What's YOUR Ideal "Racy" Camaro?

[LOWDOWN]

Although this particular Section has been "Z/28"-specific, and not inclined to be overly supportive of the pending ZL1 as "our" notion of the "ideal racy Camaro", I'm curious as to whether any of our frequent readers or contributors have now "fallen under the spell" of the ZL1. I mean, 580 hp/556 ft-lb is pretty compelling, and MR means it'll be a strip-king/roadcourse renegade/garage queen extraordinaire, right?

But, is it what YOU seek, as opposed to the "old school" LS7/"enhanced" FE4/BIG-brake beastie?

1) Make mine a $50s-K LSA/MR ZL1, as known

2) Make mine a mid-$40s LS7/FE4 Z/28, as described

[thePill]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

Although this particular Section has been "Z/28"-specific, and not inclined to be overly supportive of the pending ZL1 as "our" notion of the "ideal racy Camaro", I'm curious as to whether any of our frequent readers or contributors have now "fallen under the spell" of the ZL1. I mean, 580 hp/556 ft-lb is pretty compelling, and MR means it'll be a strip-king/roadcourse renegade/garage queen extraordinaire, right?

But, is it what YOU seek, as opposed to the "old school" LS7/"enhanced" FE4/BIG-brake beastie?

2) Make mine a mid-$40s LS7/FE4 Z/28, as described

Leaving out all the ZL1's weight and technology and using an LS7 would be ideal. It would still bring the weight to about 3940lbs however, it would give the Z28 a power to weight ratio of 7.80 which is higher than the Boss 302. Chevrolet is quick to tout the ZL1's track ready set up but they fail to inform those wishing to buy the ZL1 that MRC is illegal in every road racing circuit. Track ready? sure, Competition Ready? Never in a million years. You will never see the behemoth ZL1 and GT500 lap times from lap #2, it will only be a single lap race because that is all superchargers are really good for. I wouldn't have went with a staggered set of 20 inch wheels on a "Track Ready" car or run a supercharger/traditional automatic. These things just are not "Track Ready" equipment, Magnetic Ride Control is not competition ready and there is no need to offer this on the Z28. Having a car that can run on a track is different than a car that can race on a track... I would leave all of the above out of the Z28 which would give it a better power to weight ratio than the current Boss 302.

Among overall race weight, power to weight ratio is a very close second in competition. the ZL1's 4200lbs or 7.24pwr will eventually be overcome by a LS7 equipped Z28 at 3940lbs or 7.80pwr just on weight and PWR alone not to mention the superchargers eventual heat soak. 7.24 and 7.80 is pretty close for an N/A vs. SC race and eventually, the ZL1 will get tired. Compare the ZR1 to the Z06, the lap times are almost identical at every track, however, overall performance after the first initial lap is greatly affected by the larger 2300 liter unit the ZR1 uses (over the ZL1's 1900). After a single lap at Nurburgring, the ZR1 requires a 30 minute cool down before attempting lap #2. The Z06 on the other hand, can knock out laps back to back, all day, every day, no problem... Even still, the Z06 is only 4-5 seconds behind the ZR1 after the first lap (officially 3 seconds). This is because the ZR1 already starts to show wear from the supercharger even before lap 1 is done.

[PYROLYSIS]

I picked the LS7 option, but I doubt a camaro of that nature with that engine could start at 45k.

[Revo1]

This one:

[Revo1]

Obviously this poll is going to be quite one-sided as it's posted in the 'hopefuls' section. I voted Z28 for one reason: I can't afford a mid-50s car...

[2cnd chance]

^That's one of my reasons as well. When the ZL1 price is made public a mid $40's Z28 will gain a lot of ZL1 defectors. Don't get me wrong the ZL1 is AWESOME, however it is TOO expensive and just TOO much. Another good comparo is the that the ZR1 is also AWESOME, but even if I could afford it I'd still buy the Z06.

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by Revo1

Obviously this poll is going to be quite one-sided as it's posted in the 'hopefuls' section. I voted Z28 for one reason: I can't afford a mid-50s car...

As mentioned in the preamble, I'm just curious if there will be "movement" in peoples' minds...

One thing missing from the ZL1 "data"? The PRICE...

One thing missing for the Z/28? The CAR...for now...

[OldScoolCamaro]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

As mentioned in the preamble, I'm just curious if there will be "movement" in peoples' minds...

One thing missing from the ZL1 "data"? The PRICE...

One thing missing for the Z/28? The CAR...for now...

...oh, my minds moving alright, like a pendullum. Z28 is the face of Camaro... From the age of 17 it's me, and it is I....this is gonna be tough.

[91Z28350]

I voted for the ZL1. Don't get me wrong, the basics of the Z28 sound good. But more power is more better , and for 45k, you are not going to get the extreme lightening that the Z06 underwent. I also wonder if the Z06, minus the dry sump is going to be making 505HP. As an example, the LS3 with the dry sump is said to actually rate closer to 440 than 430in the GS. Lastly, by all accounts 2013 is the last year for the C6, although not confirmed, the gen V SBC's are supposed to debut with the C7. If that is the case, the LS7 will go the way of the Dodo within a model year ( based on previous GM powertrain decisions/practices). So maybe, instead of the LS7, a potential Z28 will get a NA DI 6.2 (or whatever CID the Gen V SBC comes out in). That is my take, but I hope I am wrong and the Z28 contingent gets what they want!

[2cnd chance]

No need to hope IMO.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

As mentioned in the preamble, I'm just curious if there will be "movement" in peoples' minds...

One thing missing from the ZL1 "data"? The PRICE...

One thing missing for the Z/28? The CAR...for now...

My mind is pretty much here.

The ZL1 would be great - but it has more than is necessary for a 'Racy' car. I'm sure it'll be entirely competent in a track setting, but it doesn't need suede, it doesn't *need* MR, a supercharger, etc....

So, it's not ideal - per the thread's title - because it's overqualified.

A Z28, as we've all discussed, would be the ideal 'Racy' car, imo. Because it'd be focused.

[LOWDOWN]

"Perception IS Truth", goes the saying...and "focused" it would be, in truth.

Focused to a specific price point, to a specific market, and worthy of the "mystic" name. Or, as I call it, "i-car-nic"...Z/28!

LS3, with Corvette's Dual Mode exhaust, is rated 436 hp. Theoretically, without the possible windage issue of a "sloshing" wet-sump engine, a dry-sump might make a wee bit more power...but complexity and the added weight and packaging issues of the wet-sump tank in a Gen-5 chassis negate its use, here. A wet-sump LS7 kit is an available GMPP retrofit, BTW. The LSA in the ZL1 will be "wet" as well.

Some of the early LS9 conversions, as dry-sump, in Gen-5s featured the tank in front of the lower rad support/radiator. Try crash-testing that set-up...and not very good for weight distribution, either...

[Apex Paul]

Originally Posted by Revo1

This one:

I was wondering where I left that shirt.

[Dexgto]

Originally Posted by Revo1

This one:

I guess its not often i say that chick needs to eat