Zl1 disappointment?

[Scott@Bjorn3D]

Ok I have to chime in here. I had a 1LE rear end put in my car. 2 weeks latter test drove a ZL1. Handling great. Push you back in the drivers set, my SS made the ZL1 feel like a V-6. It just did not $25K over my car impress me. Both cars are sticks.

[tmandoug1]

Why shift when the car does it for you, all you have to do is press the gas, turn the wheel when necessary and wipe the drool from your chin at stop lights. Let the pot stirring begin! As for OP, look at another car at another dealer if you feel the same lack HP/torque then keep yours or maybe look at the GT 500, those are supposed to be the bees knees my man.

[Genob4c]

Something's wrong with that car, Dude. The difference between my stock 2011 SS and my stock 2013 ZL1 is night and day! The ZL1 would blow it away.

Geno

[cvp33]

Originally Posted by Scott@Bjorn3D

Ok I have to chime in here. I had a 1LE rear end put in my car. 2 weeks latter test drove a ZL1. Handling great. Push you back in the drivers set, my SS made the ZL1 feel like a V-6. It just did not $25K over my car impress me. Both cars are sticks.

Some people just don't know how to turn off all the nannies, shift properly using no-lift shift and launch control. I would be happy to race any stock SS for money and laugh the whole time as the SS was putting down 13 second 1/4 miles to my 12.4's.

[bumblebeecamaro]

I'm 99% sure my 2010 SS would've pulled from my ZL1 from one city block to another. But then again, my 2010 SS did have a Maggie on it so that might have something to do with it. lol

[CamaroTom]

Originally Posted by cvp33

Some people just don't know how to turn off all the nannies, shift properly using no-lift shift and launch control. I would be happy to race any stock SS for money and laugh the whole time as the SS was putting down 13 second 1/4 miles to my 12.4's.

So you're ZL1 is running 12.4's and 1LE's are capable of running 12.7's. I can see why these guys aren't feeling much of a difference. With 160 more hp I would think qtr mile times would be farther apart. A ZL1 vert weighs 500 lbs more than my 1LE I guess that is part of it.

[cvp33]

Originally Posted by 1LEMayhem

So you're ZL1 is running 12.4's and 1LE's are capable of running 12.7's. I can see why these guys aren't feeling much of a difference. With 160 more hp I would think qtr mile times would be farther apart.

I don't think they make convertible 1LE's. They're great cars.....just slower and no convertibles as I recall.

.3 second only equates to 2.5 car lengths on the drag strip. No biggie....you'll just be able to see my tail lights better.

[joes407]

Originally Posted by mlee

You must have been driving the manual... they are all dogs...

its not the manual that are dogs its the verts!

[cvp33]

Originally Posted by joes407

its not the manual that are dogs its the verts!

Absolutely! Even limited to 155mph, thankfully they're still quick vs. fast.

[SlingShot]

These topics just crack me up, there is zero chance of a stock SS keeping up with a stock ZL1 ... The ZL1 may feel slower, due to more weight but it isn't by any means.

[joes407]

its my belief after owning both the SS and the ZL-1 that due to the larger throttle body on the SS that it is decievingly quicker feeling. everytime i drive my SS after the Z it feels more responsive but even with that feel i know my Z is way faster. just for haha's there was a guy at the track with 535 rwhp '12 SS and he couldnt even get better than a 12.5. my Z dynoed 520 to the wheels and i pull 12.3's all night without heating up the tires, i usually just spin the rocks off the tires before i launch.

[SCHUSS]

Originally Posted by 2012-1822

Look guys, play nice, some people just aren't coordinated enough to work three pedals

So true!

[BlackinBlack]

Originally Posted by Vroom

I've gone toe to toe with several SSs and the ZL1 stomps on them every time. Had one just try to take me today. The reason the ZL1 feels slower, and I had this same problem when I came from my GTO, is because the ZL1 is far, far more stable. You don't feel like you're going fast until you're well into the triple digits.

This is so true. I do a pull and tell my wife that was 120 and she is always like "it did not feel like we are going that fast". Trust me the car is fast. Also like all LS series motors they get stronger feeling after break in.

Originally Posted by 1LEMayhem

So you're ZL1 is running 12.4's and 1LE's are capable of running 12.7's. I can see why these guys aren't feeling much of a difference. With 160 more hp I would think qtr mile times would be farther apart. A ZL1 vert weighs 500 lbs more than my 1LE I guess that is part of it.

Way to take a person's real time and put it against a 1LE hero run. Apple to apple hero run to hero run it is more like 11.7 Vs 12.7. For normal passes it is more like 12.5 Vs 13.2. Take you pick but don't mix and match.

Originally Posted by joes407

its my belief after owning both the SS and the ZL-1 that due to the larger throttle body on the SS that it is decievingly quicker feeling. everytime i drive my SS after the Z it feels more responsive but even with that feel i know my Z is way faster. just for haha's there was a guy at the track with 535 rwhp '12 SS and he couldnt even get better than a 12.5. my Z dynoed 520 to the wheels and i pull 12.3's all night without heating up the tires, i usually just spin the rocks off the tires before i launch.

That is opposite. Small TB makes for better responsive and a larger TB makes for more overall power. My guess is the torque management is greater on the ZL1 in a default mode. On a coupe PTM modes make a big difference.

Either way my ZL1 feels a ton stronger than my SS did but my first drive of a ZL1 I did not notice it. For me it was because I was driving at "test drive" throttle settings. Babying the dealer's car out of respect it was not noticable. Once I had mine and could open it up I noticed. For me the first time it became apparent was when driving in 2nd gear. I stabbed the throttle to accelerate and the car spun the tires and kicked out the rear end. My SS never did that and I was like .

I would check another dealer if they are not giving you the deal you want.... good luck.

[newmoon]

Originally Posted by allblackedout

So I spotted a convertible zl1 on a local lot in December and called on it. The dealer low balled the trade in on my ss due to the time of year and told me to bring it back in the spring. I brought my car in tonight for an appraisal and took the zl1 for a ride, it was much less than expected in the performance department. Handling was great and overall feel was a step up from my car, but it would barely out accelerate my ss. I'm actually thinking from a dead start I could pull the zl1 with my ss.
So what gives? This car has gotten rave reviews. I put the suspension into sport mode but didn't mess with traction control. I did feel the tc kick in several times at stop lights under power and the car felt very torquey but once you were under way it didn't pull like the freight train like I expected it would and it certainly didn't feel like the tc was holding me back at 70 mph plus. So bad gas? The car has been sitting since at least December, phase separation? Lot boy fill it up with 87? The computer should compensate for poor fuel conditions by retarding timing or remapping fuel curves?
Bottom line is I really like this car, but I'm not buying a dog. Any similar experiences, or solutions? Also I didn't come on here to bash the car, I've been drooling over it for months.hopefully it's something stupid and you guys can show me the error of my ways

I think it all comes down to expectations. You walk into the dealership expecting to strap into a 580 hp missile. You then drop the top (mistake no. 1), fire it up and get ready for the blast off which doesn’t come. The problem is that you really expect more out of a 580 hp car in acceleration. Most of the times posted in the ¼ on stock vehicles are mid to low 12s @ 112-115 mph which does seem low for a car with this much hp. That is why you did not feel the acceleration you expected.