Topic: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

[Autos_Editor]

While not quite as track-focused as its Coupe stablemate, Chevy's 2013 Camaro ZL1 Convertible is still one of autodom's most fearsome ragtops.

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[ChaosphereIX]

have driven a hardtop, great car. Vert, would imagine not so much. If you want a cruiser with open sky, an SS is more than enough as the article said. Even go for the V6 if fuel savings are your thing.

Would imagine these would not sell much at all, we had a damned time trying to get rid of our 2SS vert, let alone one that is 20k more...

[Fobroader]

This thing I dont get, the ZL1 coupe is a great car, but this doesnt make sense. An AMG SL convertible is very comfortable, well made but sounds like you just punched Zeus in the gentlemans vegetables when you step on it....this track car rides rough, is loud, the interior is at best livable.....why not get a V6 and save yourself an Impalas worth of money. Coupes that have been beheaded to make them into convertibles arent sporty, they are cruisers.

[DriverJeff]

This very car holds a special spot in my car-enthusiast heart.  TurboBob and I took it on a fantastic 3,500 km road trip last month, and it was a great (if fuel-thirsty) travel partner.  When I picked it up from GM, I was definitely disappointed that it was neutered with the automatic (the manual transmission coupe I drove last autumn blew me away for how well-sorted it was), but Turbo and I both agreed that not having to think about rowing our own gears meant we could push the car harder on rural Kentucky mountain routes that were unfamiliar to us. 

[Mike]

This very car holds a special spot in my car-enthusiast heart.  TurboBob and I took it on a fantastic 3,500 km road trip last month, and it was a great (if fuel-thirsty) travel partner.  When I picked it up from GM, I was definitely disappointed that it was neutered with the automatic (the manual transmission coupe I drove last autumn blew me away for how well-sorted it was), but Turbo and I both agreed that not having to think about rowing our own gears meant we could push the car harder on rural Kentucky mountain routes that were unfamiliar to us. 

Oh, and as for those bald tires Peter referenced in his article, we can thank our dear Autos.ca friend Mike Schlee for much of that -- including the backwards-mounted, size-too-small rear driver's tire we discovered mid-way through our trip -- allegedly a result of his own road trip in that car that netted a flat tire in the middle of nowhere.

No, I picked it up that way as well. Bald tires, front tire mounted backwards on the rear. I didn't get a flat. So these worn out tires have now done at least 8,000 km

[Snowman]

I drove that car. It has a place in the automotive world, just not in mine.

[Threader]

The ZL1 Coupe or Topless begs to be thrashed at the dragstrip. With your demo having bald tires no harm no foul and do a few smoke shows while your there 

[DriverJeff]

This very car holds a special spot in my car-enthusiast heart.  TurboBob and I took it on a fantastic 3,500 km road trip last month, and it was a great (if fuel-thirsty) travel partner.  When I picked it up from GM, I was definitely disappointed that it was neutered with the automatic (the manual transmission coupe I drove last autumn blew me away for how well-sorted it was), but Turbo and I both agreed that not having to think about rowing our own gears meant we could push the car harder on rural Kentucky mountain routes that were unfamiliar to us. 

Oh, and as for those bald tires Peter referenced in his article, we can thank our dear Autos.ca friend Mike Schlee for much of that -- including the backwards-mounted, size-too-small rear driver's tire we discovered mid-way through our trip -- allegedly a result of his own road trip in that car that netted a flat tire in the middle of nowhere.

No, I picked it up that way as well. Bald tires, front tire mounted backwards on the rear. I didn't get a flat. So these worn out tires have now done at least 8,000 km

Oops... right, it was the RX-7 you flatted, right? 

You just helped dramatically reduce the tread on the ZL1? 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

4/5 on Performance.


Mid 12 second quarter mile time, under 4.5 seconds to 60mph, 0.97g on a 300 diameter skidpad, braking from 70 mph in 150 feet.

It may not quite be the beast the coupe is but the above performance should probably get it a 5/5.

Otherwise, what is the point?

5/5 reserved for BMW and/or Porsche regardless of the numbers. I'm sure there was a memo. 

[DriverJeff]

 

[Fobroader]

4/5 on Performance.


Mid 12 second quarter mile time, under 4.5 seconds to 60mph, 0.97g on a 300 diameter skidpad, braking from 70 mph in 150 feet.

It may not quite be the beast the coupe is but the above performance should probably get it a 5/5.

Otherwise, what is the point?

5/5 reserved for BMW and/or Porsche regardless of the numbers. I'm sure there was a memo. 

 

[Mike]

This very car holds a special spot in my car-enthusiast heart.  TurboBob and I took it on a fantastic 3,500 km road trip last month, and it was a great (if fuel-thirsty) travel partner.  When I picked it up from GM, I was definitely disappointed that it was neutered with the automatic (the manual transmission coupe I drove last autumn blew me away for how well-sorted it was), but Turbo and I both agreed that not having to think about rowing our own gears meant we could push the car harder on rural Kentucky mountain routes that were unfamiliar to us. 

Oh, and as for those bald tires Peter referenced in his article, we can thank our dear Autos.ca friend Mike Schlee for much of that -- including the backwards-mounted, size-too-small rear driver's tire we discovered mid-way through our trip -- allegedly a result of his own road trip in that car that netted a flat tire in the middle of nowhere.

No, I picked it up that way as well. Bald tires, front tire mounted backwards on the rear. I didn't get a flat. So these worn out tires have now done at least 8,000 km

Oops... right, it was the RX-7 you flatted, right? 

You just helped dramatically reduce the tread on the ZL1? 

Maybe a bit But I was worried about the state of the tires the whole time to push it too hard. Except to beat a few Mustangs at the strip

[DriverJeff]

This very car holds a special spot in my car-enthusiast heart.  TurboBob and I took it on a fantastic 3,500 km road trip last month, and it was a great (if fuel-thirsty) travel partner.  When I picked it up from GM, I was definitely disappointed that it was neutered with the automatic (the manual transmission coupe I drove last autumn blew me away for how well-sorted it was), but Turbo and I both agreed that not having to think about rowing our own gears meant we could push the car harder on rural Kentucky mountain routes that were unfamiliar to us. 

Oh, and as for those bald tires Peter referenced in his article, we can thank our dear Autos.ca friend Mike Schlee for much of that -- including the backwards-mounted, size-too-small rear driver's tire we discovered mid-way through our trip -- allegedly a result of his own road trip in that car that netted a flat tire in the middle of nowhere.

No, I picked it up that way as well. Bald tires, front tire mounted backwards on the rear. I didn't get a flat. So these worn out tires have now done at least 8,000 km

Oops... right, it was the RX-7 you flatted, right? 

You just helped dramatically reduce the tread on the ZL1? 

Maybe a bit But I was worried about the state of the tires the whole time to push it too hard. Except to beat a few Mustangs at the strip

Knowing that we were the last to drive the car (before GM sold it off as an "executive driven" machine  ), we did our best to help remove the tires from the car on the desolate eastern Kentucky roads.   

[mixmanmash]

4/5 on Performance.


Mid 12 second quarter mile time, under 4.5 seconds to 60mph, 0.97g on a 300 diameter skidpad, braking from 70 mph in 150 feet.

It may not quite be the beast the coupe is but the above performance should probably get it a 5/5.

Otherwise, what is the point?

Performance isn't just measured by these metrics.  How is it on a road course?

[Railton]

This very car holds a special spot in my car-enthusiast heart.  TurboBob and I took it on a fantastic 3,500 km road trip last month, and it was a great (if fuel-thirsty) travel partner.  When I picked it up from GM, I was definitely disappointed that it was neutered with the automatic (the manual transmission coupe I drove last autumn blew me away for how well-sorted it was), but Turbo and I both agreed that not having to think about rowing our own gears meant we could push the car harder on rural Kentucky mountain routes that were unfamiliar to us. 

Oh, and as for those bald tires Peter referenced in his article, we can thank our dear Autos.ca friend Mike Schlee for much of that -- including the backwards-mounted, size-too-small rear driver's tire we discovered mid-way through our trip -- allegedly a result of his own road trip in that car that netted a flat tire in the middle of nowhere.

No, I picked it up that way as well. Bald tires, front tire mounted backwards on the rear. I didn't get a flat. So these worn out tires have now done at least 8,000 km

Oops... right, it was the RX-7 you flatted, right? 

You just helped dramatically reduce the tread on the ZL1? 

Maybe a bit But I was worried about the state of the tires the whole time to push it too hard. Except to beat a few Mustangs at the strip

Knowing that we were the last to drive the car (before GM sold it off as an "executive driven" machine  ), we did our best to help remove the tires from the car on the desolate eastern Kentucky roads.   

Driverjeff kindly thanks General Motors for the use of this automobile for the review.
Well, that will be an interesting stat to follow to see how many more are lent.
Railton

[Mike]

4/5 on Performance.


Mid 12 second quarter mile time, under 4.5 seconds to 60mph, 0.97g on a 300 diameter skidpad, braking from 70 mph in 150 feet.

It may not quite be the beast the coupe is but the above performance should probably get it a 5/5.

Otherwise, what is the point?

Performance isn't just measured by these metrics.  How is it on a road course?

Awesome

[mixmanmash]

4/5 on Performance.


Mid 12 second quarter mile time, under 4.5 seconds to 60mph, 0.97g on a 300 diameter skidpad, braking from 70 mph in 150 feet.

It may not quite be the beast the coupe is but the above performance should probably get it a 5/5.

Otherwise, what is the point?

Performance isn't just measured by these metrics.  How is it on a road course?

Awesome

Compared to?

[mixmanmash]

4/5 on Performance.


Mid 12 second quarter mile time, under 4.5 seconds to 60mph, 0.97g on a 300 diameter skidpad, braking from 70 mph in 150 feet.

It may not quite be the beast the coupe is but the above performance should probably get it a 5/5.

Otherwise, what is the point?

Performance isn't just measured by these metrics.  How is it on a road course?

Awesome

Compared to?

A 1993 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo.

Cheers!  Well played.  I certainly hope it is as it has over 20 years of advancement on chassis technology.  I know that many of the car magazines in 1990 rated the 300ZX higher than the Corvette of the same year on track performance.

I would like to see some metrics such as how is compares to the ZL1 coupe, SS coupe & convertible, Mustang GT coupe & convertible, etc.

Just stating it is awesome without back-to-back comparison or test trials on a track is not enough.

[ChaosphereIX]

4/5 on Performance.


Mid 12 second quarter mile time, under 4.5 seconds to 60mph, 0.97g on a 300 diameter skidpad, braking from 70 mph in 150 feet.

It may not quite be the beast the coupe is but the above performance should probably get it a 5/5.

Otherwise, what is the point?

Performance isn't just measured by these metrics.  How is it on a road course?

Awesome

Compared to?

A 1993 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo.

Cheers!  Well played.  I certainly hope it is as it has over 20 years of advancement on chassis technology.  I know that many of the car magazines in 1990 rated the 300ZX higher than the Corvette of the same year on track performance.

I would like to see some metrics such as how is compares to the ZL1 coupe, SS coupe & convertible, Mustang GT coupe & convertible, etc.

Just stating it is awesome without back-to-back comparison or test trials on a track is not enough.

the internet is awash with ZL1 vs whatever comparisons, usually the GT500. Google it.

[Mike]

4/5 on Performance.


Mid 12 second quarter mile time, under 4.5 seconds to 60mph, 0.97g on a 300 diameter skidpad, braking from 70 mph in 150 feet.

It may not quite be the beast the coupe is but the above performance should probably get it a 5/5.

Otherwise, what is the point?

Performance isn't just measured by these metrics.  How is it on a road course?

Awesome

Compared to?

A 1993 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo.

Cheers!  Well played.  I certainly hope it is as it has over 20 years of advancement on chassis technology.  I know that many of the car magazines in 1990 rated the 300ZX higher than the Corvette of the same year on track performance.

I would like to see some metrics such as how is compares to the ZL1 coupe, SS coupe & convertible, Mustang GT coupe & convertible, etc.

Just stating it is awesome without back-to-back comparison or test trials on a track is not enough.

Ugh, I have driven the ZL1 back-to-back with the GT500 on the track. It is awesome compared to the GT500.