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

[Deki]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

Well, we've had one comparison, and it's showing that the GT500 isn't as good on the skidpad or on a twisty road, even after swapping drivers.

It's the only comparison we've got...but when they talk about the taillights of the Camaro pulling away from the Mustang, methinks you should be worried that your camps claims that it could keep up on curves might have just been wishful thinking.

edit: Also, I suspect there's a reason we've never seen video or times from Ford on track times at VIR & Nurburgring. Embarassment? Probably. I mean...they readily released the better 1/4 mile times.

Ford never rented the track like GM did for their testing at Nurburgring. I think you confuse basic test numbers with track performance. Just because one car did better on a twisty road, where they even say it was easier to drive, does not translate to better track performance. That's why I said, on page 1 or 2, that the .05 difference in average lateral grip is quite a good margin, but I wouldn't discount the GT500 just yet. I also brought up the point that the supposedly addressed rough 1 to 2 shift SVT said they addressed with the 2013 GT500 reared it's ugly head in this test. We will have to wait and see. Any my camp is the 5.0 camp, we like SS owners better than both ZL1 and GT500 owners.

[Deki]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

So what huge difference between these tires makes the 2 second difference on lightning lap realistic? As far as I can find they are the same tire. Tirerack even lists the same exact tire as OE for both.

It's the same tire. Just let it go, he won't stop. He'll just find something else to go on about.

[DanSS24]

Bench racing is fun sometimes, but it can also get very out of hand...and off topic. Both cars can be modded to beat each other. How much testing will there have to be to convince those who love their brand over the other? No matter what numbers these mags post, not everyone will be satisfied. Ford lovers are gonna love their cars no matter what Chevy does, and vice versa. These are both great cars. In the end, the consumer wins. I'm sure I am not the only one that doesn't care about whose cars are better or faster, than the other.

[69NMYSS]

Originally Posted by DanSS24

Bench racing is fun sometimes, but it can also get very out of hand...and off topic. Both cars can be modded to beat each other. How much testing will there have to be to convince those who love their brand over the other? No matter what numbers these mags post, not everyone will be satisfied. Ford lovers are gonna love their cars no matter what Chevy does, and vice versa. These are both great cars. In the end, the consumer wins. I'm sure I am not the only one that doesn't care about whose cars are better or faster, than the other.

Well put. I will give it to Ford, what they did with the '13GT500 is awesome. 662hp out of a 5.8 liter V-8 is nothing short of spectacular. However, the same can be said about the ZL1. The suspension and all around performance as a true GT is incredible. You are right, the consumer is the winner. The enthusiast has choices.

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by ParisTNDude

However, if you want to go very fast in a straght line, all you need is HP. If anyone read the comparo in this month's Car & Driver, they tested the Audi A6, BMW M5, and the Mercedes E63 AMG and all 3 would have beat the Camaro with 1/4 mile times of 12.1, 11.9 and 12.0 (wouldn't that be embarassing) respectively and all with cars weighing 4200 lbs or more. None of them exceeded 560 HP. Crazy times, these!

Great point about that test. What is really weird is the 12.1 @115 that the AWD Audi recorded with only "420" crank HP. Really? With that weight and that trap is Audi underestimating by 100 hp? Or is this the benefit of AWD? That 420 rating is silly. Come on C&D call Audi out. The new Audi TT is too fast for its power too.

So looking at all the similar cars of power and weight out there, including the CTS-V, the ZL1 is a guaranteed low 12 second car under good conditions and driving and may sometimes squeak into the 11s. Physics.

By the same reasoning the '13 GT500 under the same conditions is at least .5+ seconds quicker. And yes, at these speeds this means the GT500 destroys the ZL1 at the drags. How could it be any other way? Physics.

So I see it like this:

• Acceleration: GT500 clear win
• Bragging rights: GT500 Clear win
• Bad ass: GT500 clear win
• Handling: ZL1 clear win (Probably)
• Driver confidence at speed: ZL1 clear win
• Better suspension adjustability: ZL1 clear win
• Not needing a roll bar at the drags: ZL1 clear win

So there you are, ZL1 (4) and GT500 (3).

However, in the fun category both are huge winners. I will have one of each.

[Bob Cosby]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

...Not needing a roll bar at the drags: ZL1 clear win...

LOL. Not so sure that's a "win"....

[Fenderaddict2]

Originally Posted by DanSS24

Bench racing is fun sometimes, but it can also get very out of hand...and off topic. Both cars can be modded to beat each other. How much testing will there have to be to convince those who love their brand over the other? No matter what numbers these mags post, not everyone will be satisfied. Ford lovers are gonna love their cars no matter what Chevy does, and vice versa. These are both great cars. In the end, the consumer wins. I'm sure I am not the only one that doesn't care about whose cars are better or faster, than the other.

Beyond the pure curiosity of wanting to know test numbers at the end of the day they are close enough to not really matter. You gotta love both of these cars.

[oortcloud]

Originally Posted by tooslow

You mean like they did with their quarter mile tests? IIRC, GM released its video proclaiming 11.9 on the stock tires only after repeated mid-to-low 12-second runs by various magazines/ezines.

Doh, true. I forgot about that. Both sides are doing it. I'm gonna bring this up at the next meeting.

[Fenderaddict2]

Can you imagine the Shelby with the MR suspension? Boogles the mind.

[mlee]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

Can you imagine the Shelby with the MR suspension? Boogles the mind.

That would not be good...

[mmarx82]

I think the review was very unbias and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I was glad to see that they tested both the cars on the same day at the same time. We, the consumers, are the winners. To each their own!

@oortcloud
I've already seen ZL1's break into the 11's, there are videos around here somewhere btw.

@Fenderaddict
Can you imagine a ZL1 with the Shelby engine? Boogles the Mind! lol!

[Fenderaddict2]

Originally Posted by 72MachOne99GT

I drive it in camo all the time so nobody has to see me in it.

Almost makes me throw up

I get the inside joke, but damn that "Petty Blue" sure is pretty.

[Fenderaddict2]

Originally Posted by mmarx82

I think the review was very unbias and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I was glad to see that they tested both the cars on the same day at the same time. We, the consumers, are the winners. To each their own!

@oortcloud
I've already seen ZL1's break into the 11's, there are videos around here somewhere btw.

@Fenderaddict
Can you imagine a ZL1 with the Shelby engine? Boogles the Mind! lol!

I tried too, but between the weight and the aerodynamics I couldn't see it hitting 200 mph comfortably.

[mlee]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

I get the inside joke, but damn that "Petty Blue" sure is pretty.

Meh... it's starting to grow on me...