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.

 

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...

That's bigger sway bar, not sway bars

Subjective. Personally I really don't dig them.

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.

You've already covered this one - bigger front sway bar

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. 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.

 

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 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. 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).

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.

 

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.

 

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.