Inside Line: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs. 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Comparison

[IOMZL1]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

I'm not sure if the Shelby has ducts or not. It has smaller rear brakes than the zl1, but larger front brakes with fixed aluminum calipers that tend to dissipate heat better and provide more even wear, extending pad life. Weight is huge in braking also and the gt500 has stopped shorter in every test. Again, I'm not arguing the ZL1 isn't the better handler, it surely is. I think most neutral parties have known for a while it was going to handle very well. Once again though, a road course is more than a slalom in a parking lot and these tests don't really show much more than we already knew.

One reason the Shelby has bigger front brakes and smaller rear brakes than the ZL1 is the more forward weight distribution of the GT500. Comparing rotor size isn’t really conclusive without looking at the whole picture. The results of this stopping distance test show that the hardware is matched to the car and the whole package has about equal results for either car.

Stopping shorter (by 1 foot) in one run is one thing, what I’m interested to see is if the GT500 experiences any brake fade. The ZL1 has not in any test I’ve seen so far. The ZL1’s brakes were also much more confident inspiring than the Boss in that comparison.

I agree road course is more than slalom and skid pad. I think ZL1/MRC will show its true advantage on the road course, especially a rough surface such as VIR. As Fenderaddict suggests the GT500 may have an advantage on a smooth track that favors HP over cornering. I’d expect the GT500 to win outright on an oval track, for example. The rougher and curvier the track I’d expect the ZL1’s advantage to grow.

[AKA]

Originally Posted by SixGracing

Have never personally witnessed a Stock SS doing a 13.0 @ 111. I go to the drags often. Best stock time I've seen is a 13.5 @ 109

Also, again here we go with the "Somethings not right comment". Do any of the posters who are always complainig about the times and "who's driving" realize what it takes to get another second in the 1/4 mile? It's not like the difference between a 13 and a 12 is 50 hp. It's a ton of hp and a lot of car mods to make it launch along with a lot of other factors involved. Any stock car running in the mid 12's is very fast. So stop whining. It's not a bullet bike, it's a heavy Camaro.

first of all, some guys on here claim high 12s on a stock ss with the forum racing that they do. i got the 13 second # from a motor trend article but the stig might have been driving it.

[AKA]

I dont know why my second point didnt make it but here it is again.

Why is it that its all about horse power on here and now that the zl1 track numbers arent up to par its not all about horse power???????

im not hating and i am planning on trading the ss in a zl1 once ill break even on a trade (amount owed versus trade in value). plus they are hard to get ahold of if you didnt order one.

And by the way i had a 12 second eagle talon until i bought the camaro so i do understand the difference. once i was getting close to the 12 second mark i removed my interior and A/C. instant 12's. Oh yeah its not all about the horse power.

[Wondering]

Originally Posted by Deki

Doesn't negate the fact that 4/10s faster to 60 is still a big deal. On smaller tires. I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the GT500 on the roadcourse yet. Time will tell which one eill be faster in the hands of an experienced driver.

It's about the same acceleration advantage a Z06 has over a standard LS3 C6 Corvette. So yeah,it's a pretty big deal.

[davidcroft]

Originally Posted by Rcfiddy1

You guys see this? This sets the bar a little higher for bolt ons.

The Shelby will always shine on a dragstrip and the ZL1 will always shine on a roadcourse.

Why is this so hard to understand and why do I have to keep hearing about quarter mile times? so high school.....go to a dragstrip on a Fri or Sat night...bunch of rednecks and high schoolers running their turds for $20

[stikSS]

We should be seeing the Motortrend, car and driver reports before too long.... and I'm sure the numbers we seen yesterday will be scattered all over the board. We already know that MT got the ZL to 12 flat so it can do it, and I'm sure the GT500 will be slightly quicker than the 11.9... Just sit back and enjoy!

[Mr. Unassailable]

Originally Posted by davidcroft

The Shelby will always shine on a dragstrip and the ZL1 will always shine on a roadcourse.

Why is this so hard to understand and why do I have to keep hearing about quarter mile times? so high school.....go to a dragstrip on a Fri or Sat night...bunch of rednecks and high schoolers running their turds for $20

Yeah totally. All the good ole boys and high school kids drive GT500s... You are from Houston? Do you ever go to the strip? Lots of bikes, lots of old guys with ridiculously bad ass cars, and some college kids with their v6 "cardio cars" (I just made that up LOL) or ricers. Yes, bubba might bring is $60k dodge 4x4 out and show you a 13 second truck. But the Baytown strip is far from what you have in your mind.

Additionally, you use the term "always" when speaking of a car that has been in public hands for 2 months. Ford is not going to sleep on the track abilities of the ZL1, the next Boss and GT 500 will be in that fight. 4 months ago ford didn't know it was competing with the Indy car fans. It's going to be fun, and I'm glad I'll be able to drive these cars that will come in the next few years. But to say "always" you are failing to remember that Ford built the Shelby GT500 to be a Muscle Car. A BAD ASS Muscle Car. Muscle Cars are not road course Heros, Miatas are. When I hear the words "Muscle Car" my first thought is never "how's it corner?" or "how's the gas milage?" or "how pretty is it?" my first thought is "what's it feel like when you floor the pedal?". They are both bad ass, but the Shelby is a clear winner of the Muscle Car crown right now. The ZL1 is the clear winner on the Indy car track.


Sent from my iPhone

[affox83]

Originally Posted by A-little-perspective

Then why not take the savings from a ZL1 or GT500 and put it in a Boss or 1LE? Thats far more logical.

Mag ride...and rarity factor...at least for now anyways

[GM4lyfe]

It's funny how people see just only times or performance numbers to choose what car is better. I used to do that in high school. Now that I'm older I look at a car as a whole.

Its also funny how people pick apart certain things they no nothing about just for the sake of argument.

[Gxproadster]

Funny Insideline should see the vid going around the net of a boss beating a zl1

[E.T.]

Times and performance numbers aren't all a car is about. I don't care what my Jeep does in the 1/4. BUT, a performance car, on the other hand...U dunno...I'd kind of expect it to perform.

[Angrybird 12]

If I remember correctly Chevy has always promoted this ZL1 as a road course handling car, not as a drag racer. But for some that is not what they wantedthey wanted it to be a drag car. You need to get over it. Look at all the commercials promoting the ZL1. Have you seen one of it on the drag strip? No because it was not designed for that. The original duty of the performance part of the pony car was Tran-Am racing, and what did they consist of? Road courses. So everyone calm down and get a grip. Yes even you Mustang guys that are on total red alert mode. The GT500 was basically designed to go fast and have a top speed of 200mph the ZL1 was designed to go fast around curves and that translates into higher exit speeds from the corners. The Shelby needs that extra power to try to make up the lower exit speed from the corner. As further tests will show on smooth or bumpy tracks the winner will be depending on the length of the straightaways. Long straightaways, advantage Shelby, short straightaways, advantage ZL1. Where chevy messed up in my opinion is giving it the iconic designation of a drag racer, if they had called it a Z28 instead maybe more people would understand it's true designed puropse.

[E.T.]

I don't know why any of this matters much anyway. How many people who buy ZL1s are really going to be driving them on road coarses all the time. Yeah, there are the enthusiasts on here, but I bet most of them will be garage queens.

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by OldScoolCamaro

Two camps, two agendas, two different visions, at the end of the day competing against each other on a monetary playing field with seemingly different goals in mind.

Exactly. I think that both the GT500 and ZL1 are fine cars. As I've said for quite some time now, if one's thing is straight line acceleration, then I think that the GT500 is probably the better choice between the two, but if one is more into to handling, everyday touring and drivability, then I think that the ZL1 is likely the better choice. Which vehicle is "better," I think, really comes down to what each individual's interests and priorities are.

At this stage in my life I am more into handling and everyday touring and drivability, and I prefer the styling and proportions of the Camaro, so it's an easy choice for me.