cost of GT 500 vs ZL1

[72MachOne99GT]

Originally Posted by Mister Will

Yeah, if you just want to cruise around and sit and talk at the car shows or gatherings, the base model is just fine.

For my application I do a lot of "spirited" canyon carving. Here in Southern California with elevated temperatures spirited driving raised oil and coolant temperatures quickly. The coolers would be real nice. tHE ADJUSTABLE BILSTEINS AND Thorsen diff would help with my Corvette running peeps.

Sure I could get the base model and spend the next couple of years installing the upgrades to make it a fully optioned model (satisfying my mod bug). But why not get it from the factory? Also, the Zl1 provides all of the suspension upgrades for 10K less.

You're right, since I've never had my car above 60 mph and I only take it to bullshit at car shows I didn't need anything more than the base model.

It's really a shame because almost every car ever released before the ZL1 and GT500 with some sort of performance pack and track pack are good for nothing but cruising and car shows.

I guess the Boss and 1LE are equally as worthless.

And I suppose the THORson differential would allow me to throw hammers at people too, which in all reality would be a nice perk.

How much kool-aid have you consumed?

[HPT BANDIT]

How did we ever survive without a track pack.

[The Baron]

Its pretty simple.. if you want a mustang.. buy one.

[Mister Will]

Originally Posted by 72MachOne99GT

How much kool-aid have you consumed?

Originally Posted by 72MachOne99GT

I have no need for that equipment. *though a THORson differential sounds like it has potential*

The base car handles exceptionally well for everything I ever intend to use it for. Why would I spend *as you've pointed out* several thousands of dollars for options I don't want, nor will ever need?

I've got a 662 horsepower factory vehicle that will drill cars in a straight line that far exceed it in 'status' and price, all while doing a pretty solid job of performing on a road course if I were ever to take it there. Furthermore, if I ever DO take it to a road course, the times I run as an amateur would be so ridiculously bad, I highly doubt I would need options that allow me to enter and exit corners at higher speeds than I'd already be experiencing.


So, maybe I am in the extreme minority, but I think if the magnetic ride had been an option on the ZL1, and it could have been purchased as a BASE model around 51,000, many people would have jumped on it.

I don't drink koolaid.

[v8]

Originally Posted by NVmyZL1

What are you planning to use the car for? Daily driver, weekend cruiser, track days, drag strip, etc.? Both cars are great daily drivers and unless you plan to spend a lot of time doing track events, the ZL1 magnetic ride is overkill and the SVT performance pack is unnecessary. Likewise the Recaros unless you just think they are cool.

I own both and can honestly say the GT500 is the more fun car to drive, overall, than my ZL1. Of course, hundreds will now post after me explaining all the reasons I am wrong in my opinion (like an opinion can even be wrong!), but it is my experience.

I will agree with you, I own both as well. The ZL1 looks bad ass, but the GT500 is more fun to drive and feels like its got A LOT more power. The thing is a monster. I have the track pack on my GT500 and drive in southern Ontario where it gets really hot, the car never has a heat problem. In fact, the rads never get that hot. The ZL1 is a different story but it looks sooo HOT, I lobe the look of the ZL1. Also not to be picky but the recaros in the mustang are great quality, I wish I could say the same about the camaro seats. I find I try to hop in so I don't rub the sides on them. Just my two cents

[FINALLYSATISFIED]

Originally Posted by hognutz

just keep searching. don't tell dealers you did not like the GT500 tell them you loved it and make them match the price.

in my case it was me threating to buy a GT500 that got the dealership to go supplier price last summer.

the closer the 2014's get to the ground the less 2013's are worth.

Match the price? The ZL1 is cheaper regardless. There are dealers out there willing to do invoice for a '13 ZL1.

[FINALLYSATISFIED]

Originally Posted by v8

I will agree with you, I own both as well. The ZL1 looks bad ass, but the GT500 is more fun to drive and feels like its got A LOT more power. The thing is a monster. I have the track pack on my GT500 and drive in southern Ontario where it gets really hot, the car never has a heat problem. In fact, the rads never get that hot. The ZL1 is a different story but it looks sooo HOT, I lobe the look of the ZL1. Also not to be picky but the recaros in the mustang are great quality, I wish I could say the same about the camaro seats. I find I try to hop in so I don't rub the sides on them. Just my two cents

Never owning a 660hp+ car I couldn't imagine how fun it is to drive. For me though mentally it would be hard pill to swallow on buying a $65-70k vehicle that would get man handled on a road course by a $36-40k 1LE. Sure the GT500 is sexy but outside of that it just looks good in a garage.

[v8]

Originally Posted by FINALLYSATISFIED

Never owning a 660hp+ car I couldn't imagine how fun it is to drive. For me though mentally it would be hard pill to swallow on buying a $65-70k vehicle that would get man handled on a road course by a $36-40k 1LE. Sure the GT500 is sexy but outside of that it just looks good in a garage.

Thats the thing, I could care less about a road course because I don't drive the car on a road course. 99% of the population see the power of a car on the street. For me I bought the car for fun. The ZL1 handles better hands down, and looks a lot better. Personally I think that the Camaro is a better looking car, but the mustang is more fun. The Camaro feels like a souped up cadillac, its quiet, reserved, and predictable. The Mustang is raw. I don't drive on a track and I don't street race, but every now and then I accelerate hard to the speed limit and the GT500 is much more fun doing it. In a straight line it will put my ZL1 to shame (I can say that as I own a ZL1) I actually enjoy when a tap off the gas can make the rear wag its tail with the traction control off, even when rolling at speeds of 40 or 50mph.

Different people want different things but to say that "For me though mentally it would be hard pill to swallow on buying a $65-70k vehicle that would get man handled on a road course by a $36-40k 1LE" I think is a little shallow. If your not tracking your car, then a road course has no bearing. On the street there is no way a 1LE would even compare to the GT500. While I have not driven the 1LE, I did own an SS (which I enjoyed) but it would never compete on the street with my GT500.

I am a Chevy guy at heart, but the GT500 got to me. Both cars are great, but for fun I give it to the Shelby. For looks/handling I give it to the ZL1. They are both great cars, they are just very different cars. FYI - I did buy the ZL1 prior to the GT500

The most fun car I have ever owned was my 74 454 Corvette. Handling, crappy(compared to these new cars), but it was just a real fun car to drive. My GT500 reminds me of it. A muscle car.

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by ZL1 Spoked

This. Fully Loaded ZL1 58000, Fully Loadet gt500 72000.

Also, the ZL1 comes with handling covered very well. Adding power is much easier. With the Shelby, you have a lot of work to do to match the ZL1's Magnetic Ride.

[v8]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

Also, the ZL1 comes with handling covered very well. Adding power is much easier. With the Shelby, you have a lot of work to do to match the ZL1's Magnetic Ride.

The Mag ride on the ZL1 is superb.

[SilverSS3108]

I too am currently in the dilemma of the snake or the Z.... I sold my 2SS about a year and a half ago and finally got a truck I'm happy with and had to get the gf a car.... Now I'll have my gf's '12 v6 stang paid off in Nov and a looking for a muscle car for myself. I loved my SS and have no doubt I would love the Z but megans Lil v6 stang is a fun little car to drive! I can only imagine how much a similar car with over double the hp would be. Having said that the ZL1 would only be about 100rwhp over that of my SS. I understand comparing my old SS and her stang is an unfair comparison but its what I've got to work with.... Don't get me wrong... I'm a Bow tie man through and through and I'm really not a fan of the blue oval but the Shelby in my mind is in a different category than just another Ford stang. I don't run road courses or track at all unless it's an 1/8 or 1/4 mile track. So racing is more my style. I also have an obsession with nodding. Either way I figure I'll end up with 700-800rwhp but not sure what platform to stay with?

[Deki]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

Also, the ZL1 comes with handling covered very well. Adding power is much easier. With the Shelby, you have a lot of work to do to match the ZL1's Magnetic Ride.

You're a set of coil over and tires away from that. Modding arguments are pointless. You can make 700whp in a GT500 with an X pipe, tune and intake, and very reliably at that. Once modding gets thrown in, all bets are off, and the deepest pockets win. ZL1 is the road course machine, but if I was buying a brand new car for that kind of duty, I would honestly go with a 1LE if I wanted a high horsepower RWD v8 car for cheap. Most of the guys I see at HPDEs that are seasoned vets don't drive a new car there, since daily driven new cars don't hold up very well to the abuse.

OP, go drive both and get what you like.

[newmoon]

Originally Posted by FINALLYSATISFIED

Never owning a 660hp+ car I couldn't imagine how fun it is to drive. For me though mentally it would be hard pill to swallow on buying a $65-70k vehicle that would get man handled on a road course by a $36-40k 1LE. Sure the GT500 is sexy but outside of that it just looks good in a garage.

First off it wouldn't get man handled on a road course. Second the 500 will show it's pretty little behind to that 1LE in the following real world venues. 0-60 mph, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, full mile, stop light to stoplight, highway pull, top speed. The beat down by the 500 would truly be embarrassing for the 1LE Camaro. Getting beat by 1.5 seconds in the quarter mile may make somebody think twice about their purchase.

[Camaro_hx]

ask your girlfriend and make her favourite pick your purchase.