More thoughts:
I think the magic of Alpha got diluted as you approach the performance levels of the Z06. And it's kind of funny that at those levels, the same issues apply (i.e. you aren't going to approach the limits with your foot on the floor and one finger on the wheel - you have to drive the car). So all those times we were reading about Alpha vehicles being more enjoyable with more approachable limits than, say, the Corvettes, well, that's because the limits were lower. When in Z06 territory, there is no free lunch. And unlike the Z06, you totally ruin the streetability of the car at those levels.
That said, the 2018 1LE approaches 2015 Z06 performance for $27k less money. That is certainly worth something. But it's still over a second off. And the Z06 is a far, far more pleasant and reasonable daily driver (the Porsche formula), which is also worth something. If you downgrade to the daily driver spec ZL1 (non-1LE) you save $5k but you are also now 5.5 seconds off the Z06 which is a very, very large gap. I am not saying lap times are everything but it puts the performance difference down on paper very clearly. Of course they admitted that they could have gotten another 2 seconds out of it had track conditions been better, so there's that.
Oh, link.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/li ... ir-feature
Let's look at the historical times.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/li ... ar-feature
Looking at these times, the car that still strikes me as kind of the bargain super sports car is the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport. The list of cars it is faster than is embarassing both in terms of horsepower and cost. Yes as tested it was $92k but for your $8k savings on the Z06, you get a 2:47 lap time and a car that is actually usable at the limit, with only 460 hp. The fastest an Alpha Camaro can run with this exact engine is a 2:54.8 via the Camaro SS 1LE. Miles apart. And, again, to be fair, miles apart in cost - the Camaro was only $44k. Less than half.
In summary, the points I am trying to make are:
- I don't support this narrative that the Camaro is "awesome" and the Corvette is "meh" - the Corvette has a whole value and absolute performance thing going for it in its own right. And when you are looking for all out performance, you will have a better total end product with a dedicated sports car chassis than trying to adapt Alpha, as good as it is. Not totally unlike what happens to the Focus RS.
- Specifically when you get close to C7 Z06 levels of performance, an Alpha chassis car begins to have the same challenges at the limit as the Z06 did i.e. there is no free lunch.
- The performance level of the Z06 and ZL1 1LE is just totally unnecessary for regular people driving on the street (yes I finally said it, because even on the track they are a challenge to wring out). My pick for an under 2:50 car that you can actually drive on the street is the Grand Sport. And I definitely also give the nod to the regular ZL1.
- The ZL1 1LE is in very good territory having beaten the 911 Turbo S this year. But that win is diminished, depending on your requirements, by the total non-streetability of that car. It is more Viper ACR than 911 or Z06. That is significant and relevant. Again, the dedicated sports car platform makes a better street car than the street car platform turned into performance. Kind of interesting.
- Oh, and the GT-R is a total embarrassment. 2:53??? From the "Track" edition?? For almost $130k?? Fail. This vehicle is, as we say, OBE.