Is this Normal? Either ZL1s or Slow or I'm Spoiled

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

Hey guys..


I picked up a '13 ZL1 Convertible (Manual Trans) and have been driving it lately.


Let me start by saying:

1) I'm a good stick driver (Not trying to brag, but I'm just elminating that variable) I used to race super stocks as well as drag race.
2) The Car has 3000 miles and no damage, no problems whatsoever
3) The tires are stock (Eagle F1s I believe) and have tread
4) The Car is completely stock and is minty clean inside and out
5) The Car is a genuine ZL1, no it's not a clone

Now...

My ZL1 to me feels slow. I've never driven another ZL1 and maybe I'm spoiled by my C6 Z06 and some other cars I've driven (C7 Z06, Modded C6 ZR-1 and more).

My ZL1 will NOT spin the tires with traction control AND stabilitrak OFF...that's double tapping the Traction Control button while in sport mode (Gives you competitive mode and the lights for TC and ST are on, signaling they're off). In first gear from 0 it won't spin the tires, most I get is a little hop and squeak, but from my experience with other cars and from what I've read, this car should have no problem spinning the wheels from 0-30+ MPH or even at high RPMs through 1st, 2nd, and possibly 3rd. Going from cruising to sudden WOT gives absolutely NO snap of the neck, and certainly no wheel spin. If I go full throttle through 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, and shift at 6000 RPM (200 off of redline), there's no spin and while it's moving quick, it's by no means scary fast, certainly you'd not guess you were in the fastest production Camaro yet (Save the new ZL1 and Z-28 for track)....If I'm cruising at about 3000 RPM in 4th and I nail it, all it does is "Whuuuurrrrr" and after significant lag from WOT to actual power hitting the road, it starts to move but like I said, no snap of the neck, it's down right sluggish and comparable to my 1500 Sierra.


I've got a local dyno shop that I'm going to try taking it to if you guys think something's wrong.


The Boost guage reads about 7-8ish under WOT and I think that's correct right?


Checking under the hood and trying to test various things while driving reveals nothing, I'm mechanically inclined and from all I can tell there's nothing amiss. The transmission is fine as well, smooth and quick short throw.


Is this normal for a ZL1? Are they actually this slow and I'm just used to much faster Corvettes?



Let me know what you think, what I should try, and if I'm screwed or spoiled.


Thanks guys .

[Thor142]

For real? Are you trolling?

The ZL1 has different performance traction management. A double tap putting it in competition mode only limits the traction control. It's been a while since I drove one but I think PTM 5 close to all off and you can spin out to your hearts content. I had no problems breaking the tires loose in comp mode though. You can't do a full on burnout but you can kick the rear end around easily.

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

I'm 100% for real and I'm really worried....


*EDIT* And pissed.

[sengli]

Corvettes are at least 800lbs lighter, so that is a big chunk of what you are "feeling". I came from a C6 Z06 too, and so I do understand what you saying. My ZL1 will however spin the tires pretty easily on command. Crappy gas makes a big difference in the cars performance, in a all stock form.

[Sven59]

That sucks, mine is an auto coupe. Main difference is I have PTM (yours doesnt) and no speed limiter. Oh and I have a belly pan. At 50mph in manual mode on the trans and in tour mode if I go wot the tires will break loose. They easily spin from a standing start. Sure does sound like something isn't quite right. And what Sengli said about the feel is true. The power is so smooth on this car.

[Thor142]

Originally Posted by Sven59

That sucks, mine is an auto coupe. Main difference is I have PTM and no speed limiter. Oh and I have a belly pan. At 50mph in manual mode on the trans and I'min tour mode if I go wot the tires will break loose. They easily spin from a standing start. Sure does sound like something isn't quite right.

OH yeah thats right the verts don't have PTM do they?

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

The Verts don't have PTM????

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

Originally Posted by sengli

Corvettes are at least 800lbs lighter, so that is a big chunk of what you are "feeling". I came from a C6 Z06 too, and so I do understand what you saying. My ZL1 will however spin the tires pretty easily on command. Crappy gas makes a big difference in the cars performance, in a all stock form.

I put 93 Premium in it before from Sunoco, that's about as good as it gets as far as "ease of access" isn't it???

[RLHMARINES]

Try the fuse pull after running 93 octane thru the tank because it may be that the previous owner/dealer ran 87 octane gas in it. Do a search for it here: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38964

[Thor142]

From here http://autoweek.com/article/car-revi...#ixzz4DkKHvg7D



Most of the stuff the ZL1 coupe gets is here, such as the more aggressive body treatments, magnetic suspension, and the responsive and powerful supercharged V8 engine. However, what the ZL1 convertible doesn't get is the coupe's five-mode Performance traction-management system. Instead, it gets the competition mode on its StabiliTrack traction system like the Camaro SS gets

You can still turn everything off by holding it down for 5 or 7 seconds I can't remember.

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

That fuse pull looks interesting, I"m just a little worried, anybody every tried it in this thread on an LSA?

[flipstyledsm22]

I have a 2014 A6 and have driven the C6 Z06 as well. Big difference, but my Z will still break loose from a dig. When I turn off the nannies I can catch a decent 2 gear chirp on the paddle. Manual should be super easy to break those tires loose. Something is wrong with that car.

[DrDJ]

Here is a list of things to check or consider.

1. To completely turn off all traction control and stability you need to hold down TC button for 8 seconds and you will see both lights come on. Burnout is difficult or impossible without doing this.

2. You may need to look at your intercooler fluid level...if this is low the engine will run hotter which = more timing = slower car. There is a good thread in these forums about this issue. Mine was low after blower swap and ran slower.

3. As mentioned before the gas quality can be an issue short term. Fuse pull may help with this but more people agree this isn't necessary as the ECU can adjust for this.

Hope this helps

[ZYBORG]

Damn, definitely not normal... On stock rubber, you should be able to break 1st gear loose, NO PROBLEM. Even second in some bad roads.