[NYTMARE23]

Originally Posted by FH-ZL1

These are always interesting conversations and like many things in life, there are never really any "right" answers, only the answer that is "right" for each individual. Cars are like food, clothes and just about everything else, we like what we like and I would never diss anyone for their personal preferences. "Better" can also be a bit subjective and no matter what, there will always be something "better" from either a personal preferences standpoint if not raw numbers standpoint.

In 1972 as a 16 year old kid I purchased my first car which was a 4 speed 68 SS 350 Camaro. Even though by todays standards the difference in price between that car and a similar Corvette at the time is laughable, for a kid with a part time job paying $1.60 an hour at the local Chevy dealership as a parts delivery driver and fill in counterman, a Corvette was in the total unobtainium range price wise for me.

Since then I have owned many Camaros of all generations and trim levels and despite having been blessed enough by life to have moved far beyond my very humble beginnings, I have never owned a Corvette. Chevelle's, (even a true LS6), Nova's and even a beautiful 68 427 SS Impala in addition to the many Camaro's, but not one Corvette.

I have absolutely nothing against them, they are amazing cars and it is certainly not any "reverse snobbery" at play here, but I have just always loved the more "blue collar" aspect of the Camaro. It harkens me back to my roots. It is truly an "every mans (or womans) car" and with the Gen 6, it is also a serious automobile. I will never forget street racing a 16 year old girl in the Golden Gardens park area in Seattle in 1973 with my 68 against her 70 Z-28 she and her brother had built. That car and those early experiences cemented my lifelong love with the "F" body.

With my first Camaro, I drove what I could afford. Today I can drive what I like and I still drive a Camaro. I have found over the decades that I just like "Camaro people" and being around them. (and Mustang people etc too, the friendly rivalry is part of being a "car guy")

I have been truly blessed to have lived through 2 great muscle cars eras and I may have lived through my last barring a change in the current trajectory of the car world. I will always be addicted to the sound of an 8 cylinder engine with some "interesting" mechanical type sounds emanating from it and that ship may have sailed. But I am also in a position of no longer really needing to worry about what cars will be like in 20, 30+ etc years from now. I'll be perfectly happy to drive my ZL1 until they throw dirt on me and if I wear this one out, there almost certainly will always be a supply of current garage queens I can replace it with.

GM (and especially Al Oppenheiser with the Gen 6) did us car people a great favor in giving us (certainly me) the Camaro and I have a lifetime of wonderful memories involving the platform. But like everything in life, YMMV. Life is short and goes by quick so whatever it is, drive what gives you the biggest grin.

Totally agree here....I think most people just get caught up in "well the Z06/ZR1/ZR1X is faster than the ZL1"...so what...doesn't mean it's the "better" car for someone just because of that. Teslas are generally faster than my ZL1 also but I damn sure don't ever want one. It's personal choice/wants/needs in the end...not "which car is faster"...