Motor Trend Does Some Maintenance On Their Long-Term 2015 Camaro Z/28
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What’s it like to live with a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28? Well, Motor Trend is helping us find out as they march through their long-term loan of the car. This time, the publication has performed some routine maintenance on the 2015 Z/28.
First of all, maintenance is a mixed bag on the 2015 Z/28. As MT points out, you’re getting the affordability of owning a Camaro, but also paying for the race-trackiness that comes with the Z/28 badge. An oil filter for the 2015 Z/28 costs $10. But the oil change? $123.88. That’s 9 quarts of fully-synthetic oil. You win some, you lose some.
If one thing grabbed our attention from the maintenance report, it’s the service bulletin General Motors has issued for Camaros, including MT’s 2015 Z/28. A clunking noise emerged from the right-rear passenger area when entering a driveway from an angle. The fix? Hit the area with a hammer. Yep, GM has advised dealers to go Jeremy Clarkson on the problem and “dimple frame/sheet metal to correct oil canning noise” to keep the metal from flexing.
That was no charge, thankfully.
The report details the tire bill for those sticky Pirelli PZero Trofeo Rs, and how to adjust the alignment for hardcore track capability, which you may read in the entire update found right here.
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Well let not get too overly dramatic here. The oil if you buy it away from the dealer is much cheaper and can be had for around $55 for 9 Qts. The same for the filter.
The repair with the hammer is common. While it sounds crude it really is not a major thing. In fact Hyundai to repair the rust in the sub frame on a Sonata had them hitting the sub frame to knock the rust loose. Then they just sprayed it with wax.
As for tires these are not cheap and they do not last long. The price you pay for sticky tires.
I would replace them with the F1 Eagles as they have been tested to be nearly as fast and much more mileage if you drive the car much. Now If this is just a track car keep with the P tires and pay the price if you need that half second edge.
Nothing to see here, unless you’re a rich guy, or sucker who has no problem being ripped off at the dealer.
Like Scott said, Oil is half that from Autozone or Walmart, as well as the oil filter. Tires? well I don’t care where you buy tires, Pirelli PZero Trofeo R will always dent the wallet.
I actually find the filter cheaper at the dealer than Autozone or Walmart. It runs me 16-24 depending on the brand, but the CHEAPEST is 16. From the dealer its list price is around 9/10 and they sell it for 7-8. So I disagree on the filter comment. (These aren’t canister type that costs $3-5).
Dry sump + bigger filter = more oil
At least it’s not like the LS7 Z06 that took 10.5qt
Just to compare, for me to do a 6qt Mobil1 or Pennz Plat. oil change with Fram syn filter on my Silverado (in Canada, so costs more) it’s $85. And I’m left with about 2qt to keep it topped up between changes and have a little bonus for the next change.
6 quarts of Mobil One and filter here are around $34 for me here in USA. I save the little extra and fill up a quart and use it later as I never need to top off.
This reminds me of a black on black, 1999 Corvette Hardtop, w/ a 6-speed, I was thinking of getting, around ten years ago, ( this was the C5s pre-Z06 performance model) I knew the maintenance would be cheap (like a Silverado) but what kept me from buying it was the thought of replacing those wide tires. I sometimes regret not getting it because it was actually at a really good price.
That MT writer had the most expensive oil change I have ever read! I change the oil myself for all my GM vehicles since 1975 and my Dad’s cars since 1967. I use Mobil ! since 1982, and never spent more than $40 (5 quarts and AC PF-47 oil filter). For those same 9 quarts it would cost me maybe $70 because the filter is newer and more expensive.
A 2015 Camaro has 4 FREE oil changes within the first 2years or 24000 miles. The tires are another story, unless you plan on racing it, and are looking for the last tenth of a second, as stated earlier, you may be better off with Goodyear F1 Eagles.
I own a 2015 Z/28 and it does take 10.5 quarts. I do all my own fluid changes after every track event. Another common upgrade is brake fluid, I use RT660 for higher boiling point. I got my last set of Trofeo R’s for only $1,600, deals are out there to be had. Make sure you heat cycle your tires or properly break them in on the track, it makes a world of difference. The low 3.5″ catalytic converter/ 4″ splitter clearance is something to keep on your mind while driving the streets. I only trake mine at 13k miles. The ride is rough, my 2010 SS had full set of poly bushings, it had a better ride, I did have upgraded shocks. If you are worried about ride comfort, then you don’t want a true track vehicle imo. The biggest challenge I have is with the DSSV, to get the full effect you have to leave the geometry of the suspension relatively the same. I would like a lower car for track use, but this would negate the DSSV. Keep the car on a battery tender, the battery is smaller to save weight. Last piece of advice is go freaking track the thing! it has a 100k miles on/off track warranty and is very predictable when it starts to get squirrelly.