under the edge of the hood. The black is not painted.
I specifically looked for bubbles or heavy folds in the corners and none were found. I even tried to scratch it a bit with my fingernail (in a non-visible spot, on the underside near the hood bracket. I’m not a total monster guys) but I didnt leave any mark. My nails aren’t sharp in any way so it’s not a super scientific test, I know, but I felt I pressed hard enough to see something.
I left feeling pretty confident in the quality and durability, whatever that means to you. Though I won’t say it’s 100% durable until I see one after a Midwest winter or two.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
04/02/2017 at 13:58, STARS: 0
Everything is soft touch right? Because I won’t buy if there’s one panel of plastic!!!
/s
"citizennick" (citizennick)
04/02/2017 at 13:59, STARS: 0
The base seats were not bad. Plenty comfortable, but if you were really going to track this thing, you would want something with more lateral support. Going to look for another with the Recaros to try them out.
These are the only seats available on 1LE models.
"citizennick" (citizennick)
04/02/2017 at 14:01, STARS: 0
That’s what confuses me about the V6 1LE. It’s basically an SS with a V6 but more expensive.
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 14:49, STARS: 0
The pricing works out pretty fair though. Just depends on what you want and what you are going to do with it
V6 1LE, Base SS, optioned SS, and SS 1LE are all within ~$8k-$9k or so. There’s is going to be some overlap in performance and features
"citizennick" (citizennick)
04/02/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 1
I don’t think anyone is spending close to 40k for a V6 1LE anyways. Friend of mine picked up an SS 1LE for right around 40k. Was the sticker really that high? Don’t think there’s many options you can put on the 1LE package and the V6 1LE starts at around 31k.
My point was was the V6 1LE doesn’t share much with the SS 1LE, it gets most of its bits from the SS, and the 1SS is pretty close to the V6 1LE price range.
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 16:19, STARS: 1
Yes on all counts. The sticker was $40,1xx so it was that high. Like I mention in the post though, it had stuff we wouldn’t get. (Like camaro logo hood liner, logo sill plates, painted engine cover etc aesthetic stuff like that) In 3-4 phone calls asking when they would get the car and then setting up this test drive and with a sale this weekend, they were already down to $37k, so obviously people aren’t paying sticker
Again, just depends on what you want. A $39k base SS does not have the performance data recorder for example, but a $38k V6 1LE does. The $39k base SS would be faster and comes with the extra oil/trans coolers for the bigger motor/trans, but the $38k V6 1LE would be a much more economical daily driver, and while slower, still a very track capable drivers car.
Neither would have the Recaro seats at that point though.
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
04/02/2017 at 16:57, STARS: 0
I don’t see why you couldn’t get 4 in there. I’ve had 4 adults in the 968. OK, so the steering wheel was in my chest and my forehead was almost touching the top of the windshield, but we all ‘fit’.
After we parked it must have looked like a circus car with all of the clowns pouring out...
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 17:19, STARS: 0
You’re right. “Seat” is really just a matter of perspective.
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
04/02/2017 at 17:24, STARS: 0
The recaros are an optional upgrade on the V6 1LE
"citizennick" (citizennick)
04/02/2017 at 17:38, STARS: 0
After looking again I saw you posted a picture that wasn’t of the car. The Recaros feel pretty nice, been around in a friend’s ZL1 and they definitely have better bolstering than the standard seat.
"citizennick" (citizennick)
04/02/2017 at 17:42, STARS: 0
I’m definitely a fan of the V6 1LE but at a price point that doesn’t compete with the SS. And yeah they seemed to have added a bunch of useless stuff to this one. I hate the way dealers order their cars. Sunroof and no Recaros? Ugh.