Thinking HARD about a 1LT/RS

So I like the V-6 more than the V-8. It's lighter, less front heavy, still posts 6.0 to 60mph which is pretty quick, and the engine's going to have lots of aftermarket support, meaning that a few years down the line I can turbo it and have a lighter, faster version of what the SS is.

I have some concerns though. As somebody who plans on the occasional trip to the track for entertainment, I have no interest in purchasing a car governed at 118mph, as the non-RS V-6 cars are. The car can do 150+.

This is because of the speed rating of the 18 inch wheel/tire combo. My concern is ownership costs: If I'm tracking the car once in a while, I'll have to buy tires more often. How expensive are 20 inchers? Cuz they sound like they'd be prohibitively expensive.

20 inch tire options that will fit the LT V-6 Camaro. From my perspective, that's expensive.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTireMatchingPairs.do?v=016112|2010&r=CASINT|pc|92110&mps=-50

And the 18 inch tire option..............

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTiresByVehicleAndSize.do?v=016110|2010&r=CASINT|pc|92110&ar=55&rd=18&cs=245

Seems like it's expensive no matter which way you go...........

20 inch tire options that will fit the LT V-6 Camaro. From my perspective, that's expensive.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTireMatchingPairs.do?v=016112|2010&r=CASINT|pc|92110&mps=-50

And the 18 inch tire option..............

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTiresByVehicleAndSize.do?v=016110|2010&r=CASINT|pc|92110&ar=55&rd=18&cs=245

Seems like it's expensive no matter which way you go...........

Oh hell! That's not bad at all. That's less expensive than the tires I had to get for my 95 Cobra. I was expecting a lot worse for the rears. The performance rubber for the 17 inchers on my Cobra were about 220 a piece....did performance tire prices take a nosedive in the 4 years I've been missing from the scene?

I have been playing around with the build a Camaro option just to price out different combinations. At any rate, I would personally end up with the 20's on the V6 if I was going to buy it and then you will get the higher limiter. But then again if you want the 18's I would just wait for HPTuner support and change the limiter to whatever you want. My 2000 V6's limiter was at 255mph :)

My 1LT/RS should be built next week. I'm very happy with my choice of engine. Lets see if I remain that way after taking ownership. I've owned a 1999 Firehawk T/A as well so it should be interesting to see how this stacks up.

So I like the V-6 more than the V-8. It's lighter, less front heavy, still posts 6.0 to 60mph which is pretty quick, and the engine's going to have lots of aftermarket support, meaning that a few years down the line I can turbo it and have a lighter, faster version of what the SS is.

I have some concerns though. As somebody who plans on the occasional trip to the track for entertainment, I have no interest in purchasing a car governed at 118mph, as the non-RS V-6 cars are. The car can do 150+.

This is because of the speed rating of the 18 inch wheel/tire combo. My concern is ownership costs: If I'm tracking the car once in a while, I'll have to buy tires more often. How expensive are 20 inchers? Cuz they sound like they'd be prohibitively expensive.

can't afford the 8 cylinder huh?;)

can't afford the 8 cylinder huh?;)

Wow your best dude ! Way to show some character :no:

when you are in shop rite and you see people buying shop rite brand rice krispies are you like " ha , can't afford the Kellog's Rice Krispies ? "

I am sure you make your mother prouder evry day.

when you are in shop rite and you see people buying shop rite brand rice krispies are you like " ha , can't afford the Kellog's Rice Krispies ? "
:lol:

can't afford the 8 cylinder huh?;)
although its harsh.... there is some truth to it.

Hey, I have a '98 3800 v6 which I bought used and got a really good deal so i couldn't pass it up. I would have liked to have a v8, but now with full suspension done on the v6, it is an awesome road racing car!

I like to turn my car, not just go in a straight line with my foot flat on the floor like any 16 year old can do. Though it is fun it drag race and floor it on the street every now and then with v8's and even v6's, having a v6 with this new Camaro will be a pretty sweet ride even if you can afford the v8.

I'm putting alot of thought into the v6 myself, but I will still probably go with the v8 loaded up becauses it will be my first brand new car!

Why not consider the 19" wheel and tire combo that comes on the 2LT?

can't afford the 8 cylinder huh?;)

For a lot of us it's more about being smart with our money. Can I afford a V8? Yes. Would it be smart for me to do so? Probably not. I can get plenty of enjoyment from the V6 and the lower cost and better fuel efficiency goes a long way in appeasing significant others.

Wow your best dude ! Way to show some character :no:

when you are in shop rite and you see people buying shop rite brand rice krispies are you like " ha , can't afford the Kellog's Rice Krispies ? "

I am sure you make your mother prouder evry day.
Don't worry. That V6 costs about 3 times what the average LS1 F-car is worth.

Why not consider the 19" wheel and tire combo that comes on the 2LT?

I've maintained since I started posting here that I wanted the lightest car I could get. I don't need any of the fancy options, the car is great as it is....a car. The V6 provides me with plenty of horsepower to start out, it's less front heavy, and I don't like leather seats.

I can add as much power to that 3.6L as I want later. It's much more expensive to remove 150lbs from a car. Simple as that.

Besides, the combination of 5.9 to 60 and 29mpg is very VERY pleasing.

RS package on 1LT or 2LT comes with 20X8 front, 20X9 rear sterling silver wheels.
Actually one thing I don't like about the RS package. With the crappy roads around here and the cost of 20 inch tires vs. the 18's, I'd be happy with the standard 18 wheels on the 1LT. It would still handle tons better then my 67 with 14X6 inch bias plys.:yes:

I've maintained since I started posting here that I wanted the lightest car I could get.

Perhaps you should be on lotuselise.com instead of camaroz28.com. :p

Just teasing. :D

Perhaps you should be on lotuselise.com instead of camaroz28.com. :p

Just teasing. :D

lol obviously I meant the lightest camaro I could get.

It irks me that if I want a really good handling Mustang GT, I'd have to go for the GT Premium package, as you can't get the Track Pak on the GT Deluxe. I am not going to spend 33k on a Mustang, and I don't want heated leather seats and a bunch of shiny trim all over everything.

The Camaro handles as well (though differently) as the Track Pak 'Stang with the RS or SS package. Every professional review I've read has had the Track Pak Mustang GT equaling the SS Camaro in handling (though losing significantly in acceleration). The LT/RS is a little lighter and should at least equal the SS in handling, and that's exactly what I want. As I understand it, the V6 Camaro's suspension tuning is different than the SS', but mainly because the front had to be retuned for the lighter weight. (correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't read anywhere that the V6 is any looser in it's suspension settings/feel)

I have read professional reviews that said the ride in the V6 was "softer" then the V8 but I can't point to anything specific. I think it's a difference between the FE2 and FE3 suspension package.

I have read professional reviews that said the ride in the V6 was "softer" then the V8 but I can't point to anything specific. I think it's a difference between the FE2 and FE3 suspension package.

Hmm.....I was under the impression that FE2/FE3 was mainly a difference of spring rates to deal with the differences in weight distribution. I will have to keep my eyes peeled for more reviews.

Wow your best dude ! Way to show some character :no:

when you are in shop rite and you see people buying shop rite brand rice krispies are you like " ha , can't afford the Kellog's Rice Krispies ? "

I am sure you make your mother prouder evry day.

their was no disrespect meant by me, but if someone says they like the v6 camaro that's one thing, but to say they like it better than the v8 is ridiculous. and my mother couldn't be prouder...her son has a nice paying job helping sick people, is a wonderful father of two, a great husband and last but not least....drives a new corvette.:yes:

Why can't someone like it better? We might find it hard, but if someone isn't looking for what the V-8 offers, there's no reason why they shouldn't like the V-6 better if that's what they're looking for.

Why can't someone like it better? We might find it hard, but if someone isn't looking for what the V-8 offers, there's no reason why they shouldn't like the V-6 better if that's what they're looking for.
the v6 camaro does nothing performance wise better....nothing how can you like it better? all he was doing was trying to justify to make himself feel better about getting a v6 camaro, be a man and say if i could afford it i would get the v8 camaro don't get a v6 then say how you like it better...your lying to yourself if you do

i bought a 2008 ls3 corvette imagine me saying hey i like the corvette better than the z06...cmon stop

OK...I just changed this from the rant I posted a few minutes ago so as not to start a war. The bottom line:

1: Not everyone has the same values / wants / needs
2: You are not the original poster, so you can't possibly know what he's thinking, only what YOU would be thinking in his place.
3: I have to agree with some of the earlier posts regarding the whole "you can't afford it, be a man, etc..." comments. Aside from the good possibility that it's not the case at all (see number 1 and 2), it's disrespectful and rude and has no place here.

Just disagree with his choice and let it go.

the v6 camaro does nothing performance wise better....nothing how can you like it better? all he was doing was trying to justify to make himself feel better about getting a v6 camaro, be a man and say if i could afford it i would get the v8 camaro don't get a v6 then say how you like it better...your lying to yourself if you do
If your priorities are MPG, cost of ownership and ride quality then the V6 is better.

It is also entierely possible that someone CAN afford the V8, but decides that the additional cost isn't worth it to them for the gains in performance. Contrary to popular belief in this country, you don't have to spend every dime you have. Maybe someone decides the V6 with 300 HP is plenty for cruising around and getting on it every now and then and they'd rather keep the extra 6k in a retirement fund or in their kid's college fund. I love performance and I find a lighter weight, well balanced 2LT with 300 HP and all the luxuries and styling I care for (I'm indifferent about the mail slot and I'd prefer 18" rims over 20s) very appealing.

the v6 camaro does nothing performance wise better....nothing how can you like it better?

A V6 RS might exhibit better handling in certain conditions. It has the same wheels and tires as an SS, and the weight distribution is better.

It is also entierely possible that someone CAN afford the V8, but decides that the additional cost isn't worth it to them for the gains in performance. Contrary to popular belief in this country, you don't have to spend every dime you have. Maybe someone decides the V6 with 300 HP is plenty for cruising around and getting on it every now and then and they'd rather keep the extra 6k in a retirement fund or in their kid's college fund. I love performance and I find a lighter weight, well balanced 2LT with 300 HP and all the luxuries and styling I care for (I'm indifferent about the mail slot and I'd prefer 18" rims over 20s) very appealing.

A V6 RS might exhibit better handling in certain conditions. It has the same wheels and tires as an SS, and the weight distribution is better.

Look! Two people who get it! :freakout:

I see no reason to step up to the V8 over the V6. The V6's qualities, such as a bit less weight, a better weight distribution, a lower cost to own and insure, the same looks, excellent MPG and respectable speed are great. And when I want more power I can just add it. It's harder to lose weight than gain horsepower.

I don't think the change in weight distribution is going to be worth much at all. I have an 01 Formula and used to have a 00 Firebird. They both ended up with aftermarket shocks and bars, they ran on the same wheels and tires, and really they handled very closely (ie practically the same). Since the V8s had slightly higher spring rates and sway bars to begin with along with tighter steering ratio the limitations of a slightly heavier engine up front was more or less negated (plus it helped that the LS1 is only about 40lbs heavier than the 3800SII anyway). I don't know what the weight of the LLT is but it isn't bound to be all that much. Most of the discrepancy between the models by the official weight numbers had a lot more to do with what options were standard on the V6 versus the V8.

Points about whether the extra power is needed, the lower initial cost, and the likely savings from insurance and MPG are all valid, and I believe moreso than any idea that the V6 is going to handle noticeably better than the V8 from the showroom.