z28 vs. the SS

Which one is better and why?

Originally posted by Wied81
Which one is better and why?

Uh oh... not this debate again.

To give it to you strait, the SS is technically the "better" car. It has 17s, a better exhaust and suspension over the regualr Z28. There are also options for a different rear end and other small things.

Sure, there is no big difference in performance, and for that reason people will argue that the cheaper Z28 is better. I perfer the looks of the SS though.

Its all up to you man.

Next time ... please do a search on this topic (Z28 vs SS). It always results in a pissing contest, which we don't need here. I hope PhantomTA locks this.

hay they are both f body chevy's with v8's

Do a search get a z28 and mod it:D

Originally posted by MRZ28HO
Next time ... please do a search on this topic (Z28 vs SS). It always results in a pissing contest, which we don't need here. I hope PhantomTA locks this.

Hey man give the guy a break...he's new to the board and maybe he's not sure about our search engine etc. etc....I'd be pissed if I had a welcome like that...it's an honest question...

As for cars...they are phyically the same, the only reason I'd buy an SS is because there numbered..but once you mod them there worth just as much as any Z....the SS hood rocks...the spoiler is OK...

I had an z28 but am goin for a SS right now. I just think they're sexier lookin than the Z28 with that nifty hood n all but thats just my opinion and as stated before from the factory the SS is the "better" car with only like what 20 more horse outta the factory unless ya get the SLP edition and what not.

Originally posted by 98whiteZ28
I had an z28 but am goin for a SS right now. I just think they're sexier lookin than the Z28 with that nifty hood n all but thats just my opinion and as stated before from the factory the SS is the "better" car with only like what 20 more horse outta the factory unless ya get the SLP edition and what not.
the SS without the SLP option will still be the same HP as the Z28. SS is just an appearance/suspension package. (This is argued all the time) of course the SLP options will bump up the HP due to the exhaust and whatever else they do to the car.

For straight line action don't pay the extra 3500 for the ss, I'd only get the ss for looks not performance over a z28

SS or Z - They're right - it'll end up in a pi$$!n contest. I have two SS', a 2000 and an '02. The only thing I can tell you about the SS is it does get the attention. I have a couple of buddy's with Z's that say the same thing. One day I met a buddy at Hooters. He parked his red Z right in front of the window. I pulled up about 15 minutes later right next to his car and I noticed a couple of the girls at the window watching. He made the comment when I came in that they sure didn't do that for him. Now, they were Hooter girls, and maybe all that that implies, but I've noticed the same several times in many different places.

The SS is a numbered car, and even though half the v-8 production in these last years has been SS' people still seem to think they are unique. So - it all depends on what you want. The SS has a better reputation than it probably deserves, but they are sweat cars and they run better than just about anything out there.

By the way, I'll be selling the Black '00 in the spring. Too many toys right now.

The funny thing is 30-35 years ago the Z28 was way more rare than an SS...and it was a very limited production...IMO the term SS is just a looks thing...much like the Impala & Monte Carlo..all looks the same go..

:think:

They're the same car, minus the SS having better looks. The hp rating of the SS is higher then the Z28 of course, but realistically, the Z28 and SS have the same engine, with the SS having a slight form of cold air induction, and higher flowing exhaust, so they're gonna put out #'s basically the same on a chassis dyno. Despite what GM advertises, the SS doesn't have no ~20hp more over the Z28 :D

When you get an SS you're paying the extra for the looks basically. Not a bad thing, just depends on whether you care about the hood spoiler and rims. Personally I'd get the SS over a Z28, cause I DO care about looks as well, not as much as performance of course, but I still care, which is a lot of the reason why I searched around for a WS6 (ram air) Trans Am instead of a regular T/A or a Formula. The WS6 looks badass from the factory, so I don't even have to spend extra $$ to get any appearance modifications (except the rims I just bought, but I cracked my others so I have an excuse)

This is the most civil Z28 vs. SS thread I've ever seen. I'd agree with everyone here that the SS is an appearance package - the only place the 15 extra ponies exist is in GM's marketing department and I really don't consider a 2mm larger front sway bar a suspension package.

If you think the looks are worth the extra cash, get an SS. 9 times out of 10 it's much cheaper to buy the real thing than to try to make a Z28 into an SS. In the end they're both bad ass :bow:

Make a Z28 into an SS?
The only way to do that is to rebadge it and thats just gay!
But a hood I spent $650 including shipping off of EBay.
Spoiler I can live w/o. Wheels and Tire combo off ebay about $1200. If you even need the wheels. Personally the only wheels I ever liked on a 4th gen Camaro are the ZR1s on the 96-99 SS. I dont like my current wheels or any of the post 99 SS's wheels. Total $1850. SS package $3500. Either car you get your gonna get an exhuast for it, why pay extra for an exhuast your gonna change anyway. Ram air... fra mod, and get a lid+filter. You would do that on either a Z or SS. Thats why I went with the Z28. Im not saying the SS isnt worth it. Its alot of trouble to go through to buy a hood, paint it, install it, get new wheels and tires and recalibrate the speedo for it, and some people dont like dealing with ebay and I havent seen better prices on this stuff anywhere else. Some people want the spoiler and suspension too. The SS is a wonderful car. There are times I wish I had the SS. Ignorant people dont care much for my car cause its just a boring old Z28, but to them an SS is something special. Theyre all so amazed by the extra non existent 15 hp. So there alone is reason enough to get an SS. But just for straight line acceleration they should run dead even. What the SS has in wider tires for traction, the Z28 makes up for in lighter wheels, 16s instead of 17.

It may seem that I have been trying to bash the SS. This is not my intention. I am simply stating why I bought the Z28 instead of the SS. These were my reasons. There are plenty of reasons to get the SS, but it just wasnt something that was neccessary to me, but may be to someone else.

Hmm since this topic never seems to die. I would suggest closing one of these threads and making it a sticky, so whenever a newbie comes along they can read all about the differences from a Z28 to SS, without this ever having to be posted and debated again.

While were on this topic, what are you auto SS guys running in the quarter?? I cant get much more than a 13.39 or 13.40 out of all the stock 98-00 and 02zs all were A4 3.23's.

Originally posted by Wied81
Which one is better and why? The SS.
-bigger sway bars
-spoiler
-hood
-more standard features (3.23s)
-tighter suspension
-exhaust
-17 inch wheels

I guess it had to happen - someone had to start the pissing contest. Oh well...

Originally posted by 99blackSS
The SS.
-bigger sway bars

That's bigger sway bar, not sway bars

Originally posted by 99blackSS
-spoiler
-hood
Subjective. Personally I really don't dig them.

Originally posted by 99blackSS
-more standard features (3.23s)
Maybe for you auto guys, I'm not sure. I didn't want a slushbox mated to my LS1, and all of the M6's came with 3.42's.

Originally posted by 99blackSS
-tighter suspension
You've already covered this one - bigger front sway bar

Originally posted by 99blackSS
-exhaust
-17 inch wheels
The exhaust is decent, but just as many SS owners buy aftermarket catbacks as Z28 owners. The wheels I'll give you - the Z28 rims leave a lot to be desired.

But hey, you forgot one more difference... $3,625.

If you are going to mod it: Z28
If you are leaving it stock: SS

Well this debate has been beat to death with numbers....so I will give you an example that was specific to me.

My car in sig was just stock except for exhaust and lid. My buddy has an 02 SS with slp lid and true duals.

I walked him from a 40 roll to 100. Also I tore him a new on from a stop cause he can not launch apparently.

Well you make the decision, choose to pay 4k+ for an SS over a Z since neither are made anymore. If you see it right to pay 4k for hood, exhaust(which is usually the first-second mod anyways), rims and a spoiler go for it. If you want the car for resale, the SS is your best bet....I also tend to like the sleeper effect a Z will give you.

Mark

Z28 with all badges removed. :D That's what I had. To look at it, you saw a V6. But when the light turned green .... surprise!!


Personally, I bought a Z28 because I couldn't see paying $4K for hood and spoiler. All the other things were things I could mod myself for less.

Like they said. If you're leaving it stock, get the SS. If you're like everyone else and will mod it, get the Z28 and use the $4K you saved for some kick butt mods.

I have a friend that has an SS as well, and I so far have been able to beat him in the 1/4 every time. Its not because of horsepower, because he dynoed slightly higher than mine. I think it may because of the SS suspension and tires. Right now, his car has major traction issues. BTW, Im running on Goodyear RSA's.

I wanted to get an SS in the last year but GM made it where you had to have almost every option on the SS. I wanted a stripper SS with no power windows or locks, manual seats and no defroster or cruise. Apparently GM didn't allow that the last year so I ordered a stripper Z with a few select options to make my car different from any other on the road. I think GM over did production on the SS in 02. They almost built as many as Z's. I think the suspension being softer in the Z is better at launching and transfering weight to the back better than the SS suspension. The SS can handle better though. Always a trade off.

Originally posted by casebuzz
I guess it had to happen - someone had to start the pissing contest. Oh well... He asked which one was better and why so I told him and why.Originally posted by casebuzz That's bigger sway bar, not sway bars
Sorry, please don't press charges.
Originally posted by casebuzz You've already covered this one - bigger front sway bar[/B]
Theres a difference between having a bigger sway bar and tighter suspension.
Originally posted by casebuzz
But hey, you forgot one more difference... $3,625. I think the price is justified. If you were do do ALL of the stuff aftermarket, it would cost more. But if you don't like what the SS has and would rather put on your own stuff then yes its is better to get a Z28.

I did this out a while ago when someone else posted that a SS costs less than doing it aftermarket. The only difference I did out was that it would use a VFN hood rather than an SS.
hood - 260+paint
spoilter - 260+paint
C5 chrome rims w/tires on ebay for - 1k
loudmouth exhaust 280 shipped
lid 100 shipped

Hey, to each his own. The SS seems like its a dime a dozen out there on the road. I rarely see a nice Z with aftermarket hood besides the SS. Again, if you want to mod - Z, if you want to keep it stock - SS.

Mark

Figures, some Z28 owners have to bash the SS. :rolleyes: The base models (SS vs Z28) are just as fast as each other. The Z28 is not lighter than an SS. The hardtops are among the lightest, though. Either one is a good setup, as some have stated, for obvious reasons. I wanted an SS because I could afford it, it is after all my money (much like it is your's, the original poster). :p

And sleeperZragtop, there was nothing wrong with my intial response, I was trying to help out the guy by advising him that we have a search feature, which would show that this topic has been numerously discussed. I was trying to prevent this thread from becoming a pissing match, much like it is. :rolleyes:

If I had it to do over (I bought my Z last summer) I'd do an SS, black of course. DOH! Then I would replace the muffler only (magnaflow- stock pipes are fine) and add a lid. That would hold me for a while- well maybe a shifter. Love that hood. The SS is (was) worth the money. With GM/dealer incentives, they were practically giving them away last summer. Doh again!

One of you guys asked about times. The only day I took my bone dry stock 2000SS to the track was March 30th last year. I think it was the first, maybe second, weekend the track was open that we went to. Now, if you're in Michigan, you know it's still cold - it was 45-50 degrees out. Nobody was hooking up at the track that day, and those 275-40ZR17 Goodyear F-1's aren't worth a damn for cold weather traction. But, that saves a lot of clutches / diffs / u-joints!! The best I could do with .511 reaction time was 13.6 @ 106, and a 2.23 60 foot time. The 60 foot tells you how hard it was to hook up off the line, and the 106 tells you how well it ran once I got traction. I spun into second a bit, and chirped into third. A buddy of mine who went that day has a pretty sharp Mustang with a lot of money into the engine, heads, intake, exhaust, cams, tricked out blown 4.6 (yea, I know, Mustang - not an f-body, but as far as Mustangs go, it's a nice car) that turns mid 12's (lots of money to get to that point!) and he wasn't doing much better with BFG drag slicks that day. So, I don't think I did that bad. The SS is a 6sp w/ 3.42's in the rear and no mods.

Originally posted by 99blackSS
He asked which one was better and why so I told him and why...

...Sorry, please don't press charges...

...Theres a difference between having a bigger sway bar and tighter suspension...

...I think the price is justified. If you were do do ALL of the stuff aftermarket, it would cost more. But if you don't like what the SS has and would rather put on your own stuff then yes its is better to get a Z28...

I don't know why I came off like such a **** on my last post. That'll teach me to post at 6:00 AM while I'm eating breakfast. Sorry 'bout that.

In all honesty, it's hard to judge the SS vs. the Z28 without limiting model years. I can say that in model year '02, when I was shopping, that there weren't enough differences to justify the extra cost in my eyes. Add on the fact that all of the SS's in my area were getting leather interior, and that was another $700 I didn't think was worth it.

In the end, get the one you like better. That's all I'm gonna say about this. Peace.

Goto the dealer page and looks at the differences.

Have you ever seen someone take a SS and try to fake a Z28?? :D

Originally posted by markss2001
Have you ever seen someone take a SS and try to fake a Z28?? :D Theres one a day on ebay.:(

Originally posted by 99blackSS
Theres one a day on ebay.:(

Uhmm, most are Z28s disguissed as SS on eBay, but no one in there right mind would take an SS, remove the hood, spoiler, 17" wheels, sway bar and the SS badges. Then replace them with Z28 badges, hood, spoiler, 30MM front sway bar and 16" wheels. That is what he meant.

Yea, I didn't read that correctly.