Considering GT350 vs ZL1

[roygriffin2020]

I have had both so I can explain some of both. The GT350 looks on the outside is nicer but not a ton. The exhaust of the GT350 is nicer and the ZL1 cannot match it even with aftermarket. The 8000k rpm motor is hard to beat, as was my 2012 M3. The view out the back windshield of the ZL1 is not the best, but I have found that it is not as bad as people say. The ZL1 you are sitting low in it with maybe a little lower center of gravity, whereas the GT350 you are more on top of it. The scratchy plastics in the GT350 were really not much better than the 2014 GT that I had. The ZL1 interior is a little weird but I have gotten used to it. Tires are better on the ZL1 but wear out fast. I drove both cars on the same backroads many times over and the ZL1 just held better at higher speeds. Say, the GT350 took it at 80, the ZL1 was at 83+ but enough to tell easily. The transmissions are both Tremec 6 speeds with maybe a little different gear ratios. The eLSD in the ZL1 is better than the GT350. It just stuck with rarely oversteer. Both cars could break loose, but the ZL1 had so much more torque at low RPM's you had to be more careful. You can feel the extra weight in the ZL1 with the GT350 just felt lighter even if the difference was not a great amount.

The "special feeling" that people talk about with the GT350, you certainly get that and not the ZL1. But the number of people that approached me that don't know cars, they just said "oh a Mustang" or "your Camaro" and said they liked it and nice car. Not knowing anything about either car.

I cannot say about the ZLE but it is more track focused and it is lighter but with all of the "goodies".

All in all, they are both good cars, my ZL1 has had Zero problems where I had oil consumption (500 miles per qt) in the GT350. But I found out later that is only driving it like a sports car and not just on the highway where there was no oil usage. So you will have to check about that.

I hope this helped and I tried keeping this post as fair as possible.

Sponsored

 

[Hack]

Definitely with the huge discounts the ZL1 seems like a lot of car for the money. If you are buying for road course you might want to look at ZL1 1LEs or regular SS 1LEs, though.

I don't really like the supercharged engine in the ZL1. I prefer a naturally aspirated engine. I also prefer the Voodoo big time over the pushrod engines in the Chevys. I love how the power continues to build and I really enjoy the sound the engine makes.

I also don't like the bunker feeling and lack of visibility in the Camaro.

I think that the problems with the Ford are blown out of proportion. But, I know a local guy who lost 2 engines. So, there is that.

My final thoughts are that if you really do like the Camaro better it's a no brainer to buy one. The prices for the Camaros are lower due to most people preferring the Ford, Chevy building more cars, some combination of those two, etc. So why not buy the Chevy if you are one of the few that enjoy driving it? I say do it.

 

[DylanICON]

I got the GT350 for the sound and high revs of the Flat Plane crank. plus the uniqueness and overall balance.
I've always been a truck guy and my wife is like " what made you want this car?" if they put the motor in delivery van I would have gotten that.

incidentally I got almost the exact same car as the black one linked above…..that is a smokin deal. I got mine for $4k under sticker 4 weeks ago and thought I did OK

 

[Furiousone]

I have been looking at a ZL1 as well due to all of the deals/incentives on them right now (you can get an additional $2K off as a Mustang owner). If I do make the change it would likely have to be to a 1LE...I wont drop the 350 to go to the "standard" ZL1. My observations are similar to those above. I prefer the styling of the GT350, love the NA voodoo and the sound. Interior I prefer the Camaro. Transmission was a wash (the 6 speeds are very similar). In my area 350's seem to be more rare....I have 3 friends with ZL1's (2 standard and 1 1LE). The one thing I keep coming back to is the visibility....the Camaro just feels like being inside a tank.

 

[sleepy floy]

this is great feedback guys, I really appreciate it. The Camaro definitely has the "bathtub" feel as my buddy (and I believe several others) call it. I copied and pasted this to the ZL1 forum and have also received numerous helpful responses as well. So great vs "Chevy sucks" or "Ford sucks" to hear real world feedback from those driving these cars, it really does help. As my 13 year old (who is obsessed with cars) likes to tell me..."I think the ZL1 is the better car, but the GT350 experience is better"...lol.

 

[jmn444]

The 13 year old sounds smart! I'm a believer in driving the car that makes you love driving it, willing to be slower or less comfortable to have something I LOVE. I also love a good value, but that goes out the window when it comes to toys.

 

[lightrules]

The Camaro definitely has the "bathtub" feel

So far we have bathtub, bunker, and tank. Pretty much how I felt when I test drove it before getting my R. The ZL1 is a good car for sure but man, there is just "something" about the GT350/R. I guess I keep going back to the word "visceral".

 

[roygriffin2020]

this is great feedback guys, I really appreciate it. The Camaro definitely has the "bathtub" feel as my buddy (and I believe several others) call it. I copied and pasted this to the ZL1 forum and have also received numerous helpful responses as well. So great vs "Chevy sucks" or "Ford sucks" to hear real world feedback from those driving these cars, it really does help. As my 13 year old (who is obsessed with cars) likes to tell me..."I think the ZL1 is the better car, but the GT350 experience is better"...lol.

I just read the posts from your "repost". Pretty much what you said. They didn't trash the GT350. Most praised it for it how it sounds. And I agree.

 

[nastang87xx]

I have a weird brain. But I would only buy a ZL1 with the 10 speed. But I would rather have a GT350. But I would only buy a ZL1 1LE if I were buying a ZL1. But if ZL1 1LE prices ended up tanking I would be in a pretty hard spot to choose.

 

[Demonic]

It sounds as if you and your son are looking to buy the car for the enjoyment and experiences shared together on the road. When that’s the case, I think much of it comes down to which car you and your son simply enjoy driving more. I personally have found that when you keep a car for years at a time, the ‘feel’ of the car and the emotion from the feel and aesthetics of the car are what outlast the feeling of more horsepower. When you’re a new owner of a car, it’s always fun to be able to step on a ton of power. But years later when the horsepower urge has worn off, the looks and feel are what still draw you into the garage to drive it again. So much of it comes down to which car moves you and your son emotionally. You don’t want to be in a situation where several years from now you and your son are out in a car together thinking to yourselves that you bought a car you personally didn’t love as much because a bunch of people on the internet told you to. No one will rightly fault you for making a decision simply based on which car you like more.

 

[PhillyShelby]

The camaro is just so ugly, I swear when I was 15 I could of designed a more appealing exterior.

 

[Kurac]

I’ve been a GM performance guy most my life. When the time came to pick up a new toy for my 40rh, I was desperately waiting for the ZL1 to come out. I got impatient and started to window shop other cars. As I stumbled onto GT350’s at the time, I fell in love with the looks (early ‘16). All 350’s were selling with ADM, but I happened to find a Track Pack 600 miles away that the dealer originally listed for +$15K over sticker but was willing to sell at MSRP. The driving experience was truly memorable, engaging at even sedate speeds. I sold it to get into an R that I found at MSRP as well. The new ZL1 discounted prices are so tempting. If I was shopping now, I would have not given the 350 a chance, I would have bought an A10 ZL1. But as fate woukd have it I found myself in a 350 and haven’t looked back. Other cars cross my mind as I like to window shop, but I always come to the same conclusion...I’d miss my R once it’s gone.

 

[fpa1974]

All this talk here and reviews finally made me go and try a ZL1 1LE. I have a 19 R on order and wanted to make sure that I made the right choice. While everything that was said here I could agree with, I stand by my original choice. The camaro is fast, torquey, rides just fine for what it is, has a good interior and visibility is just fine, handles like it is on rails etc, for me, it is just not engaging to drive. I think I would pick a regular GT350 over it. Now I need to go drive a 718 GTS and my potential contenders list is exhausted

 

[Nicky Pass]

I’ve been mulling over buying a ZL1. While my car has been in storage for 4 months....I began to wonder if I miss the torque....because, after all, that’s what you “feel”! The longevity issues the the GT350s are having also scares me a bit. I’ve been seeing killer deals on ZL1-1LEs, so it is tempting! I’m not a ford or Chevy guy....l like bad ass cars!

 

[fpa1974]

I’ve been mulling over buying a ZL1. While my car has been in storage for 4 months....I began to wonder if I miss the torque....because, after all, that’s what you “feel”! The longevity issues the the GT350s are having also scares me a bit. I’ve been seeing killer deals on ZL1-1LEs, so it is tempting! I’m not a ford or Chevy guy....l like bad ass cars!

When in doubt go and drive one That is what I did and I got my answer pretty quickly.

Sponsored