I am very curious, why would ANYONE buy a Z/28 Camaro when they can buy a Corvette C7 Z51 1LT, 2LT, or 3LT for much LESS? I'f i'm not mistaken, a C6 Z06 had a similar MSRP. I've driven Corvettes and Camaros and the Corvette is miles better, granted they were stock without a track suspension similar to the Z/28.
So to summarize Camaro Z/28 vs Corvette Z51. Pay 1/3 less for a BETTER car. Install suspension and brakes. Now you have a MUCH BETTER car for less.
Everyone has their "thing". Numbers aren't the only thing that matter to some people. Kind of like the new dual clutch transmissions. By every metric they are faster, and 'better'. But some of us just get so much joy out of a manual transmission we don't care! Likewise, there are people who love a Camaro for their own reasons, even if the same money will buy a 'vette. I'm sure there are Porsche, Benz, BMW, Audi, etc. guys who are just shaking their heads at why anyone would spend $75,000 on ANY American performance car. We all have the things we like! The Corvette is also more of a sleek American sports car. And while it is a Muscle car, at the same time, it kind of isn't. The styling of the Camaro is, in my opinion, more in line to compete with the Mustang and Challenger. And that matters a lot to some folks. Even the GORGEOUS new Corvette 'stingray', doesn't have that bad, classic look that (especially) the Camaro and Challenger have.
Now me? I'd be all over the Shelby or the Corvette long before I even considered the Camaro. But that's me. I know a couple guys who are probably already lined up at the Chevy dealer for the Z/28.
I, for one, am loving this horsepower war. It's like a repeat of the muscle car era. You know what I think? I think the market is shifting as the kids of the 60's and 70's are now middle aged, financially secure, and able to spend a bit more. Back when they were kids, they saw the horsepower wars but the cars were, often times, a car a regular joe could afford (They sold a M.I.L.L.I.O.N. mustangs a year some years in the 60's. That's unheard of today, ESPECIALLY in the performance sector). But, since they grew up oogling it and have some money now, Detroit figures they can bring them all back. Lots of retro styling in the last several years, and now, the horsepower wars are back.
I cannot wait until there are several rear-wheel drive American cars on the market pushing 600 or even 700 horsepower right off the showroom floor. (And probably right into the nearest lake or ditch shortly after some dum-dum thinks he's mario andretti and hits the traction control button because he's such a pro he doesn't need that stuff)
