MotorTrend Pits the ZL1 vs GT500 on the Street, Dragstrip, and Racetrack

[eolson]

There's no way the GT500 can make up for the fact it is not as refined as the ZL1, or that the GT500 doesn't drive as easily fast, nor does it have a nice feeling over bumpy roads, that is a fact.

The GT500 does match the ZL1 on the road course track times. Fact... Erik

[PistonsFan]

Originally Posted by eolson

There's no way the GT500 can make up for the fact it is not as refined as the ZL1, or that the GT500 doesn't drive as easily fast, nor does it have a nice feeling over bumpy roads, that is a fact.

Very true. Any many seem to ignore or not unerstand that.

Originally Posted by eolson

People keep bringing up aftermarket suspensions for the GT500 that will match the ZL1. Yes, handling can be improved with aftermarket suspension, but you will never match the trade-off of handling vs. harshness that the MRC provides. Throw on some stiffer springs/dampers/bars/bushings and you'll be able to carry more speed in the corners, but your ride quality will suck and the suspension will be even less capable of handling bumps or curbing in the corners.

The GT500 does match the ZL1 on the road course track times. Fact... Erik

On a fast track, yes.

Tighter (Gingerman) or rough-surface tracks favor the ZL1.

[oortcloud]

Originally Posted by Betiwin

How much does the suede package cost on the ZL1. As this is standered on parts of the Shelby wheel and must be a reason in performs so well. Just as the PP and TP must be added so must the suede package in the ZL1. So the price is that much closer!

Kidding of course! But if I was buying a GT500 it would be 54,995 + 3495PP, + 1595 Recaros, + 2300 Nav, + 395 car cover. So 62,800 ish? Yes I didnt include TP as I will never beat on any car like this over 5-10 min at time. More drag race and spirited drive down winding roads maybe 1 lap or 2 at a course just to say I did it once.

Now how much is a 13ZL1? Base was 54,995 + 1300 GGT. Any idea how much NAV, MYtouch, suede int, and I have seen some with a nice ZL1 car cover. Price on that? How much did 13 go up?

It went up $255. Here's the price I paid for my 2013:

base 55,250
bright wheels 470
nav 795
gg tax 1,300

total 57,815

The suede seat inserts and mytouch are standard. They do have a suede option for the shifter and steering wheel but personally I don't like it. I wear gloves at the track anyway.

This is about $5k less than your car. But my car will be tracked occasionally. About 1-2 times per month, except winter. So the track pack would definitely be needed. That's another 3k to add in. And we still have to mod and experiment to get rid of the brake fade. And no, just changing brake fluid will not be enough. These cars are too heavy and powerful. You need airflow to keep them cool.

[hognutz]

Originally Posted by Betiwin

How much does the suede package cost on the ZL1. As this is standered on parts of the Shelby wheel and must be a reason in performs so well. Just as the PP and TP must be added so must the suede package in the ZL1. So the price is that much closer!





Kidding of course! But if I was buying a GT500 it would be 54,995 + 3495PP, + 1595 Recaros, + 2300 Nav, + 395 car cover. So 62,800 ish? Yes I didnt include TP as I will never beat on any car like this over 5-10 min at time. More drag race and spirited drive down winding roads maybe 1 lap or 2 at a course just to say I did it once.

Now how much is a 13ZL1? Base was 54,995 + 1300 GGT. Any idea how much NAV, MYtouch, suede int, and I have seen some with a nice ZL1 car cover. Price on that? How much did 13 go up?

the base went up $255. mine is 56,001 supplier price with suede and exposed carbon.

exposed carbon is $600, sued was either $450 or $500.

for me price was idendial base vs base. If had got no options it would have been 55k vs 55k. this is why I chuckle when people say money does not factor in. I could ahve got x-plan on the shelby I proabably would have bought it. I was pissed my order got pushed out.

there is no way I would not mod the base shelby suspension though in the long run. so this was my dilema.

If you have the money though the shelby has many options. I hate the glass roof, will never speend $2400 on nav, the recaro's I am 50/50 on like them on the track not may favorite for daily.

this is where bias comes in handy. Because I love the accelartion of the shelby but i also love the suspention package on the ZL1.

if you can affoard it the TP/PP could be the car for you but at the same time the ZL1 with an extra 100hp might just be the best of both worlds. more comfortable, laps faster, accerates as good etc.

past generation shelbys have lost there balace with big HP bumps this genration might not though.

[SSmoked]

I must give credit to the Shelby that thing pulls the Z every straight except for one and is going 5-10mph faster most of the time. Amazing but I find it fantastic that the Z in every of corner is either tied or winning. That's the suspension and brakes working its magic and reeling in the Shelby.
Both very impressive cars. In my eyes pitting these 2 cars against each other on a track both road courses and drag is a drivers race.

[PistonsFan]

Originally Posted by rez333

Am I hearing right? It sounds like Randy gave the win to the GT500. Skip to 11:30

ZL1:
+ "far superior brakes"
- more understeer through a middle of a corner
+ on a bumpy road, the Camaro is going to take it
+ more sophisticated suspension
- chassis imbalance (understeer, then oversteer) - "push loose"


GT500:
+ Best bite, best steering
- needs a brake upgrade for track work
+ Better car with a brake upgrade for track work and probably the street too
+ Better balanced
+ "really puts the power down"

Thoughts?

I bet Randy wanted to take back some of the comments after seeing that track data. If it felt like the ZL1 had more unsteer, it was because it was taking the corners much faster than the GT500. Other reviewers have already said the opposite - that the GT500 exhibits much more understeer. To be honest, some of his comments don't even make sense. The GT500 being better balanced? We know that it is not the case and reviewers have already complained about the GT500 being/feeling nose-heavy.

But that's his opinion of how he "felt" the two cars behaved on the course.

My 2 cents...

[DanSS24]

Originally Posted by eolson

There's no way the GT500 can make up for the fact it is not as refined as the ZL1, or that the GT500 doesn't drive as easily fast, nor does it have a nice feeling over bumpy roads, that is a fact.

The GT500 does match the ZL1 on the road course track times. Fact... Erik

Yes and another fact is that after the 3rd lap the ZL1 will start to pull ahead and stay ahead of the GT500. It's just too sad they didn't do more than three laps.

[PistonsFan]

Originally Posted by A-little-perspective

Ok look. Assume 0% down, 8% Tax , and 6% interest, $0 Trade-In, 60 months.

$55,000 - $1148.36/Month
$60,000 - $1252.76/Month
$65,000 - $1357.16/Month

If you you are looking at these cars and can't afford the $209/Month difference, from $55k to $65K, then you probably shouldn't be looking at these cars.

http://www.cars.com/go/advice/financ....jsp?mode=full

Your first mistake is assuming that most people who buy $60k cars buy them with 0 down. Most people who can afford to buy such cars don't get there by abusing credit. Many pay cash. There are many people out there that don't finance any of their cars. And when you are paying cash for a car like this, you do care what the final price is.

[CJ1034]

I knew it all along, Camaro is best overall. Wait until I put the 700HP upgrade on it.

[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by PistonsFan

I bet Randy wanted to take back some of the comments after seeing that track data. If it felt like the ZL1 had more unsteer, it was because it was taking the corners much faster than the GT500. Other reviewers have already said the opposite - that the GT500 exhibits much more understeer. To be honest, some of his comments don't even make sense. The GT500 being better balanced? We know that it is not the case and reviewers have already complained about the GT500 being/feeling nose-heavy.

But that's his opinion of how he "felt" the two cars behaved on the course.

My 2 cents...

Understeer is understeer regardless of cornering speed. Uneven weight distribution does not necessarily mean the car is going to understeer or oversteer more, nor does it mean it won't still feel balanced. Slight understeer is actually much easier to handle than oversteer and many prefer it. For the average driver it's going to be far easier to manage a bit of understeer than oversteer. Track data isn't going to change a thing about understeer, oversteer, or feel.

[evolve]

Originally Posted by Mikes SS

ok well with the ZL1 taking the ribbon for this one, I couldn't even imagine the competition between the two if the ZL1 had the LS9 in it. I don't even think that the 500 would even be on the same street.

Weight/power still favors the GT500 for straight line performance. The track would definitely tell a different story

[74z28]

If you read the article by the third lap it hasnt even caught the GT500 yet. The GT500 had just slowed down enough that it was only running with the best time of the ZL. What kind of skewed lodgic is it that a car running faster for 2 laps, then vertually the same on the third are even at tha point and getting passed?

[C5RocksC5]

The article listed the GT500's 3rd lap time but listed only the ZL1's first lap time. It says the ZL1 did slow down a little bit each of the 2nd and 3rd lap but didn't list the final lap time. Draw your own conclusion. Either way, both win.

[PistonsFan]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

Understeer is understeer regardless of cornering speed. Uneven weight distribution does not necessarily mean the car is going to understeer or oversteer more, nor does it mean it won't still feel balanced. Slight understeer is actually much easier to handle than oversteer and many prefer it. For the average driver it's going to be far easier to manage a bit of understeer than oversteer. Track data isn't going to change a thing about understeer, oversteer, or feel.

Don't agree with that... at all. If they matched the GT500 cornering speed in the ZL1, it would've felt like a walk in the park. Oversteer and understeer become greatly more noticeable at the limits.