The results are in folks, and out of nine cars, the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 finished just sixth place in the 2012 Motor Trend Best Drivers Car comparison test. Sixth. If a car such as the ZL1 finished at the top of the bottom in Motor Trend’s list, just what was good enough to thwart it?
For starters, the all-new Porsche 911, which finished at the very top. A surprising second place finish was the 508-horsepower, limited edition and already sold out Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series, followed by the Nissan GT-R Black Edition. In fourth was the 200-horsepower Subaru BRZ (a “sweetheart” of a car), and fifth was the McLaren MP4-12C.
Motor Trend cites the ZL1’s over-sized 4,094-pound curb weight and visibility issues as reasons the Super Camaro didn’t finish higher on the list. At the same time, the magazine found it to be a more rewarding experience than the likes of the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 (which came in 9th),  the Jaguar XKR-S (8th), and the Ford Shelby GT500 (7th).  Below is the full-length, 36-minute video documenting the entire comparison test.
Comments
Agreeable
Once again, we have the third rate magazine Motor Trend not making any sense in their comparisons. A Subaru BRZ getting fourth over the Camaro. Curb weight and visibility knocked the ZL1 down to the bottom. It’s kind of like when they placed the Regal GS in eighth place during a comparison. Although the GS was performing as well or better than others, they felt it “Didn’t feel right.” and that knocked it to eighth place. So, now we have Motor Trend pulling the same move yet again with an American car.
It’s all about what car is more fun to drive. Not lap times. I can agree with the outcome.
They should change the title for,let`s say – German Trend or Asian Trend.
I think 6th shows that Motor Trend likes the Camaro, and I think if you put a 50k cap on the price, it would be 2nd place. And it beat the Mustang.
Well, with the exception of the BRZ, everything above the Camaro has a price tag of north of $100K easy. I think we did damn well with this. Also, we beat Ford, and that’s a win any day.
True. I think I just can’t stand Motor Trend. At this point, however; I feel we need to stop competing against each other, and start going after the foreigners. Seems like even with the big improvements in Detroit, everybody still wants American cars to go down. In the end, I guess 6th isn’t bad at all.
Id have to disagree, from what ive seen Motor Trend, is that their fair and as unbiased as they can be. And 6th is pretty damn impressive when the cars its competing against are Porches’s , Mercedes dreaded AMG black series, and even a Lambo.
If GMA readers were deciding, would the Camaro be at the top? Not for me.
If you place a car dead last after its performance numbers were good, but it just “doesn’t feel right” or a car gets knocked back because of visibility issues, you’ve lost credibility in my eyes. But don’t take it from me, go to Motor Trend’s forums. I’m not the only one.
I can’t wrap my head around all the butthurt about the ZL1 finishing 6th. Or that imports went top 5. Only 2/9 were domestic cars. Name another domestic car that came out this year that deserved to be on that list… You could argue the 427 Convertible should have made an appearance but we all know a standard Z06 would perform better. And it received updates last year, not this year. I have no idea where the ATS was, perhaps it just missed the schedule.
Motor Trend is also one of the least biased magazines out there. And sorry, the Regal GS is not the kind of complete package that the front runners of that comparison test it was featured in. Having driven it a few times, I can agree with what they marked it for. Same goes for the ZL1. It’s a lot of car. A whole lot of car. And they’re right, it IS heavy, and it IS hard to see out of. Plus, the Lambo finished in dead last, showing it’s not all about numbers, or price It’s about the drive.
Still, if you want supercar performance for a $60K budget, ZL1. ZL1 all the way.
Next year, chances are we will see stronger American representation from MT with the new Viper, ATS, C7 Corvette, and who knows what else.
Exactly!
So, since this was a “Driver’s Car” comparison, I guess I was to assume that this test measured what it would take for a car to allow a “driver” to have fun? If this were the case, then technically my 16 year old Geo Tracker could e considered a “driver’s car.” you have to row through the gears, downshifting a lot. Unstable as it may be, it is awesome to toss into a corner letting the rear end come loose and snapping back into place. Ohhhh, one of the rules. It has to be currently on sale in the US of A. Well, just as an example. I didn’t see anything from MINI. You take a solidified driver and put him/her behind the wheel of a Cooper S, and they could run rings around a BRZ. This car can be pushed hard into a corner and at any sign of oversteer, can be snapped back in line with the precision movements of a surgeon. Oh, but it’s not about numbers. Okay, then if a MINI Cooper doesn’t give you the feel or representation of “real world driving”, then I’m not sure what does. I guess my real amazement here is that no one from Motor Trend wrecked any of the cars. Maybe that’s why they had professional driver Pobst behind the wheel. And that also artificializes the test. Where are the “real, ordinary, everyday drivers?” At this point, I can see why the BRZ is on this list.
Ok , I agree that this test is not the best test of the cars with something so variable and subjective, this test doesnt really tell you much, except the drivers personal preference of which car is the most fun for them. This not a very informative or practical test.
However the notion that MT is biased against Camaro or american cars is absurd.
I did the same antics you do with your Tracker with a ’93 Blazer. Doesn’t mean it belongs on a track with new-for-2012 sports cars. Or that it’s even worth mentioning. It’s fun to hoon a golf cart, so does that make it a “drivers car” too? Come on.
Mini wasn’t there because Mini had nothing but the new John Cooper Works Coupe… which is essentially a less practical version of the hatchback it’s based on. Maybe you should ask them why they didn’t include it. I asked them about the ATS.
Basic scientific method requires us to have a “control”. The control in the test is Pobst. Same driver, different cars, and one who can exert the most out of each vehicle better than the MT staffers who don’t race in the SCCA World Challenge. The MT guys all drove the cars too, which helps give more diversity of opinion in the write-up (rather than the video.) Chances are if they can all agree on certain things (like brake issues with the Shelby GT500 or the weight of the ZL1), than it’s more likely accurate.
But I’ll level on the notion that somebody (it doesn’t have to be Motor Trend), does some sort of test with a price cap.
What Baberser said, I agree totally.
The BRZ/FRS is an affordable fun car that won’t rape your wallet at the gas pump or dealership. It handles curves with dexterity, not an expensive Cadillac suspension system. I think it’s MT placing reflects the fact that nimbleness and accessibility equates to “driver’s car” – as more drivers who seek sportiness will be able to achieve fun in one rather than dream of having fun in one — someday, and pay through the nose to drive a mile in one.
The Camaro clearly beats the Shelby Mustang, and rightly finishes above the cars below it. It’s a great aspirational car for the retro fan who may face midlife crisis or want a tire smoker for the weekends and track days – you know, car guys with more money than sense. In that, the ZL-1 will most definately be a collectible – but to me, a fun, nimble corner carver I can afford is the definition of “driver’s car”.
Good point James. I’d like to see them do a test just on cars the average Joe can afford. My price cap is $40,000, and even that is a little steep. At that price an Evolution or STI could be had, which is also in my eyes, “driver’s cars.”
Neither of which are new for 2012. But this got me thinking, wouldn’t it be interesting to see how each year’s Best Driver’s Car champ stacked up against one another?
I gave up on Motor Trend earlier this year when they gave Truck of the Year to Ford after not even testing Chevy & GMC. I wrote and asked why they were not included in the competition–No Answer.
Every publication runs these annual comparison tests and awards with cars that are either new or have received major updates for that year. Now, did GM release anything new for its trucks last year? No. Whereas the 2012 F-150 received multiple powertrain upgrades. That’s all.
What your telling me doesn’t make sense, Motor Trend tested all other trucks except Chevy and GMC. I am pretty sure Toyota, Nissan or Dodge didn,t make major changes for this year, especially with new Engines.
Motor Trend didn’t include the Chevy and GMC trucks because they received no significant updates. You should have read the article. Each of the models were either new to the market (Nissan NV) or received significant upgrades for 2012. Pretty simple criteria.
The Ram HD was included because it had a power increase from 650 lb-ft to 800 lb-ft of torque plus a bump in towing numbers. The Tacoma received cosmetic changes inside and out. I already addressed the F-150.
@Tim Rosser:
Wouldn’t it be great if Camaro were an Evo-like, All wheel drive rocket? It’s coming to that, I believe – as government mileage mandates will make the 4,000 lb. retro ponycar a thing of the past.
Why do magazines run endless cover stories re: Lamborghinis and Ferraris you nor I could ever afford? Why all the attention to a car that’ll do 0-60 faster than your wife can whip out a credit card and buy a pair of shoes? It’s because we’re ( car guys ) all stupid, that’s why. If we didn’t buy the magazines, they’d stop publishing such drivel. Same with Top Gear – they lust over cars costing twice the price of their homes. It’s fantasy and what man doesn’t like to fantasize about a life different than the one he has?
Just remember Al Bundy’s ( Married With Children ) famous words: When asked why he read “BigUns Magazine” and had a stash of them in the basement – he replied, “Look, …every man who has a Dodge in the garage likes to sit back and fantasiaze it’s a Ferrari now and again! “…. LOL
@ James: You might be on to something. The next gen Camaro will be smaller and lighter.
I purchased my current car in December 2011 and will paying on it for the next 5 years. If money wasn’t an option, sure, I might take a Ferrari. Alas, it’ll always be a fantasy, so me, I prefer a car that I can work on and build up. The last car I had before my Regal GS was a 2005 MINI Cooper S. On highway 129 The Tail of the Dragon, I pulled a 1.03 G turn in one of the corners. It was a fun car and it gave me satisfaction knowing I did all the work on it myself. Most of the cars in this test come from the factory set up and you don’t need anything done to them. Where’s the fun in that? Not to mention how unreachable they are to most working individuals. I guess it’s just the nature of the beast, but I would really like to see a realistic test pitting cheap, fun cars, that people can actually afford.
@James @Tim, You ask why mags run stories on expensive cars. It’s because it draws attention. Call it sensationalism if you want, but people find reading up on hand-made exotics to be more interesting than a car I see every day on the street. And why do you have a problem with it? You can’t expect affordable cars to be the main feature every month. And that’s also not to say smaller, more affordable modern cars aren’t subject to more and more complexities. Cars get less user-friendly seemingly every year. It seems we’re left to go back 10 years if we want an honest performance project car. Less restrictions, less technology, less gimmicks = more driver+car connection.
And if Chevy does offer an AWD compact performance car (and they darn well should!), don’t call it a Camaro. However, the Alpha platform could easily support both kinds of vehicles: a simple BRZ-like rwd performer and a boosted AWD rally car for the road. Fingers crossed.
I find it amazing that in this day and age we still call sports cars “mid-life crisis mobiles” and those shined up huge tired gigantic trucks with one fat bellied man driving 20mph in the middle lane on the highway some how to slip under the radar.