Dragoneye

Compare it to all of them.

Take the M3's feel/responsiveness, and the GT500's power (albeit poorly used) and other best aspects of other vehicles in the class. Put them together, and you got yourself one bada$$ Z/28.

jg95z28

True, however the benchmarking needs to make sense and be within reason. You need to also include the audience you're building the product for. There's no sense in benchmarking a jet fighter's performance if you're building a Cessna. (I know more extreme differences, but I think you'll get my point.)

FWIW, the M3 also has a V8. A smaller higher reving V8, which is the direction I think GM needs to take in the long run, but still...

I won't disagree with you there. However it is still a small car. However, I wouldn't mind seeing a Malibu sized performance coupe to go against the 3-series; I just don't believe it would sell... yet.

I can see what you're afraid of. However unless I'm mistaken, the Z/28 Team fully intends to make the 2011 Z/28 succeed where the GT500 has come up short.

I guess we'll find out in a couple more years.

boxerperson

Missed this bit, didn't you?

"I did not mean in price"

Perhaps Corvette should stop benchmarking ferrari's top cars and set their goals on something more attainable, like a 350z....?

holeshot

Given the two choices I voted M3.

What I really want is for the Z28 to follow the same formula that the Z06 followed as compared to the base vette.

Lighter weight
Better handling
Better Braking
More power (if the above can also be achieved)

hyperv6

The Bench mark is and should be the Mustang GT500. That is the class leader and the one that needs topped.

Now just as the G8 is now being compared to the BMW now we should expect it. The Camaro will be a very good car and enough to compare but not top a car twice it's price. Because twice the price there comes more refinment and features you just can't get in a lower price car.

But The Camaro will beat it's true competitor the Mustang while still being seen as a bargin compared to the BMW.

Read this weeks review of the G8 and it will give you an fair comparison to expect. Also the Review of the Vauxhaull on Top Gear this week. It may be a simpler car with less technology but they still loved it and loved the price.

TallicA32

Couldn't have said it better. I am far from impressed by the GT500.

I actually plan on using my steering wheel if I get a Z28

http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...PDEnomusic.flv

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...ighlight=gt500

Big Als Z

Ahahaha...live axle FTL.

Wow...yeah GT500 is NOT the benchmark...

notgetleft

Z28s benchmark should quite obviously be the M3. As light a weight as possible with somewhere in the low 400s of HP.

SS would be a fitting though non-ideal answer to a ~4000lb 500hp mustang with all the trim to go with it.

90rocz

"Benchmarking" and "Z/28" are key words, not M3 sized or weight and not Camaro in general.
In that case, who here wouldn't want a Z/28 that handled like an M3.
An M3 on steroids!
BMW is world renown for it's great handling cars.

notgetleft

The last Z28 was a fine match for an M3 in any race, eh? Since then, the M3 went on steroids, just going for more guns isn't necessarily the way to win (yes i like mixed metaphors). Sometimes you have to get smart to win...

btw, some would say that Z28 has always been a world class handling car too. In fact, that is the only retort the 'rose colored glasses' crew has for the what, 10 or so years of no >200hp V8s available in Z28, is 'but it still could handle any car of the era on a road course'

Kinda ironic if the modern, 'return to its roots' Z28 was a lesser competitor to germany and japan's finest then a 190hp L69 Z28 was.

IZ28

Very true. Third Gens brought word class handling ability and nice breaking along with good power at the time (L98) without being too heavy. Hopefully that formula hasn't changed since the whole high revving small block 1st Gen formula is pretty much out. The problem is that what was fast then and now are two different things and a 245HP/345TQ real SBC can't do it anymore or without heavy safety equiptment. There's almost no way to truly fix it. The car needs a serious diet or should stay N/A.

5thgen69camaro

Camaro a cesna? M3 minus the exotic part is dead on Z/28. replace that twin turbo and other unreliable expensive exotic crap with a reliable small block and give the car the feedback and handling of the M3. Done.

polo3433

I think the GXP G8 Coupe should benchmark the M3 since they seem to be more in the class than the Camaro is. Camaro seems to be built on nothing but performance and the G8 seems to be built of performance with a little touch of luxury.

Z284ever

I detect some sarcasm in your post, but for their day, the 3rd gens were world class handlers. In '83 and '84 the L-69 Z/28's cleaned the Porsche 944's clock in showroom stock racing - in fact the Z/28 gave Porsche such a beating that they decided to quit the series.
And when the factories were backing teams at the 24 Hours of Nelson Ledges (quite a big annual event in the '80's), the L-69 Z/28's would clean everyone elses clocks as well - including factory experimental Mustangs and anyone else you would care to name..

jg95z28

We are in 100% agreement in our philosophies.