Camaro ZL1 (vs GT-R) Review by Road & Track

[Shurenuff]

Originally Posted by 2ndCamaro79

[flash=http://youtu.be/cVw3-vNxzRc]width=425 height=350[/flash]

Originally Posted by 2ndCamaro79

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cVw3-vNxzRc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here ya go

[kbar4782]

Originally Posted by 2012ZL1

This comparison is definately a win for the ZL1. The test was done at temperatures below what the ZL1 tires function, and the awd of the Nissan can easily compensate for the lack of tire grip. With this in mind, the Z had a remarkable showing.

In appearance, the Nissan looks too ricer. Visually the ZL1 is a win for its muscle look. The Nissan looks a bit like a bigger version of a RX-7 to me.

The test shows the ZL1 is way beyond its league in terms of performance and fun for the dollar. There is no way to say it other than the ZL1 is hands down a better car for the money than the GTR.

The GTR is a Corvette level competitor, and It is obvious that in warm weather the ZL1 would be a close competitor for the GTR on and off the track.
What I find more interesting, is that to find a car to compare to they had to go up a class to Corvette level cars. This tells me the ZL1 is the king of its own class, and would handily embarrass cars within its own field including the GT500.
After all ford had to scramble and throw 100 more hp at its GT500 for the upcoming model year, and it remains to be seen if that will even make a difference.

On top of that, V6's just don't sound right and part of my vehicle enjoyment comes from the sound of the exhaust note. In automobiles NOTHING beats a v8 for exhaust note.
If these cars were priced the same I'd still choose the ZL1 based on a variety of reasons important to me.

Well said. I know it's early, but from all of the reviews it seems that you can't really come close to the performance of the ZL1 for the money. There have been several quotes which stated that it was on the verge of supercar numbers/handling. This being said, I don't think you can find a better bang for your buck.

[rickadu]

Looks great. I'll be ready when snow is gone.
Order Status: 3000

[Deki]

Shurenuff, great vid. Shows how much of a difference PTM and good tires make. If I had a Z06, PS Cups is what I'd run on it. Decent street tire too, just doesn't last very long, I think about 6k miles or so.

[fredzl1]

Go to road &track and read. It was a 2013 gtr and all the drivers loved the zl1. Great review. And then the vette beat the gtr. Go Chevrolet. Now please give my dealer its second allocation. It was 70 yesterday we are losing valuable seat time.

P.s. article said boss wasnt a competitive challenge. ZING. On a track!

[BlackSS_13]

did you all pay attention to what the guy said "their is no competitor in its class for the ZL1 its ONLY competitor is its big brother the Grand Sport Corvette" so that means the mustangs are no competion? correct me if im wrong...

[SSmoked]

hate to throw the shelby in here but a 12 Gt500SVTPP was 3 seconds slower than the GTR at Willow.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...eleration.html
i know its a different track, but still it shows that these comparisons are only going to make the GT500SVTPP vs ZL1 a epic one. the numbers between the 2 are soo close.

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by BlackSS_13

did you all pay attention to what the guy said "their is no competitor in its class for the ZL1 its ONLY competitor is its big brother the Grand Sport Corvette" so that means the mustangs are no competion? correct me if im wrong...

At this point in time that is correct. However when the new GT500 comes out there will be a fierce competition!

[SS 376]

Originally Posted by SSmoked

2 seconds slower than a $100,000 AWD computer. Yea ill take that with no compalints.

The crazy part about the GT-R is that I think when Nissan first offered it in 2009, the MSRP was "just" $68K. Couple years from now, I wouldn't be surprised if MSRP was near $120K. Has to be record for biggest jump in MSRP for any car in that short a timeframe. I'll take a ZL1.

[huggercamaro21]

Originally Posted by SSmoked

hate to throw the shelby in here but a 12 Gt500SVTPP was 3 seconds slower than the GTR at Willow.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...eleration.html
i know its a different track, but still it shows that these comparisons are only going to make the GT500SVTPP vs ZL1 a epic one. the numbers between the 2 are soo close.

And the new GT500 will have loads for horse and new suspension components. I would have to bet that the ZL1 is going to have its hands full.

[f ê r]

Originally Posted by BlackSS_13

did you all pay attention to what the guy said "their is no competitor in its class for the ZL1 its ONLY competitor is its big brother the Grand Sport Corvette" so that means the mustangs are no competion? correct me if im wrong...

Yep, he said that, but who is he anyways? He was the one who manage to do a 12.9 @ 113 in the 1/4 mile in that review?

http://www.roadandtrack.com/var/ezfl...d06531820e.pdf

Anyways, that excuse of "temp was a factor it was too cold for the summer tires... blah blah blah", is useless 'cause in a better environment, the GT-R would have got even more traction putting better numbers. Still, the car managed to do a 11.2 in the 1/4 mile.

And the temp wasn't in the 40's, it was in the high 60's...

[SSmoked]

Originally Posted by huggercamaro21

And the new GT500 will have loads for horse and new suspension components. I would have to bet that the ZL1 is going to have its hands full.

I see it as the complete opposite. The driver of the Shleby is going to have his hands full. Controlling 650 hp isnt going to be fun at all.
Anyway thats a story for a future day.

Back on topic of the ZL1 just seconds behind a 100k AWD computer with wheels.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by 2ndCamaro79

I am with you on this, and it seemed liked the reviewer mentioned it over and over. I believe the ZL1 was benchmarked with Z06 just with a different engine. My reason for that is the GS Vett has the same engine as the SS Camaro
IDK, in my mind the ZL1 should be a little bit better than a base Vett If it turns out the ZL1 is closer to the base Vett then the Z06 we have a tough fight ahead with Ford. I now see how much having two sports cars plays into the fight against Ford who only has one.

You know... Is my memory correct in that GTR, Z06, GT500 shootout at Willow where Z06 was wearing the PS2s?... That's a little scary, because it still remains to be seen, to me, if the F1:G2s are superior to the PS2s. While that GT500 wasn't too far behind, it was wearing smaller F1:G2s, so if the benchmark for ZL1 was GS, it leaves me a little worried. However - different tracks are going to favor different cars, IMO. If you have a short track, you're not going to be able to use all of the power as much.

The wait for our answers continues to grow aggrevating, lol.

Originally Posted by f ê r

Yep, he said that, but who is he anyways? He was the one who manage to do a 12.9 @ 113 in the 1/4 mile in that review?

http://www.roadandtrack.com/var/ezfl...d06531820e.pdf

Anyways, that excuse of "temp was a factor it was too cold for the summer tires... blah blah blah", is useless 'cause in a better environment, the GT-R would have got even more traction putting better numbers. Still, the car managed to do a 11.2 in the 1/4 mile.

And the temp wasn't in the 40's, it was in the high 60's...

We know as much as when that picture of the GTR's temp' gauge was taken as much as we know about the performance of ZL2 - only what we're shown so far. What it actually could be might be different, good or bad. Just because that gauge shows 65* doesn't mean that's when the tests took place...

And... for good measure - a quote from the reviewers:

"In My Opinion

Andrew Bornhop
Managing Editor

These cars are so different—chalk and cheese, as the Brits might say. For pure performance, the Nissan GT-R is the hands down winner. But I’m really taken by the Camaro ZL1. It looks the part, rumbles like it should, plants you in your seat like it should, and would have performed much better at the track had the weather not been so frigid. Simply put, I can’t think of a pony car I’d rather have."

I don't think it wouldn't made up for most of the time, but I'm sure it would've helped level the field a little bit against that AWD. If the car has more friction, it can turn better and have a better lap time. However - it is what it is.

Thanks... Great first post. I already have an idea what you're doing here...

[Black GT]

For a car that they are advertising to be a track car, why did GM cut all the turns out of the track configuration?

from what I understand, they (GM) designed the course for that day.