New Camaro 1LE, Better than the Boss Mustang??

While I'm not a huge fan of Jalopnik in general, I was pleasantly surprised by the Camaro 1LE review at Gingerman.

full review: http://jalopnik.com/5931109/camaro-1le-around-the-block

This thing looks like the real deal. $12K cheaper than a Laguna Seca Boss, and GM claims faster around a track too. The reviewer feels the same (and is the same driver who did Automobile Mag's back to back ZL1 vs. GT500 review also at Gingerman).

Squared Tire setup. ~$37K entry price.

I have always been more of a fan of the Mustang, drooling over a '13 GT 5.0 with "Track Pack" and Recaro's... but this 1LE package looks like a surprisingly competent track monster out of the box.

BUT ITS GM AND WE HATE GM BECAUSE THEY ARE GM

"GM claims it's 4.5 seconds faster than the Boss 302 Laguna Seca" and "faster than a 2009 Audi R8 V10" at VIR.

This claim is worthless without video! I demand that my mind be blown!!

back in the late 60's, wasn't the Boss 302 more expensive than the camaro z28?

It really doesn't matter to me. I think Camaro's are ugly. And just in case you think I"m a Mustang fanboi, my first car was a '68 Camaro, and I've owned 3 Camaro's over the years. I just don't like the new one, and while the 1LE may or may not be faster than the Boss, I don't like it purely based on it's looks.

bravenrace wrote: It really doesn't matter to me. I think Camaro's are ugly.

Yep, same here.

I was discounting this achievement thinking "I'm not that surprised it's faster than a Boss 302, it has a 580hp engine, magnetomagical suspension, massive tires, etc" but then I read the article and realized that this is not the ZL1, so it doesn't have the supercharged engine, or the magic suspension dampers, and the tires are "only" 285s all around, versus 285/305 for the ZL1. The boss 302 LS has 255/285s I think. Well done Chevy!

The boss sounds like it needs better tires......

First off, I can't stand the analogy to Phelps. Making a 19 time olympic medalist sound "washed up" while he's still earning medals is stupid. What has this journalist accomplished?

In any case, he left out the most important thing.......can you fit inside the Camaro 1LE with a helmet on? In the standard car my helmet is constantly hitting the headliner, forcing me to drive with my head cocked. (yes, I know, I just said cocked)

I'm 5'8" on a good day, and although I sit fairly close to the wheel, and pretty upright, the lack of headroom completely destroys the Camaro for me as a multi-purpose daily / track car. I suppose I could rip the headliner out, and mount a racing seat to the floor.......but should that be needed?

I need more info before I make a judgement. I've driven the Boss Laguna Seca, and it is an amazing machine. Still too damn big, but an amazing machine nonetheless.

Joe Gearin wrote: I suppose I could rip the headliner out, and mount a racing seat to the floor.......but should that be needed?

Mount a racing seat to the floor of the Camaro and you won't be able to see anything useful out of the windshield unless you're scanning the skies for helicopters.

I wasn't crazy about the looks of them unitl I saw this one:

Somehow looks less blocky than the others.

^ Sweet AW11 parked next to it

GameboyRMH wrote: ^ Sweet AW11 parked next to it

Looks like it's on NB Miata wheels, too.

Alan Cesar wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote: ^ Sweet AW11 parked next to it

Looks like it's on NB Miata wheels, too.

Yep, NBs and it looks awesome.

Man that Camaro looks like a bloated mess next to that MR2.

ArthurDent wrote: Man that Camaro is a bloated mess next to that MR2.

Fixed that for you.

ST_ZX2 wrote:

ArthurDent wrote: Man that Camaro is a bloated mess.

Fixed that for you.

Fixed it for both of you.

the 1LE does not have the ZL1 LSA, it has the standard LS3.

The 1LE is a parts-bin special made up of the random bits of other Camaro models.

The Boss 302 (and Laguna Seca) were completely custom tailored.

The Camaro has poor visibility, bad ergonomics, and as pointed out can't fit 90% of the human population with a helmet on. It's also physically larger and weighs more.

The Boss gets a bad wrap here by an author for the world's worst internet car site because it's too expensive, yet he's comparing the 2-seat Laguna Seca, not the regular Boss (which is what the 1LE is aimed at).

A joke. That's what this is.

Why do they even try? They know most car fans hate the current Camaro, or should know. Just write another psalm of praise to Henry Ford and be done with it. Should make the readers happy.

right... the 1LE is not forced induction, it's an LS3. I see that as a positive. No fancy magnetic shocks. No forced induction. No staggered tires.

Doing a bit more reading from Motor Trend Review, it's a nice bit of kit:

"The 1LE essentially starts life as a Camaro SS upgraded with a package of performance bits, most of which are pulled from the ZL1. ...thicker stabilizer bars (27mm front and 28mm rear), a strut tower brace, stronger rear-axle half-shafts, and monotube rear dampers (the SS rides on twin-tube units). ZL1 wheel bearings, toe links, rear shock mounts, and the fuel pump. Additionally, all four corners are fitted with the ZL1's front-wheel setup, which comprises of 20-inch, multi-spoke rims and 285 width Goodyear Eagle tires. GM says the setup saves 22 pounds of unsprung weight compared with a set of SS wheels."

Further...

"A beefier, track-optimized transmission also distinguishes the 1LE from the SS. Specifically, it's a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual with shorter gearing and a 3.91:1 final drive ratio (3.45:1 for the SS). Gearbox items cribbed from the ZL1 include an air-to-liquid cooling system and a short-throw shifter."

Regardless of if you're a Mustang or Camaro fan, what a wonderful era of pony car wars that keep making each other better. In a world of marketing execs and sticker package "performance" models, these are all REAL upgrades.

What are the smallest diameter wheels that will fit on one of these? 20 inch wheels are absurd.

jstein77 wrote: I wasn't crazy about the looks of them unitl I saw this one: Somehow looks less blocky than the others.

An illusion. Stupid lack of headroom is the same.

z31maniac wrote:

bravenrace wrote: It really doesn't matter to me. I think Camaro's are ugly.

Yep, same here.

While I share the sentiment completely, I favor performance over looks any day.

That being said, I'm completely unwilling to hurl myself around a track in a vehicle I can barely see out of.

Will wrote: What are the smallest diameter wheels that will fit on one of these? 20 inch wheels are absurd.

Likely 18s, even the 2013 GT Mustang 14" Brembo's will fit under 18s.

And I know there is a general hatred toward larger wheels here, but what are you going to run 16s with 70 series tires? The cars and wheel wells are so big you HAVE to run big wheels to look right.