2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28: The Trans-Am Racer Returns!

[EAGLE5]

And yes, the super sticky rubber is a HUGE part of the car's performance. Put lesser rubber on and watch the performance fall.

[dp1]

How about expected maintenance costs GTR vs Z/28, assuming both are driven hard on track?

[Trashed675]

I love how pointless these internet arguments are. The Camaro is faster in the hands of a professional racing driver, but probably less then ideal when just being a dd.

Think base mustang gt vs sti. They both do some things better, if you can afford them then you get to pick.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by SpeedyJay

I can see why the GTR weights 3800lbs because of the AWD system but why does a RWD car weight 3800lbs...?

I think if GM put some more thought into there chassis design they could lose a few hundred pounds. I think they went with the 'old American boat' chassis design.

Regular 5th gen Camaro weighs nearly 4100lbs...they dropped ~250 lbs for the Z/28. Still somewhat pitiful because the 4th gen Camaros weighed ~3400 lbs.... I got my '98 RS hardtop coupe down to ~3200 lbs stripped interior besides dash and doors with roll bar and 8lb racing seats. Loved the brakes on it though (~200lbs weight loss + same large brakes as on the V8s for '98 (I used new Brembo blanks) + Hawk HP+ pads F/HPS R, 275/40-17 Nitto 555RII DOT-R tires on 17x9.5 Z06 replica wheels = really good at slowing down and turning in on track. Plugs were about as easy to change as the FRS will be though and Engine/transmission work was a pain with it shoved back in right next to the tunnel wall...hated wrenching on it. Seems like the suggested easiest thing to do any engine/transmission work (like clutch change or spark plug change) is unbolt the whole front suspension/engine/transmission assembly and drop it from the car...LOL

But compared the 2,300lb '90 Integra RS I had, the 4th gen camaro was a numb barge that didn't like to change direction (transitional) nor respond to throttle as quickly....

Still, that Z/28 is a cool car I'd want to go out for a drive in! Would hate to buy tires for it and daily drive though... ~$2,300 a set and having to worry about heat cycles... sheesh.

[Dark]

Take Z/28 over GT-R any day. Now where the hell is Supra Twin Turbo TRD?

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

And yes, the super sticky rubber is a HUGE part of the car's performance. Put lesser rubber on and watch the performance fall.

But why would anyone do that? GM built a balls-to-the-wall Camaro focused on performance. So they rightfully put some of the best tires on the car that they could.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

But why would anyone do that? GM built a balls-to-the-wall Camaro focused on performance. So they rightfully put some of the best tires on the car that they could.

Yep. Same reason the ZR1 'Vette comes with Pilot Sport Cups.

[Kelbyat07]

Just saw the Camaro vs GTR, and I can say that I am quite surprise with the result. I still like the GTR way more but I just gain a little respect for the Camaro.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by Vracer111

Regular 5th gen Camaro weighs nearly 4100lbs...they dropped ~250 lbs for the Z/28.

I can't believe people are falling for that line of BS. 1LE Camaro test I'm looking at has it at 3878 lb., stereo and all. Z/28 test I'm looking at has it at 3857 lb. That's 21 lb. lighter, nowhere near 250 lb. or the oft-repeated 300 lb. claim.

You can't lose meaningful weight by just yanking a few stereo speakers! Z/28 is STILL a giant, heavy PIG of a car.

Yeah, they talk about it being hundreds of pounds lighter, but that's compared to the even more stupidly overweight ZL1 at 4080 lb. But it is essentially NO lighter-weight than the V8 SS models and of course it's about 150 lb. HEAVIER than the V6 models.

No A/C and no stereo does NOT make a meaningful difference in weight on a 3800+ lb. car. The Z/28 is not a lightweight "race car" by any stretch of the imagination. Despite all the hype, it's essentially no lighter than a "regular" V8 SS model.

Still somewhat pitiful because the 4th gen Camaros weighed ~3400 lbs.... I got my '98 RS hardtop coupe down to ~3200 lbs stripped interior besides dash and doors with roll bar and 8lb racing seats. Loved the brakes on it though (~200lbs weight loss + same large brakes as on the V8s for '98 (I used new Brembo blanks) + Hawk HP+ pads F/HPS R, 275/40-17 Nitto 555RII DOT-R tires on 17x9.5 Z06 replica wheels = really good at slowing down and turning in on track.

HPS pads are the suckiest suck pads that ever sucked! I do like the HP+, though, at least on my stock S2000.

But compared the 2,300lb '90 Integra RS I had, the 4th gen camaro was a numb barge that didn't like to change direction (transitional) nor respond to throttle as quickly....

I had a '95 Z28 convertible. Loved the styling, loved the sound, but the car was indeed a barge. But still, even the convertible 4th-gen Z28 was 300-350 lb. *lighter* than this new "lightweight" Z/28!

Still, that Z/28 is a cool car I'd want to go out for a drive in! Would hate to buy tires for it and daily drive though... ~$2,300 a set and having to worry about heat cycles... sheesh.

Like the GTR and the 911 Turbo, it proves that PIGS can FLY. But I still have zero interest in driving a pig around. Even if it was reasonably priced.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by ZDan

Like the GTR and the 911 Turbo, it proves that PIGS can FLY. But I still have zero interest in driving a pig around. Even if it was reasonably priced.

The 911 is no pig. It starts not much over 3000lbs and doesn't end up much over 3500 with AWD and a turbo, and that's for the regular weight versions. Too bad the engine is in the wrong place.

[userjack6880]

Hey guys, I like cars. Big, heavy, powerful ones and light, nimble, not-so-powerful ones.

The Z/28 is pretty impressive, though. A trend that seems to be that the pony/muscle car is finding itself falling into. The Mustang is trying to be nimbler and more track-friendly. The Camaro is evolving that way. Chrysler needs to do something about it's car.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by userjack6880

Hey guys, I like women. Big, heavy ones and light, nimble ones.

Fixed.

[NemesisPrime909]

i promised myself i wouldn't watch another head 2 head. MT's american bias gets tiresome after awhile

but let's get one thing clear

I don't like the GTR, i think it's lacking is soul. From an engineering stand point, it's a marvel

I don't like the Camaro. I think they're good at making noise and power, but they have significant trouble actually putting it down (nearly all muscle cars do).


now, all that said, both cars can still be enjoyable in certain situations.

One thing that really bothered me about this vid is he never mentions reliability, quality of the ride, etc. i think we all know track cars can have some of the worst rides of all cars. and being cars that are meant to be pushed, how are they off the track? can you have fun doing a casual drive to nowhere on a sunday afternoon?



The Z/28 has Pirelli Trofeo R tires which are, and i quote (from Pirelli's website), "Designed for racetrack driving on dry asphalt."

The GTR has Dunlop SP Sport MAXX GT600 DSST CTT tires, which can be driven in wet or dry conditions

Let's be honest. the person who has the money to afford these cars will most likely have another car for DD. But let me ask you this, how would you feel if you woke up at morning and went into you garage with the intent on doing an early morning drive but couldn't because you new the car you bought would destroy your spine or spin out of control if you did?

I don't know about you, but that would kinda spoil the point. What's the point of having a car if you can't drive it?

what about Interior, from what I saw GM took the speakers out, i don't know if that means they removed the whole stereo as well or what. but he gave the implication that the Z/28 doesn't have much (if anything) doing on inside.

As for the GTR, from what I saw, It still has all it's amenities and being Nissan's flagship car we know they wouldn't skip the bill when it comes to quality.


so what am I saying here?

I'm saying the Nissan GTR is a sports car with super car stats and the Camaro Z/28 is a muscle car tuned to handle on a track.

Apples to Oranges

honestly it would've made for sense to test the C7 Corvette against the GTR at least then they'd be in the same bracket

as for the Camaro, I'm afraid the only cars it could go against are the other American Muscle cars, as we're 1 of 2 countries that actually makes them (the other being Australia, and with Holden gone, all that leaves is Ford).


ALL THAT SAID

I still wouldn't buy either if i had the money, I'd buy either of the twins and call it a day.

This is why I hate Head 2 Head because it forces me to defend cars i don't even like for the sake of journalism.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

The 911 is no pig. It starts not much over 3000lbs and doesn't end up much over 3500 with AWD and a turbo, and that's for the regular weight versions. Too bad the engine is in the wrong place.

Just over 3600 for the awd turbo in this test: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...n/viewall.html
That's about 200 lb. heavier than the last-gen Camaro/Firebird, which were no lightweights, and only about 200 lb. lighter than the current monstrosity. To me, the awd turbo is a pig. That flies.

Haven't seen a lower-spec 2wd 911 test below about 3250 lb. in forever, and the lightweight GT3 is 3200: http://www.caranddriver.com/porsche/911-gt3#