Prediction: Reviewers will spec the ZL1 close to the GT500 but not "better" than

[rez333]

What I've found with most cars is that the inhouse manufacture testers will "know" how to drive their own cars and be able to get performance numbers that will not be repeated when reviewers do their own testing. For example, most reviewers have not been able to achieve the claimed 3.9s 0-60 time that GM boasts for the CTS-V (eg. http://www.insideline.com/cadillac/c...-m3-coupe.html - notice they only got 3.9s with 1foot of rollout - a fact omitted by most reports that used the GM numbers)

For example, the Ford testers were able to lap the 2011 GT500 around VIR at 2m:58s - faster than the V10 Audi R8 and Porsche GT3, but the Car and Driver folks were only able to get 3m:04s. Based on the Mustang 5.0 times, I'm guessing that that day was a "slow" day because the 5.0 should track the same time as the M3 based on the Motortrend testing.

Onto the Camaro, the creators claim that the ZL1 will spank the GT500 but I suspect that when other non-Camaro focused testers drive the ZL1 that their comparison numbers will be significantly worse than the GM tester's numbers. I suspect that the ZL1 and GT500 will be roughly equal and beat each other in different aspects.

[nick at night]

?

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

:sm2:

[radz28]

There are VERY few reviewers I'd give any driving credit to. I don't leave it to any of the really mainstream media to give me an accurate idea of the true potential of a car. What - the fastest stock SS 1320' time from a magazine is like a 12.9 or something, while one of our Member's achieved something close to a 12.6 (NHRAstocker I think...). Magazines don't typically try to test under optimal conditions to get the best times. They don't powershift, they don't go to a prep'd track, this-and-that. I've read that doesn't necessarily reflect real-world results on the street, but I'm not racing on the street! Anyways - I always give Mr. Evan Smith who writes for one of the Mustang rags' 100% credit and a few of the reviewers on GMHTP, Scott Parker is one that comes to mind. Johnny Hunkins over at PHR is a good driver. Anyhoo - while I agree with most of your post, I buy the other magazines for the pictures, and not so much their opinions, lol.

[Number 3]

I didn't realize GM had made any performance claims for the ZL1 yet? I must have missed that.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by Number 3

I didn't realize GM had made any performance claims for the ZL1 yet? I must have missed that.

I don't recall GM saying ZL1 is going to "spank" anyone...

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by Number 3

I didn't realize GM had made any performance claims for the ZL1 yet? I must have missed that.

Originally Posted by radz28

I don't recall GM saying ZL1 is going to "spank" anyone...

Yep, some people just post to stir things up.

[rez333]

Please read the chat transcript on this same forum.

Did someone expect that the only things that people post on this forum is "yay" or "yippee" or some dumb-ass smiley? Geez - so much for the lack of intellectual conversation.

Here's the link for those people who only like to read "yay" or "yippee" type posts:
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128453

[rez333]

Originally Posted by radz28

I don't recall GM saying ZL1 is going to "spank" anyone...

Al Oppenheiser:
I fully expect the competition to be in our Rear view mirror! I feel that to push the Camaro performance and technology to the limits is right and necessary, because at GM we don't just want to compete, we want to Win!
Wednesday February 9, 2011 3:09 Al Oppenheiser
3:09

"yay".. "yippee"..

[ffrcobra_65]

we'll just have to wait and see. can't wait to see a ZL1 on the road....trust me, it won't be from behind.

[OldJedi]

Originally Posted by radz28

I buy the other magazines for the pictures, and not so much their opinions, lol.

Radz, I am just the opposite, I buy Playboy for the articles.

[Darkflow]

Originally Posted by rez333

Al Oppenheiser:
I fully expect the competition to be in our Rear view mirror! I feel that to push the Camaro performance and technology to the limits is right and necessary, because at GM we don't just want to compete, we want to Win!
Wednesday February 9, 2011 3:09 Al Oppenheiser
3:09

"yay".. "yippee"..

Well what else do you expect anyone from GM to say about a car they just built thats supposed to be going up against the GT500. I mean seriously, do you think they'll say "ohh yea we hope it runs well against the GT500". They would be laughed at and called a joke.

As far as reviews go, most of the time. The tester's arent very good drivers and you shouldnt believe everything a manufacturer says is true either.

[nick at night]

The CTS-V beats the GT500 most of the time, I would expect the ZL1 to perform slightly above the V. So if V>GT and Z>V then Z>GT

and as far as reviewer's are concerned.... They will do what they always do;

The ZL1 will be on the cover of everything as the best car of the three and then Ford will tweak the interior and it will then be a better overall car. Right now everyone outside our community views the GT500 as the yard stick, which is a testament to the level it's at, but I think the ZL1 is on another level. A new yard stick

[jayman]

Originally Posted by rez333

For example, the Ford testers were able to lap the 2011 GT500 around VIR at 2m:58s - faster than the V10 Audi R8 and Porsche GT3, but the Car and Driver folks were only able to get 3m:04s. Based on the Mustang 5.0 times, I'm guessing that that day was a "slow" day because the 5.0 should track the same time as the M3 based on the Motortrend testing.

Your example is horribly closed minded. The point that car and driver made in that article was that ford put a racing seat and harness into that gt500 so they could hit the corners harder. Car and driver mentioned that they could have gotten faster laps out of the gt500 but they were fighting too much to stay in the seat to really attack the corners.