Why'd Chevy make the ZL1?

[BubbaSS]

You also have to give props to Chevy for listening to the reviews and fans by improving the suspension as much as they have to allow the ZL1 to use that 580hp at the track and dragstrip alike. Can't say that the Mustang can put that 650hp to the floor without breaking loose. Not without drag radials I'd bet.

[cvp33]

Let me see if I can put this in language you can understand. Chevy make car dat go fast and make turn fast. No straight line only race car but actually take turns fast like real cars do. Oh and cost less than Shelby mustang with crappy 2004 technology. Me make you understand now or me draw picture?

[Vroom]

If you don't understand why the ZL1 is better the GT500, then you should probably get a GT500...

[TripleBlkZL1]

Originally Posted by Vroom

If you don't understand why the ZL1 is better the GT500, then you should probably get a GT500...

[Normagene]

It's a "to each their own" kinda thing. I love my ZL1. And my dear Jeffrey, my gay friend of 15 plus years, he loves his Super Snake. He's said it's the Best car he's ever owned to pickup his Boy-Toys!

[islander033]

Originally Posted by mikeyg36

You can do a million things to make the ZL1 smoke a GT500 in a straight line, that can't be said about the GT500 aftermarket.

I disagree with the above statement, there is a large aftermarket for both cars.

Both are great cars for different reasons. The people that "get it" understand this to be true.

[cvp33]

Originally Posted by islander033

I disagree with the above statement, there is a large aftermarket for both cars.

Both are great cars for different reasons. The people that "get it" understand this to be true.

Agreed, kinda tired of the which is better and why did chevy build this threads.....I already had my fast straight-line car = 643rwhp 2006 300c SRT8. Ran 10.73@128.5mph, not many/any stock Shelby's doing that. Decided it was time to start taking turns with that kind of power. Tried a CTS-V for 6 months and didn't feel connected to the road at all, tried a Shelby GT500 and the live axle was just useless. Tried the ZL1 and was smitten.

[hairtrigger]

Originally Posted by cvp33

Agreed, kinda tired of the which is better and why did chevy build this threads.....I already had my fast straight-line car = 643rwhp 2006 300c SRT8. Ran 10.73@128.5mph, not many/any stock Shelby's doing that. Decided it was time to start taking turns with that kind of power. Tried a CTS-V for 6 months and didn't feel connected to the road at all, tried a Shelby GT500 and the live axle was just useless. Tried the ZL1 and was smitten.

Great post from someone who has experienced those cars.
My ZL1 is perfect except for some wheelhop when I lose traction in second gear. Otherwise a great car in road handling over any surface.

[2012-1822]

You know what, I wrote a long post reiterating a whole bunch of stuff above, but whatever, I love my ZL1, I drive Chevy's. Here's my list

Past:
-1977 K5 Blazer
-1995 Z28, mom's car, but I got the keys anytime I wanted in high school
-1994 S Blazer, the one that started my addiction to black cars
-1997 S-10
-1990 K5 Blazer(I don't think they called them K5 at this point)
Current:
-2007 Silverado
-2012 Camaro ZL1

and further my brother still has his first car, 1989 S-10 Blazer, about to be an antique, my other brother's first car was a 2000 Camaro

[joes407]

Originally Posted by NVmyZL1

Ummmm...no. I ordered my 2012 ZL1 the day the order banks opened and took delivery the day it arrived at the dealer, mid-June 2012. I ordered my 2013 GT500 in March 2012 and took delivery on May 20th, 2012. Both cars were in development at the same time, GM just never saw Ford putting the kind of power they did into the GT500 that year.

um yes. the first 12 ZL1's hit the road in late april/earlymay of 2012 and as you state above your 13 mustang came to you in may of 2012. that means the 12 zl-1 was roughly a year late. most other cars on the market you buy the new model year in the last quarter of the year not in the second quarter of its actual model year. this is why mustang guys always want to compare the 12 Zl to the 13 gt500.

[joes407]

not to mention as we have seen that ZL-1's that have the extra 80 h.p the gt500 got blow the gt500's away.

[#737 ZL1]

Originally Posted by SixCyl

The Shelby came out after the ZL1. Also let's not forget that the Shelby also essentially put all of its eggs into one horsepower basket here the ZL1 was the best handling camaro ever (now beat by the Z/28). In anything other than a straight run, the ZL1 consistently beats the Shelby by a margin of a few seconds or more. All in all, the ZL1 is the better car and many reviewers have come to that conclusion too.

What is beat by the Z/28? The ZL1? That Z/28 has not even hit the streets yet to prove it self. Yea GM talks about this but they are just hyping the car up for sales.

Listen, the ZL1 is proven and to be honest, I seen here at atco dragway that race between a stock shelby and a stock ZL1 go both ways with each winning a race against each other so dont sell off the ZL1, its a bad arss machine with all the goodies. Put the right driver in it and its a new ball game.

[mikeyg36]

Originally Posted by islander033

I disagree with the above statement, there is a large aftermarket for both cars.

Both are great cars for different reasons. The people that "get it" understand this to be true.

The ZL1 aftermarket is still much larger. Small block > 5.8.

[newmoon]

Originally Posted by mikeyg36

You can do a million things to make the ZL1 smoke a GT500 in a straight line, that can't be said about the GT500 aftermarket.

Wow you can't be serious? You do realize that with nothing other than DRs and a tune the 500 can run 10s right? To make the ZL1 a 10-sec car it's going to take some serious coin. The 500 could also take the mod money to improve the suspension to compete with the ZL1 on the twisty track as well, but then it's got the 100-rwhp advantage as well. Saying all this I would still prefer the ZL1 automatic over the 500.