[Bad@ssCamaro]

Originally Posted by TrackClub

Agree that officially this will be the fastest "factory" Camaro, according to the order sheet anyway.

But, will it be the fastest Camaro that can be purchased directly from GM? Well, if somebody puts both cars on the same rubber and Z28 beats the ZL1 fair and square, I will admit: it is the fastest factory Camaro. But not until then.

All the track comparisons between the 2 cars (Milford 2.87 seconds, Nurburgring est 10 seconds) have been heralded loudly, except for one important point: the tires.
In effect, ZL1 brought a knife to a gun fight. Tires are always a key factor at any track "game" and even in pro racing, there is a level playing field. But not here, unfortunately.

The "factory" makes the car, but they don't make the tires. Plus the tires are "consumables" especially on a track car. Besides I am sure a GM dealer will be delighted to take my money and sell me Z28 rims with Pirellis on them. I would expect the same response for those nice Recaro seats.

So technically, I could purchase a ZL1 (possible for $48,250, as a friend just got one), add the rims (est $6,000?) plus the seats (est $2,000?) and have the (possibly)fastest Camaro, directly from GM for $56,250. But let's round it up to $60,000 to be certain I am not sand-bagging my own expectations. As a value added bonus, we have gained some weight reductions: let's assume 100lb all in, which will make it even faster. Plus I still have an AC and stereo, fog lamps and other bits that got deleted from the Z28.

These simple and readily available enhancements could make the ZL1 if not actually faster, then likely as fast as the Z28 on a road course, straight from a GM dealership. And of course I am saving at least $15,000 (more if I shop aftermarket). This would also include already having a spare set of (original) rims and street tires to store the car on in winter (a necessity for any future Z28 owner living in a 4 seasons climate). Chock the savings up by another 2 or 3 grand minimum. Hence the current offer makes no sense to me.

Sounds like you're contradicting yourself. First you mention the "fastest factory Camaro" then you're talking about buying a used ZL1, buying tires from a dealer (not from the Factory) and adding the Recaro seats (which have no impact on performance - other than how it holds you in when you're doing 1.08 g's) This kind of argument has been made before by plenty of ZL1 owners, mostly because their car is no longer "Top Dog" of the Camaro's(when it comes to the road course).

The only reason GM made a comparison to the ZL1 was to show how much more focused it is when it came to the twisties. The ZL1 is king in the department of overall capabilities, there is no denying that. But you insist on bringing up this issue with the tires, and yes, according to some people it might improve some of it's time on the Z/28, for a lap or two, but what happens when heat soak sets in, you didn't mention that? The Z/28 will be the master of the road course....for the Camaro Just wait until spring when all the magazine reviewers get a hold of one and then you'll know what the rest of us already know.