Automobile Magazine Camaro ZL1 Review

[mickey123456]

http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...ort/index.html

[Blown355]

"During development, one ZL1 endured 600 clutch-dumping launches"

WOW!!

[mmarx82]

This was a good read!

[den318]

0-60 in 4.3 sec??? C&D's 1320m is 12.3sec.... wow..it's barely any faster than a 12GT500 or 12 Boss.


Our instrumented testing measured nearly identical 0-to-60-mph times of 4.3 seconds (we don't remove one-foot rollout from our times), with the Corvette posting a quicker time by just hundredths of a second.

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by den318

0-60 in 4.3 sec??? C&D's 1320m is 12.3sec.... wow..it's barely any faster than a 12GT500 or 12 Boss.

Motor Trend achieved a 0-60 MPH time of 3.8 seconds for the ZL1 and 4.0 seconds for the Boss 302. Times can vary quite a bit depending environmental conditions, including temperature, wind, track, etc., as well as with the driver, and testing methodology.

[den318]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

Motor Trend achieved a 0-60 MPH time of 3.8 seconds for the ZL1 and 4.0 seconds for the Boss 302. Times can vary quite a bit depending environmental conditions, including temperature, wind, track, etc., as well as with the driver, and testing methodology.

On the test that show it gets to 60 in 3.8sec, the quarter miles is only 12.1 sec @ 117.4 mph. Quarter mile is really the true test of how fast a car is. The trap speed is only 117.4mph. That is barely faster than a 2012 GT500, certainly not SUPER CAR caliber. Even Randy Pobst couldn't pull off a 11.xx run. The ZL1 should be the Z28 instead. Great track car, avg drag car.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by Blown355

"During development, one ZL1 endured 600 clutch-dumping launches"

WOW!!

I noticed that, too! WOW is right!!!

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by den318

On the test that show it gets to 60 in 3.8sec, the quarter miles is only 12.1 sec @ 117.4 mph. Quarter mile is really the true test of how fast a car is. The trap speed is only 117.4mph. That is barely faster than a 2012 GT500, certainly not SUPER CAR caliber. Even Randy Pobst couldn't pull off a 11.xx run. The ZL1 should be the Z28 instead. Great track car, avg drag car.

The 0-60 MPH time is the true test of how fast a vehicle is from 0-60 MPH, and the 1/4 mile time is the true test of how fast a vehicle is in the 1/4 mile.

I believe that you are correct that the ZL1 was designed to be a high performance track car, and not an all out drag strip car. If one wants a vehicle optimized for the 1/4 mile, then I don't believe that the ZL1 is the vehicle that one should choose.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

The 0-60 MPH time is the true test of how fast a vehicle is from 0-60 MPH, and the 1/4 mile time is the true test of how fast a vehicle is in the 1/4 mile.

I believe that you are correct that the ZL1 was designed to be a high performance track car, and not an all out drag strip car. If one wants a vehicle optimized for the 1/4 mile, then I don't believe that the ZL1 is the vehicle that one should choose.

Or - just throw some DRs on the car. Look at the improvements in ET that cars like ZR1, Z06 and the GT500 make with sticky tires! Also, some magazine also don't run a prep'd track, powershift, and do absolutely everything (this side of VHT and such) to make the best possible runs. I, too, thought the ET and traps would be higher, too, but I don't know the conditions of the tests, so I'm reserving judgement.

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by radz28

Or - just throw some DRs on the car. Look at the improvements in ET that cars like ZR1, Z06 and the GT500 make with sticky tires! Also, some magazine also don't run a prep'd track, powershift, and do absolutely everything (this side of VHT and such) to make the best possible runs. I, too, thought the ET and traps would be higher, too, but I don't know the conditions of the tests, so I'm reserving judgement.

Certainly, there are some relatively easy things that people can do to get the ZL1 to run lower times in the 1/4 mile. I'm confident that people will be able to run the 1/4 mile in the 11's without too much difficulty. My point is that if one is really only interested in performing 1/4 mile runs, a lot of the ZL1's technology will be wasted, and purchasing a ZL1 may not be the best use of one's resources.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

Certainly, there are some relatively easy things that people can do to get the ZL1 to run lower times in the 1/4 mile. I'm confident that people will be able to run the 1/4 mile in the 11's without too much difficulty. My point is that if one is really only interested in performing 1/4 mile runs, a lot of the ZL1's technology will be wasted, and purchasing a ZL1 may not be the best use of one's resources.

As usual - you post what I'm thinking but can't/don't post, lol.

[den318]

Any car can made to run faster in the 0-60 or quarter miles. We are talking about STOCK here. The ZL1 is a 12sec stock car. There will be a few people that might be able to pull an 11.9x out of it. Motor trend, Car and Driver or Automobile magazine cant do it.
I have to give it props thou...for a 4k lbs car, it handles like a champ.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by den318

Any car can made to run faster in the 0-60 or quarter miles. We are talking about STOCK here. The ZL1 is a 12sec stock car. There will be a few people that might be able to pull an 11.9x out of it. Motor trend, Car and Driver or Automobile magazine cant do it.
I have to give it props thou...for a 4k lbs car, it handles like a champ.

And that track conditions (at least in one of the reviews) was not exactly good (cold and dusty was a comment made by another magazine on the same track, presumably about the same day). I'm making some assumptions based on the information they posted, but no less than you that these are times to be expected from a stock car. GM has posted pretty accurate acceleration data in the past, so I expect these are going to be pretty close to the numbers we'll see, real world. If I'm wrong about conditions, I'll stand corrected.

[den318]

Originally Posted by radz28

And that track conditions (at least in one of the reviews) was not exactly good (cold and dusty was a comment made by another magazine on the same track, presumably about the same day). I'm making some assumptions based on the information they posted, but no less than you that these are times to be expected from a stock car. GM has posted pretty accurate acceleration data in the past, so I expect these are going to be pretty close to the numbers we'll see, real world. If I'm wrong about conditions, I'll stand corrected.

You are not wrong about the one mag's condition. 3 magazine couldn't get the ZL1 to 11.9x quarter. Chevy themselves put the ZL1 as a 12sec car as well. It's safe to say that the ZL1 is a 12sec car? I am sure some guy in a hero run will do a 11.xx, but does that make it a 11 sec car?

[htron50]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

Certainly, there are some relatively easy things that people can do to get the ZL1 to run lower times in the 1/4 mile. I'm confident that people will be able to run the 1/4 mile in the 11's without too much difficulty. My point is that if one is really only interested in performing 1/4 mile runs, a lot of the ZL1's technology will be wasted, and purchasing a ZL1 may not be the best use of one's resources.

GB,

But, even so, there are not too many cars you'll run into that the ZL1 won't be able to manhandle regardless of venue! What did MT say, "On Demand Attitude", "Warhorse", "Power Pony".......

[den318]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

Certainly, there are some relatively easy things that people can do to get the ZL1 to run lower times in the 1/4 mile. I'm confident that people will be able to run the 1/4 mile in the 11's without too much difficulty. My point is that if one is really only interested in performing 1/4 mile runs, a lot of the ZL1's technology will be wasted, and purchasing a ZL1 may not be the best use of one's resources.

I agreed with you. The ZL1 begs to be on the track. Unfortunately, most of the ZL1 will be on the street or on a drag stripe.

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by den318

I agreed with you. The ZL1 begs to be on the track. Unfortunately, most of the ZL1 will be on the street or on a drag stripe.

Certainly, ZL1s will be driven on the street, but the ZL1 has far more performance capability than can ever be safely used on the street.

I think that many ZL1s will be driven on tracks where they can be pushed closer to their performance potential, certainly, at least, in the Bay Area with both Laguna Seca and Sears Point within easy driving distance.

I really have no idea as to how many ZL1s will be run on drag strips. Certainly, there will be some, even if the drag strip, I believe, is not the ideal venue for the ZL1.

[2ndCamaro79]

Den318; I see all of your points on the Zl1 and its performance. I thought the ZL1 was going to have crazy track and strip numbers(Most guys on here thought the 1/4 would be in the 11s and 0 to 60 better than CTS-V). After reading all the reviews it seems the ZL1 is mainly a track car. I know GM wants the Camaro to be a world class car in all areas, and it is. I guess I am old school and want to leave the track stuff to the Vett and the euro/asian cars. To me Challegers, Mustangs, Firebirds, and the Camaro are straight line cars. Again most people who want a race car buy the Vett or something from Europe or Japan. I love the Camaro I don't care if the interior is cheap or it weighs 10 tons, but I am a Fanboy always have been always will be. I just kinda wish GM would stop trying to turn beer into wine with the Camaro, and give me a Camaro that will kick the crap out of the mustang in a straight line!

[EvilZL1]

Personally I favor the ZL1. Everyone likes the mustang, but at the end of the day most common people own a mustang. Its such a common car, GM chose to be different with the ZL1 and produce a rare car that Camaro lovers will cherish. Be different and get a ZL1 if you can, cause I am

[camarofreak]

How is the ZL1 not a drag strip car it runs a 12, whats the difference between a 11.8 and a 12, 2 tenths of a second, when your driving it can you feel the difference?

[2ndCamaro79]

May not feel the difference, but you can watch the other guy go by you! Football is a game of inches, muscle cars are a game of seconds (tenths in this case).

[camarofreak]

Originally Posted by 2ndCamaro79

May not feel the difference, but you can watch the other guy go by you! Football is a game of inches, muscle cars are a game of seconds (tenths in this case).

That may be. But how many times will they do it consistently.

[2ndCamaro79]

Originally Posted by camarofreak

That may be. But how many times will they do it consistently.

Who knows??? All these magazines have different times and such. It would be nice if there was one standard place all cars went for official times.

[camarofreak]

Originally Posted by 2ndCamaro79

Who knows??? All these magazines have different times and such. It would be nice if there was one standard place all cars went for official times.

Agreed.

[O2BQIK]

Originally Posted by Blown355

"During development, one ZL1 endured 600 clutch-dumping launches"

WOW!!

That's funny, my 2010 SS clutch was dead after one. If the actual production clutches can handle that kind of abuse, that would be a welcome change.