i disagree

......if i had a 67 z/28 i woudl agree then lol

 

For those of you using history to support your argument that Z28 is king, here's one simple question:

Out of all the years in which BOTH an SS and a Z28 were available, which one was most often the top performer?

 

WRONG!!!

In the thirdgens, Z28 meant nothing except this car has a V8. I owned 2 Z28 thirdgens, and both had the exact same suspension as was under a base/RS car. All Z28 included was Z28 badges to go with the LG4/LO3 and maybe mid level interior trim standard.


In 91/92 all z28s had TPI, but from 1982-1990, you could order a Z28/IROC with the lowest powered V8 available which ranged from 145hp LG4s to 170hp TBI. Not only COULD you order them with the low power engines, IN FACT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM WERE ORDERED THAT WAY. That's why thirdgens got such a bad rep as performance dogs vs. the fox stangs. The top engine fbodies were right with the mustang in any given year, but since they represented such a small fraction of the Z28/IROCs on the road, everybody and there mother could tell you stores about all the z28/IROCs they used to smoke with their mustang.

 

Sorry, but no it wasn't.

IROC was clearly the top model over Z28 and WAS a seperate option code from 85-87 (B4Z). Don't give me some BS about the Z in irc-z meaning Z28 because if all you checked was Z28 on the option sheet in 1985-1987 all you got was an LG4 and Z28 badges, no wonder bar, no big sway bars, no bilsteins, no heavy springs. Option B4Z came standard with the top suspension and all those goodies. If you have to add an option to Z28 to make it have the best ****, then Z28 ain't it.

It was either 88 or 89 that B4Z went away (or was it became standard with Z28) but then, those cars don't have Z28 badges or markings anywhere on the car except the RPO sticker either.


So basically, chevy clearly has no historical predilection against putting any and every performance option over Z28. Let's not forget 1Le, which was also in essence the real Z28 when it was available since it had to be ordered on a car, or included on it's own the best engine, brake and suspension options, as well lightweight only in the thirdgens

 

i'm in the Z/28 camp and i'll explain why.......


i first got into Camaros because of the 1st gens. i used to write book reports on them in school. yes, i'm a Camaro geek.......



Chris 96 WS6 already said alot of what i was thinking so i'll try not to repeat him.

the car is 1st gen inspired and i think the model line up should be also. that being said, the SS should get "king of the street" honors, (don't even think about it James ) and the Z/28 should be the Z06 of the Camaro world.

the SS name is a common among almost all Chevy models. the Corvette and the Camaro have never been "common" Chevys. they are cars that have a character that lives outside of Chevy.

i do think the SS should be the top model in the line up (no James ).

that being said, i think the Z/28 should be the top performer of the line.


both cars can live together fine, but differentiate them this time by giving each badge a purpose again, just like the 1st gens.

run the Z/28 in the Speed World Challenge.

run the SS in any and all NHRA classes.


i don't want a repeat of the 4th gens.

i want to buy a Z/28 knowing the confidence to take it to any road course in the country is built into the car.

i want the SS guys to beat up on any and all competitors at drag strips across the country.

who cars which one gets the gigundo displacement LSwhateverisavailablein08. give these designations back their personality and all this bickering will end.

 

The first production Chevrolet "SS" had a straight six. (The Z/28 has always had a V8.)

The 4th gen "SS" was merely a sticker/rims/scoop option on top of the Z28.

Any Camaro-man worth his salt knows Z28 is top dog. Those that say otherwise shouldn't be allowed to own a Camaro.

What were we arguing about again?

 

The year the Camaro SS had a straight six, was there a Z28 with a V8 that same year?

The 4th gen SS had the stickers/rims/scoops, but the Z28 was not the top dog, and was not a better performer those years.

When the SS and Z28 were both offered in the same year, the SS was top dog. In every car that Chevy offers right now, the SS is top dog. Chevy would be nuts to offer an SS in the next Camaro that is less powerful than the Z28. JMHO.

 

Everyone is well aware that we are in the middle of a huge performance revival. HP numbers are jumping higher and higher every year for most car manufacturers. Consumers want power!

This has been realized through the popularity of performance lines created by manufacturers. Mercedes has AMG, BMW has M, Audi has S, Chrysler has SRT, Ford = SVT, mazda has mazdaspeed, ect. I believe GM will be trying to capitalize on this trend, we will probably see more SS, redline, GXP, ect..

I think it is logical to assume that SS will be the top performance model because chevy already has SS as the top performance model on many of their other cars. They want people to see something (like an SS badge) and know that is the top dog. I wouldn't be suprised if corvette ss turns out to be the blue devil car.

This trend will probably supercede any arguement about whether z28 or ss is the historical owner of top dog status.

 

If we are going to go by your logic then the Corvette Z06 should be called the Corvette SS, but you know what, it isn't.

 

I never said Camaro SS had a straight six. I said "the first production Chevrolet 'SS' was a straight six".

Nor was the "SS" a better performer; thanks for proving my point.

Which years are you refering to? The late 1960's when race prepped Z/28s regularly smoked race prepped 396s? The longest period of time when SS and Z/28 Camaros coexisted was from 1996 to 2002 (six years) and you've already said that there was no difference during that time.

Then I guess they're nuts because the top Corvette is called Z06, huh?

 

I guess I'm a 'newbie' and don't know as much about the history of Camaros as some of you guys, but it just makes sense that SS be the top dog.

Someone stated that the SS badge was used on a lot of cars, and then it was also said that the Camaro and Corvette are in a different class from the other Chevys. Those both seem true to me, but what are we worried about here, that the normal non-Camaro tuned person will see a SS and aSSume (hehe) that it's no better than another SS?

That being said, I feel like there should be a pretty badass Z28 available for the loyal everyman. Whichever way it goes, I'll be happy, though. JMHO though, don't mind me.

 

As in Nova/Chevy II

 

MAKE UP A NEW NAME (ZS or something)
or make the Camaro Z06 top and the SS the crazy street car wit all teh goodies and the z/28 have less goodies and more race like

done deal lol

 

I'd personally rather they just leave the Z28 name dead rather than bring it back on some watered down "base" v8 model.

Just Camaro and Camaro SS and be done with it.

 

I think the argument of Z/28 vs SS has always been a matter of opinion. They each had their strengths . I think the SS will probably be the top model since chevrolet is setting SS versus SRT and SVT etc. I don't particularly have a problem with that. I think if they set the Z28 as the top model I think they should do a Z06 like car. No convertible or T-tops, light weight, stiffer suspension. Like I said I think the SS will be the top of the line.