I believe that the main contributor to reduced weight in the C5 Z06 relative to the regular C5 was the removal of the hatchback (glass is heavy), replacing it with the fixed roof and a traditional trunk lid.

Since the 5th gen doesn't have a hatchback, that's a dead end for us.

 

Just a comparisons of some of the cars currently on the market that are in the sub-3,900 to sub-4000lb weight class. All are v8 powered luxury sedans and most are the heavier Automatic models.

Benz E550 v8 auto - 3,885lbs
Buick Lucerne v8 Auto- 4013lbs
Buick Lacrosse v8 auto - 3,770lbs
Ford CrownVic v8 auto - 4057lbs
BMW 550i v8 manual - 3,956lbs (auto is only 20lbs heavier)
Audi S4 v8 AWD manual - 3,869lbs
Jaguar S-type v8 auto - 3,868lbs
Lexus GS460 v8 auto - 3,945lbs
Cadillac STS v8 auto - 3,995lbs

To think a non-luxury sports coupe is right there with them is kinda depressing imo. Are some of us REALLY ok with a z28/SS that weighs as much as a v8 Cadillac STS??

 

The lightest one is a Buick? Who knew?

3,770 is still heavier than it ought to be, IMO. Some sort of paradigm shift needs to occur in automotive engineering/design/manufacturing so that cars can get lighter.

 

I thought the same thing as I was reading your post.

The only explanation I can think of is that too many people have been driving / riding in trucks for far too long.


Of course, Charlie may be on to something here...

I have to agree.

 

Yes. Have you ever looked at the back seat of a Jag XK? I started to write "have you ever sat", but one look would be enough to keep you from trying. On the other hand, I've sat in the back of the Camaro several times.

 

Well I think the shift is happening right before our bewildered eyes. Everyone has a price and it seems like $4.00 per gallon was it. The switch to fuel efficient vehicles that started a few years back has now turned into a torrent (no pun on Pontiac) and even Toyota can't keep up with the hybrid Prius and Camry.
So the shift is here and a move to get the cars lighter and more efficient is on. It's one of the easiest ways to get a bump in economy even if you do nothing to the engine/drivetrain.

 

Of course, no one said that, but it makes for a great straw man, doesn't it. It's even been quoted a couple of times by now, so it's quite the success.

Of course, the point was that the Zeta is really no heavier than the competition, and from what we know will actually be significantly lighter than the Challenger. And it's even about the same weight as a smaller all aluminum Jag XK.

In fact, I'll challenge you to find a car that's lighter than the Camaro SS that puts out more torque, and has 4 seats that an adult male can actually fit it (if not comfortably in the rear) and has your precious IRS.

 

So your point here is that the Camaro should seat five?

Almost 300 pounds less (SRT-8 to SS) is "slightly less"?

 

You don't know that. And in fact that's false. They will be shockingly close in weight.

 

Tested models mostly weighed over 3900 pounds. I don't know which pieces of equipment added 150 pounds. The IRS suffered from wheelhop. How much weight would it add to fix that?

 

My point is that you are comparing it to a fullsized, 5 passenger, car.


BTW, why are you comparing SS to SRT-8? And how in the heck do you come up with 300 lbs?

Your logic is strange.

EDIT:Model for model,

SE = V6 Camaro

R/T = SS Camaro

SRT8 = Z/28

 

It always has had much better back seats than the XK.

 

Oh please. You've been here long enough to know damn well that's not true.


We've all seen posts where people have said the car needs to have more comfortable rear seating than previous gens. What else they could mean by "more comfortable" except "more room"?

We've all seen posts where people have said they don't care what it weighs.

We've all seen posts where people say (I'm paraphrasing this one) they're not concerned with the handling because they aren't going to race it.


If you insist, I'll find the posts for you when I have a moment. Of course I'm sure that you wouldn't be swayed by such evidence and it would only be a waste of my time.

 

Does an '04-'07 CTS-V count? Except, it'll fit 5 people.

 

1. The Jag XK is most definitely not a fullsized 5 passenger car.

2. The SS will have the same HP and TQ as the SRT-8. The Z28 will have about 100 more, if rumors are correct. Remember the LS3 engine is the equal of the 6.1 Hemi.

3. Au contraire on logic. You're just sore, because not everyone buys into your anti-Zeta silliness.

For what it's worth, I'd like the Camaro to be lighter. I guessed 3800 pounds a long time ago (and was told by some that GM would never let it get that heavy -- uh huh). But I just can't let points like "the Camaro is as heavy as the Challenger" or "A four seat Nissan FM with a smallblock would be hundreds of pounds lighter than a Camaro" go unchallenged.


At some point, I will give up and let you go on unchallenged with posts about how "morbidly obese" Zeta is. Just not yet