Five-Point Inspection: 2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE

I am a bit of a Camaro guy. As the previous owner of a 1996 Camaro, I still have visions of once again owning a Chevrolet pony car.

So when GM brought back the Camaro in 2010, my excitement to get behind the wheel was understandable. But when the time came to finally pilot a shiny red Camaro SS, I was disappointed.

Despite having over 400 hp, the car felt under powered, heavy, ponderous and quiet; not good traits for an American sports car. In the three years since that drive, Chevy has been working hard to enhance the Camaro and introduced the awesome ZL1 and the upcoming track-special Z/28. Problem is, both of those cars are expensive. Really expensive. What is the average Joe to do? The easy answer to that is the 1LE package. This is the car the Camaro SS always should have been right from the start. Here are five reasons why.

The Camaro is already a good looking car, especially after this year’s mid-cycle refresh that sees a few minor changes to the front and rear-end. But compared to the SS 1LE, regular Camaros look downright boring.

The transformation begins with a matte black hood featuring large center mounted vents for heat extraction. Below is a matching black front splitter attached to the bumper to help reduce aerodynamic lift. Mounted above the quad exhaust tips in the back there is, you guessed it, a matte black rear spoiler that is new for 2014 and exclusive to the SS 1LE.

Ever since Chevrolet introduce the availability of the dual stage exhaust set-up for all Camaros in 2013, things have been sounding much better. Not only does the exhaust system finally allow the LS3 V8 to be heard, but under hard acceleration, when the secondary baffles open, the engine roars to life in a window vibrating fury.

Speaking of which, we believe someone may have tampered with our test vehicle as it sounded like the secondary baffles were open all the time. We hear that all it takes is the removal of a single fuse to keep the exhaust permanently set in the open position (not that we would ever attempt such an act).

Any issues with handling that may be present with the Camaro SS are quickly erased once the 1LE package is equipped. More than just cosmetic changes, the 1LE begins by stripping over 100 lbs. Then the suspension is modified with monotube rear dampers replacing the dual tubes, a strut tower brace is added and larger stabilizer bars, 27 mm up front and 28 mm in the rear are attached. The 1LE also receives the Camaro ZL1’s track ready wheel bearings and 20-inch wheels complete with ZL1 Spec 285/35ZR20 Goodyear Eagle Supercar tires all around.

These changes can be felt behind the wheel immediately. All body roll and ponderous responses from the SS are eliminated. The Camaro becomes a grip monster, but is still willing to kick the tail-out if the accelerator is stomped on mid-corner. Brake modulation and steering feel are great for a big car and the Camaro suddenly wants to head to the local road course instead of the drag strip.

The SS 1LE uses the same 6.2 liter V8 producing 426 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque as found in the regular SS. However, with the reduced weight and a higher 3.91 final-drive ratio, the 1LE is faster in a straight line. The six-speed manual transmission is reworked to feature close-ratio gearing that is immediately felt when hustling the car along twisting roads.

Like the SS, the heavy duty clutch is still very grabby and takes some getting used to. Heel-toeing this car also takes some practice, but once the nuances of the car are figured out, the Camaro becomes a willing dance partner. To ensure the SS 1LE does not melt itself down on the track, an air-to-liquid transmission cooler and high-capacity fuel pump with additional fuel pickups for improved fuel delivery during high-load cornering are standard.

The interior features a few performance upgrades as well. The flat-bottom, micro-suede covered steering wheel from the ZL1 is added to the 1LE. Like all SS manual coupes, the ZL1’s manual shift knob is now standard and the 1LE also features the optional Recaro seats from the SS.

The 1LE package will add $3,500 to any SS coupe trim, making the cheapest model $37,550 after destination charges. Not a bad deal for a track ready demon.

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