Inside Line: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs. 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Comparison

[snapp32e]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

I just want to say this again, I think Chevy made a mistake in naming this car, it should from it's road racing heritage have been called the Z28. The original ZL1 WAS built for drag racing, and that is where I feel they made the mistake. ZL1=DRAG CAR...Z28=ROAD & TRACK CAR. JMHO.

I agree 100%. The ZL1 possesses more characteristics you would expect from the Z28. A tamed down version of the COPO into production would be more like the ZL1.

[doc7000]

Originally Posted by bpmurr

I enjoyed reading the article. I'm still a little confused why the GT500 didn't pull over 1G. My 2011 GT500 did so that's kind of weird. I'm looking forward to an actual review of them on a track with a pro driver before a clear winner is crowned. I've always figured the GT500 would be faster in the straight and the ZL1 the better handler.

With that said I'll be staying clear of a ZL1 in my Walmart parking lot.

Conditions are probably the biggest factor, what we do know is at that location when the Camaro pulled 1.03Gs the Mustang pulled .98Gs (which is nothing to scoff at). Give the right conditions its likely that the Mustang would be able to pull a higher G then that, though its also just as likely that the ZL1 Camaro would pull even more as well.

This is why same day, same driver test are important as they eliminate the differences in conditions and driver skill levels as well as test procedures. Otherwise you get a situation where people are comparing the 0-60 in 3.5 seconds of the Mustang to a 0-60 in 4.5 seconds for the ZL1 Camaro.....

[IOMZL1]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

I just want to say this again, I think Chevy made a mistake in naming this car, it should from it's road racing heritage have been called the Z28. The original ZL1 WAS built for drag racing, and that is where I feel they made the mistake. ZL1=DRAG CAR...Z28=ROAD & TRACK CAR. JMHO.

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

A new GT500 review.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/...00-convertible

All I can say is things change. The word gay used to mean happy. An excerpt from this GT500 review:

"Back "in the day", straight-line acceleration might have been all you’d ask for from a pony car. Not today. One expects to be able to give good chase to a BMW M even when you’re on the back roads."

People expect more from a car today. Like it or not vehicles will be judged on all fronts, not just acceleration and HP. This is why the inside line article came to the conclusions it did and why every other publisher will focus on handling as well unless it is strictly a drag racing comparison.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

Wow, that's quite a conclusion to draw from my post. I've never had so many words stuffed into my mouth at once.

Sorry my mistake, it was that Carbine guy that made that statement not you, I apologize.

[doc7000]

Originally Posted by snapp32e

I agree 100%. The ZL1 possesses more characteristics you would expect from the Z28. A tamed down version of the COPO into production would be more like the ZL1.

People were crying that the Z28 Camaro is a light weight track specialist, that it needed to be NA and light weight. Honestly they are right, I agree 100% with that and so I do not disagree with the name change.

The 1969 ZL1 Camaro was a very limited run (only 69 made) car design purely for drag racing. If there were to make a street legal version of the 427 copo car, that would be the closet thing to a modern day COPO ZL1 Camaro. However it would cost a lot, for a drag car that is too valuable to actually drag race. It really comes down to this, can you produce a performance car aimed purely at drag racing and have market place success?. Even the 662BHP GT500 Mustang spent time on the Nurburgring in Germany so name one modern car that is only good at drag racing and has had success?.

[Fenderaddict2]

Originally Posted by snapp32e

I agree 100%. The ZL1 possesses more characteristics you would expect from the Z28. A tamed down version of the COPO into production would be more like the ZL1.

I'm betting it started out as a Z28, then the Boss came along and they were targeting the GT500, so a name change seemed in order.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by IOMZL1

All I can say is things change. The word gay used to mean happy. An excerpt from this GT500 review:

"Back "in the day", straight-line acceleration might have been all you’d ask for from a pony car. Not today. One expects to be able to give good chase to a BMW M even when you’re on the back roads."

People expect more from a car today. Like it or not vehicles will be judged on all fronts, not just acceleration and HP. This is why the inside line article came to the conclusions it did and why every other publisher will focus on handling as well unless it is strictly a drag racing comparison.

But that statement about only wanting straight line acceleration back in the day is wrong. Maybe for the muscle cars of that era but Wasn't the heyday of the Trans Am series in the 60's and early 70's? Isn't that why the Z28 was developed? Not for straight line although it did pretty well it's main purpose was road course racing.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

I'm betting it started out as a Z28, then the Boss came along and they were targeting the GT500, so a name change seemed in order.

Could be but I still say it was a mistake.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

I'm betting it started out as a Z28, then the Boss came along and they were targeting the GT500, so a name change seemed in order.

It did start as the Z28. I remember reading all the articles online. Either they have some other plans for a Z28 or they won't release a 5th gen Z28. I think it would be a huge mistake not to have a 5th gen Z28 but who knows what they are doing.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

It did start as the Z28. I remember reading all the articles online. Either they have some other plans for a Z28 or they won't release a 5th gen Z28. I think it would be a huge mistake not to have a 5th gen Z28 but who knows what they are doing.

Well there was lots of speculation it was but it was never confirmed, even Fbodfather would never say it was a Z28. Remember not everything you read online is true.

My son uses this quote from Fbodfather in his signature

Originally Posted by fbodfather
We do not want to use the Z28 moniker on a car that does not deserve this hallowed name.

[snapp32e]

Maybe it had something to do with GM not being able to attain the hp numbers they were after on any of their current engine platforms without an s/c and wanting to keep the Z28 as a n/a engine. So add the s/c, get the hp, and change the name.

[tooslow]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

MRC 3.0 is now unique to the Camaro ZL1.

Thanks again for your factual content...

All-around best performer?

We'll leave that to Inside Line...and others...

Thanks for noting the version of MRC in the zl1. The technology, however, is not new. You're picking nits.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

Well there was lots of speculation it was but it was never confirmed, even Fbodfather would never say it was a Z28. Remember not everything you read online is true.

My son uses this quote from Fbodfather in his signature

That's fair but they came out as saying this is the then and now ultimate Camaro. It's hard to call the 1969 ZL1 the ultimate when so few were actually built. It wasn't even a factory option. You had to special order it. I had never heard of a ZL1 Camaro until the 5th gen was announced.

[Angrybird 12]

Well guys it looks like about everything that can be said about this comparison has been said. So with that it's time to leave and wait for the next comparison. Have fun and see ya in the next thread!