I saw the 2012 Camaro ZL1 at the autoshow and it will be the direct competitior for the GT500. The camaro's are showing improved interiors being a bit of carbon fiber and suede inserts. It still doesn't match the Gt500's suede and aluminum interior. It looks good but really looks just like another Camaro. The GT500 has a very distinguished look due to the different front fascia that easily sets it apart from the GT. The ZL1 not so much.

We all know the car is getting the CTS-V's supercharged 6.2L engine at 556 HP give or take. The ZL1 will be heavier than the GT500. One thing though, we all know the 4100 lb. CTS-V can do 0-60 in 3.9 and run the 1/4 mile in 12 flat which the GT500 cannot do. We will have to wait and see how the Camaro performs.

One thing they did get right though is tire size! 305/35ZR20's on the rear and 285/35ZR20's up front. We all know the biggest problem with the improved 2011 GT500 is tire size or essentially no decent traction until 3rd gear! This has been a problem with the car since 2007. The 285's have never ever really worked. There just isn't enough rubber on the road to match the power of the car. I am still amazed in 2012 Ford hasn't done such a simple fix for the car to improve performance. Here's hoping a little competition clues them in and I am hoping for 10 inch rear wheels and at least 305's on the rear in the near future.

 

No kidding the 2011 gt can't even get good traction with those wheels!! If the gt500 could get traction before third gear it would beat the cts v!

 

And this is proved on YouTube with a 20x10 rear wheel and a 305 rear tire!! Idk why ford doesn't do this factory???

 

The automatic ctsv is the fast one... I thought I read the zl1 will only be offered in a manual like the gt500...so that should level the playing field. May even use the same tr6060. I am optimistic for the gt500 though because...the v6 camaro vs the v6 mustang, mustang comes out on top. The Camaro SS vs the Mustang GT, the GT comes out on top...so with the equally powered ZL1 vs the GT500 the mustang should also come out on top! Just a better car!

 

Wait for it...

 

I got rid of my hockey puck rubber Goodyears eariler this week. I replaced them with Hankook evo V12's in the stock sizes. I felt the car actually get traction in second gear for the first time and it scoots out from a dig waaay better than the stock rubber. It also feels like it has better grip going into a corner hard.

 

Looks pretty good.

 

Big difference though, the GT and V-6 get good traction in 1st and 2nd, unlike the GT500. With 305's in the rear and the added weight there is no doubt in my mind the ZL1 will hook up right from the start. As we have seen competition from the Camaro has made the Mustang a superior vehicle every time.

 

still looks like the fat kid no one wanted on their kickball team.. yuk

 

Wait for what?

To see how the ZL1 performs?

To see what Ford will improve on the GT500?

 

Really!! The 2010 GT500 went 11.951 at 120.29 mph bone stone stock right down to the tires and 11.59 with sticky rear tires.
http://www.musclemustangfastfords.co...n_results.html

 

Exactly! It's all driver with a gt500

 

I can tell you right now you don't have to be Evan Smith to get good times in the CTS-V. You do in the GT500 and I'd bet probably less than 10% of GT500 owners could drive to this guys level.

 

Code Red. 1000 hp Shelby

 

Let's look at something a little more current like the 2011 GT500 that is more applicable due to a slight increase in HP and decrease in weight. http://www.musclemustangfastfords.co...nd_narrow.html
Evan Smith did get the car to do 12.02 at 119mph with the SVT PP but it took him all day to get these numbers! His 1st run was 14.03 at 111mph. They started in the day and his best time at 12.02s was well after darkness had fell. My point is he is an exceptional driver and it took him all day to reach numbers close to 12 flat.

Again I am going back to my bigger tires theory to improve this vehicle. I don't now how many millions were spent in R&D for the new aluminum 5.4, but I bet adding 305's and 10 in. rear wheels would be very cost efficient. Numbers from all the major reviewers of this vehicle have been right around 12.5 for the 1/4 and low 4's for the 0-60 times. MT has a 4.2 and 12.5 and they are typically better than the other major mags for Shelby times.

 

You do realize that Evan now lives in Florida and that's where those runs were made. You'll never get the best time running in Florida. His run with the 2010 was at Englishtown. I'm guessing the 2011 SVT-PP car would do a 11.75-11.80 under the same conditions.

 

Chevy is predicting sub 4 second 0-60 times. So Ford has there work cut out for them. I don't think I have read more than one review (C&D) where they have acheived the 0-60 times Ford says the SVT GT500 is capable of.

 

Well, until the Camaro ZL1 is released and we start seeing some real-world numbers, it's all conjecture as to what Chevy's offering will be capable of. I'm sure it'll be a beast, but I bet you Ford has something in the works that completely raises the badass bar.

I also question Chevy's decision to go with cast pistons in the ZL1. True, other FI applications utilize cast pistons -- the Australian "Miami" comes to mind -- but, compared to the GT500 and the forged components it offers from the factory, the mod potential, unless I'm missing something, is definitely in Ford's favor.

 

Bingo. You've hit on something. Why the hell is the Shelby so slow? It's got the horsepower; it's not that heavy. And the heavy Cadillac, with a scant 6 more horsepower is faster, despite weighing a few hundred pounds more. What gives? (It's a crucial question to me, because I plan to buy one or the other SOON). I WANT to buy the Shelby... BUT...

 

No. It DOESN't look good. It looks radical. The Mustang's looks are much more evolution as opposed to the Chevy's revolution. The Mustang makes sense to the eye; the Chevy just assaults it.