Camaro Z/28 vs. 911 Turbo S vs. GT-R Track Edition

[bill25]

Guess who wins...

GM is back on the map.
The Z-28 has the least HP and the opponents are in the high 2s for zero to 60!

Z-28 had the best lap time 1:36.17 compared to
GTR: 1:36.45
911: 1:36.34

Sure these are all within fractions of a second, but just that the Camaro is not only hanging with these cars, but actually winning is insane.

This is awesome:
"How is this possible? Because instead of protecting Corvette -- say, the way Porsche protects the 911 from the Cayman -- Chevrolet turned the Camaro team loose and allowed it to build the best Z/28 it could."
I love this!!!
Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/cou ... omparison/

[kevm14]

Dude, I clicked unread posts, saw this headline and got all giddy because I knew the car would at least put in a very solid showing. I can't wait to read the article.

[kevm14]

By the way, Randy Pobst is awesome. I love the way he describes how good GM suspensions have gotten. I am waiting for his track comments on the Chevy SS. I know that will be good.

[kevm14]

And I'll never forget my first stab at a fifth-gen, Zeta-platform Chevrolet Camaro SS, because it was the only time I drove straight off Turn 3 at Streets of Willow. What a miserable, bad car. And yet, here we are

See, even the first SS didn't have the magic that GM has been working. My CTS-V handles a lot better than a regular Camaro SS. But the ZL1 and 1LE changed all that. And now this Z/28.

Also, I love how the LS7 makes similar HP and torque as those twin turbo charged 6s. Now I wonder if it's smaller and lighter...and cheaper to make. Quite possibly. LS7...best naturally aspirated engine ever made. Yeah I said it.

[kevm14]

That GT-R is C6 Z06 fast, btw. As opposed to ZR1 fast, of course (which traps like 128 or so).

[kevm14]

Refinement much? Guess not.

Surprisingly, we all liked the GT-R least. Part of the reason is how unrepentantly crude the thing is. One might assume the Camaro would be the worst-riding vehicle of the three. Or the loudest. Or the most uncomfortable. Only it totally isn't. That trophy rests on the GT-R's mantle. For the 20th time, what are those noises? I've heard printing presses with fewer mechanical howls

Sounds more like a Japanese previous generation Viper. Which is cool in its own way, of course.

It's still a video game, despite the gut-wrenching performance:

Said Pobst, "Still an awe-inspiring weapon with AWD cleats on its feet. Firm suspension is quick and controlled. Too controlled, in my opinion. The thrilling experience is dulled by too much understeer and a soundtrack by Hoover vacuums."

This is definitely subjective, but I agree:

Double-clutch transmissions, AWD grip that lets you leap off a corner, and twin-turbo mills making huge gobs of power are great fun. But after driving all three machines back to back, the manual gearbox, RWD chassis, and naturally aspirated V-8 left the bigger smile on my face

[bill25]

Yeah. I was reading this thinking "this is what I have been waiting and saving for..."

"What a miserable, bad car."

A little depressing but it is a great platform with a lot of potential with upgrades... I hope...

[kevm14]

It's not a bad car. It's just a muscle car and they made no real attempt to get that suspension calibrated the way GM was capable of doing (which would bother me, but it may not bother you). But with 1LE bits readily available, I wouldn't be worried at all about it. And on your commute, it's not so much of a concern.

Again, he was really referring to the track capability of the stock SS suspension. Probably not enough body control, too much understeer and not sure what else.

[kevm14]

Also, that whole "world killer for a bargain" aura surrounding the GT-R has completely evaporated. It was $40k more expensive than the Z/28.

[kevm14]

Looking at the track data section, it looks like the down force (and resulting tire grip) played a big role in the Camaro's advantage.