Motor Trend compares the ZL1 to the Boss 302 Laguna Seca

[Tigg]

Originally Posted by Silver_Shelby

For the Boss LS to cost $8k and 136hp less and only lose by 2 seconds is pretty amazing ! Install a Supercharger on the boss to make up for the 136 less horsepower and some wider tires to even things up and do the test again.... Then lets see who wins.

I have to agree with rumblebee...those things didn't seem to matter when the SS was being compared to the GT500 or the Boss..now all of a sudden they do ...

[SSmoked]

Im waiting for Edmunds to pit a Zl1 against a 2012 GT500 with all the track stuff, to see how they compare to one another until the 2013 GT500 comes out with pretty much everything changed minus tires to the 2012 shelby...

[IOMZL1]

Originally Posted by Tigg

I have to agree with rumblebee...those things didn't seem to matter when the SS was being compared to the GT500 or the Boss..now all of a sudden they do ...

If the ZL1 was going up against the Mustang GT and beat it by 2 seconds these numbers wouldn’t matter. At the time the SS was the top offering from Camaro, so comparison to the Boss or GT500 was inevitable. Now this is actually comparison of two vehicles that are supposed to be competitors (OK, well the GT500 is supposed to be the ZL1s competitor, but the Boss is arguably the best Mustang on the track…)

I highly doubt the same people who commented about the SS vs. Boss or GT500 are making the opposite comments here. There are a lot of members here and a lot of opinions. If they are the same people they are clearly very biased or uniformed.

[ffrcobra_65]

More blah blah blah. The new ZL1 beat a Mustang, big deal. Chevy didn't build the ZL1 with just a Mustang to beat, they said they were going after the GT500 so in a few months, when both are available, we will truly see the what happens.

[BowtieBelle]

Originally Posted by motorhead

Well like the mods of this forum like to say all the time, you can't believe Motortrend because they are Ford guys and hate GM. They must be just throwing the ZL1 a bone until the 2013 GT500 comes out because we all know that Motortrend hates GM will not let the Camaro be on top for long.

This.

[Houston94vert]

Can't just let this one go by.

As a ford mustang gt500 owner.. I'm going to seem a bit bias but try my best to not. There will be parts that show how I'm upset with ford.

2012 Boss or Boss LS, are still the middle 'stang' in the line up. Ford will state this and it's been proven multiple times that a gt500 with pp will out per form the Boss mustangs. However, Ford recongnized the performance gap was very small for the price difference, and it was one of their main reasons for the drastic updates for the 2013 Shelby. I said one of the their main... the other of course is the ZL1 camaro.

I will say that this is still a valid comparision. (now before all my ford brether scream bs), hear me out. The boss is the purposely built track mustang, and ford had show various videos on the testing done for on-track performance. The test simply proves the enginering GM has put into the ZL1 to make it perform not just "middle of the road" but very competitive to purposely built track cars. Although I'm not a fan of the out come, or track, it is what it is. They made their point. However, am I not the only one that thought this should happen? For the price difference and it's real competitor is the GT500.. I should suspect the zl1 to out perform a boss mustang variant.

Think about this... we've all seen the ZL1 test mule being chased by a GT500 with Perfomrance package. We could all see it coming. We know what ZL1 was going for(or aiming at), and the GT500 PP does out perform the Boss mustangs. So it should beat both variants of the boss mustang, as it should beat the current shelby gt500. Otherwise why test againts it to come out second?

I don't like people comparing this car to 2013 shelby. It's not fair to compare different year models. Or a car that has no pricing or options available to compare. IMO.

Another thing I don't like about ford is the Performance packages offered for the GT500. This should all be standard equipment! Why would I want a slower version of the GT500? GM hits this on the head with the ZL1 offering.

So..after reading this..if your still with me... over view.

2012 boss and boss ls, are slower than a gt500 with pp.
2012 ZL1 should beat both boss, boss ls, and GT500 with pp.

I'm not shocked with the results, I think it was good to see ZL1 backing up its talk, and now lets see how it does to 2012 gt500 with PP set up.

[AZCamaroFan]

it may be slower, but handling-wise the Boss wouldn't take a backseat to the GT500.

[chain777]

Originally Posted by SSmoked

Im waiting for Edmunds to pit a Zl1 against a 2012 GT500 with all the track stuff, to see how they compare to one another until the 2013 GT500 comes out with pretty much everything changed minus tires to the 2012 shelby...

Originally Posted by Houston94vert

2012 boss and boss ls, are slower than a gt500 with pp.
2012 ZL1 should beat both boss, boss ls, and GT500 with pp.

I'm not shocked with the results, I think it was good to see ZL1 backing up its talk, and now lets see how it does to 2012 gt500 with PP set up.

This is the comparison that really matters. Apples to apples.

There's a lot of people here who mistakenly think the Boss is faster than a PP GT500 around a track. Don't know who started the rumor, but it seems to be taken as fact around here now. I suppose it makes sense to want to believe that, because the truth means the ZL1 doesn't have the clear advantage over the Mustang as this Boss test shows.

Until there's a head-to-head with the current GT500, we really don't know who the real winner is. I still think the ZL1 will edge it out, but the difference will be more like a GT to an SS. Not a dominating win like Chevy has led us to believe.

The real difference between the ZL1 and GT500 isn't so much all out performance, but the way each car goes about acheiving it. The power to weight is almost identical between these two, with a slight advantge going to the Mustang. The ZL1 seems like a much more forgiving car, and easier to go fast in. The GT500 has what it takes, but demands more from the driver. It's gonna take more talent behind the wheel to make the Mustang perform as well as the Camaro. . . JMHO.

[htron50]

Originally Posted by Houston94vert

Can't just let this one go by.

As a ford mustang gt500 owner.. I'm going to seem a bit bias but try my best to not. There will be parts that show how I'm upset with ford.

2012 Boss or Boss LS, are still the middle 'stang' in the line up. Ford will state this and it's been proven multiple times that a gt500 with pp will out per form the Boss mustangs. However, Ford recongnized the performance gap was very small for the price difference, and it was one of their main reasons for the drastic updates for the 2013 Shelby. I said one of the their main... the other of course is the ZL1 camaro.

I will say that this is still a valid comparision. (now before all my ford brether scream bs), hear me out. The boss is the purposely built track mustang, and ford had show various videos on the testing done for on-track performance. The test simply proves the enginering GM has put into the ZL1 to make it perform not just "middle of the road" but very competitive to purposely built track cars. Although I'm not a fan of the out come, or track, it is what it is. They made their point. However, am I not the only one that thought this should happen? For the price difference and it's real competitor is the GT500.. I should suspect the zl1 to out perform a boss mustang variant.

Think about this... we've all seen the ZL1 test mule being chased by a GT500 with Perfomrance package. We could all see it coming. We know what ZL1 was going for(or aiming at), and the GT500 PP does out perform the Boss mustangs. So it should beat both variants of the boss mustang, as it should beat the current shelby gt500. Otherwise why test againts it to come out second?

I don't like people comparing this car to 2013 shelby. It's not fair to compare different year models. Or a car that has no pricing or options available to compare. IMO.

Another thing I don't like about ford is the Performance packages offered for the GT500. This should all be standard equipment! Why would I want a slower version of the GT500? GM hits this on the head with the ZL1 offering.

So..after reading this..if your still with me... over view.

2012 boss and boss ls, are slower than a gt500 with pp.
2012 ZL1 should beat both boss, boss ls, and GT500 with pp.

I'm not shocked with the results, I think it was good to see ZL1 backing up its talk, and now lets see how it does to 2012 gt500 with PP set up.

Fair assessment. It should beat both the current GT500 and Current Boss. And it does. I am sure 2013 might see a pulley change or larger S/C for ZL1, to offset any 2013 GT advantages. If not, GM will just wait until Gen 6 comes out at the "Mustang weight" and clean up loose ends then. Can we call it "cleaning up loose ends" LOL

[ffrcobra_65]

this is never going to end.

[lbls1]

I liked the write up. Motor Trend tends to give a fair comparison of cars. Not all of their comparisons I have agreed with (I have viewed MT to be biased towards BMW and lately with mustang), but on the other hand, mt has had one of the most comprehensive array of test for cars.

I am really anxious to see Car and Driver's examination and Edmunds test. I rank the accuracy of the tests with C&D, then followed by a tie between Edmunds and Motor Trend.

This is going to be an exciting year. I am dying to see a match up with zl1 vs. bmw m5 or possibly m6.

[htron50]

I'd guess I'd have liked to see the testing done in hotter weather (tire traction), and even better times will be posted. I think the next reviewers will truly give the car a workout to make sure!

[MauriSSio]

Originally Posted by htron50

I'd guess I'd have liked to see the testing done in hotter weather (tire traction), and even better times will be posted. I think the next reviewers will truly give the car a workout to make sure!

yeah but MPH also drops in hotter weather. Most people get their best runs in in colder weather/"end of the season".

[bpmurr]

Originally Posted by htron50

Fair assessment. It should beat both the current GT500 and Current Boss. And it does. I am sure 2013 might see a pulley change or larger S/C for ZL1, to offset any 2013 GT advantages. If not, GM will just wait until Gen 6 comes out at the "Mustang weight" and clean up loose ends then. Can we call it "cleaning up loose ends" LOL

I'd be really pissed if I was a 2012 ZL1 owner to have a 2013 with more power a month or two later on the market.