Edmunds Insideline: ZL1 vs GT500. Finally a comparison test

[Jon04CTS-V]

Like I said earlier, you can throw as much power as you want into a car, but there comes a point where it's unusable. The Shelby will win in a drag race, but the ZL1 will run circles around it.

The angriest Mustang in history, the car that had face-punched the ZL1 for months at auto shows and in Web forums was being systematically annihilated by that exact car. Every corner was another opportunity for the Camaro to drop trou and wave its giant bowtie-emblazoned butt in the GT500's face.

Driver swaps ensued to ensure impartiality, but a repeat performance sealed the deal. There wasn't anything to do but appreciate the stunning piece of work that is the 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1. As one tester bluntly put it, "This might just be the best performance car General Motors has ever produced." A bold statement, for sure. But one for which there's much support.

Its Performance Traction Management (PTM) system, which doles out power at a level precisely metered to match available grip, makes the Shelby's "sport" stability control feel archaic in comparison. PTM eliminates the throttle-chopping punishment common to the Shelby and replaces it with rewarding acceleration at corner exit. And if you insist on measuring your manhood by switching both systems off completely, you'll live longer in the Camaro.

Our first hint that there's something truly special about Chevy's ZL1 came when it calmly circled the skid pad at 1.03g — a number higher than the last Chevy Corvette ZR1 we tested and matching the McLaren MP4-12C and Porsche 911 GT2 RS for the highest lateral acceleration we've ever recorded for a production car.

At 70.8 mph it was also quicker through the slalom than the GT500, which managed a still respectable 69.1 mph.

http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/...ison-test.html

And now Automobile Magazine:

Automobile mag just took them out on a track. Missed a shift in the ZL1 and still had a better lap time: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...#ixzz1yFb3F5yx

1/4 mile tomorrow, which I'm sure the GT500 will win.

To find out who would be victorious, we visited Gingerman Raceway in Michigan, a 2.14-mile venue capable of unearthing any unsavory habits hiding behind those impressive horsepower figures.

Entering the turns, the Shelby displays a boatload of body roll. That's not completely surprising given the GT500's humble origins, but I expected more from the Bilstein two-mode adjustable shocks, which are part of the $3495 Performance Package. The car wallows like a stuck pig and I desperately attempted to load up the outside wheels on corner entry. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't calm the Shelby to precisely attack a corner. To make matters worse, the understeer in the fast turns was significant, meaning I was unable to carry the speed through the important fast sections of the lap.

It looked like the chubbier ZL1 was fighting a losing battle, but as I entered the first few turns, I noticed something significant. I felt like I was driving a sports car. The steering was sharp and responsive and the car reacted instantaneously to my actions. The body roll is a fraction of the GT500's, which is simply titanic. I began smiling. The ZL1 was magnificent to drive and already I was blown away. The car rotates effortlessly mid-corner and power down is predictable and with poise. It oozed with confidence, daring me to push even harder.

The time was in: 1:44.53. A significant seven-tenths of a second faster than the GT500. And I estimate the missed shifts cost upwards of half a second per lap. With an 80-hp deficit, the underdog came through by a monumental amount. That's a staggering achievement against a car that, by all measures, is fantastic in its own right. What Chevy has done is combine a fully-fledged sports car into a muscle car's body. Although I wish the shifter was smoother, the Camaro ZL1 is a fantastic piece of engineering.

From an on-track perspective there is no contest. For this year, at least, the victory well and truly belongs to the ZL1. Its handling capabilities far exceed the straight-line advantage owned by the Shelby.

[jmlufkins]

all lies spouted by a biased media outley

[PrivateSoftcore]

First off, skidpad numbers are essentially useless. It's really just a measure of what type of tire the manufacturer puts on the car out of the factory. The slalom is a little more telling. Faster? Yes. Significantly, not really.

Second, everyone knows the ZL1 was going to have superior handling to the Mustang. Is this supposed to be some sort of surprise that makes people reconsider wanting a GT500?

Third, I don't think anyone is going to complain about not getting their moneys worth out of the gt500 because it is slightly less pliable around the bendies compared to the significantly slower ZL1.

Congrats to Chevy, but I think they lost this round by trying to make the ZL1 more like a Corvette than a Camaro.

[Frito]

Circles

Straight lines is where it's at

[notfastenuf]

Originally Posted by PrivateSoftcore

Second, everyone knows the ZL1 was going to have superior handling to the Mustang. Is this supposed to be some sort of surprise that makes people reconsider wanting a GT500?

Third, I don't think anyone is going to complain about not getting their moneys worth out of the gt500 because it is slightly less pliable around the bendies compared to the significantly slower ZL1.

Congrats to Chevy, but I think they lost this round by trying to make the ZL1 more like a Corvette than a Camaro.

.

A, that guy's voice is killing me
B, I want to see some legitimate open track times on both stock platforms.

I'm with you though in that train of thought, for these prices, you're not getting Ferrari - the cars are going to lack somewhere.

[Ducky]

Originally Posted by PrivateSoftcore

First off, skidpad numbers are essentially useless. It's really just a measure of what type of tire the manufacturer puts on the car out of the factory. The slalom is a little more telling. Faster? Yes. Significantly, not really.

Second, everyone knows the ZL1 was going to have superior handling to the Mustang. Is this supposed to be some sort of surprise that makes people reconsider wanting a GT500?

Third, I don't think anyone is going to complain about not getting their moneys worth out of the gt500 because it is slightly less pliable around the bendies compared to the significantly slower ZL1.

Congrats to Chevy, but I think they lost this round by trying to make the ZL1 more like a Corvette than a Camaro.

Like you know anything about handling

[uwood78]

Edmonds = Fox news

[phat azz ride]

I'd still do the gt500. Both cars handle very well, and I like power when I put the pedal down.

[Mr Hollywood]

Originally Posted by Jon04CTS-V

Finally a comparison test

More like, finally you found a comparison where the nod went to GM, Mr Cadillac boy.

[Jon04CTS-V]

Originally Posted by Mr Hollywood

More like, finally you found a comparison where the nod went to GM, Mr Cadillac boy.

Show me another comparison test out there besides a dyno bragging contest

[Mr Hollywood]

Originally Posted by Jon04CTS-V

Show me another comparison test out there besides a dyno bragging contest

In ALL other comparisons the GT500 wins. Your Cadillac ass searched the internet and found the only existing shiat that says otherwise.
You're probably not, but you should be ashamed of yourself.

[Mr Hollywood]

Trying to mislead the public with your prejudice fallacy.
I'm not going to say any names, but somebody in this topic needs an ass whipping.

[John Patton]

Originally Posted by Mr Hollywood

In ALL other comparisons the GT500 wins. Your Cadillac ass searched the internet and found the only existing shiat that says otherwise.
You're probably not, but you should be ashamed of yourself.

[berad001]

This comparison is BS... Not because I care what car out performs the other, but because it fvcking is...

1/4 mile 11.9 at 123?

What are the credentials of that driver/tester... Seems like some very broke azz testing to me

[Mr Hollywood]

Originally Posted by 95 Bullitt

MWPSCBBFC member #1 Those guys are hilarious sometimes

I'm wondering if I should be #2

Heck yeah you should. It's going to be bigger than facebook. The cool kids are already making a fuss about it.








And the best part is, it only cost $25 for the membership.

[Mr Hollywood]

Originally Posted by John Patton

[Stalkerfiveo]

Originally Posted by Mr Hollywood

And the best part is, it only cost $25 for the membership.

That deal is straight legit! PayPal address?

[Mr Hollywood]

Originally Posted by Stalkerfiveo

That deal is straight legit! PayPal address?

Rednecks don't pay club fees, because you guys --by nature-- usually hate PSC and beany.

[intercede007]

The biggest problem with the Camaro ZL1 is that it looks like a Camaro. For that alone the GT500 wins.

[Stalkerfiveo]

Originally Posted by Mr Hollywood

Rednecks don't pay club fees, because you guys --by nature-- usually hate PSC and beany.

We rednecks only hate muslims, gays, and mexicans. But if it saves me the membership fees it's all good! Because......by nature........we are poor too

[Mr Hollywood]

Originally Posted by Stalkerfiveo

We rednecks only hate muslims, gays, and mexicans. But if it saves me the membership fees it's all good! Because......by nature........we are poor too

You forgot nignogs.

[Stalkerfiveo]

Originally Posted by Mr Hollywood

You forgot nignogs.

History has it all wrong. We love 5-20 on the back 40

Not to mention they're an excellent source of entertainment

[91_5ohgt]

Originally Posted by Jon04CTS-V

Show me another comparison test out there besides a dyno bragging contest

It's funny how GM homers have always said "take it to tha track!!!11!!1!" and now that the Shelby annihilates the ZL1 at the track, you GM dudes are bragging about it being a little bit quicker through a slalom or around a track

[Element]

Shouldn't the ZL1 be compared to the Boss 302 for road course use?...I mean that's what the Boss 302 was designed to do...not the GT500.

[Intimidator]

Originally Posted by Jon04CTS-V

Like I said earlier, you can throw as much power as you want into a car, but there comes a point where it's unusable. The Shelby will win in a drag race, but the ZL1 will run circles around it.

http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/...ison-test.html

I'm pretty sure you're missing the point.

[wxmyjnsn]

yeah cuz when racing form light to light i care which car can slalom faster

[Element]

Originally Posted by wxmyjnsn

yeah cuz when racing form light to light i care which car can slalom faster

99% of people who own those car's will not even ever take them to a slalom track. Hell, half prob won't even take them to a drag strip.

[White_Shadow]

as much as i like corner carving, id have to go with the shelby on this one. sticky tires, good coil overs. then it will corner like a mofo.....almost as good as the miata

[Jon04CTS-V]

Originally Posted by 91_5ohgt

It's funny how GM homers have always said "take it to tha track!!!11!!1!" and now that the Shelby annihilates the ZL1 at the track, you GM dudes are bragging about it being a little bit quicker through a slalom or around a track

I've never cared for drag racing. I've never even taken my car down a drag strip. I've raced from light to light before and it's stupid; the excitement is short lived.

Let's be honest. Anyone can build a car to go fast in a straight line. I've seen a Caravan run 10s. I'm sorry but it doesn't amaze me. Making a car handle well around a road course is a much bigger achievement and more challenging to do.

If all you want to do is go quick in a straight line for 10 seconds, then brag about it for 10 minutes, the GT500 is hands down the better car.

[Duke R. Togo]

The most amusing thing about this debate is most of the tards sitting here doing the helicopter with their wangs would only get max 75-85% of the performance capability of either car.

[Ducky]

Originally Posted by Jon04CTS-V

I've never cared for drag racing. I've never even taken my car down a drag strip. I've raced from light to light before and it's stupid; the excitement is short lived.

Let's be honest. Anyone can build a car to go fast in a straight line. I've seen a Caravan run 10s. I'm sorry but it doesn't amaze me. Making a car handle well around a road course is a much bigger achievement and more challenging to do.

If all you want to do is go quick in a straight line for 10 seconds, then brag about it for 10 minutes, the GT500 is hands down the better car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWLFGPl1Kdk

[berad001]

I like the Gt500 a lot more than the Camaro.

[White_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Jon04CTS-V

I've never cared for drag racing. I've never even taken my car down a drag strip. I've raced from light to light before and it's stupid; the excitement is short lived.

Let's be honest. Anyone can build a car to go fast in a straight line. I've seen a Caravan run 10s. I'm sorry but it doesn't amaze me. Making a car handle well around a road course is a much bigger achievement and more challenging to do.

If all you want to do is go quick in a straight line for 10 seconds, then brag about it for 10 minutes, the GT500 is hands down the better car.

agree.T

[Mr Hollywood]

Originally Posted by Jon04CTS-V

I've never cared for drag racing. I've never even taken my car down a drag strip. I've raced from light to light before and it's stupid; the excitement is short lived.

Let's be honest. Anyone can build a car to go fast in a straight line. I've seen a Caravan run 10s. I'm sorry but it doesn't amaze me. Making a car handle well around a road course is a much bigger achievement and more challenging to do.

If all you want to do is go quick in a straight line for 10 seconds, then brag about it for 10 minutes, the GT500 is hands down the better car.

But you drive a heavy, non-handling Cadillac with over 400hp

[Ducky]

Originally Posted by Mr Hollywood

But you drive a heavy, non-handling Cadillac with over 400hp

[91_5ohgt]

Originally Posted by Jon04CTS-V

I've never cared for drag racing. I've never even taken my car down a drag strip. I've raced from light to light before and it's stupid; the excitement is short lived.

Let's be honest. Anyone can build a car to go fast in a straight line. I've seen a Caravan run 10s. I'm sorry but it doesn't amaze me. Making a car handle well around a road course is a much bigger achievement and more challenging to do.

If all you want to do is go quick in a straight line for 10 seconds, then brag about it for 10 minutes, the GT500 is hands down the better car.

That's cool that you dont, but there are more people that care about its power and straight line performance than the performance around a track.

Actually, not just anyone can do either one of those or there would be 10 second cars everywhere that handle like they're on rails.

ps- I know what you're saying about it being a little harder to make it handle well than make it go fast, but dont act like just anyone can make a car run 10s. Not even talking about the money it takes to do that, you also have to add in the driver mod to the equation.

[John Patton]

Im a little ignorant when it comes to the latest Stang/Maro comparisons but what makes the ZL1 handle better besides the IRS? Stang is lighter,more powerful and while I know it takes more than that to handle I thought the latest GT w/ track pack and the Boss hanging with an M3 on the track somewhat changed the image of a Stang just being a straightline car

[Ducky]

Originally Posted by John Patton

Im a little ignorant when it comes to the latest Stang/Maro comparisons but what makes the ZL1 handle better besides the IRS? Stang is lighter,more powerful and while I know it takes more than that to handle I thought the latest GT w/ track pack and the Boss hanging with an M3 on the track somewhat changed the image of a Stang just being a straightline car

Magnetic suspension I guess.

[Cobra S]

fvck skidpad #s. let's reserve the handling comments for when both cars get official times on the 'ring

[Jon04CTS-V]

Automobile mag just took them out on a track. Missed a shift in the ZL1 and still had a better lap time: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...#ixzz1yFb3F5yx

1/4 mile tomorrow, which I'm sure the GT500 will win.

To find out who would be victorious, we visited Gingerman Raceway in Michigan, a 2.14-mile venue capable of unearthing any unsavory habits hiding behind those impressive horsepower figures.

Entering the turns, the Shelby displays a boatload of body roll. That's not completely surprising given the GT500's humble origins, but I expected more from the Bilstein two-mode adjustable shocks, which are part of the $3495 Performance Package. The car wallows like a stuck pig and I desperately attempted to load up the outside wheels on corner entry. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't calm the Shelby to precisely attack a corner. To make matters worse, the understeer in the fast turns was significant, meaning I was unable to carry the speed through the important fast sections of the lap.

It looked like the chubbier ZL1 was fighting a losing battle, but as I entered the first few turns, I noticed something significant. I felt like I was driving a sports car. The steering was sharp and responsive and the car reacted instantaneously to my actions. The body roll is a fraction of the GT500's, which is simply titanic. I began smiling. The ZL1 was magnificent to drive and already I was blown away. The car rotates effortlessly mid-corner and power down is predictable and with poise. It oozed with confidence, daring me to push even harder.

The time was in: 1:44.53. A significant seven-tenths of a second faster than the GT500. And I estimate the missed shifts cost upwards of half a second per lap. With an 80-hp deficit, the underdog came through by a monumental amount. That's a staggering achievement against a car that, by all measures, is fantastic in its own right. What Chevy has done is combine a fully-fledged sports car into a muscle car's body. Although I wish the shifter was smoother, the Camaro ZL1 is a fantastic piece of engineering.

From an on-track perspective there is no contest. For this year, at least, the victory well and truly belongs to the ZL1. Its handling capabilities far exceed the straight-line advantage owned by the Shelby.