2012 Camaro ZL1 vs. 2013 Shelby GT500-On Track

[SGOS252382]

"miss shifts probably worth .5 sec"

That I have a problem with.


But clearly a win for the ZL1 (they hands down liked it better around the track).

[Betiwin]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

Wanna play "percentages"?

ZL1 = 7.10 lb/hp

500 = 5.77 lb/hp

24.6% DISADVANTAGE

Here's a couple more:

ZL1 = 52/48 weight distribution

500 = 57/43...

Damn straight, "bravo to the [C]amaro engineering crew"

End of story...

I don't think you can call it end of story. From a perspective buyer of both where I would lok at it the camaro EKKKS out a victory on a 2.12 mile course. Where I would race these cars and the real 99 percent of what people do(Drag strip, 50mph roll down a highway, stop light to stop light, the camaro get owned not eeked by. What I take away reading this and the inside line review is how the ZL1 responds to the driver. What I need to know is if I will feel that drving down a winding country road with my friends in a GT500 and a Challenger SRT 8. He sure did seem to love the planted feel of the Z, I just dont know if I will feel that as I never encounter a hair pin turn or a change in evlavtion when the guy next to me pulls up to me revving his engine. Look foward to the day three review as that what will be important to me. Day 2 I would imagine will go to the blue team.

[rez333]

Wow - impressive review of the ZL1. It's interesting that one head-to-head review says the GT500 has shifting problems, and this review says the ZL1 has shifting problems.

I also didn't hear anything about brake fade, which was problem in the Boss vs ZL1 review last year.

[Mr.R]

[QUOTE=A-little-perspective;5152544]

Originally Posted by adamgl

Don't forget to account for intagible costs of ownership. That would be value lost from the ZL1.

I'm not sure what you're referring toin particular....can you explain?

I totally agree with the point made before - if you put the $5,000 difference back into the ZL1 as engine performance parts(which by the way is more like $8000 if you compare apples to apples - options) then you easily get a 650hp/630lb ft ZL1 which will beat the crap out of the Shelby. Handling is a huge difference for the 95% of the buyers that won't drag race it...

[DangerZL1]

Originally Posted by A-little-perspective

"I wanted the ZL1 to win, because from an on-track handling perspective the car is simply leagues ahead of the clumsy GT500. "

Ok call it a win. But why oh why would someone go on record as saying they wanted another car to win a comparison. That taints the entire premise of the article. The comparison is not objective now.

I don't think he meant it the way it sounded. I think as he was driving the Camaro he was appreciating how much better it handled the track, but was expecting it would loose because of the missed shifts. Obviously he was suprised that it won anyway.

[garcmol]

Nice article.

I like the driver/author wrote that going into the first turn with the ZL1...... he began to smile. To me, that's what these cars are supposed to do!

[rez333]

I've read that the Griggs Racing suspension will tame the GT500's live rear axle and will literally enable GT500s to outcorner Ferraris. It's a proper racing upgrade though, which is probably why Ford didn't go that route instead of slapping on the Bilsteins and calling it a day.

[C5RocksC5]

All this bench racing is hilarious. Most of you guys will never see a roadcourse and the few who track, the ZL1 is a clear winner. We will be driving in the street everyday and guess what, I doubt we will be thumping our chest when a GT500 pulls up next to us. Likely, we won't even look at it and pretend it isn't there.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by A-little-perspective

"I wanted the ZL1 to win, because from an on-track handling perspective the car is simply leagues ahead of the clumsy GT500. "

Ok call it a win. But why oh why would someone go on record as saying they wanted another car to win a comparison. That taints the entire premise of the article. The comparison is not objective now.

He didn't go in feeling that way. Reread it and you'll see he assumes the ZL1 the underdog due to the power advantage of the GT500, but is highly delighted with the ZL1's handling prowess that far surpasses the GT500's. Because the ZL1 feels so much more rewarding to drive he hopes that the underdog will outperform the less rewarding to drive GT500.

[Betiwin]

Originally Posted by pdari

All this bench racing is hilarious. Most of you guys will never see a roadcourse and the few who track, the ZL1 is a clear winner. We will be driving in the street everyday and guess what, I doubt we will be thumping our chest when a GT500 pulls up next to us. Likely, we won't even look at it and pretend it isn't there.

Although reading the review makes me want to go drive a Zl1 and see if I can feel this translate into "real world driving." I ve owned alot of 500+HP cars raced them all, but never on a road course. The article does make me want to see if I can feel what he was smiling about. But it goes with out saying tho I dont want to be frowning everytime I get smoked on the street tho. Both of these things are amazing to me tho.

[A-little-perspective]

[QUOTE=Mr.R;5152605]

Originally Posted by A-little-perspective

I'm not sure what you're referring toin particular....can you explain?

I totally agree with the point made before - if you put the $5,000 difference back into the ZL1 as engine performance parts(which by the way is more like $8000 if you compare apples to apples - options) then you easily get a 650hp/630lb ft ZL1 which will beat the crap out of the Shelby. Handling is a huge difference for the 95% of the buyers that won't drag race it...

I guess probably both tangible and intangible costs. Costs such as warranty, repair, maintenance, fuel economy. Stuff no one cares about but still costs money and still has value.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Betiwin

I don't think you can call it end of story. From a perspective buyer of both where I would lok at it the camaro EKKKS out a victory on a 2.12 mile course. Where I would race these cars and the real 99 percent of what people do(Drag strip, 50mph roll down a highway, stop light to stop light, the camaro get owned not eeked by. What I take away reading this and the inside line review is how the ZL1 responds to the driver. What I need to know is if I will feel that drving down a winding country road with my friends in a GT500 and a Challenger SRT 8. He sure did seem to love the planted feel of the Z, I just dont know if I will feel that as I never encounter a hair pin turn or a change in evlavtion when the guy next to me pulls up to me revving his engine. Look foward to the day three review as that what will be important to me. Day 2 I would imagine will go to the blue team.

Then buy a Gt500 no reasonable car guy will fault you. On the other hand this review tells me what I want to hear. I'm all about the feel of a car, not just the brute force. But then again 580HP is nothing to sneeze about

[2cnd chance]

[QUOTE=A-little-perspective;5152544]

Originally Posted by adamgl

Don't forget to account for intagible costs of ownership. That would be value lost from the ZL1.

???

[hognutz]

[QUOTE=A-little-perspective;5152670]

Originally Posted by Mr.R

I guess probably both tangible and intangible costs. Costs such as warranty, repair, maintenance, fuel economy. Stuff no one cares about but still costs money and still has value.

yeah you could save between $150-$200 a year on fuel. but what other data are you really bringing to the table? the waranty is not better so repairs don't figure in. how is the cost of maintence better?

I wanted the PP GT500.

So at that rate It would take me 17years to recoupe the cost of PP car over what my ZL1 is costing.

my ZL1 is costing me 55k the PP car the best deal I could find was 58,450.