Z28 owners need your personal thoughts
09-23-2010, 04:49 PM
#21
In 4th gens, it really doesn't matter. Reasons I bought my Z28:
-I wanted a color that wasn't black or red.
-I wanted a low price.
-I wanted a stock LS1 6 speed with t-tops.
It did not matter to me what car I came across as long as it fit the criteria above. Trans Am, Formula, WS6, Firehawk, Z28, SS....didn't care which way.
.....whether I picked a Z28 or SS, I want a 3" SS hood, I'll be getting C6 wheels, and the spoiler doesn't matter to me either way. Any Firebird would be the same way.
Tacky responses:
-When I say I drive a 99 Z28, people know what I'm talking about. SS can be a of things.
-In the old days, the Z28 would outperform the 396 SS.
-I wanted a color that wasn't black or red.
-I wanted a low price.
-I wanted a stock LS1 6 speed with t-tops.
It did not matter to me what car I came across as long as it fit the criteria above. Trans Am, Formula, WS6, Firehawk, Z28, SS....didn't care which way.
.....whether I picked a Z28 or SS, I want a 3" SS hood, I'll be getting C6 wheels, and the spoiler doesn't matter to me either way. Any Firebird would be the same way.
Tacky responses:
-When I say I drive a 99 Z28, people know what I'm talking about. SS can be a of things.
-In the old days, the Z28 would outperform the 396 SS.
09-23-2010, 09:24 PM
#23
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Are you talking handling or acceleration?
Keep in mind there were 3 different "normal" 396s offered (325hp/350hp/375hp).
Which one will perform best (in stock form) depends on the type of racing. The 302ci Z28 was an excellent performer at high rpms. However, in a normal stoplight street fight (meaning less than a 1/4 mile), my money would be on the 396/375hp SS - since the big block offers much more low end torque and power. In a high(er) speed roll race though, the Z28 would have an advantage.
Keep in mind there were 3 different "normal" 396s offered (325hp/350hp/375hp).
Which one will perform best (in stock form) depends on the type of racing. The 302ci Z28 was an excellent performer at high rpms. However, in a normal stoplight street fight (meaning less than a 1/4 mile), my money would be on the 396/375hp SS - since the big block offers much more low end torque and power. In a high(er) speed roll race though, the Z28 would have an advantage.
09-23-2010, 09:47 PM
#24
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I've always seen it as such:
The SS is worth more because its more of a collector style car and because they made less SS's than Z28's.
That being said, i've always kind of seen the SS as the pretty boy of the family, and thought of the Z28 being the one that doesn't mind getting its hands dirty and taking care of business. But I do know that the SS's can get just as nasty as the Z's.
The SS is worth more because its more of a collector style car and because they made less SS's than Z28's.
That being said, i've always kind of seen the SS as the pretty boy of the family, and thought of the Z28 being the one that doesn't mind getting its hands dirty and taking care of business. But I do know that the SS's can get just as nasty as the Z's.
09-23-2010, 11:59 PM
#26
Are you talking handling or acceleration?
Keep in mind there were 3 different "normal" 396s offered (325hp/350hp/375hp).
Which one will perform best (in stock form) depends on the type of racing. The 302ci Z28 was an excellent performer at high rpms. However, in a normal stoplight street fight (meaning less than a 1/4 mile), my money would be on the 396/375hp SS - since the big block offers much more low end torque and power. In a high(er) speed roll race though, the Z28 would have an advantage.
Keep in mind there were 3 different "normal" 396s offered (325hp/350hp/375hp).
Which one will perform best (in stock form) depends on the type of racing. The 302ci Z28 was an excellent performer at high rpms. However, in a normal stoplight street fight (meaning less than a 1/4 mile), my money would be on the 396/375hp SS - since the big block offers much more low end torque and power. In a high(er) speed roll race though, the Z28 would have an advantage.
Did roll racing even exist back then?
09-24-2010, 12:53 AM
#27
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The main reason I bought my Z28 was because it was an LS1/T56 and it was clean. After owning it the reason I like it more is because I hate SS spoilers and love the simple look of the flat hood.
09-24-2010, 12:59 AM
#28
I've owned 3 Z28's now so Im biased toward them. Like Z Fury said they put SS badges on everything now, trucks, suv's, even the little cobalts which has definately turned me away even more from an "SS". And from a performance standpoint its a waste to fork out the extra cash to turn a car into an SS when you can clone one so much cheaper.
09-24-2010, 02:06 AM
#29
I've always seen it as such:
The SS is worth more because its more of a collector style car and because they made less SS's than Z28's.
That being said, i've always kind of seen the SS as the pretty boy of the family, and thought of the Z28 being the one that doesn't mind getting its hands dirty and taking care of business. But I do know that the SS's can get just as nasty as the Z's.
The SS is worth more because its more of a collector style car and because they made less SS's than Z28's.
That being said, i've always kind of seen the SS as the pretty boy of the family, and thought of the Z28 being the one that doesn't mind getting its hands dirty and taking care of business. But I do know that the SS's can get just as nasty as the Z's.
OP, look at it like this: if you like the wheels and hood get the SS (which I personally recommend). If you just want the powertrain get the Z28 and save a few thousand over buying an overpriced, badge-engineered SS that won't be worth "collector" money or status anytime this century...
09-24-2010, 10:48 AM
#30
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Moot point when you consider that they're the SAME CAR; how does one get dirtier than the other? I get the impression that there're still some people out there that think the Z28 and SS have different engines, trannies and power outputs. Again, they're the SAME CAR.
OP, look at it like this: if you like the wheels and hood get the SS (which I personally recommend). If you just want the powertrain get the Z28 and save a few thousand over buying an overpriced, badge-engineered SS that won't be worth "collector" money or status anytime this century...
OP, look at it like this: if you like the wheels and hood get the SS (which I personally recommend). If you just want the powertrain get the Z28 and save a few thousand over buying an overpriced, badge-engineered SS that won't be worth "collector" money or status anytime this century...
Even though I just expressed that even though they are the same, one costs more than the other. The Z28 is more widely available and for hotrodders on a budget, the Z is most likely their first choice.
Thanks for the clear-up tho man. I had no idea that they were the same except for the hood wheels badge and wing. Not that it hasnt already been said 23051391392352467247 times in the thread already
09-24-2010, 10:58 AM
#31
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The reproduction SS wheels are so cheap these days, that if you just want the wheels you're much better off getting a Z28 and adding the wheels later. Only reason to even look specifically for an SS is if you REALLY just want to say it's an "SS", or if you plan to get the hood and spoiler no matter what.
Again, I'm not knocking SSs at all, had the right one come along any time that I was shopping for a Camaro I would have bought it. It's just not a priority to me. What really matters, IMO, is conditon & mileage, color, and options - as these things are much harder to change than a hood and spoiler. And personally, I'm happy with either hood or spoiler, as I like both looks for different reasons.
In general, the SS is only worth more because they cost more originally. The price difference now is about the same as it was when they were new (for comparabe condition/age/mileage cars). There is no additional "collector value" to an LS1 SS that's been driven average miles and is in average condition. Only the super low mileage (under 15-20k) SSs seem to have held a better percentage of their original value than a comparabe age/mileage/condition Z28.
Again, I'm not knocking SSs at all, had the right one come along any time that I was shopping for a Camaro I would have bought it. It's just not a priority to me. What really matters, IMO, is conditon & mileage, color, and options - as these things are much harder to change than a hood and spoiler. And personally, I'm happy with either hood or spoiler, as I like both looks for different reasons.
In general, the SS is only worth more because they cost more originally. The price difference now is about the same as it was when they were new (for comparabe condition/age/mileage cars). There is no additional "collector value" to an LS1 SS that's been driven average miles and is in average condition. Only the super low mileage (under 15-20k) SSs seem to have held a better percentage of their original value than a comparabe age/mileage/condition Z28.
Last edited by RPM WS6; 09-24-2010 at 11:07 AM.
09-26-2010, 05:08 AM
#32
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OP, look at it like this: if you like the wheels and hood get the SS (which I personally recommend). If you just want the powertrain get the Z28 and save a few thousand over buying an overpriced, badge-engineered SS that won't be worth "collector" money or status anytime this century...
09-26-2010, 09:36 AM
#35
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I wanted a Formula or Trans am, but ran across my Z28 for $6,250 with 70k on the clock a couple years ago. This was before the economy took a dump, so the car was a grand or two cheaper than anything comparable that I found local. I wasn't willing to pay the Trans Am or SS premium.
I'd much rather a black formula, preferably a WS6.
That stall has given me many grins over the past 15k.
I'd much rather a black formula, preferably a WS6.
That stall has given me many grins over the past 15k.
