Now the tests out, ZL1 over hyped

[The IOM Ninja]

Originally Posted by Deki

Where are you going to do 183mph in a ZL1? Where are you going to take a turn at 125mph on the street? Where will you be able to exploit even 1/5th of what either of these cars can do on a public road? And Shelby does have a magnetic suspension for 2013, so PM your number

The GT500 has Bilstein Dampeners not Magnetic Dampeners but the settings are pretty much soft or stiff as F#^%. It's allegedly unbearable to drive the car on bumpy roads in sport mode.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by The IOM Ninja

The GT500 has Bilstein Dampeners not Magnetic Dampeners but the settings are pretty much soft or stiff as F#^%. It's allegedly unbearable to drive the car on bumpy roads in sport mode.

"allegedly" I didn't know anyone tested one yet.

[Grabber]

Originally Posted by The IOM Ninja

The GT500 has Bilstein Dampeners not Magnetic Dampeners but the settings are pretty much soft or stiff as F#^%. It's allegedly unbearable to drive the car on bumpy roads in sport mode.

That reminds me of my old 03 Cobra.

Everywhere you go, I'd bounce around like crazy in the cabin.

Gotta love super stiff suspension

[The IOM Ninja]

Originally Posted by motorhead

"allegedly" I didn't know anyone tested one yet.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/dr...d-shelby-gt500

I evaluated the system from the passenger seat and concluded that in normal mode the 2013 GT500 felt as comfortable as the 2011 car, but that in sport mode the bumpiest of roads was a bit unbearable. On the track I needed only to experience a partial lap; after the first jump at Quiddelbacher-Höhe I began frantically gesturing for a switch to the sport setting. Gene was in complete agreement, as normal mode is not appropriate for attenuating the landings of the Nürburgring’s four jumps—there is simply too much bounce on the landing, like a Cessna trying to touch down with excessive airspeed. The previous-generation GT500 suspension is a compromise of these two settings in both spring rates and damper stiffness. The result is a somewhat playful suspension, but one that’s more compliant on a track than it really should be. These new adjustable dampers allow, at least felt from the passenger seat, a very perceptible change in the suspension. With the click of a button it goes from acceptably sporting to ultra-stiff, so stiff that over a particularly bumpy road outside the track my vision blurred.

[evolve]

Originally Posted by camaro2lt

alright the new 2013 shelby might go faster but where are you really going to do 200mph? really come on what matters is the handaling........you can make a car that goes fast but you need a good suspension to handle that kind of speed also track performance is key to you shelby ppl have you ever looked at the zl1 track vids the car takes a corner at 125 like nothing.......thats what matter not how fast or how much power but the handle of the car which i think the zl1 has it might not have the speed but it has the AWESOME handaling when shelby has magnectic ride suspension give me a call. ZL1 WILL BLOW YOU AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doesnt matter, in the 1/4 mile it will see well over 120mph... So the only place you can use this suspension is the track. Cool. Id prefer a car the does well at the track if I decide to go there once in a while and at the same time will trap over 120 in stock form. Maybe my priorities arent in order. Dont get me wrong, I am not riding Fords n**ts here, I just dont see all the hype in a car that trapped 120 for the power it claims it makes. I do appreciate the job GM has done in beating the Boss and making a comfortable car that can be a track whore as well. Id still take the Z06 or ZR1 over all lol, that wont change.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by The IOM Ninja

http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/dr...d-shelby-gt500

Sound like fun to me. Sounds like this is going to be a fast track car. Doesn't matter to me though. I'm sure I'll be just as happy with my ZL1.

[The IOM Ninja]

Originally Posted by motorhead

Sound like fun to me. Sounds like this is going to be a fast track car. Doesn't matter to me though. I'm sure I'll be just as happy with my ZL1.

That's all that matters , all this animosity towards the GT500 from the Camaro side and vice versa, people seem to forget that each car has it's benefits and downsides and neither car is inherently crappy. Though it is human nature to be unreasonable when it comes to others views, I'll be the first to admit I do this a lot. We need each other to survive and the same goes for the two big players in the muscle car game.

[IOMZL1]

Originally Posted by The IOM Ninja

http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/dr...d-shelby-gt500

Good read – I hadn’t seen this article before. This should put to rest any idea that the Blisten suspension is an equivalent to the MRC found in the ZL1. You get two predefined settings. The only thing the button does is switch the damper setting (as opposed to getting out of the car to switch the dampers). It almost seems the suspension is either too soft or too stiff for the track.

I suspect given this fact and the lack of IRS plus traction issues, the GT500 will fare much better at a smooth track than a rough one. The ZL1 will be able to use more of the track (over curbing, etc.) and will have better handing over rough bumps and better traction in general. If the GT500 can beat the ZL1 on a road course it will be on a few tracks that suit it (very smooth, multiple long straights, low number of turns, low number of high speed turns etc.). Depending on the track, the ZL1 should beat the GT500 by varying gaps depending on the characteristics described above.

Again, lots of potential with the HP but putting it to use is going to be hard. I could be wrong, but assuming no major improvements have been made since this article was written, I don’t think there is any way the GT500 could post a better time at the ring.

[evolve]

Originally Posted by Dezperados

It is getting so ridiculous here.

For nearly 60k Dollars, you get a car that is not just great looking, but also nice in performing on the streets. I don´t know what´s the point in getting 11secs for 1/4 mile but when driving home, you are loosing traction in every curve.

At least in Germany, you drive a lot of curvy roads and the Autobahn is the only "non-track place" you can really run this beast to it´s maximum. And also the Autobahn is full of curves, so I rather have an overall well-performing car than a straight-liner...

What GM did with the ZL1 is just fantastic. Please remember, this car performs better than many fantastic supercars in the world. For example faster than the SL65 AMG Black Series (Camaro ZL1 7:41.27 > Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series 7:51.00) and a lot cheaper (60000 Dollar < 320000 EURO!)



So please, if you don´t like the car then it is your opinion and that's okay. But saying it doesn´t perform well is not true.

@fbodfather

Do you know if GM plans an official EU-Version of the ZL1? Since the Camaro has been introduced some moths ago here in Germany, there is probably the chance for it?

Thanks!
Dez

You have a very valid point and Ive been to Germany and know what you mean. The same is very difficult to apply here in the US.

[evolve]

Originally Posted by IOMZL1

Good read – I hadn’t seen this article before. This should put to rest any idea that the Blisten suspension is an equivalent to the MRC found in the ZL1. You get two predefined settings. The only thing the button does is switch the damper setting (as opposed to getting out of the car to switch the dampers). It almost seems the suspension is either too soft or too stiff for the track.

I suspect given this fact and the lack of IRS plus traction issues, the GT500 will fare much better at a smooth track than a rough one. The ZL1 will be able to use more of the track (over curbing, etc.) and will have better handing over rough bumps and better traction in general. If the GT500 can beat the ZL1 on a road course it will be on a few tracks that suit it (very smooth, multiple long straights, low number of turns, low number of high speed turns etc.). Depending on the track, the ZL1 should beat the GT500 by varying gaps depending on the characteristics described above.

Again, lots of potential with the HP but putting it to use is going to be hard. I could be wrong, but assuming no major improvements have been made since this article was written, I don’t think there is any way the GT500 could post a better time at the ring.

Launch control and two step rev limiter...

[newmoon]

Originally Posted by evolve

Doesnt matter, in the 1/4 mile it will see well over 120mph... So the only place you can use this suspension is the track. Cool. Id prefer a car the does well at the track if I decide to go there once in a while and at the same time will trap over 120 in stock form. Maybe my priorities arent in order. Dont get me wrong, I am not riding Fords n**ts here, I just dont see all the hype in a car that trapped 120 for the power it claims it makes. I do appreciate the job GM has done in beating the Boss and making a comfortable car that can be a track whore as well. Id still take the Z06 or ZR1 over all lol, that wont change.

Maybe what is more impressive is the 11/12 GT500 with 550 hp (trapping 115 according to the same magazines) . But the ZL1 does have 30 more HP and another 300+ lbs to carry around.

[The IOM Ninja]

Originally Posted by newmoon

Maybe what is more impressive is the 11/12 GT500 with 550 hp (trapping 115 according to the same magazines) . But the ZL1 does have 30 more HP and another 300+ lbs to carry around.

The ZL1 should hook up better too, considering it's weight problem and huge tires, lighter cars have a tendency to have problems hooking up.

[Shurenuff]

Originally Posted by Dezperados

It is getting so ridiculous here.

[The IOM Ninja]

Originally Posted by IOMZL1

Good read – I hadn’t seen this article before. This should put to rest any idea that the Blisten suspension is an equivalent to the MRC found in the ZL1. You get two predefined settings. The only thing the button does is switch the damper setting (as opposed to getting out of the car to switch the dampers). It almost seems the suspension is either too soft or too stiff for the track.

I suspect given this fact and the lack of IRS plus traction issues, the GT500 will fare much better at a smooth track than a rough one. The ZL1 will be able to use more of the track (over curbing, etc.) and will have better handing over rough bumps and better traction in general. If the GT500 can beat the ZL1 on a road course it will be on a few tracks that suit it (very smooth, multiple long straights, low number of turns, low number of high speed turns etc.). Depending on the track, the ZL1 should beat the GT500 by varying gaps depending on the characteristics described above.

Again, lots of potential with the HP but putting it to use is going to be hard. I could be wrong, but assuming no major improvements have been made since this article was written, I don’t think there is any way the GT500 could post a better time at the ring.

If the 2013's soft suspension is like the 2011/2012 (not sure if this is with or without the track pack as he didn't specify) but I'll assume Track Pack just for the sake of argument whether I'm correct or not is to be seen. Then the GT500 should have no problem with tracks in either mode as the GT500 is already quite impressive when it comes to handling.