DRIVE: GT500 vs. ZL1 (by Chris Harris) - Page 7 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

alexcfwu · 07-07-2012, 06:15 PM

He is way too funny. Especially when he was commenting about the GT500 in NYC... All in all, I thought he did a good job providing his perspective. Of course, the most important thing is... with a ZL1, you can put your whole family in whether you are driving in NYC or on the track, it is composed and capable. GT500 is fast and feel even more faster (or loose), and probably not a good idea to put people in the back seat during the track day (unless one wants to clean up after the puking passengers).

MR.CamaroSS · 07-07-2012, 06:18 PM

haha i like his review you can just tell by the look on his face that the GT500 does have more power than the chassie can control, super fun tho!!! cant wait for Chevy to up the power in the ZL1 to try and match the Shelby... bottom line i want to trade mine in for the ZL1 lol.

shrinkdoc · 07-07-2012, 06:37 PM

Soooo...to sum it up, sounds like he is saying the ZL1 is good! But the GT 500 is one bad Mutha!

shrinkdoc · 07-07-2012, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakedriver

So how much Horsepower would the ZL1 have to leave the factory with stock in order for it to be as fast as the 13 GT500 in straight line performance?

689hp to offset the weight difference.

shrinkdoc · 07-07-2012, 06:43 PM

The new Chassis Mustang will be here in 2014, the new chassis camaro will be in 2015 and it starts all over again.

My next car will be determined by what each brings to the table.

Snakedriver · 07-07-2012, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrinkdoc

689hp to offset the weight difference.

So the next Gen will need 700HP from the factory or be much lighter.

2cnd chance · 07-07-2012, 07:22 PM

The crux of it is; the GT500 is "raw" and the ZL1 is "well done".

GRAHL · 07-07-2012, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrinkdoc

Soooo...to sum it up, sounds like he is saying the ZL1 is good! But the GT 500 is one bad Mutha!

To sum it up the gt500's engine was too much for it's chassis, and that's what he enjoyed (oversteer, drifting etc), but the ZL1 was superior

.

SixFive · 07-07-2012, 08:18 PM

Two sweet cars no matter what. As a tall chevy guy my choice is clear. Dont want my bean bag shaved by an over steer. Would have been great to see some burn outs.

Kronix · 07-07-2012, 08:30 PM

Glad I built my own to eat both of them for a lite lunch

alexcfwu · 07-07-2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2cnd chance

The crux of it is; the GT500 is "raw" and the ZL1 is well done".

That's definitely funny. ZL1 is a complete package that you can take "to go" anywhere.

doc7000 · 07-08-2012, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakedriver

So the next Gen will need 700HP from the factory or be much lighter.

I really don't think that GM is interested in making the ZL1 Camaro faster then the GT500 in a line. It wins everywhere else and I think they are happy to fill that niche, while the GT500 fills its niche.

The next generation Camaro is going to be a good deal lighter then the current car, how much exactly though is any ones guess. The base ATS is 3,315 pounds which is some 450 pounds lighter then the base Camaro so that is promising.

Teamradrz1 · 07-08-2012, 01:43 AM

correct me if I'm wrong, because I read it not experienced it, you can replace the drive pully on the ZL1 to increase the boost to match the Vette and get 650HP for under $300 installed. Would this not make this a better comparision, since Ford doesn't have a Vette class car to compete with it can just produce numbers where as Chevy doesn't want the ZL1 to match the numbers of the Vette. But that extra 70HP would make the 1/4 mile race a little closer and give a larger lead on the road courses, and still be $5000 less than the Mustang.

eolson · 07-08-2012, 07:29 AM

Actually, adding power is not always cheaper than buying better suspension parts. Putting in a shorter pulley requires a quality revised custom tune, which is where the cost will be, because chevy won't be doing it or writing it.

If the ZL1's engine can handle the added power from a pulley swap and tune, then great, that is a particular cost.

If the GT500 is improved by a watts link, X brace and a brake duct kit, so be it. Money is Money, and suspension improvements beyond stock when you're dealing with Ford are always needed. Unlike Chevy, Ford has not put in every problem solver into the GT500 suspension set up, this was well known here in the Detroit design community well before the car came out.

Ford has not developed nor has the copyright use of Magnetic ride control, nor have they put in the time and money into as sophisticated of a traction and ride control system as Chevy. Knowing this, they chose not to push the current chassis to it's ultimate potential before it is retired. The ZL1 hit it out of the park with it's suspension advancements and design.

Chevy could have used forged internals, larger heat exchanger with shorter pulley and produced 630-640 HP. They chose not to, as Ford chose not to put in a correctly and sturdily designed watts link and an X brace(as with the Boss option) to further stabilize cornering and the effects of the fixed axel.

Bottom line is, did each car go to the Zenith of possibilities available to each company? No with the Ford suspension and Chassis bracing, and no with the ZL1's engine potential. Erik

07-07-2012, 07:22 PM	#91
2cnd chance Too Many Great Choices Drives: Grand Sport/Z07 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: A Mountain Road Posts: 7,454	The crux of it is; the GT500 is "raw" and the ZL1 is "well done". Last edited by 2cnd chance; 07-07-2012 at 08:49 PM.

07-07-2012, 08:30 PM	#94
Kronix NJ/SoCal HT5 COTW 3/25/12 Drives: 2015 Z06/14 C7/08 Z06/07 Tahoe Z71 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South Jersey & SoCal Posts: 1,961 View My Garage	Glad I built my own to eat both of them for a lite lunch __________________ Built by Late Model Racecraft Fastest C7 in Tri-State 10.13 @ 134mph 7/26/14 Corvette Challenge Raceway Park, E-Town, NJ

07-08-2012, 01:43 AM	#97
Teamradrz1 Drives: 2017 2SS 50th Anniversary Edition Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Battle Ground, WA Posts: 448 View My Garage	correct me if I'm wrong, because I read it not experienced it, you can replace the drive pully on the ZL1 to increase the boost to match the Vette and get 650HP for under $300 installed. Would this not make this a better comparision, since Ford doesn't have a Vette class car to compete with it can just produce numbers where as Chevy doesn't want the ZL1 to match the numbers of the Vette. But that extra 70HP would make the 1/4 mile race a little closer and give a larger lead on the road courses, and still be $5000 less than the Mustang. __________________ 50th Anniversary Edition 2SS

07-08-2012, 07:29 AM	#98
eolson eolson Drives: 2006 premium Package Mustang GT cou Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Northville, MI Posts: 249	Actually, adding power is not always cheaper than buying better suspension parts. Putting in a shorter pulley requires a quality revised custom tune, which is where the cost will be, because chevy won't be doing it or writing it. If the ZL1's engine can handle the added power from a pulley swap and tune, then great, that is a particular cost. If the GT500 is improved by a watts link, X brace and a brake duct kit, so be it. Money is Money, and suspension improvements beyond stock when you're dealing with Ford are always needed. Unlike Chevy, Ford has not put in every problem solver into the GT500 suspension set up, this was well known here in the Detroit design community well before the car came out. Ford has not developed nor has the copyright use of Magnetic ride control, nor have they put in the time and money into as sophisticated of a traction and ride control system as Chevy. Knowing this, they chose not to push the current chassis to it's ultimate potential before it is retired. The ZL1 hit it out of the park with it's suspension advancements and design. Chevy could have used forged internals, larger heat exchanger with shorter pulley and produced 630-640 HP. They chose not to, as Ford chose not to put in a correctly and sturdily designed watts link and an X brace(as with the Boss option) to further stabilize cornering and the effects of the fixed axel. Bottom line is, did each car go to the Zenith of possibilities available to each company? No with the Ford suspension and Chassis bracing, and no with the ZL1's engine potential. Erik __________________ 2006 Prem Pkg Mustang GT coupe. Saleen SC,10psi, 454rwhp,442rwtq, Complete Steeda/H&R, suspension change out, with weight loss, Techco Watts link, Stoptech big brakes, Race clutch, Alum. flywheel, Alum 1 pc driveshaft, 9x18,10x18 chrome bullit wheels, 285/40/18,255/45/18 nitto 555 tires. 3545 lbs currently. New car scent air freshener. Last edited by eolson; 07-08-2012 at 07:45 AM.

07-07-2012, 06:15 PM	#85
alexcfwu Drives: 1998 Trans Am Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 60	He is way too funny. Especially when he was commenting about the GT500 in NYC... All in all, I thought he did a good job providing his perspective. Of course, the most important thing is... with a ZL1, you can put your whole family in whether you are driving in NYC or on the track, it is composed and capable. GT500 is fast and feel even more faster (or loose), and probably not a good idea to put people in the back seat during the track day (unless one wants to clean up after the puking passengers).

07-07-2012, 06:18 PM	#86
MR.CamaroSS Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: dunkirk,Maryland Posts: 99	haha i like his review you can just tell by the look on his face that the GT500 does have more power than the chassie can control, super fun tho!!! cant wait for Chevy to up the power in the ZL1 to try and match the Shelby... bottom line i want to trade mine in for the ZL1 lol.

07-07-2012, 06:37 PM	#87
shrinkdoc Drives: SRT Yugo GT Super Sport with Manual Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: va Posts: 1,536	Soooo...to sum it up, sounds like he is saying the ZL1 is good! But the GT 500 is one bad Mutha!

07-07-2012, 06:43 PM	#89
shrinkdoc Drives: SRT Yugo GT Super Sport with Manual Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: va Posts: 1,536	The new Chassis Mustang will be here in 2014, the new chassis camaro will be in 2015 and it starts all over again. My next car will be determined by what each brings to the table.

07-07-2012, 08:18 PM	#93
SixFive Drives: 2013 ZL1 Black M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mukwonago, WI Posts: 18	Two sweet cars no matter what. As a tall chevy guy my choice is clear. Dont want my bean bag shaved by an over steer. Would have been great to see some burn outs.