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Lazerbrainz2k3 · 02-10-2011, 03:43 PM

I don't think GM is going to give you a factory-built, warrantied minimalist race car, and I don't think they should, either, unless it's a limited-run version similar to the Boss 302 Laguna Seca will be. Even if the number of track-happy people who have the money for a car like that (and for any other cars they'll need for daily life) are well more than I think there are, I doubt that'll justify production.

In my opinion Z/28 should be what the Boss and Z06 are: a performance stepping stone between the civilized V8 and the supercar version. Some people will just want a car called a Z/28, with better-than-an-SS power and performance, but still everyday car practicality, and there's nothing at all wrong with that. In fact considering all the noise about heritage and proper usage of badging and all that, I'm surprised there isn't more calls for censure over the demands that the Z/28 be a stripped-down racer, something the historical car NEVER was out of the factory.

Give it the race-inspired suspension, wheels, tires, different gear ratio, better cooling, performance splitter, more aggressive exterior maybe, and all that, along with a naturally-aspirated powerplant in the 450-460hp range, to edge out the Boss (assuming Ford doesn't upgrade the Boss beyond that point by then), but NO supercharged LSA or any of that - ZL1 is the King Camaro and should stay there, out the factory door anyway. Some of the weight-saving stuff from the ZL1 like the carbon fiber hood mohawk are obvious possibilities.

And yeah there should be an auto - hopefully without a hp loss like the L99. The ZL1 should have an auto, too, if GM judges the extra business from offering it is worth the investment, as opposed to what Ford does with the GT500. Honestly, who cares if an automatic is offered, they already cost more as it is. Don't like it/don't want it, then don't buy it and save a thousand bucks. This anti-automatic, purist-elitist stuff is getting tiresome.

Add to that some option packages to delete an ever-increasing amount of stuff, from the radio to the rear seats, and I could see it being a viable product. Do it the other way around, expecting GM to make a dedicated racer with only options to add livable stuff to it, and you never, ever see the car built.

02-10-2011, 03:43 PM	#57
Lazerbrainz2k3 Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS - M6, NPP, MRC Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Delco, PA Posts: 971	I don't think GM is going to give you a factory-built, warrantied minimalist race car, and I don't think they should, either, unless it's a limited-run version similar to the Boss 302 Laguna Seca will be. Even if the number of track-happy people who have the money for a car like that (and for any other cars they'll need for daily life) are well more than I think there are, I doubt that'll justify production. In my opinion Z/28 should be what the Boss and Z06 are: a performance stepping stone between the civilized V8 and the supercar version. Some people will just want a car called a Z/28, with better-than-an-SS power and performance, but still everyday car practicality, and there's nothing at all wrong with that. In fact considering all the noise about heritage and proper usage of badging and all that, I'm surprised there isn't more calls for censure over the demands that the Z/28 be a stripped-down racer, something the historical car NEVER was out of the factory. Give it the race-inspired suspension, wheels, tires, different gear ratio, better cooling, performance splitter, more aggressive exterior maybe, and all that, along with a naturally-aspirated powerplant in the 450-460hp range, to edge out the Boss (assuming Ford doesn't upgrade the Boss beyond that point by then), but NO supercharged LSA or any of that - ZL1 is the King Camaro and should stay there, out the factory door anyway. Some of the weight-saving stuff from the ZL1 like the carbon fiber hood mohawk are obvious possibilities. And yeah there should be an auto - hopefully without a hp loss like the L99. The ZL1 should have an auto, too, if GM judges the extra business from offering it is worth the investment, as opposed to what Ford does with the GT500. Honestly, who cares if an automatic is offered, they already cost more as it is. Don't like it/don't want it, then don't buy it and save a thousand bucks. This anti-automatic, purist-elitist stuff is getting tiresome. Add to that some option packages to delete an ever-increasing amount of stuff, from the radio to the rear seats, and I could see it being a viable product. Do it the other way around, expecting GM to make a dedicated racer with only options to add livable stuff to it, and you never, ever see the car built.