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

[Fenderaddict2]

Originally Posted by OldScoolCamaro

I find this to be true, both are very capable and incredible machines for what they can do.

Based in what Ford and Chevy have done with these "Muscle cars" I really believe the upcoming platforms are going to put the world on notice. American cars will again be the ones everyone aspire to own. 'bout time.

[Bad@ssCamaro]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

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

Is that a reference to the great Richard Petty who drove for Dodge(Mopar)?

[tooslow]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

$800K was the record, DUDE.

Actually, it was $840,000. Get your facts straight, boy.

[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

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.

Shift speed on some of the new Audi transmissions is incredibly fast. That helps a ton and AWD can do some amazing things.

[hognutz]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

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

It would be in my garage I know that haha. unless there was an LS9 camaro then maybe I would be conflicted again.

[DanSS24]

I wonder if Hennessey or Lingenfelter or any other high performance shops would install the LS9 in the ZL1. That would be something. Similar to the Hennessey LS9 Camaro, except with MR suspension. That would be a thing of beauty. and the smokey burn out.

[alex70olds]

I love them both. The video is nice being the first, but really leaves a lot of comparisons on the table. Looking forward to a more comprehensive evaluation imho.

[richtor]

Originally Posted by Deki

In the head to head it was 1.03 vs .98

2011 gt500 hit 1.01 on the skid, with straight line performance similar to the current ZL1.

Both Great Cars!

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by tooslow

Actually, it was $840,000. Get your facts straight, boy.

...with buyer's premium...

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by 72MachOne99GT

IT'S NOT PETTY BLUE!!!

No..of course not...it's PRETTY Blue...

[LOWDOWN]

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.

Tire Rack only sells the latest versions of improved-over-age tires. "Obsolete" tires are cleared out, by batch number or "stale date"...just like bread.

Consider this: BFG has made the performance-oriented Radial T/A for 40-some years (remember John Greenwood, racing on them?)...same Brand and name. But NOT the same tire composition...

The "other" factors, regarding Z06 vs. GS? Go back and read both stories. Whoever drove the Z06 was either not competent, or the car was ill-prepared. GS drive? Far more complimentary...

Besides, as has been shouted from the roof-tops, different cars on different days driven by God-knows-who DON'T COUNT...just like it never happened...

[VTXFrank]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

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.

Originally Posted by Ultrakla$$ic

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/n...amaro_zl1.html

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

This thread is just going around in circles now. Have fun and don't get dizzy!!!

I find it quite hilarious that you did not address the link provided by Ultraclassic. Then, you just decide to pull the black and yellow lever and punch out of the thread. This is especially amusing since you have stirred this pot more than anyone else.

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

Based in what Ford and Chevy have done with these "Muscle cars" I really believe the upcoming platforms are going to put the world on notice. American cars will again be the ones everyone aspire to own. 'bout time.

I completely agree with this!

I'll say it again. These two cars are modern muscle car wonders of technology and science. Who would of ever thought a solid rear axle Mustang could be made to perform at these levels for a, relatively, low price? Who ever thought a 4,000lb Camaro could be made to keep up with a lot of cars costing twice as much?

Until an unbiased source, or two biased sources, brings these two cars together on the same track, in full factory stock trim down to the rubber they come with, and puts them through their paces from the straights to the corners, all this fanboism BS is just that. BS.

The 2011 Mustang GT out-did everything compared to the 2011 Camaro SS. But it remains SO close, that in the real world, with regular people, it's purely a drivers race. I FULLY expect the GT500 vs. Camaro ZL1 to be the same.

The GT500 *could* over power the Camaro on the straights while giving it time to catch up/stay close through the corners. Conversely, if the GT500 proves to not handle anywhere near as well as the ZL1, the straightaways may not allow it time enough to recover the lost ground. The ZL1 is a cornering monster. When compared to previous Camaro's, it's an evolutionary step of huge proportions!

What a great day and age we car enthusiasts are living in!! Even if you bought the basic car for each, you're in the same price range with the Camaro costing just a tiny tad more at base prices. Someone said there was a $10k difference. That is laughable at best. You don't compare fully optioned cars like that unless you're C/D or MotorTrend and that's the cost of the car you've been given to test.

So use some friggin common sense and stop all this high school fanboy BS. In the next couple of weeks, I'm sure testing will prove out that the ZL1 is the better handling machine and the GT500 is the more powerful one. Buying either car comes down to ones thoughts on styling. If you buy a car you perceive as ugly or OK just because it's a tad quicker in the 1/4, then you are an idiot of epic proportions. We each buy that car that moves us not just physically, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by VTXFrank

I find it quite hilarious that you did not address the link provided by Ultraclassic. Then, you just decide to pull the black and yellow lever and punch out of the thread. This is especially amusing since you have stirred this pot more than anyone else.

Au contraire, I guess you missed my answer to that post (post 250), I said I had not seen that artical. And in my original post you included here I said If I remember correctly, that means I did not remember seeing anything about Chevy promoting the ZL1 as a drag car. Still again as I said in that post all the TV commercials have shown it on a road course, not a drag strip. Also about me stirring the pot more than anyone else you need to look at all the Mustang people comments and see who is stirring. Many of my posts were saying that on a road course it will still depend on how long the straights are, the longer the better for the Shelby. So you need to read before flaming. Even though I quit posting, I did make several more posts after the one you mentioned, And as I stated by that time it was going around in circles just as it still is, anyway i kept reading just so I could see remarks like yours. Good luck and nice try.

[IOMZL1]

Originally Posted by VTXFrank

I completely agree with this!

I'll say it again. These two cars are modern muscle car wonders of technology and science. Who would of ever thought a solid rear axle Mustang could be made to perform at these levels for a, relatively, low price? Who ever thought a 4,000lb Camaro could be made to keep up with a lot of cars costing twice as much?

Until an unbiased source, or two biased sources, brings these two cars together on the same track, in full factory stock trim down to the rubber they come with, and puts them through their paces from the straights to the corners, all this fanboism BS is just that. BS.

The 2011 Mustang GT out-did everything compared to the 2011 Camaro SS. But it remains SO close, that in the real world, with regular people, it's purely a drivers race. I FULLY expect the GT500 vs. Camaro ZL1 to be the same.

The GT500 *could* over power the Camaro on the straights while giving it time to catch up/stay close through the corners. Conversely, if the GT500 proves to not handle anywhere near as well as the ZL1, the straightaways may not allow it time enough to recover the lost ground. The ZL1 is a cornering monster. When compared to previous Camaro's, it's an evolutionary step of huge proportions!

What a great day and age we car enthusiasts are living in!! Even if you bought the basic car for each, you're in the same price range with the Camaro costing just a tiny tad more at base prices. Someone said there was a $10k difference. That is laughable at best. You don't compare fully optioned cars like that unless you're C/D or MotorTrend and that's the cost of the car you've been given to test.

So use some friggin common sense and stop all this high school fanboy BS. In the next couple of weeks, I'm sure testing will prove out that the ZL1 is the better handling machine and the GT500 is the more powerful one. Buying either car comes down to ones thoughts on styling. If you buy a car you perceive as ugly or OK just because it's a tad quicker in the 1/4, then you are an idiot of epic proportions. We each buy that car that moves us not just physically, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually.