First Drive: 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 - Brian Makse

[Zfatuated]

Seriously good stuff:

http://www.autonet.ca/en/2014/04/17/...let-camaro-z28

"The shifter feels great and not once during my on-track drive did I miss a shift. It felt perfectly natural and I’d say it’s almost perfect in this Z/28."

"According to Multimatic’s Engineering VP, Larry Holt, “With a shim damper, you could guarantee 10 to 12% variance damper to damper. Our road car dampers in the Z28, it’s within 2%. We build the Infiniti Red Bull dampers and those are within 1% tolerance, damper-to-damper, car-to-car, because that’s what they need to have. Z28 gives you 2% tolerance which would be the world’s greatest capability as far as precision of damping.”

"The pedals are well spaced for footwork and with the free-revving LS7, heel-and-toe downshifts are a breeze. " (that was very important infomation for me to read! Any real driver is competent with H/T and it is critical the pedal spacing accommodates this)

"On track, the Z/28 is undoubtedly more than the sum of its parts and it’s clear that every specific component is tuned for this car. It’s one of the most well-balanced and harmonious track cars that I’ve driven in a long time. After just a couple of laps, the Z/28 became very approachable and pushing its limits was an easy task."

"Overall, the Z/28 is a highly-focused and exceptionally competent track car for those who like their cars without compromise. Hard core car enthusiasts, rejoice. There’s a new number one pony car in town."

So a previous review said pedals were bad for heel/toe, this gentleman finds the opposite to be true.

All in all, yet another glowing review.

[mkorgan]

Why all the hate for the Camaro brand?? I just don't get the elitest and their "if was just not a Camaro" mentality. I think it is foolish and transparent that they begrudging give this car its due. Imagine if it had no badges and or relationship to the Camaro line. They would not be able to control themselves. Pathetic and senseless gibberish to criticize something just because of the name on the paperwork...

[brt3]

Originally Posted by Zfatuated

Seriously good stuff:

http://www.autonet.ca/en/2014/04/17/...let-camaro-z28

So a previous review said pedals were bad for heel/toe, this gentleman finds the opposite to be true.

All in all, yet another glowing review.

I think reviewers need to post their shoe size. Seriously, how else can there be this much discrepancy over this, unless one guy's a size 9 and the other's a 14?

[Mikebrinda]

Originally Posted by mkorgan

Why all the hate for the Camaro brand?? I just don't get the elitest and their "if was just not a Camaro" mentality. I think it is foolish and transparent that they begrudging give this car its due. Imagine if it had no badges and or relationship to the Camaro line. They would not be able to control themselves. Pathetic and senseless gibberish to criticize something just because of the name on the paperwork...

+1. The "Still a Camaro" remarks are the weakest of all comments.

[Zfatuated]

Originally Posted by mkorgan

Why all the hate for the Camaro brand?? I just don't get the elitest and their "if was just not a Camaro" mentality. I think it is foolish and transparent that they begrudging give this car its due. Imagine if it had no badges and or relationship to the Camaro line. They would not be able to control themselves. Pathetic and senseless gibberish to criticize something just because of the name on the paperwork...

Yeah, I fully agree, seems such a cheap shot by so many. Unfortunate. I've owned a bunch of European cars and have never felt any reason to slam Camaros. Liked the ZL1 a lot when it was introduced. Anyhow...Bottom line to these a-holes- enjoy the view of the taillights fockers!

Originally Posted by brt3

I think reviewers need to post their shoe size. Seriously, how else can there be this much discrepancy over this, unless one guy's a size 9 and the other's a 14?

It's either that or some folks simply struggle with the technique. This reviewer sounded intelligent and experienced and aside from the Camaro comment noted above, was otherwise well detailed. The reviewer who complained about pedal spacing, as best I recall, was the same one to whine about dead steering and "Sub-Korean " (WTF?) quality interior, so the other guy may have had it in for the the car due to "other reasons"

We'll all soon find out in the real world with real trackers eh? 'Murica! lol...

[jim911]

Brian has on a short sleeve shirt, no hans device, but is wearing a balaclava!

[brt3]

Originally Posted by jim911

Brian has on a short sleeve shirt, no hans device, but is wearing a balaclava!

That can be common if you travel to an event where they provide helmets -- in that case its a sanitary issue, not a safety one.

[backtotintops]

I thought I read 2 reviews already that the pedals were a bit far apart???

isn’t the warranty 5 year 100k?

where does he get 77400? and freight 1600. Freight is built in the 75???

interesting and informative but maybe a bit sloppy journalism.

[brt3]

Originally Posted by backtotintops

I thought I read 2 reviews already that the pedals were a bit far apart???

isn’t the warranty 5 year 100k?

where does he get 77400? and freight 1600. Freight is built in the 75???

interesting and informative but maybe a bit sloppy journalism.

I think those reviews are referencing Canadian pricing?

[Zfatuated]

Originally Posted by brt3

That can be common if you travel to an event where they provide helmets -- in that case its a sanitary issue, not a safety one.

Yeppers I generally always wear a balaclava to keep the helmet interior clean.

[jim911]

Really, you don't like it all slimy ?

[DanSS24]

7.0L 6 cylinder huh...really? Calling it "still a Camaro". Oh common...really!? The editing is as bad as their feeling. Good grief.

[brianmakse]

I just discovered this thread, so I'll add a few comments, but first, here's a direct link to a short video that we produced on the Z/28:

Originally Posted by Zfatuated

Seriously good stuff:

http://www.autonet.ca/en/2014/04/17/...let-camaro-z28

"The shifter feels great and not once during my on-track drive did I miss a shift. It felt perfectly natural and I’d say it’s almost perfect in this Z/28."

"According to Multimatic’s Engineering VP, Larry Holt, “With a shim damper, you could guarantee 10 to 12% variance damper to damper. Our road car dampers in the Z28, it’s within 2%. We build the Infiniti Red Bull dampers and those are within 1% tolerance, damper-to-damper, car-to-car, because that’s what they need to have. Z28 gives you 2% tolerance which would be the world’s greatest capability as far as precision of damping.”

"The pedals are well spaced for footwork and with the free-revving LS7, heel-and-toe downshifts are a breeze. " (that was very important infomation for me to read! Any real driver is competent with H/T and it is critical the pedal spacing accommodates this)

"On track, the Z/28 is undoubtedly more than the sum of its parts and it’s clear that every specific component is tuned for this car. It’s one of the most well-balanced and harmonious track cars that I’ve driven in a long time. After just a couple of laps, the Z/28 became very approachable and pushing its limits was an easy task."

"Overall, the Z/28 is a highly-focused and exceptionally competent track car for those who like their cars without compromise. Hard core car enthusiasts, rejoice. There’s a new number one pony car in town."

So a previous review said pedals were bad for heel/toe, this gentleman finds the opposite to be true. In the right hands, it's going to humble Ferrari, Porsche and Corvette drivers. Frequently.

All in all, yet another glowing review.

Zfatuated - thanks for picking up the story! The Z/28 is a brilliant piece of engineering. I can't wait to rock one around my home track.

Originally Posted by brt3

I think reviewers need to post their shoe size. Seriously, how else can there be this much discrepancy over this, unless one guy's a size 9 and the other's a 14?

I was wearing size 12 skate shoes that day. Otherwise, I wear size 9 race boots (great for racing, not good for walking).

I'm also an active racing driver, not a deluded Mario Andretti reincarnate as you often find in the automotive journalist crowd, so I'd like to think that if I can rock heel-and-toe downshifts, so can you.

Auto writers heel-and-toe-ing? That's not so likely...

Originally Posted by mkorgan

Why all the hate for the Camaro brand?? I just don't get the elitest and their "if was just not a Camaro" mentality. I think it is foolish and transparent that they begrudging give this car its due. Imagine if it had no badges and or relationship to the Camaro line. They would not be able to control themselves. Pathetic and senseless gibberish to criticize something just because of the name on the paperwork...

Originally Posted by Mikebrinda

+1. The "Still a Camaro" remarks are the weakest of all comments.

I can see how that was misinterpreted. To me, that means a higher centre of gravity and more mass than a typical sports car, like a C7 for example.

Originally Posted by jim911

Brian has on a short sleeve shirt, no hans device, but is wearing a balaclava!

Originally Posted by brt3

That can be common if you travel to an event where they provide helmets -- in that case its a sanitary issue, not a safety one.

Originally Posted by Zfatuated

Yeppers I generally always wear a balaclava to keep the helmet interior clean.

That's actually my helmet (the red/black/white paint scheme) that I'm wearing in the images and video, and it fits best with a balaclava. Plus, sweating into the balaclava keeps the helmet funk away.

(Also, why would I wear a HANS device in a street car?)

Originally Posted by backtotintops

I thought I read 2 reviews already that the pedals were a bit far apart???

isn’t the warranty 5 year 100k?

where does he get 77400? and freight 1600. Freight is built in the 75???

interesting and informative but maybe a bit sloppy journalism.

Sloppy, no. Canadian, yes.

Thanks again for reading and watching!

[Mikebrinda]

Originally Posted by brianmakse

I just discovered this thread, so I'll add a few comments, but first, here's a direct link to a short video that we produced on the Z/28:





Zfatuated - thanks for picking up the story! The Z/28 is a brilliant piece of engineering. I can't wait to rock one around my home track.



I was wearing size 12 skate shoes that day. Otherwise, I wear size 9 race boots (great for racing, not good for walking).

I'm also an active racing driver, not a deluded Mario Andretti reincarnate as you often find in the automotive journalist crowd, so I'd like to think that if I can rock heel-and-toe downshifts, so can you.

Auto writers heel-and-toe-ing? That's not so likely...





I can see how that was misinterpreted. To me, that means a higher centre of gravity and more mass than a typical sports car, like a C7 for example.







That's actually my helmet (the red/black/white paint scheme) that I'm wearing in the images and video, and it fits best with a balaclava. Plus, sweating into the balaclava keeps the helmet funk away.

(Also, why would I wear a HANS device in a street car?)



Sloppy, no. Canadian, yes.

Thanks again for reading and watching!

Thank you for the video! I finally understand how the spool valve works.