Today seems to be a proclaimed “Golden Age of Sports Cars”: on one end we have zippy, nimble cars like the Scion FR-S (Subaru BRZ), Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and even the Porsche Boxtser, representing simple driving enjoyment. Then there’s the 4,000-plus pound, 580-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which has been engineered to excel on anything involving tarmac. Drag racing? Absolutely. A Road Course? Even better. Moreover, the ZL1 comes with the necessary track tools, such as Performance Traction Management and launch control, to give the super pony the edge, resulting in a total blast to drive, while testing your level of sanity at the same time.
It’s because of these traits, that Automobile Magazine has awarded the Camaro ZL1 a spot on its All-Star list of 2013 — representing the best cars in America on the market today. The spot is well-earned, if you ask us. Will the 2014 Camaro Z/28 make the list next year? How about the 2014 Corvette Stingray? They’re certainly strong bets in our eyes.
Comments
Camaro and sports car should never be used in the same sentence, no matter how much hp GM decides to pack in that fatty.
The ZL1 can keep up and surpass some pure sports cars even exotics on the street and track for a fraction of the cost of the exotics. it ran the ring within spitting distance of 911’s and others. how does it not fit as a sports car? can you please explain? muscle car yes but by definition a muscle car does not excell on a road course. that’s a sports car, and the ZL1 does excel on the track.
So can new Shelby GT500 but at least without a pretense to compete with exotics and costing even less than the Camaro.
The GT500 is only good for going in straight lines as all mustangs save for the Boss 302 and laguna seca models suck on a race track or road course, the Camaro beats them every time. The 1LE and the ZL1 are track cars not to mention the Z/28 that will probably equal or better a stingray, 911’s , GTR’s and other 100k plus “sports cars”.
So what is your argument again?
Please have your head examined if you seriously believe what you just wrote, including GT500 which apparently can pull over a g on the road course. Yes, Camaro will beat the GTR on the track, LMAO. Did you all fools fall off the same stupid tree?
You’re highly vaunted GT500 will probably Be able to keep up with the ZL1 for a couple laps before the brakes start the fade, then the Camaro will pull way 2-3 seconds every lap until the GT500’s brakes finally die also a live axle in your Mustangs? how sports car is that?
Also you amply demonstrated your inability to read a complete sentence let alone the paragraph, I stated that the Z/28 Will Be able to keep up with the GTR on the racetrack. Not the Camaro SS,or /1LE the ZL1 did very well against the GTR In several comparison test, the Z/28 is 3 full seconds quicker than the ZL1, around most tracks, But again you never stated your argument why the Camaro ZL1 is not a sports car. Is because it’s too big too fat or too ugly for your tastes? That’s a matter of opinion, Numbers comparison tests lap times do not lie, This car is been driven by Professional racecar drivers from various classes, And they all agree the Camaro is a fine sports car able to Equal and outperform other “pure” In your mind (aesthetically pleasing), as you would call them sports cars.
Read the posts buddy you’re the one who’s outnumbered here perhaps you fell off your stupid tree.
I am fully aware of the opinions of majority, pretty obvious from the posts in this fine place. I would not get hung up on live axle in the mustang while the “revolutionary” C7 still rides on leaf springs. Not a great fan of Mustangs but apparently IRS is coming back Mustang way to make a “sports car”? Once again, Camaro behemoth is an abomination and anyone calling it a sports car should have their head examined.
“I would not get hung up on live axle in the mustang while the “revolutionary” C7 still rides on leaf springs.”
Traverse composites, not longitudinal leafs.
I trust you know the difference and didn’t just watch Top Gear.
OMG, you are not only a custom build critic but an engineering expert, as well? LMAO… The word is TRANSVERSE. Yes, I am quite well familiar. Apparently PM must have watched TG before deciding to ditch them on C6R. And why isn’t Camaro using them? Seems like a sure way to shed a few pounds from that boat?
Well, if the use of plastic leafsprings mounted “traversely” are new to you, do you get bent out of shape when you find a car that STILL uses U joints? Those certainly aren’t new, are they?
There’s also some emphasis for the OCD part of you that just has to point out spelling errors, likely because you have little in the way of substance to offer to the discussion.
Have you ever driven a ZL1, or a 1LE? Or looked at the lap times they can lay down compared to cars twice or even thrice their price?
Typical Rustang response.
Camaro is the best looking mainstream vehicle ever built. At least in my opinion.
Looks like a concept car but it is a production vehicle.
The biggest fear the future Camaro has is designing something even close to as good looking.
Opinions are like aholes, you obviously have one in addition to being one yourself.
Manoli, somehow my response to you did not end up in the proper place but nevertheless, here it is.
As a matter of fact I did, just like I did the Camaro SS before, walking away from the experience far from being impressed in any way. Seems like you should drive one though to understand my comments. No matter how much horsepower goes in that behemoth, it is still the same abomination full of blind spots, tacky interior and bulk sufficient to warrant commercial vehicle registration fees.
While you are at it, drive the Cadillac CTS V coupe for comparison, both cars are heavy and bulky but the Cadillac is considerably easier to drive comfortably and somehow feels more agile as well. To claim that this car, with the bulk of a yacht and aerodynamics of a garden shed is somehow resembling a sports car is truly preposterous.
PeterMJ, it’s okay. I would be jealous too if I didnt already own a 2013 Victory Red ZL1 Beast.
Oh wow, I am so envious. I guess I gotta ditch my Viper and Corvette and get a real car… Oh, I am rolling my eyes big time. LOL
Not really sure how many garden sheds have a drag coefficient of .35 and create 265lbs of downforce but I am probably right to assume that an idiot of your magnitude won’t understand the significance of either of those statistics. You are a moron.
Here is my recommendation for you not to look like a complete idiot while calling others names: coefficient of drag on its own is meaningless, what matters is the product of Cd times the frontal area of the car, to draw any meaningful conclusions. Also, Cd you quoted is for SS, not ZL1 car with the front spoiler and hood scoop. ZL1 Cd is 0.36-a price to pay for higher downforce up front. In addition, only an idiot would brag about 265 lbs of downforce without knowing and understanding what takes place in the rear of the car and at what speed this downforce is generated.
To further demonstrate how much of a tool you are, for Dodge Viper ACR, this number is 1000 pounds AT 150 mph. Gotta love idiots like you throwing numbers they do not understand only to demonstrate their ignorance. Thanks for a real good chuckle, reading this stupidity is very entertaining.
First off, I’m impressed you even know the significance, let alone existence of drag area, touche. But I’ve taken my fair share of fluid dynamics classes at MSU (BE in mech. engr. + MBA) and frontal area drag is not altogether a better indication of aerodynamic efficiency, despite what some car magazines (C&D) think. Second, having a car with neutral lift is impressive enough let alone 265lbs (at 150mph btw, didnt think you’d have understood what that meant so i didnt include in my previous comment) on a car thats less than $60k. You say that a Camaro isnt a sports car, then you compare its downforce to a $100k+ supercar with a rear wing off a f*cking 747? 1/4 of the downforce at the same speed for a car half the price which btw is a street/track car compared to the hardcore ACR variant. Lets compare apples to apples.
Seems you should go back to school and stay awake this time to learn a thing or two before lecturing others. Your statements clearly indicate full ignorance on the subject of aerodynamics. If I were you, I would stop embarrassing myself and pick on someone dumber than yourself next time. Oh, and I guess what, I may have a diploma or two somewhere and know a thing or two about physics, including fluid dynamics.
I find your ineptitude to address any of the previous comments i made hilarious. Im also curious as to which of my comments demonstrate my ignorance, and id love to hear more about what im sure your extensive background in aerodynamics entails lol you are just a sad internet troll that learned what little you know from some wikipedia article
Touche. Now, stop wasting my time and go back to humping GM leg, with the rest of ignorant masses. Keep on trolling.
I’ve driven every type of fifth-generation Camaro under the sun, and can tell apart the driving characteristics between them. Yes, there are blind spots, and the interior isn’t all that, but really, they don’t take away much from the performance you get with either the 1LE or ZL1. The ZL1 is also aerodynamic enough to provide downforce, while the other versions don’t.
Also, I have driven the V Coupe (and V Wagon). I’ve never spent more money on gas in one week. Compared to the ZL1, it has an older, slower-reacting magnetic shock system, and it’s also more tail-happy. Though yes, it is more comfortable, Though both vehicles have huge blind spots.
And if you want to know just what kind of a difference it adds up to, just look at the Nurburgring lap times: 7:41 for the ZL1, compared to 7:59 for the V. Both were officially set by GM.
On the track, aerodynamics matter very little, downforce matters. You may want to check Cd of F1 cars if in doubt. Cd matters for top speed and fuel economy . The amount of downforce ZL1 generates is a joke FOR A TRACK CAR. You may want to do some research on the subject. Then again, you can join the forces with others and cry troll while someone points out certain FACTS to you and others. I am astonished by the amount of misinformation around here, not surprising though.
I’m not sure where drag coefficients and F1 cars came from, but anyway, 80 lbs of downforce with the ZL1 is better than the lift that’s otherwise generated on other Camaro models. But you know what’s better than 80 lbs of downforce? A 7:41 ‘Ring lap time. In a car that costs less than $60,000. Let me know when another automaker can accomplish that kind of performance for that kind of price. And what will you say when the Z/28 beats that?
Are you in US? You should check out what dealers are asking for that car, I can assure you it is not less than 60k, LOL. I did not bring up the drag coefficient, however, I pointed out that drag coefficient being low is irrelevant for a road course car. The downforce Camaro generates is laughable, considering its weight. I am pretty sure you realize how Newton’s laws work in a heavy car like Camaro, especially given its high center of gravity and large unsprung weight.
Here’s a brand new 2013 Camaro ZL1 for $57,670:
http://www.danielslong.com/VehicleDetails/new-2013-Chevrolet-Camaro-Coupe_ZL1-Colorado_Springs-CO/1998571613
Not only is it less than $60,000, but the dealer will actually sell it to you for the as-advertised price. I checked 🙂
Sure, the car can stand to lose some weight (which it will for the next generation) and decrease in dimensions. But to look at the Camaro on paper is to miss the forest for the trees (the track for the pavement?): the point is that the Camaro ZL1 (heck, any Camaro) is fun to drive, looks great, and brings a smile to one’s face. Does anything else really matter?
LOL, did you actually read the description before posting your reply? There is a statement that the price DOES NOT INCLUDE DEALER INSTALLED OPTIONS and one of the options is 1600 dollar clear bra, just for starters. This is a typical bait and switch practice by a shady dealer, praying on gullible buyers. Why don’t you call them and find out what the out the door price really is? Surely you cannot be that naïve, can you?
Now, this is a bare bone car, no options, if you add anything to the car, the price will shoot up through the roof, I can assure you. Also, in spite of your claims, the MSRP for the basic ZL1 is not less than 60k, it is 61k, so so much for the bargain of the year. Also, notice that window sticker is not available for viewing, this should give you a clue about the dealer.
Nevertheless, I drove one of these cars, it was a truly awful experience, clunky shifter, super hard clutch, absolutely no side or back vision and bulge in the hood cutting out vision forward quite a bit. The car felt very heavy, steering numb and the car gave no assurance of high speed stability. Lane changing was quite an experience, cannot possibly imagine zooming in and out of traffic like in Corvette. Maybe I drove a different car? Oh and ergonomics and comfort features, including the seats were just as bad as on lower model Camaro. I was glad to get back in my Vette afterwards, very glad as a matter of fact.
Again, the only person that would call this thing a sports car would be someone who never drove a real sports car.
As you surely know, said “dealer installed” items can be removed (or significantly reduced) during negotiations. And I just happen to know a fine lad who came oh-so-close to buying this particular unit (hence the reason I had the URL handy) until his financing fell through for $61k and change (no trade and all things being equal, +++).
As for your seat-of-the-pants test drive of the ZL1… well, I’m quite certain you will be one of the very few with that opinion/impression. My suggestion: live with the car for a day or two (a week if at all possible). It’s no Corvette, and that is not its purpose.
Could it be that your expecting (wanting?) it to be just like your Vette is leading you to make the (negative) conclusions about the car? But let’s say that you did live with the ZL1 for a day or two (or longer) and ended up not liking it. In that case, no one is forcing you do buy it. So don’t.
If the Vette is more your cup of bourbon, then more power to you — and more power to Chevy for offering choice and diversity. Different strokes for different folks.
LOL, these options are already installed on the car, do you think that the dealer will be peeling off the clear bra (risking damaging the paint) or putting back the stock stop lights instead of pulsing stop lights to make the sale and sell this car for less? As I said, read the fine print before making these claims. Chances are very good that these things were not installed on the car when the first deal was being made and now, the dealer is compensating for the discount from MSRP with the options that no doubt cost the dealers pennies on the dollar to compensate, this is how dealers stay in business.
I am not one of the few, you may want to look around Corvette forums to see other reviews of this car, I have not seen anyone being impressed. I understand this is not the place to be critical of GM cars, thus, the negative reactions to my opinions.
Camaro sells well, pretty obvious there are many people who like them, this is fine but anyone considering this hi performance version a sports car does not understand the difference, A car that goes fast is not automatically a sports car, regardless how well it may handle. Not like you could consider a 400 lbs person a viable sprint runner, regardless of how fast they may run… Unfortunately C7 seems to be heading the same way Camaro is,
Blah, blah, blah. Dude – take your “I love Ford’s” elsewhere. And while at it, perhaps drop by your Cadillac dealer and test a new ATS Premium Performance Edition 3.6. Then take a look at the bloated cow Ford calls the new MKZ. Where’s a full test report on the new MKZ? I own an ATS Performance Edition 3.6 which gives me up to 35 mpg @ speed limits on cruise control. Uh huh – yes – I have a picture of those figures on the dash readout.
Your reading comprehension sucks. I drive Corvette and Viper, the cars that are real sports cars, not a bloated Camaro. I’ve never been a great fan of Ford and Mustangs and find the bloated ZL1 way closer to Mustang GT500 and Challenger SRT8 than a sports car. You and other numbnuts should have your heads examined in a hurry. Go and drive a sports car to learn the differences.
Dear PeterMJ:
STFU.
Yours,
The Internet
Blow me.
Ask your wife to. She should be on her way back to your house from mine. She might be a bit tired.
Shoosh you idiot
Saying my f250 w/ a 7.3 diesel that puts out 320 hp 590 ft/lb of torque is a sports car is idiotic at best, the zl1 on the other hand manages to keep pace with some of the most exclusive a exotic cars. It manages to do this on a price scale that someone like myself who makes 60-65k a year can afford,it is the epitome of the AMERICAN sports car,may the masses be blessed with the hum of more LSA engines 🙂
Come on guys, do not feed the troll. Let him wither. If you would not have responded to him he would have gone away unfulfilled and now he is fat, dumb and happy.
An internet ‘troll’ is an abusive or obnoxious user who uses shock value to promote arguments and disharmony in online communities.
Trolls are immune to criticism and logical arguments. True trolls cannot be reasoned with, regardless of how sound your logical argument is.
Trolls do not feel remorse like you and me. They have sociopathic tendencies, and accordingly, they delight in other people having hurt feelings.
Trolls consider themselves separate from the social order.
Trolls do not abide by etiquette or the rules of common courtesy.
Trolls consider themselves above social responsibility.
Trolls gain energy by you insulting them.
Trolls gain energy when you get angry.
The only way to deal with a troll is to ignore him, or take away his ability to post online.
Typical reaction from typical aged corvette owner understanding nothing about what is being said. I am ashamed to own a corvette, apparently time to drive the viper more.
Peter, we’re ashamed you own one too!
Go cry to someone who cares.
Apparently Camaro bunch cares, getting bow tie panties in a bunch over somebody’s post is quite a scene.
Hahahaha all these comments have definitely made my work day alot more enjoyable. Somebody must be really bored to warrant jumping on a GM website to bash on a Camaro. He sounds more like a Miata owner rather than a Vette or Viper guy.
this retard couldn’t afford the insurance on either of those cars, hes completely full of shit
900 per year for 09 Viper and 700 for the same year Vette-I can certainly afford it, you idiot. Clueless about aerodynamics and just as dumb about car insurance.
Lol, Camaro is best new Chevy. Had a laugh at a few comments 🙂
I think what everyone is trying to say is the zl1 beats a lot of so called sports cars at there own game. I personally dont consider the camaro a sports car, to me its a muscle car/pony car. But it has sports car charecteristics and numbers dont lie… camaro beats sports cars on the track that cost twice as much.