My take on the ZL1 vs 2013 GT500 debate..

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by syr74

Buy a ZL1 because it pushes your buttons, not because it has (or doesn't) the lowest numbers on the spec sheet sidebar in the latest comparison.

This (^) exactly. Purchasing for any other reason, in this poster's very humble opinion, would be misplaced priorities.

['StangBlaster5000]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

This (^) exactly. Purchasing for any other reason, in this poster's very humble opinion, would be misplaced priorities.

I think as long as the price is CLOSE to the SAME you would be hard pressed not to buy a ZL1 over the GT500, IT has the looks, and it has the performance. The GT500 is a great looking car, but there are things I would change about the looks of the car if I was going to buy one. This is not the case with the ZL1, so the ZL1 wins in the looks department IMO. The 2013 GT500 will have a 5.8L and over 600hp this has been confirmed, so the power between the two is too close to have a clear winner. But there are some people on C5 who think magnetic shocks = 70K. I have run out of breath trying to explain how that just won't be so.
The only real reason I would ever consider buying a GT500 over a ZL1 would be if the MSRP was 65K, and it won't be!

[syr74]

Originally Posted by 'StangBlaster5000

I think as long as the price is CLOSE to the SAME you would be hard pressed not to buy a ZL1 over the GT500, IT has the looks, and it has the performance. The GT500 is a great looking car, but there are things I would change about the looks of the car if I was going to buy one. This is not the case with the ZL1, so the ZL1 wins in the looks department IMO. The 2013 GT500 will have a 5.8L and over 600hp this has been confirmed, so the power between the two is too close to have a clear winner. But there are some people on C5 who think magnetic shocks = 70K. I have run out of breath trying to explain how that just won't be so.
The only real reason I would ever consider buying a GT500 over a ZL1 would be if the MSRP was 65K, and it won't be!

Yeah, there is no way GM is going to price this car above the CTS-V coupe, it just wouldn't make sense. As for the rest of it, you just gave the best reason in the world to buy any car....you like. And in the end, not much else matters.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by 'StangBlaster5000

I think as long as the price is CLOSE to the SAME you would be hard pressed not to buy a ZL1 over the GT500, IT has the looks, and it has the performance. The GT500 is a great looking car, but there are things I would change about the looks of the car if I was going to buy one. This is not the case with the ZL1, so the ZL1 wins in the looks department IMO. The 2013 GT500 will have a 5.8L and over 600hp this has been confirmed, so the power between the two is too close to have a clear winner. But there are some people on C5 who think magnetic shocks = 70K. I have run out of breath trying to explain how that just won't be so.
The only real reason I would ever consider buying a GT500 over a ZL1 would be if the MSRP was 65K, and it won't be!

All very fair and valid points.

Others could make similar arguments in favor of the GT500.

So my point, and I think syr74's point is that you need to buy a car like this (desire-based, rather than need-based) founded on your personal feelings rather than specs on paper.

I can tell you if there were no ZL1, or if the ZL1 were a 100,000 dollar car, I'd buy an SS. Clearly, I have the means to go out and get the Shelby, and it is superior to the SS on paper. But my heart lies with Camaros - end of story. The ZL1 strikes that perfect chord with me, and that's why I've gone this route.

I'm going to drive around with an enormous grin on my face every time I sit inside it. The happiness will be off the charts. You can't buy that. Or compare it on spec sheets.

[Carzzy]

To be price competitive, GM has to price the ZL1 Camaro pretty close to the Shelby GT 500! I say this even though the ZL1 has a IRS, magnetic ride control and a 30HP advantage (though the Shelby is still 200 lbs lighter). The Shelby bases for just under $49K, so..........

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Carzzy

To be price competitive, GM has to price the ZL1 Camaro pretty close to the Shelby GT 500! I say this even though the ZL1 has a IRS, magnetic ride control and a 30HP advantage (though the Shelby is still 200 lbs lighter). The Shelby bases for just under $49K, so..........

Yes, but to hope to have a chance in terms of performance, you must equip the expensive SVT performance package....and then there's a possible GG tax contributing to the ZL1's price...on top of the items you just mentioned...

To rain on your parade just a bit more (sorry! ), consider all the track-ready performance features that are included such and brake ducts, oil, diff coolers, belly-pan, functional air extractors, a near-perfect 51/49 weight balance...

Even with the SVT package, the current GT500 pales in comparison to the Z...so it's not exactly fair, IMO, to hold it to the same price standard...

But we're a little bit off topic, so I'll shut my pie-hole...

[syr74]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

All very fair and valid points.

Others could make similar arguments in favor of the GT500.

So my point, and I think syr74's point is that you need to buy a car like this (desire-based, rather than need-based) founded on your personal feelings rather than specs on paper.

I can tell you if there were no ZL1, or if the ZL1 were a 100,000 dollar car, I'd buy an SS. Clearly, I have the means to go out and get the Shelby, and it is superior to the SS on paper. But my heart lies with Camaros - end of story. The ZL1 strikes that perfect chord with me, and that's why I've gone this route.

I'm going to drive around with an enormous grin on my face every time I sit inside it. The happiness will be off the charts. You can't buy that. Or compare it on spec sheets.

Exactly. A decent 427 C2 driver and a brand new ZR1 are relatively close in money right now, in fact the C2 is just a bit more in most cases. Of course the new ZR1 will lay waste to the C2 in every performance category you can name with relative ease. That said, if you are offering me the keys to either I'll take my 66 or 67 427 powered coupe in silver thank you very much.

Absolute power isn't everything. So long as the car can legitimately play in the league that the attached sticker price suggests it is supposed to be able to play in, from a performance perspective, that should be good enough unless you actually plan to race the thing. You can always make a fast car faster. Real beauty, and being just plain cool, are hard to fake or seriously improve after the fact.

Just my two cents. The ZL1 is going to be plenty fast, if you like the way it looks and it suits who you are not much else matters.

[Rice Killer]

I agree with what most of you are saying...to buy what you want and not worry about numbers on paper. I will have no regrets buying the ZL1 even if the new GT500 is superior, which isn't likely.

Congratulations to all that have ordered a ZL1 and good luck to those that are still trying.

[cyrusthevirus]

this is the video u need to look at the 0-60 is insane that other video was a vert

Originally Posted by Rice Killer

If you mean this video, http://youtu.be/666b6fGxemw, that is the SLP version that ran 12.2. The CTS-V sedan has been recorded running that time. As I said, I expect the ZL1 to improve on this.

[tooslow]

Originally Posted by Rice Killer

I agree with what most of you are saying...to buy what you want and not worry about numbers on paper.

So, what then was the purpose of this thread again?

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Yes, but to hope to have a chance in terms of performance, you must equip the expensive SVT performance package....and then there's a possible GG tax contributing to the ZL1's price...on top of the items you just mentioned...

To rain on your parade just a bit more (sorry! ), consider all the track-ready performance features that are included such and brake ducts, oil, diff coolers, belly-pan, functional air extractors, a near-perfect 51/49 weight balance...

Even with the SVT package, the current GT500 pales in comparison to the Z...so it's not exactly fair, IMO, to hold it to the same price standard...

But we're a little bit off topic, so I'll shut my pie-hole...

There you go using that Un-common sense again.....

[Anniecamaro]

I believe that it shouldn't be a fight between two american's icons. They are both amazing cars that are only making each other better. My wife has a Camaro, my brother has a Shelby GT500, I have a Corvette, we love to go out in the 3 cars and enjoy the america power that they represent. At the end of it all, its all about what you like best, i have driven both and enjoy the Mustang too. in the future i my serf with a camaro zl1

[Rice Killer]

Originally Posted by tooslow

So, what then was the purpose of this thread again?

I have seen many posts about people saying the 2013 GT500 is a concern of theirs. With that being said, the purpose of my thread was to help put their minds at ease. It's a valid concern if you're not a die hard GM, Chevy, or Camaro fan like most of us. If you are looking for to have the top dog of muscle cars, I was just showing that they should be safe with the ZL1, IMO.

I by no means wanted to start a pissing match, again. Just to use numbers, facts, and some "guesstimations", to give my take on why the ZL1 will be superior.

I am not one that is going to be worried. As I previously stated, I'll be happy with my ZL1 no matter what.

But I will add, to buy what your heart tells you and you are guaranteed to not be disappointed..

['StangBlaster5000]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

All very fair and valid points.

Others could make similar arguments in favor of the GT500.

So my point, and I think syr74's point is that you need to buy a car like this (desire-based, rather than need-based) founded on your personal feelings rather than specs on paper.

I can tell you if there were no ZL1, or if the ZL1 were a 100,000 dollar car, I'd buy an SS. Clearly, I have the means to go out and get the Shelby, and it is superior to the SS on paper. But my heart lies with Camaros - end of story. The ZL1 strikes that perfect chord with me, and that's why I've gone this route.

I'm going to drive around with an enormous grin on my face every time I sit inside it. The happiness will be off the charts. You can't buy that. Or compare it on spec sheets.

I understand what you are saying, but you also have to understand, different things are more important to different people. For example some guys have NO interest in modifying their car, so the STOCK numbers are very important to these people, because that is how they feel like they "OWN" the street, (A VERY grave mistake in my opinion).
Then there are the "Styling" people who care more about how the car LOOKS than being .2 tenths quicker in the quarter.
You also have the "Cornering vs straight line people"
Then you have the people who choose one over the other because of personal loyalty or other reasons (e.g. I am a HUGE fan of LS engines in general, and love the sound in a lopey cam that you really can't get in a dual over head cam engine)
Lastly you have the guys who factor in PRICE vs performance, looking for the best bang for the buck. These are usually the same guys who comb through the specs trying to make up their minds about what would be the best choice for them. The problem IS that these people are usually a sub group of one of the types I listed above. Some of them only care about stock vs stock, others are more concerned with aftermarket potential and EVERYTHING in between!
So when we tell these people, "Choose what you like best" although it makes perfect sense in our minds, we really are not helping some of these guys because, in THEIR minds, it's really not about what they like best, it's about having the RESPECT of having the baddest car on the road, and sadly it is a unicorn hunt, because you will never be able to have everyone agree that one car is better than the other.

Just my honest opinion.