GT500 vs ZLE

[Ricker]

The Camaro is wearing a wider rear tire, by a little over an inch.

Sponsored

 

[02gtnh]

The Camaro is wearing a wider rear tire, by a little over an inch.

Camaro has 325 and the gt500 with 315. So less then a 1/2”

 

[V00D00]

TLDR: The Camaro is better according to Car and Driver because it’s more budget friendly guys.

basically

Been watching the development of the Ford beast for sometime as well as the entire S550 lineup for years on the Forum ..gots to know what the competition is doing.

riiiight.. its not CG6 IQs over here..

 

[Ricker]

You can't go by the numbers on the tire. Each manufacturer is different. I was going by the actual manufacturer specs.

 

[Melange_X3]

F Car and Driver Magazine and F GM and Crapmaros. If the Camaro was so great GM wouldn’t be canceling it again. By by Crapmaro.

 

[SCCA Racer #75]

For those that won't read the whole article... pretty complimentary of the ZLE.. they can't sell them... but you can't argue it's track capability, and for $30-$40K less than a CFTP car.. .a helluva ride!

At the test track, the Camaro also outgripped and outstopped the Mustang, with a 1.17-g skidpad performance and stops from 70 mph in 137 feet and from 100 mph in 268 feet. The Mustang trailed but not by much. Its 1.13-g skidpad performance is impressive considering it carries 56.6 percent of its 4059 pounds over the front wheels. It stops from 70 mph in 142 feet and from 100 mph in 279 feet.

Unfortunately, the Mustang's steering is numb compared to the Camaro's, and its chassis isn't as sorted. The ZL1 is more stable, and it puts its power down better with its wider rubber, a more sophisticated traction-control system, and an excellent electronic limited-slip differential. Toss it around, and the Shelby feels smaller and lighter than it is, but it's also a bit skittish and less forgiving. It always feels like one false move, one mistake, one miscalculation, and you could easily end up in a ditch.

If you are on smaller tighter tracks... the ZLE may still be the quicker ride. However, if you allow that GT500 to stretch... I believe it will make up for it's weight and handling deficit with 760HP!

Dave

 

[ZRacerLE]

For those that won't read the whole article... pretty complimentary of the ZLE.. they can't sell them... but you can't argue it's track capability, and for $30-$40K less than a CFTP car.. .a helluva ride!

At the test track, the Camaro also outgripped and outstopped the Mustang, with a 1.17-g skidpad performance and stops from 70 mph in 137 feet and from 100 mph in 268 feet. The Mustang trailed but not by much. Its 1.13-g skidpad performance is impressive considering it carries 56.6 percent of its 4059 pounds over the front wheels. It stops from 70 mph in 142 feet and from 100 mph in 279 feet.

Unfortunately, the Mustang's steering is numb compared to the Camaro's, and its chassis isn't as sorted. The ZL1 is more stable, and it puts its power down better with its wider rubber, a more sophisticated traction-control system, and an excellent electronic limited-slip differential. Toss it around, and the Shelby feels smaller and lighter than it is, but it's also a bit skittish and less forgiving. It always feels like one false move, one mistake, one miscalculation, and you could easily end up in a ditch.

If you are on smaller tighter tracks... the ZLE may still be the quicker ride. However, if you allow that GT500 to stretch... I believe it will make up for it's weight and handling deficit with 760HP!

Dave

Agreed! Would love to see a GT500 Nurburgring lap. It would actually hit it's speed limit in that final stretch. Not sure why Ford limited the top speed by the way. Almost seems like they were trying to protect the public from a car that could reach 200mph way too fast.

 

[Deviruchi]

TLDR: GT500 is heavier, faster

 

[millhouse]

Agreed! Would love to see a GT500 Nurburgring lap. It would actually hit it's speed limit in that final stretch. Not sure why Ford limited the top speed by the way. Almost seems like they were trying to protect the public from a car that could reach 200mph way too fast.

At 7500 RPM in 5th gear (0.86:1 overdrive), the GT500 is at a touch over 190.66mph. That is likely it's mechanical limit as the next gear is a 0.68 overdrive. Because this car is quite capable of bouncing off the rev limiter at 190mph, I'm sure they felt it wasn't the best thing to to....so an electronic limiter was needed that was below 190mph.

 

[TnWHTMARE]

I dont think this is particularly surprising. Looking at the GT500's mph in the 1/4, there is no question it is going to spank the ZL1 if it gets traction. The GT500 is the drag strip champ. However, as much as those who hate the Camaro dont want to acknowledge it, the 6th gen Camaro's abilities on a road coarse are well documented. It is a tremendously capable track car and its showing the composure of its chassis here(at least based on these limited evaluations).

I think its obvious that from an all around perspective, the GT500 is the better choice but it will cost you a decent amount more. Its clearly going to be the easier car to live with on a daily basis (if you do that), and its clearly going to be the champ at the drag strip. And because it is coyote based, the ability to make more power is also going to be a strong point over the Camaro.

Again, the GT500 is clearly the overall champ here but that doesn't mean that the Camaro does not have a very well engineered chassis that excels at what it was engineered to do and does it at a very good price point.

 

[ZRacerLE]

At 7500 RPM in 5th gear (0.86:1 overdrive), the GT500 is at a touch over 190.66mph. That is likely it's mechanical limit as the next gear is a 0.68 overdrive. Because this car is quite capable of bouncing off the rev limiter at 190mph, I'm sure they felt it wasn't the best thing to to....so an electronic limiter was needed that was below 190mph.

Now it makes sense. Thanks.

 

[mavisky]

I dont think this is particularly surprising. Looking at the GT500's mph in the 1/4, there is no question it is going to spank the ZL1 if it gets traction. The GT500 is the drag strip champ. However, as much as those who hate the Camaro dont want to acknowledge it, the 6th gen Camaro's abilities on a road coarse are well documented. It is a tremendously capable track car and its showing the composure of its chassis here(at least based on these limited evaluations).

I think its obvious that from an all around perspective, the GT500 is the better choice but it will cost you a decent amount more. Its clearly going to be the easier car to live with on a daily basis (if you do that), and its clearly going to be the champ at the drag strip. And because it is coyote based, the ability to make more power is also going to be a strong point over the Camaro.

Again, the GT500 is clearly the overall champ here but that doesn't mean that the Camaro does not have a very well engineered chassis that excels at what it was engineered to do and does it at a very good price point.

Agreed that the 1LE is a potent and capable track car, but I can't find any thing in the story that mentions taking two track focused cars to the actual road course in this article. Sure they mention cornering G's, but that could just be a skidpad measurement. If you don't get the $18,500 track focused package for the GT500 and don't take the $7,500 1LE package you're now comparing cars that are significantly closer in pricing and more indicative of what the majority of consumers will be driving on the streets. This also means that the Camaro rides better as the 1LE spool suspension sucks anywhere but on the track, but both cars also step down to less sticky rubber for the comparison as well. I think this would have made a better actual comparison with the side note being what the two top dogs can accomplish.

 

[streetfun]

So maybe taller results in more tire compressing against the ground... but it seems like it would make it less stiff, reducing tire contact during cornering...

Its simply the diameter. take these two tires off the car, both inflated same pressure and see there is a longer contact patch just by virtue of the overall bigger diameter

 

[TnWHTMARE]

Agreed that the 1LE is a potent and capable track car, but I can't find any thing in the story that mentions taking two track focused cars to the actual road course in this article. Sure they mention cornering G's, but that could just be a skidpad measurement. If you don't get the $18,500 track focused package for the GT500 and don't take the $7,500 1LE package you're now comparing cars that are significantly closer in pricing and more indicative of what the majority of consumers will be driving on the streets. This also means that the Camaro rides better as the 1LE spool suspension sucks anywhere but on the track, but both cars also step down to less sticky rubber for the comparison as well. I think this would have made a better actual comparison with the side note being what the two top dogs can accomplish.

Information is indeed limited. It would be nice to see the non-track focused GT500 vs a Non-1LE also. Im sure these reviews are coming.

 

[TnWHTMARE]

Also, just an aside here. The comment in the article about the steering being numb is interesting. I would have thought that Ford would have sorted that out. I have to say that that has been one of the things I have enjoyed so much about my SS over my GT. To me, the Camaro's connection to the road, even in standard form, is just light years ahead of the how the Mustang feels. Especially in the steering department. The feedback is excellent and you certainly feel WAY more connected to the street. It truly is a different driving experience. I know that does't necessarily translate into any better track performance but for the occasional spirited drive or just the mundane drive to work, it makes a huge difference in the "fun to drive" factor.

Sponsored