I don't know. There seems to be some performance variability in Hemi powered vehicles until break in. I 've also heard the the engine management software will hold back performance for the first few hundred hours of operation.

I've personally driven two Hemi Magnums. One, (with afew hundred miles on it), was simply a rocket. I was stunned at how hard it accelerated. I drove another with fewer miles on the clock (maybe 30-40 miles), and it felt like a relative slug.

I know our Hemi Durango sure feels lots faster with 10,000 miles than it did with 1,000 miles.

 

Gee. I know it must be entertaining to some of the cynics here

 

Not entertaining as an insult to the GTO. I like all three cars. Entertaining because of the juvenile pissing and moaning.

 

The article itself was practically an insult to the GTO. It clearly was meant to fawn over the SRT. So be it. Add it to the chorus of folks who will not be able to like the GTO no matter how good it becomes... because it's from GM. Have fun with your Hemi. With your $$ you helped make the SRT8 a reality (with my $$ in buying a GTP, I'm helping make the next Camaro happen).

 

Oh come on now! You have got to be kidding me! You said you bought it mainly because the price/incentives were right for you. (Which is fine.) Which theoretically means LESS money for Camaro.

I hope GM is aware that it should allocate your GTP dollars toward a new Camaro...and not rebates on someone's Impala..

 

Nope. I believe I pointed out the features I wanted as a main motivator in making my upgrade. As for helping the Camaro happen - I didn't set out with that as my main goal; but it will help it happen since GM will have more resources available to keep lines running and develop new models.

 

I'll hold my judgement on the validity of that article until some real world numbers start flowing in. I remember folks talking up the performance of the 300 and the Magnum like they would run competitively with LS1 based F-body's -- only to personally see one running mid 14's at less than 100mph at the track.

It's not so much that I don't believe the SRT-8's performance numbers from the article...I just think the numbers for the GTO don't add up (at least the 1/4 mile info).

 

How so? I haven't seen the actual story, but I don't see how it's an insult to GTO.

The GTO didn't outperform the CTSv and SRT-8....so what, who says it needs to. GTO is a nice, fast, Grand Touring car....not necessarilly the ABSOLUTE fastest car money can buy. I think the GTO did just fine.

But here's my big "takeaway" however.

Remember the Zeta debates from very recently. Remember when alot people said, if it's good enough for GTO....it should be good enough for the next Camaro.

Well..............

IF a circa 2009 Z/28 is spanked on a roadcourse by a 4200 lbs sedan....the way in which the GTO was spanked by the SRT-8 on handling and braking......I AM GOING TO BE ROYALLY PISSED!!!!!! And I will make it my personal life mission to expose the scoundrels at GM who signed off on such a car.

 

Well, if said 2009 Z28 costs in the high $20k's or so, and you are going complain that a performance sedan that costs almost twice as much can slightly outperform it... I think you have a bit of an unrealistic view...

 

SRT-8 300C base price is $39,995.

Twice?

 

CTS-V is pushing twice.... I should have specified which car I was referring to.

Even still, it'd be a $10k advantage to the SRT-8.

 

Valid point for 2 glaring reasons:

1. Chrysler's engine computers do actually keep engine performance down during break-in. Car and Driver got a 5.3 second 0-60 run in one 300C, while another pulled off the assembly line needed 6 seconds. The consensus with 300C and Hemi Magnum owners is that the cars get alot quicker as they're broken in. Charle, that's not your imagination.

2. GTO's engine computer starts killing performance as air coming into the engine passes 80 degrees. I think it does this by resetting the timing.



It would be very intresting to see how many miles were piled up on the SRT, or if Chrysler set the computer as if the car was broken in. At the same time, it would be intresting to find out the tempreature and humidity the test was done in, which would severely affect the times of the GTO.

 

A high $20's 5th gen Z/28 is a big assumption.

We may not be sure of everything....but we can be pretty sure that Z/28 will have Z06 type performance focus....at a Camaro price.

But it doesn't matter how much you charge, or how real or unreal your view ......the point is, if the basic building blocks, the basic mechanicals, (ie, front struts, rear semi trailing arm), aren't up to snuff on the new car.....that $40,000, 4200 lbs sedan....will take that $33,000 ponycar everytime.

 

I agree... I just think that real hardcore roadcoarse pieces, like 4-piston or even 6-piston superbrakes, obviously higher output engines, etc... is going ot push that Z28 way out of the price range most of us want it at...

I suppose if it is a Z06-like Camaro, it would be more acceptible, but I still wonder how far Chevy will push this car performance wise because of Corvette.

 

Sure hope not.