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

[C5RocksC5]

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

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.

Not taking sides but if you are planning to do more than 5 laps around a real track, upgrading the brakes would be one of the first things to do to a stock car.
So they went 3 laps...can some post the lap times for the GT500 and ZL1? Lap per lap?

[Bob Cosby]

Originally Posted by LeviG

What I'm betting is that once you get to know either car and have hours of course time with either, you're going to buy horsepower and heat management upgrades for your ZL1 and some braking and handling upgrades for you GT500.

Ah - we can agree! Though if I were getting a GT500, I don't want the handling upgrade (does just fine for my purposes) or braking upgrade (ditto), though I shall put both on a diet, and put a better set of rear tires on them...

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Bob Cosby

Ok. For the sake of discussion, and because its very slow here today, I combined all the acceleration stuff (and top speed) into "acceleration", and came up with this (just as useless, but fun) little matrix. It shows "wins" for each category based on the 4 magazine's results:

Acceleration:
GT500 = 4
ZL1 = 0
Not reported = 0
Most "wins" = GT500

Braking:
GT500 = 2
ZL1 = 1
Not reported = 1
Most "wins" = GT500

Skidpad:
GT500 = 1
ZL1 = 1
Not reported = 2
Most "wins" = Tie

Slalom:
GT500 = 1
ZL1 = 2
Not reported = 1
Most "wins" = ZL1

Road Course:
GT500 = 2
ZL1 = 1
Tie = 1
Most "wins" = GT500

Broken down that way, in raw numbers, you end up with the following:
GT500 wins 3 (Accel, braking, Road course)
ZL1 wins 1
Cars "tie" on 1 (skidpad)

Final results = 3-1-1

I leave off gas mileage because its not a performance metric in the same sense as those above, and most folks don't buy these cars for mileage (though it is something I always consider...regardless of what kind of vehicle I'm purchasing).

Of course, those things that can't be measured include ride comfort, level of ability needed to obtain x or y numbers, and what is often called the "feel" of the car. Other things that are often ignored include visibility, available options , how well a car is equipped in base trim, cost of ownership, mpg, warranty, etc.

Let us not forget personal preference on looks and brand loyalty (abundant on BOTH sides...in spades)

As always, we draw our own conclusions.

Have you ever heard the saying "on paper"? Yes numbers are what they are, however an "experience" can and does mean much more.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Bob Cosby

Ah - we can agree! Though if I were getting a GT500, I don't want the handling upgrade (does just fine for my purposes) or braking upgrade (ditto), though I shall put both on a diet, and put a better set of rear tires on them...

That's the issue, you're trying to convince many of us that the ZL1 is inferior to the GT500, but your only truly interested in 0-? We (many of us) look at it from a far different perspective where the ZL1 is far more capable. Take your 0-whatever win, but know that it would take very little to make the ZL1 more capable in the 0-?

[Bob Cosby]

I'm sorry, but I'm not trying to convince you of anything. You have your opinion, I have mine. Both are based upon our preferences, wants, needs, and ability to pay.

[Fenderaddict2]

Originally Posted by 1hotchevy

Id say put horsepower to horsepower even numbers and see what happens, with the same amount of ponies...wonder who would be crying then!

And what if they both had the same suspension? Silly argument.

In any case, if we are looking for a domestic track star forget either the ZL1 or GT500 and buy yourself one of these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=eptrSafleW8

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by pdari

Not taking sides but if you are planning to do more than 5 laps around a real track, upgrading the brakes would be one of the first things to do to a stock car.
So they went 3 laps...can some post the lap times for the GT500 and ZL1? Lap per lap?

Lol there's that 3 lap thing again. How do you know after 5 laps it would need a brake upgrade? Nobody has run them for more than 3 laps in any test. That is my whole point. You and others are assuming things that have not been proven to be true. All I am asking is for a better test, I believe that in a longer test the ZL1 would be the winner. But that is just my opinion just as your opinion they would need different brakes. Saying one car is the winner based on just a couple laps would be like declaring the pole winner for a race the race winner just because he was the fastest car for those couple laps. That is why they run a race longer than 3 laps, to determine a real winner.

[Fenderaddict2]

Originally Posted by 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

The only car that ever fell apart on a track for me was a Corvette. Both visors worked there way loose and feel down on the passenger and driver when lapping Mosport. Duct Tape and Glue, really?

[ec1990]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

And what if they both had the same suspension? Silly argument.

In any case, if we are looking for a domestic track star forget either the ZL1 or GT500 and buy yourself one of these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=eptrSafleW8

That was insane. I think they braked once in that entire video. That car is going to be a monster.

[Fenderaddict2]

Originally Posted by shaffe

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.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Bob Cosby

I'm sorry, but I'm not trying to convince you of anything. You have your opinion, I have mine. Both are based upon our preferences, wants, needs, and ability to pay.

Your making statements to someone other than yourself, unless your not convinced and just thinking out loud?

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

And what if they both had the same suspension? Silly argument.

In any case, if we are looking for a domestic track star forget either the ZL1 or GT500 and buy yourself one of these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=eptrSafleW8

I agree at the end of the day it's "all" about Performance VS $ spent. Yes True Value Always WINS!

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by shaffe

I bet most Camaro fans thought it was fair comparing the 56K Supercharged ZL1 to the the 48K N/A BOSS 302 LS?

Im sure if the Camaro had performance options MT woould have had them on the test car.

Both are great cars. Faster than I would ever need hahaha, but I would sure love either one in my driveway

Wrong! Most questioned it as well, due to price. When you assum...

[The IOM Ninja]

Originally Posted by 2cnd chance

Wrong! Most questioned it as well, due to price. When you assum...

Well actually many thought it was FAIR because the BOSS 302 is Ford's Track Ready Mustang. Just saying, and only a stupid person would take a supercharged car to a track. The ZL1/GT500 can be track READY all they want but the 1LE/BOSS 302 will/are the true track stars because the are not supercharged.

This is how it went:

GT500 vs SS - Not Fair (horsepower difference)

ZL1 vs Boss 302 LS - Fair (Ford's track Mustang vs Chevy's track Camaro)

ZL1 vs 2013 GT500 - Not Fair (the GT500 is a 2013 MY and ZL1 is a 2012 MY)