[Number 3]

I have a question with regard to this issue.

Forgetting the Mustang, forgetting the rules of current racing organizations, and forgetting the Gen 2 through Gen 4 where Z28 and SS had different meanings, should the Z/28 be capable of beating the ZL1 around the track?

If your answer is yes, then you have to accept that simply within the world of Camaro, GM set the bar very, very, very high.

I have tried to make the point all along that if you simply put an LS7 in the 1LE you would have a GREAT car. A car I would want and many of you would also. But you MUST accept that the LS7 is a very expensive engine. Many want it to be a few thousand. Others think GM should simply discount it because they want it to be cheap. Accept the fact that it is a premium hand build engine and cost a LOT more than the LS3. I know it's hard we all want something for nothing, but the LS7 is expensive. That car WOULD NOT beat a ZL1 around any track. It would have an 80 HP disadvantage. All things being equal, engine to engine, you have a great car that costs about $55,000 and can't beat the ZL1 around the track.

So if you want the Z/28 to be the track king in the Camaro family you needed to drop some weight, do some unique dampers, go with unique smaller wheels, ANNNNND Carbon Ceramic brakes.

If you accept the notion that the Z/28 was conceived after the ZL1 and it's reason for being wasn't to be a car between the ZL1 and the 1LE then you have to accept the cost for the content and engineering it took to make this car.

Again, the guys on this site that know me, know I have a "thing" for the LS7. It is pure naturally aspirated awesomeness. And I would have paid a huge option price for an LS7 in a 1LE, but from GM's perspective they would simply have two $55,000 Camaros in the stable. One with the LSA and MR shocks and another with the LS7 and a pretty great chassis. But if you went into that showroom and saw 2 cars for about the same money wouldn't you buy the faster car on the track? The faster car for the 1/4 mile? Or would you be like me and just by the LS7 because you had love for that engine? Most people would want the "better" car.

So the cost is driven by making a car significantly faster than a ZL1 on the track. Period. I doubt a Z/28 can take a ZL1 in the 1/4 mile. I'd be pretty shocked by that.

GM set a high bar with the ZL1 and anyone that is making the case for the mythical $60,000 Z/28 is making a case for a car that isn't the top car in it's own family.

Again, for me I would have wanted an LS7 powered 1LE over a ZL1 even if it didn't have the same level of performance and with price being equal. But that's me and I didn't get asked.