(Because the Z28 should be the top Camaro, that's the way it's supposed to be)

I say T-Tops on the Z28, but no convertable. There'll probably be a few options unavailable on the Z28 that you can get on the SS because of what the Z28 will be made for, along with that IMO should be the no convertable option.

 

I didn't know that it was such a sensitive subject, I was under the impression that the SS was always the more powerful/more expensive package. My mistake.

 

We'll let you go this time.

 

Whenever there was an SS and Z28 at the same time, the SS did have at least one engine that was "rated" higher than the Z... The problem always occurs when you try to say which one is really the "best one." Most people assume the SS was because of the rating, and because it was the best during the 4th Gen, albeit by a small margin.

 

The SS is the cruser, and the Z28 is the racer.

I think that Ttops should be available in all models. I also would like to see SS's get the LS2 as people want a fully optioned car, they dont want to be paying for a 2nd rate engine. Have more race options in the Z28. If not Recaro's, then at least more supportive seats, larger brakes, and other sport options. On star can be an option on all cars, but I know I dont want OnStar yelling at me for taking a turn at 70 or zipping down the 1320.

What GM has to do is give different personalities to each model. They are all Camaros, but each has its own personality. SC has a very fuel-smart V6 with double overdrive trans, but there are options for stereos and other stuff to customize it.
Z28 has a racing personality, SS has a cruser personality.

 

Yup. Except for the better half of the 4th generation, the SS was indeed the cruiser and the Z/28 the racer. Z/28 was built specifically to compete in the Trans America. In order for this to happen they had to make it a production car. 602 qualified it as production but it was kept a big secret because they didn't really want customers to come in and buy the car, and complain about the lack of power steering, AC and the harsh ride. They quickly saw that the consumer didn't care.

 

For the newbies on the SS vs Z28 debate...

What GM has done in the last 20 years or so is more or less intentionally place the Z28 behind whatever hotter model they had at the time, specifically the IROC and the SS.

My position is, and this mainly implies to the 4th gens, is that the Z28 was really nothing more than a base Camaro w/ a V8 option (w/ the associated hardware to back it up). Exact same body, same wheels, everything. Then here comes the SS, and it instantly has a presence, an attitude that is a hit right off the bat. And the Z28 became what you got if you couldn't afford an SS. I for one don't want the Z/28 name to be second fiddle, but at the same time, the SS should have it's place. So what most of us have decided is that the Z28 should be more than the base car w/ a V8, so as to not live in the shadow of the SS. The only way to really do that is to put it on equal footing w/ the SS, but give it it's own character separate from what you'd get w/ the SS. Hence the hardcore performance image. It would be for the guys and gals who spend tons of money on catbacks, lids, suspension, wheels, gears, ect. You trade the expensive options like leather and t-tops for the performance hardware. The price would be somewhere in the neighborhood of the SS, and would perform a bit better, but Chevy could still market the SS as the top dog, if not in performance, then in styling and overall desireablility. Most folks wouldn't know a brembo from a doughnut. The ones that do, would get a Z28 . If you use the 4th gen example...load up 2 cars w/ options. Give one the SS package. The other one, w/out the SS package, and delete the T-tops and Leather (about $1500 as I recall), and you've got $5400-$5500 to spend on performance parts to get to the price of the loaded SS. Thats a lot of performance.

Not trying to speak for everyone on the board, this is just the history of the debate in a nutshell. We'll find out in a few years if any of it was worth it.