My 50th birthday GT500 or ZL1?

[VenomInside]

Get what you want. Going on this site or a ford/shelby site isn't the best way to make a decision. Greatly due to the fact that most people are going to prefer the brand of the site they are on.

Here = Zl1
there = Shelby

Drive both when they are out and go from there.

[Coolidge]

Originally Posted by mmarx82

Lol I think this thread is funny, I'm in no way trying to be rude here. Your 50, why are you trying to get us to make up your mind? Of course most of the people here are going to tell you get a ZL1. My guess is you probably have a thread on a Mustang site too where they are telling you to wait and get the 2013 GT500 because it gonna have 650HP. I'm not even 30 yet (Oct) but even I know to get what's gonna make you happy. I have this feeling that whatever your gonna get your not going to appreciate like most of us would, I hope I'm wrong about that. Anyways I wish you luck with determining what you want.

LOL I suggest you go back and actually read my post, youngsters. For example when I said, "Sadly I had to cross the GT500 off my list because hey Ford where's the rest of the freaking car?" that tells you I don't need anyone to make up my mind for me and I don't have any posts on any Ford forums. I did have some concerns about the LSA motor which people here are helping to address.

[toesuf94]

Truthfully, sit in each one. Drive them, then make your choice.

I am a big guy. I do not fit comfortably in the Mustang. My shoulders are almost to the windows. Not as comfortable as my Camaro by a long shot.

Both cars are awesome rides - either way you will have a smile and feel like a kid again when you are behind the wheel!

Welcome and keep us posted!! (And Happy Birthday! )

[Coolidge]

Originally Posted by hognutz

pushrods work if you hung up on pusrods you backin up. my LS7 spins 7k at 7L or 427 cubes all day long.

the car next to you or the 1320 or the circle don't care if the car has pushrods. the amount of dual overhead cars I have chewed up is endless.

forged is only an issue if you don't tune the car right or you want to go over 750hp or so. they say 800 but I am not one who pushes things.

now on the the cars.

1. do yo have a budget cap?
2 do you like corners or are you a strait line only type guy?
3. is ride comfort a concert at all?
4. do you prefer either one styling wise?

my .02 is if you are a quartmiler the GT500 might be the better choice if it is not too expensive. if you like balance and turns I think the Zl1 will shine. if you like the looks of one over the other that is the one you should really buy as they are both really fast.

I mean this is a chevy forum but they are both pretty bad ass cars. all of the shortcummings of the old generation GT500 have been touched on with the right options. I think the ride will be harsher in the GT500 though to make it run with the ZL1. they don't have the system to be able to handle like that and ride well at the same time.

I already crossed the 650hp GT500 off my list, its really down to the ZL1 or the next gen 2014 Mustang and I don't think I'm going to wait 2 more years to maybe find out is still not caught up to the ZL1 and is $10k more expensive.

1. No budget cap, one of the benefits of turning 50
2. I likes me some corners, Formula 1 fan remember
3. Ride comfort is important, another reason I dumped the GT500
4. Style wise...I keep reading its a bit like sitting in a pill box visibility wise which concerns me a bit. Love the interior except for the retro housings for the guages. Exterior is awesome though how in the hell is a front license plate going to attach? I hear there's a bracket but can't see how its going to attach and not look like ass.

[z28mass]

Originally Posted by Coolidge

I'm turning the big five-0 this year and thinking I may celebrate by buying myself a bad ass muscle car. I have researched both the GT500 and ZL1 and and there's one thing that bugs me about the ZL1, the engine. Come on pushrods? Not even forged pistons on a supercharged engine?

I went down to Ford last weekend and looked at a GT500 in person, man that engine is bad ass. Quad overhead cams, massive cylinder heads, 4 valves per cylinder, forged pistions, rods, crank, cast aluminum oil pan. That's what I would expect in a modern muscle car.

The ZL1 engine in the pictures looks kind of puny and dated. Sure its making HP but I can't help think I'm getting kind of out dated tech in the engine category with the ZL1.

Sadly I had to cross the GT500 off my list because hey Ford where's the rest of the freaking car? This is where the ZL1 shines, the engine aside its literally stuffed bumper to bumper with modern muscle car high tech advancements they really did a hell of a nice job on this car. It needs to shed a few pounds.

So I think I'm going to go for a ZL1, I just may have to about the pushrod motor until I get over it.

My birthday too, turning 50 in August and I placed an order for the ZL1.
Buy what makes you happy but if you buy a ZL1 and turning 50 we could be twins.

[toesuf94]

Originally Posted by Coolidge

I already crossed the 650hp GT500 off my list, its really down to the ZL1 or the next gen 2014 Mustang and I don't think I'm going to wait 2 more years to maybe find out is still not caught up to the ZL1 and is $10k more expensive.

1. No budget cap, one of the benefits of turning 50
2. I likes me some corners, Formula 1 fan remember
3. Ride comfort is important, another reason I dumped the GT500
4. Style wise...I keep reading its a bit like sitting in a pill box visibility wise which concerns me a bit. Love the interior except for the retro housings for the guages. Exterior is awesome though how in the hell is a front license plate going to attach? I hear there's a bracket but can't see how its going to attach and not look like ass.

The "pillbox" thing goes away in five minutes of driving - honest. I have NO issues driving my Camaro. The gauges on my '11 are easy to read at a glance and they made them better in '12. There are no drill brackets available and hideaways as well. I painted mine body color...nobody notices it is on there.

[chain777]

If you want an automatic, the decision is easy. GT500 is manual only.

[Coolidge]

Originally Posted by chain777

If you want an automatic, the decision is easy. GT500 is manual only.

Yep that was another GT500 deal killer.

[Coolidge]

Originally Posted by toesuf94

The "pillbox" thing goes away in five minutes of driving - honest. I have NO issues driving my Camaro. The gauges on my '11 are easy to read at a glance and they made them better in '12. There are no drill brackets available and hideaways as well. I painted mine body color...nobody notices it is on there.

How's the rear visibility and blind spots? Do you have a pic of yours with the plate on?

[Coolidge]

Originally Posted by z28mass

My birthday too, turning 50 in August and I placed an order for the ZL1.
Buy what makes you happy but if you buy a ZL1 and turning 50 we could be twins.

Great minds think alike.

[Smirnoff]

Just be thankful you have a selection!!!

For many many years, way too many.....muscle cars were a thing of the past! So, with the recent resurgence of factory HP wars going on, just be thankful you have a choice.

Sure glad I didn't pull the trigger 5-years ago on a "new" $58k clone Shelby Cobra with a bored 351 Windsor.....whew

[010 Camaro SS]

Personnally ZL1 would be my first choice...Strong 2nd would be GT500 but next years version...Just my 2 cents...

[BowtieBelle]

Before you complain too much about Chevy's pushrod engines, take a cruise down to your local drag strip.

Most of the Fords you see there will have Chevy power plants (or at least they do at the drag strips I frequent!)

Hope you're wearing your flame suit... asking about a Mustang on a Chevy site is like asking a nun for the beejayz. The two don't usually go together.

[PeeBee]

Originally Posted by Coolidge

How's the rear visibility and blind spots? Do you have a pic of yours with the plate on?

Rear visibility is pretty limited towards rear passenger seat. But other than that, it's quite fine. It's a coupe after all...

As for the license plate, mine's attached with double sided tape, on one side of the front fascia's colored part. Will take a pic and upload it to give you an idea.