Open Letter from Al Oppenhieser to the Camaro Nation and Ford.

[VR Baron]

Originally Posted by 5.4ever

LOL

"A camaro friend at work also said the new ZL1 was going to be in the 4100 pound range with less horsepower than the gt500 so it would definitely be slower. Another thing to consider."

see what i did there

Yeah smart$%^. It was published news he got not opinion. Your friend is right on two counts and the thried is we'll see. Point is here that if it's all about hp then you get what you pay for like all else. ZL1 cheaper and most likely the better all around car for less. Beter value!

[babaron]

Ford did not outright say no to the challenge. They just said they wish they could. That could mean thier car is not yet ready. By next quarter, however, they'd better be ready.

[kbui]

Originally Posted by 07-SRT

agree^^^^^

GM keeps talking about how the ZL1 is track ready.. ok so it is.. don't get me wrong its going to be a great car, however....
Go look at all the muscle car forums (camaro5) included and your going to find more top list for 1/4 mile times...not track, those who track their car are in the minority... so if you don't track it, when are you going to use the suspensions capibilities....? Its still about the 1/4 mile with American muscle and a great suspension is an added bonus....JMO

Seriously, if all you are worrying about is 0-60 or 1/4 runs, you would be wasting money on the GT500 or the ZL1IMO. Better and faster cars can be had: a modded SS, GT or SRT8 come to mind and numerous other options. Who's actually going to the track to seriously compete with a stock car? Hell, if I put in $20K into my old C4 Vette, it will out run the ZL1 and GT500 at the strip at a third of the costs. Some might argue that it comes from the factory (implying warranty?), but which company is going to cover your grenaded motor or trans after you crawled or towed back from the strip?
IMO, a person looking to buy something like a ZL1 is likely to want to enjoy it as an overall "performance" car: occasional 1/4 mile runs for fun, road course day, street cars, car meets, car shows, twisty back roads...ride and handling are just as important as how fast it's going to be. On top of that, they will also want a car that looks good TO THEM.
Personally, I look at the ZL1 (wanted the CTS-V in the beginning) as a poor man version of the likes of Aston Martin . It looks just drop dead gorgeous and have the performance to compete. The interior and overall quality will not be any where near and Aston, but I am poor. With 2 kids in college that I am paying private university tuitions for and 2 more on their way, I will probably not going to be able to get one anytime soon, but a few years down the road, who knows. A ZL1 or the new C7 Vette will be MY best overall buy for a performance car, unless I see something interesting from Ford and other makers.

[htron50]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

2. Our tests -- as our horsepower ratings - are always 'conservative' -

That's EXACTLY what everyone is overlooking. I wonder if someone here has a list of previous engines produced by GM that would show A) their published horsepower and B) Actual horsepower. I'd do it in column form with the year and model to the left.... but I don't have the resources/data.

It will become evident that the current 580 published is upwards of 600.

The truth shall come as they start rolling out. I am not worried one bit about what I am buying here. And, I like many, LOVE the fact we have more sound deadening, quiet ride capability, bluetooth, Onstar, HUD, Premium sound, Backup Camera, and MORE! Like the Best CRASH RATING of any car to DATE with the NEW Crash standards! Unbelievable DA FOLKS are criticizing at this premature point... Scott, please don't get dragged into the gutter to defend GM on this. Not a bit required. And, I'm not Kissin ASH when I say the whole GM team is to be admired for making this car reality. And I know it's evolutionary .... they always shall be. Thanks

[OutBurst]

Facebook Petition: ZL1 vs. GT500

I made a Facebook group and event to convince Ford to 'bring it' against the ZL1. Let's try and make this happen! Join the group and attend the event!

[2ndCamaro79]

I sent a request to join Chevy is team Just Bring It like the Rock! Right now boots to asses is trending ..... chevy crowd chants boots to asses !!!!

[2ndCamaro79]

[Crowley]

I guess they should all be thanking the model T then for us even being here ..

Normal evolution of the GT500 would have taken it here anyways ..

He should have added .. sorry Chevy fans .. we dropped the ball again .. time to play catch-up.


Crowley

[McBeevee]

Originally Posted by Shurenuff

Funny, that's exactly what Ford did with their timing of the release of information on the new 2013 GT500.

[OutBurst]

Originally Posted by 2ndCamaro79

I sent a request to join Chevy is team Just Bring It like the Rock! Right now boots to asses is trending ..... chevy crowd chants boots to asses !!!!

Hmm, it shouldn't really need a request to join - it should be open. Let me see here...

[kbui]

Originally Posted by babaron

Ford did not outright say no to the challenge. They just said they wish they could. That could mean thier car is not yet ready. By next quarter, however, they'd better be ready.

Exactly! They play their poker hand perfectly by dumping the HP and 200MPH+ numbers at the announcement of the ZL1 numbers and pricing. The sad part is their marketing guy (this guy have said some stupid things in the past) just shooting his mouth off raising the stakes and got called by Chevy. I grew up in the Detroit (Walled Lake/NOVI) area and worked for GM and have family members and some of my best friends working for the big 3 (I also have done consulting works for all 3 of them and their suppliers for years), what I do know, it's a pretty cut throat competitive environment. It's just about as big as some of the college football rivalries. If Ford was ready (even though they are talking about releasing the '13 GT500 at about the same time as the ZL1) with the GT500, they would not have wasted an opportunity to stick it to Chevy by going all in. Hell, with the 200+MPH and all the power advantage, the 'ring would be the perfect place to take it to the ZL1. IMO, it was the perfect opportunity for Ford since they got Chevy pretty hooked making that ALL-IN call challenge, Ford just didn't call Chevy on it right then because they didn't have the hand they posted; and that's embarassing....

[Blue Menace]

Originally Posted by htron50

That's EXACTLY what everyone is overlooking. I wonder if someone here has a list of previous engines produced by GM that would show A) their published horsepower and B) Actual horsepower. I'd do it in column form with the year and model to the left.... but I don't have the resources/data.

It will become evident that the current 580 published is upwards of 600.

The truth shall come as they start rolling out. I am not worried one bit about what I am buying here. And, I like many, LOVE the fact we have more sound deadening, quiet ride capability, bluetooth, Onstar, HUD, Premium sound, Backup Camera, and MORE! Like the Best CRASH RATING of any car to DATE with the NEW Crash standards! Unbelievable DA FOLKS are criticizing at this premature point... Scott, please don't get dragged into the gutter to defend GM on this. Not a bit required. And, I'm not Kissin ASH when I say the whole GM team is to be admired for making this car reality. And I know it's evolutionary .... they always shall be. Thanks

To all that!

[20camaro12]

Actually all you have to do is google 1969 ZL1 camaro. They had to actually published lower numbers due to restrictions allowed on a street vehicle AND insurance. ZL1 has ALWAYS been a track ready car (with curves) where as the GT500 they are showing right now will need MAJOR suspension work to match that of the ZL1. A little history goes a long ways when comparing these two cars. Chevy has been able to bring out its own high performance cars, where as ford has to rely on other companies, IE shelby and roush.

[20camaro12]

forgot if we are talking HP from outside vendors like Shelby, then lets throw the Hennessey 1000HP camaro in the mix and see who wins in a straight line.... Or even better yet, didn't the HPE650 BEAT the stang? OUCH!!