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

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by SpeedyJay

I'm sure that Z28 handles nice on the track but at what cost on the road. People who can afford to buy a $75,000 car normally don't like to get there back bone pulverised if they go for a Sunday drive.

Then those are the type of people who don't buy a Lotus either.

This car isn't supposed to sell in doves, like the C7 Vette does.

It's a statement, that they can take a rental car chassis and make it really fucking good.

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by SpeedyJay

I'm sure that Z28 handles nice on the track but at what cost on the road. People who can afford to buy a $75,000 car normally don't like to get there back bone pulverised if they go for a Sunday drive.

With its sophisticated suspension it probably rides better than your BRZ. I know for a fact that my brother's '13 ZL1 rides a lot better than my MR-S and my son's FR-S.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Ec1990

It's not so much the chassis as is the entire frame the Camaro is built on. It was designed back in 2008 time frame and was to costly to change it. The next Camaro will be built on the same platform as the Cadillac ATS, I'd expect a 200-400 pound decrease. Although it is a miracle how close the production version looks like the concept.

Although even look at the new Corvette and how it weighs 3200, technology weighs things down.

Materials technology lightens things up. Its all a matter of where mfgs. want to apply their R&D dollars, economies and priorities. Easier to make a heavy car safe and fast than a light one when there are so many other 3500 lb. boats on the highway.

The kind of tech I'd like to see Auto mfg's pour their money into are more mass produced dry carbon fiber, stronger heat resistant composites, corrosion resistant alloys, and nanomaterials. Problem is that most Auto mfgs are more material and system integrators than advanced material developers. So the new technology they produce is generally along the lines of mass production, engine management, mechanical controls software, and A/V.

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by Stevie86

Lol Chevy. It's still gonna handle like shit.

Pretty ignorant statement there, a lot of the new GM vehicles are getting praised for dynamics, ATS, Camaro in certain trims, C7 Corvette.

I work for GM and only deam of owning a Z/28. I came pretty close to financing my ass off with a Stingray at employee pricing but ultimately rational thinking took over and I bought my BRZ.

[DarkSunrise]

Z/28 is impressive for sure. I would love to see it in a head-to-head against its Chevy stablemate, the C7 Stingray.

[White64Goat]

One thing I noticed that in 36 years they haven't gotten rid of is wheel hop. Really? $75K for wheel hop? Pass..........

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by King Tut

Love it. I would buy one, but not at $75k, and I guess that very few are paying MSRP for them.

Yeah, that is stupid money for a Camaro. If I were at all into this kind of thing, a 1LE for $39k less leaves a lot of cash for i/e mods and a cam (would easily top stock LS7 power) or a supercharger. And that car actually comes with a stereo...

Couldn't believe it when that M/T guy (aka car salesman) said it should cost MORE!

I can assure that it doesn't handle like shit and my favorite stat on it is the 305 width front tires which are the widest front tires fitted to any production car.

But it is quite a heavy car, it NEEDS massively wide tires.
FR-S/BRZ has nearly the same amount of tire width per pound of car+driver!
Z/28 => (3800 + 180)/4x305 = 3.3 lb. of car per mm tire width
FR-S => (2750 + 180)/4x215 = 3.4 lb. of car per mm tire width

[EAGLE5]

A flying pig. It does show what computers, huge tires, a stiff body, and stiff suspension can do for performance.

[Superhatch]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

A flying pig. It does show what computers, huge tires, a stiff body, and stiff suspension can do for performance.

That's what the GTR is as well. I've been in one for a day/nignt/day as a rental. It was fucking amazing. Say what you will about the Z28, it's leagues above the BRZ in terms of performance and it's likely an amazing car on track.

But...to me the magical thing about the GTR was that it didn't feel big and heavy. The interior was laid out well while the Z28 basically has the same gauges as the Cruze, always a downfall the American "parts bin" approach to interiors.

The Z28 tires have a 60 treadwear rating while the GTR has a 200 treadwear tire on it. The Pirellis are so soft I have a hard time calling them a street tire, and I think you would be lucky if you got one summer out of them.

While I appreciate GM for offering some goodies and basically building a track car out of their Camaro I also think that I would still choose the GTR as a car that is more versatile, faster for the average driver, and more likely to be used as a DD.

Id actually be curious to see what the Z28 is like on an actual street tire. Would it lose some of it's magic?

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by Superhatch

That's what the GTR is as well. I've been in one for a day/nignt/day as a rental. It was fucking amazing. Say what you will about the Z28, it's leagues above the BRZ in terms of performance and it's likely an amazing car on track.

But...to me the magical thing about the GTR was that it didn't feel big and heavy. The interior was laid out well while the Z28 basically has the same gauges as the Cruze, always a downfall the American "parts bin" approach to interiors.

The Z28 tires have a 60 treadwear rating while the GTR has a 200 treadwear tire on it. The Pirellis are so soft I have a hard time calling them a street tire, and I think you would be lucky if you got one summer out of them.

While I appreciate GM for offering some goodies and basically building a track car out of their Camaro I also think that I would still choose the GTR as a car that is more versatile, faster for the average driver, and more likely to be used as a DD.

Id actually be curious to see what the Z28 is like on an actual street tire. Would it lose some of it's magic?

A big V8 and a manual is always magical.

[DarkSunrise]

I think it's reasonably priced for a factory track car. It's passed Chevy's 24-hr endurance test, which means it's been lapped at close to 10/10ths for a total of 24 hrs at various tracks, with the only repairs/maintenance allowed being tires and brakes. Each lap was required to have been within 2% of a target lap. At Nurburgring, for example, the target lap was sub-8:00.

The price tag is not cheap, but you're really paying for a car that's been thoroughly vetted at the track. I don't think any other production car can claim it's been tested as thoroughly.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by Superhatch

That's what the GTR is as well. I've been in one for a day/nignt/day as a rental. It was fucking amazing. Say what you will about the Z28, it's leagues above the BRZ in terms of performance and it's likely an amazing car on track.

But...to me the magical thing about the GTR was that it didn't feel big and heavy. The interior was laid out well while the Z28 basically has the same gauges as the Cruze, always a downfall the American "parts bin" approach to interiors.

The Z28 tires have a 60 treadwear rating while the GTR has a 200 treadwear tire on it. The Pirellis are so soft I have a hard time calling them a street tire, and I think you would be lucky if you got one summer out of them.

While I appreciate GM for offering some goodies and basically building a track car out of their Camaro I also think that I would still choose the GTR as a car that is more versatile, faster for the average driver, and more likely to be used as a DD.

Id actually be curious to see what the Z28 is like on an actual street tire. Would it lose some of it's magic?

A lot of fun can be had in a big, heavy, powerful car, but it's really far from my favorite. My last car was a 550i. Awesome torque. Screamed to the redline. Fantastic engine. I really only miss the heated steering wheel and awesome stereo.

So would I kick a Camaro out my garage? No. Would I buy one? No. Same with a GT-R. I've had my fill of big, heavy cars. They're just not as enjoyable as light weight cars, even with the power deficit.

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by dem00n

A big V8 and a manual is always magical.

I agree with this. I love small, great handling vehicles, but the sound and torque of a V8 can put a smile on my face no matter what it's in, pretty much.

[fatoni]

It has a lot of tire. I read that the tires would stick to the ground more so to the rims