2014/2015 z/28

[Andy]

Do any members here own one of these cars? If so, how do you like it? I've grown increasingly fond of the Z/28 since they came out and may entertain buying one before the prices reach the level that no longer make it obtainable for me. Just trying to do some research right now to learn more about them. They look great, have the performance and handling to back it up, but I wanted to get some real-world feedback from people that own them. Would you buy it again? What do you not like about them? I've had 2 4th Gen Camaros, a Z28 and a SS in the past, and still have my first gen, but I have no experience with the 5th gen.

[juliosz]

I’ve had mine about a year and love it! The down side is if you intend on driving it frequently, you MUST invest in PPF for the front and haunches in front of the rear wheel openings at a minimum or you will not be happy with that huge rubber throwing everything they pick-up. I bought mine with 150 miles and put about another 700 on it. Good luck with the hunt.

[Crush]

Had one and sold it with 900 miles. If you have done your research you know these were purpose built and came with very few options ie ac and radio. The tires that came on the car were track ready so I switched mine out for street driving.
I would buy another one. A friend of mine who does some light track duty says many of the guys that have them do very well against other cars
Anyway, good luck and if you have any specific questions, fire away!

[GM Powertrain]

A great car you really don't hear a lot about these days.

[x77-69z28]

I have a’15. It’s an unbelievable car as others have stated. My Trofeo tires were dry rotted when I got the car in 2016 with 97 miles on it. Went with continental extreme contacts. Perfect for the street. These are due to go up in value as the made less than 2000 for 2014 and 2015 combined! Check out the 5th gen site as they have a Z/28 specific thread. camaro5.com
Buddy

[Pro Stock John]

427 with a dry sump, great cars. Definitely poke around Camaro5.

[GotGrunt]

Does the LS7 Z28 have the same cylinder head valve guide issue as the C6 Z06, where it was dropping valves and grenading engines?

[napa68]

Does the LS7 Z28 have the same cylinder head valve guide issue as the C6 Z06, where it was dropping valves and grenading engines?

I believe that was fixed by 2009 in the Corvette's. I had one of these for a short period of time. What a killer purpose built car!

[juliosz]

You are 100% correct Tim!

[GotGrunt]

I believe that was fixed by 2009 in the Corvette's. I had one of these for a short period of time. What a killer purpose built car!

GM claimed to have addressed the issue for the 2011 LS7 but there have been failures on engines built after their “fix” date. I don’t think it was ever resolved for the Corvette owners. I bought a C6 Z06 brand new, sold it with 30k miles a few years later. I kept in touch with the next owner who told me a couple of years into his ownership, the car dropped a valve and destroyed the motor. It also happened to a close buddy of mine during his leisurely commute to work, he said he was at an intersection making a left turn and the car just died. It’s not a cheap fix after it drops a valve!

I just wasn’t sure if there were any reported engine failures on the Z28 as so few were built.

[Andy]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I agree on the valve issue. Everything I've read clearly stated that if I get a GM vehicle with an LS7 that replacing the heads should be the first thing that I do to prevent dropping a valve. I would likely do a cam at the same time. I've seen heads/cam/intake/exhaust on these cars make 600+ rwhp. I think that would be a blast in a car that is pretty much a purpose-built racecar from the factory. The car in the video link below made 632 rwhp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FYo46tz3OE

[Pro Stock John]

I'd check around before I'd pull the heads. For sure the C6Zs had issues but I have not heard that for the 2014-2015 Z/28s.

Longtubes and cam only they will make big power for sure.

[Late BrakeU2]

Big fan of these, have owned four ,down to one and keeping it. IMO don't sweat the valve guide "issue", many of those were over revs and or money shifts the operator was too proud to admit. They are wonderful cars to drive, yes the original Trofeo's tramline a bit and that is solved with a set of P4's or the like street freindly tire. You hardly ever see one, and like stated are still affordable. IMO these are destined to be recognised as the most special Camaro built in the last 50+ years. I am soured on all the period Camaros( from a purchasing standpoint, not appreciaton), too much fraud and crazy money for marginal cars. I am down to my one Gen 5Z,and have a 23 ZL11LE ordered, those will be the two i grow older with.

[GotGrunt]

IMO don't sweat the valve guide "issue", many of those were over revs and or money shifts the operator was too proud to admit.

I will respectfully disagree with this statement. There is a definite valve guide issue on the LS7. It’s a ticking time bomb with the oem heads on it. Again, not sure if this problem exists with the later Z28s (very low production #s) but it is in fact a huge issue on 2006-13 Corvettes. My buddys C6 Z06 grenaded at 20k miles. My very early build 2006 pilot Z06 made it to 50k before grenading. It’s the luck of the draw.

[juliosz]

I will respectfully disagree with this statement. There is a definite valve guide issue on the LS7. It’s a ticking time bomb with the oem heads on it. Again, not sure if this problem exists with the later Z28s (very low production #s) but it is in fact a huge issue on 2006-13 Corvettes. My buddys C6 Z06 grenaded at 20k miles. My very early build 2006 pilot Z06 made it to 50k before grenading. It’s the luck of the draw.

I agree on the C6. On the 5th Gen Camaro forum, any reports of dropped valves and other engine related failures seem to be confined to engines that have already been apart and modified. There are a couple folks that preach caution on the valve guides but I don’t recall any reported on a bone stock LS7.

[Late BrakeU2]

I will respectfully disagree with this statement. There is a definite valve guide issue on the LS7. It’s a ticking time bomb with the oem heads on it. Again, not sure if this problem exists with the later Z28s (very low production #s) but it is in fact a huge issue on 2006-13 Corvettes. My buddys C6 Z06 grenaded at 20k miles. My very early build 2006 pilot Z06 made it to 50k before grenading. It’s the luck of the draw.

I have read it was corrected in 09, but also have read otherwise. Regardless it works out to 2% of total LS7 motors built, or 98% of them are fine in unaltered form. I guess you could spend 4k and have the heads upgraded, certainly less that 20k for a new motor. Always seems like it's something, the oil pumps on the 18 LT4's in the ZL1, but i'll take these two over a Voodoo motors oil consumption and bang related failures. I had my Z and a GT350R at the same time and sold the R as i began having cold sweats as it got closer to the warranty timing out. Have never really given the valve issue on the Z a second thought, guess i could be whistling past the grave yard but like Julio stated you just don't see any mention of that on Camaro 5 with stock Z's and there are quite a few members with them on there.

[Rallyegreen68SS]

Have a customer with a 2015 Z28. He’s had many Porsche’s, including a lizard green 2018 GT3 RS. He tracks them a lot, said his favorite track car is the Z. Sounds like a strong endorsement to me.

[dykstra]

I do not own one, but have always loved these Z’s.

[Pro Stock John]

Here's a 2015 with 2,200 miles:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2015-chevrolet-camaro-65/

[Lynn]

That one just sold for $62,500 plus buyer's premium.

[Zman1969]

I wanted one real bad when announced they were building them but wasn't in the cards $$(thought they would be cheaper than ZL1s - wrong. The Zs are rare only about 1850 produced for 2 years at one point they had dropped into the 30K range then went back up there