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

[PistonsFan]

Originally Posted by nanokpsi

That is a bit like saying car "x" is the better car overall. It is all realtive. If you value the ease and repeatability of the results, regardless of the competitions times, then the ZL1 is a better track car FOR YOU. If you best track car is the one that gets around the track the fastest, then the GT500 is the better track car FOR YOU.

I think the whole repeatability thing is a joke anyways. Once you get to know the car and have hours of course time with either, I am will to bet your track results are going to be pretty consistant in either car.

I said nothing of the sort. The braking issue can be easily remedied.

The fact that GT500 corners poorly and has loads of understeer cannot be easily fixed. The ZL1 is far more neutral - which is more desireable for a track car.

I'm getting the impression that you have never driven on a track. Handling is always preferred over raw power on the track.

[HumanWiki]

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

Where in his quote does he say NEVER? Also nothing about on any track or any road course.

I'm done with you.

[SlingShot]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

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What some Ford fans appear to fail to understand is that stating that the ZL1 is a better road course car than the GT500 is not the same thing as stating that the GT500 will not be faster on a road course than the ZL1.


If I am correct in concluding that you are a Ford fan, you just proved my point.

Do you understand that the fact that the GT500 may be able to run a lap or two quicker than the ZL1 on a specific road course here and there, is not incompatible with the fact that overall, on the majority of road courses and over a majority of laps, it will be easier to consistently obtain faster laps with the ZL1 rather than the GT500, and thus making the ZL1 a better road car?

They don't and they refuse to understand that fact. They all believe in one and done is the best.

[mlee]

Originally Posted by HumanWiki

But, that wasn't why I posted the link, now was it. GB didn't have a timeline in there. It was a direct challenge to find a link stating something. I found two and linked to them.

And I didn't quote you, now did I...



This thread is about the 2013 GT500 vs. ZL1... correct. So there's no need to dig up the same old quotes posted all over the SVT forums about stuff said in 2011. It's totally out of context and irrelevant at this point.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by PistonsFan

What he said was completely true. The ZL1 is a better track car.

Drag racing and performance driving are two completely different things. One is all about the time, the other isn't. The GT500 clearly wasn't made for road courses. Every reviewer has complained about how much the chassis pushes in the corners and how you have to use power oversteer just to get it to rotate well through the hard corners.

Let it go.

The ZL1 was designed to be track-ready from the showroom floor and it delivered on that. The GT500 is a 660 hp beast that has incredible acceleration at its price point. There's something for everybody.

But the GT500 being able to post faster lap times at 2 different tracks makes it not track ready??? Or made for road courses??

Yes the camaro will be easier to do it in, and might get better results but both cars are track ready, just depends on how you like your car.

Im not saying either car is better than the other I would love either one in my driveway.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by shaffe

But the GT500 being able to post faster lap times at 2 different tracks makes it not track ready??? Or made for road courses??

Yes the camaro will be easier to do it in, and might get better results but both cars are track ready, just depends on how you like your car.

Im not saying either car is better than the other I would love either one in my driveway.

Track ready means is it ready to run a full race, not if it can go 2 or 3 laps at a good speed.

[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

Please post the link where it was stated that the GT500 would never be faster than the ZL1 on any lap on any road course.

Really, you couldn't be more obtuse? I'm not going to search through a thousand pages of nonsense in the merged threads to find what you and I both know exist. I doubt anyone ever explicitly stated the gt500 would never be faster on any lap on any road course, but we both know how many many hundreds of times it has been stated the gt500 would not be able to keep up on a road course because it, "won't be able to put the power down" or, "more power isn't going to make it faster on track," etc. Like I said, a few months ago people were even saying it wouldn't be able to match the Boss on the road course.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by SlingShot

They don't and they refuse to understand that fact. They all believe in one and done is the best.

No, I am a ford fan and I have no problem admitting the ZL1 would be the better track car for most people. What I have a problem with is a lot of people here still say the GT500 is not track ready, its a one trick pony, and is only good for 1/4 blasts.

[Bob Cosby]

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

Track ready means is it ready to run a full race, not if it can go 2 or 3 laps at a good speed.

Hmmm....what's a full race that a bone stock ZL1 would enter?

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

Really, you couldn't be more obtuse? I'm not going to search through a thousand pages of nonsense in the merged threads to find what you and I both know exist. I doubt anyone ever explicitly stated the gt500 would never be faster on any lap on any road course, but we both know how many many hundreds of times it has been stated the gt500 would not be able to keep up on a road course because it, "won't be able to put the power down" or, "more power isn't going to make it faster on track," etc. Like I said, a few months ago people were even saying it wouldn't be able to match the Boss on the road course.

I can back you up on that one.

Originally Posted by WHAMMO

I think Ford would not produce a 662hp engine just to make smoke show with it. They plan to beat the ZL1, plain and simple. And they will, in straight line. Is that tough to put better tires on this damn car from factory??!!

But around the track, I'm not so sure; the Boss Laguna Seca was lighter and made for cornering and got beat my the ZL1 by a good margin. It will be pretty hard to do make the GT500 corners as good as the Boss, let alone a ZL1.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

Track ready means is it ready to run a full race, not if it can go 2 or 3 laps at a good speed.

So Bc M/T car had brake fade all GT500s can only run 1 lap before the brakes start to crap out, when the other reviews praised the "fade free brakes"

Ok going by that logic then, didn't one of the first head 2 heads say the Camaro had trouble with the 2-3 shift? so then bc one magazine reported it all ZL1s must have problems with the 2-3 shift right

[swizz]

Everyone that is complaining about price difference doesn't understand economics. Most of it has to do with where parts are being produced and the cost of it to be shipped to the manufacturing destination. Ultimately these cars are worthy of comparing head to head. Fom everything my eyes tell me is the gt500 is not what they claim it to be. ZL1 clearly is a consistent performer and to me that screams being bulletproof from mechanical failure. gt500 seems like it was slapped together with duck tape and glue. So to me ZL1 is the ideal choice

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Bob Cosby

Hmmm....what's a full race that a bone stock ZL1 would enter?

LOL how about a head to head race say 50 laps at road Atlanta against a bone stock GT500.To me that would prove more than 3 laps to which car is most Track Ready.
Any real racing series you would have to add the required safety equipment to either car. But come on now you know what they really mean when they say a car is Track Ready.

[Bob Cosby]

Nobody would "seriously" race either of these cars without the basic safety and brake upgrades - mainly pads, fluid, and perhaps lines. On BOTH cars. At that point...anybodies ball game, I think. Though the GT500 driver will no doubt have to work harder, and may indeed be less consistent.

Anyway, you said full race....I'm sure there are some out there that think they can buy a ZL1 and go run a Trans Am series type of race tomorrow, when in reality, most that actually take these cars to the track will run 20-30 minute sessions and compete against............the clock. Not other cars.

And you and I both know we can't just go to Road Atlanta and race each other. Ain't happenin!

I will agree that base car to base car, the ZL1 is the more track ready. Assuming we're talking a track with corners....