I'll have to admit that this car was not on my radar; a couple of fellow HPDE instructors suggested I check it out. The 1LE package gets you most of the ZL1's suspension, wheels, and other upgrades to the drivetrain. The car I drove was a 2SS with the RS package, which pretty much means that you get all the bells and whistles one could want- HIDs, HUD, heated seats, Boston Acoustics audio, etc. On top of all that, it also had the optional Recaros and the dual-mode performance exhaust.
The Camaro interior was refreshed a few years ago, and while it still trails the 2015 Challenger and 2015 Mustang in style and ergonomics, it's no longer a Playskool penalty box. The Recaros are excellent, and-unlike Ford's set in the Mustang-Chevrolet figured out how to heat them. Starting the 6.2 V8 made me smile; the exhaust has a throaty rumbling tone(one of my knocks on the Mustang is that the exhaust is way too subdued). The shifter is great, it slots into gear like a fine rifle bolt- with just enough effort to provide useful feedback. The steering is maybe a bit overboosted for my tastes, but acceptable, while the clutch is light and progressive. The wheel and shift knob are covered in Alcantara, by the way and feel very nice. The Brembo brakes are top notch- as expected. On the road, the car accelerated about as fast as the 2015 Mustang GTs I have driven. The ride was firm but not punishing, and the car has tons and tons of grip. Car and Driver claimed that a 1LE could lap the VIR Grand West Course in under three minutes and I don't doubt it one bit- its incredibly capable(the 1LE gets Goodyear 285/35ZR20 Eagle F1 Supercar G: 2 rubber, by the way).
The downsides? Just one in my opinion, and it's relatively minor: visibility. Sure, it's OK on the street, but the sightlines make it a bit tough to accurately place the car when hustling in the corners. That said, I'm sure that one would adapt with experience.
My car search has resembled a cat chasing a laser pointer; I've gone back and forth between hot hatches(Golf R), AWD hooligans(STI), and V8 ponycars, but the list is narrowing. Right now I'd say the Mustang and Camaro are at the top of my list. I really like the Challenger SRT8, but I prefer lighter and smaller cars- especially when they will see considerable track time. The Mustang is probably the best overall package, but the 1LE has immense capabilities for a relatively modest cost. I may have found a keeper.
The Camaro interior was refreshed a few years ago, and while it still trails the 2015 Challenger and 2015 Mustang in style and ergonomics, it's no longer a Playskool penalty box. The Recaros are excellent, and-unlike Ford's set in the Mustang-Chevrolet figured out how to heat them. Starting the 6.2 V8 made me smile; the exhaust has a throaty rumbling tone(one of my knocks on the Mustang is that the exhaust is way too subdued). The shifter is great, it slots into gear like a fine rifle bolt- with just enough effort to provide useful feedback. The steering is maybe a bit overboosted for my tastes, but acceptable, while the clutch is light and progressive. The wheel and shift knob are covered in Alcantara, by the way and feel very nice. The Brembo brakes are top notch- as expected. On the road, the car accelerated about as fast as the 2015 Mustang GTs I have driven. The ride was firm but not punishing, and the car has tons and tons of grip. Car and Driver claimed that a 1LE could lap the VIR Grand West Course in under three minutes and I don't doubt it one bit- its incredibly capable(the 1LE gets Goodyear 285/35ZR20 Eagle F1 Supercar G: 2 rubber, by the way).
The downsides? Just one in my opinion, and it's relatively minor: visibility. Sure, it's OK on the street, but the sightlines make it a bit tough to accurately place the car when hustling in the corners. That said, I'm sure that one would adapt with experience.
My car search has resembled a cat chasing a laser pointer; I've gone back and forth between hot hatches(Golf R), AWD hooligans(STI), and V8 ponycars, but the list is narrowing. Right now I'd say the Mustang and Camaro are at the top of my list. I really like the Challenger SRT8, but I prefer lighter and smaller cars- especially when they will see considerable track time. The Mustang is probably the best overall package, but the 1LE has immense capabilities for a relatively modest cost. I may have found a keeper.