[jfkheat]

This past December I bought a new 2023 Challenger Hellcat. I am a big guy so the ZL1 was not a very comfortable car to ride in, especially on a long trip. The Hellcat is much more comfortable and rides better for me. I still think the Camaro is a better looking car but I chose comfort over looks. I sold the Camaro earlier this week and it was picked up today. I had had it for 14 months but it was time to move on.

[Mark R]

Enjoy the ride. The challenger is a great car.

[dfxrte]

hellcat's are fun. get an IGLA asap

[Z OH 6]

I sold mine too for a Shelby GT500 and regret it. I already had a Hellcat before the ZL1. I think the ZL1 is the best of the three. The GT500 is better than the Hellcat though.

[Smokin19]

Originally Posted by Z OH 6

I sold mine too for a Shelby GT500 and regret it. I already had a Hellcat before the ZL1. I think the ZL1 is the best of the three. The GT500 is better than the Hellcat though.

Sorry to hear your regretting your GT 500 so soon as you just bought it. This is the reason I can never part with mine, the ZL1 is the best there is.

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by Smokin19

Sorry to hear your regretting your GT 500 so soon as you just bought it. This is the reason I can never part with mine, the ZL1 is the best there is.

The GT500 feels like a car that is a compromise between the ZL1 and Hellcat. I guess for me, I just prefer the lighter and smaller more sports car like feel of the ZL1. I can see why a lot of people like the GT500 too that don't like the ZL1.

[jfkheat]

I want to find a GT500 to test drive but I can't find one available near me.

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by jfkheat

I want to find a GT500 to test drive but I can't find one available near me.

Yea, the good news is that at least dealers will let you drive them now. in 2020 when I was looking for one, no dealer would even let you drive one and expected you to pay $20-25K markup to buy a car that you couldn't even drive. That was stupid.

I will say the car is clearly quicker than a ZL1 in a straight line, even though it weighs about 200-250lbs more depending on your configuration, 760hp and the DCT makes up for it. It does feel bigger and heavier than a ZL1, not as heavy as a Hellcat feels though. It is roomier insider than a ZL1 and visibiltiy is better for people that care about those things. The trunk space is also bigger or at least the trunk opening is so you can get bigger objects in there, but I never hauled anything in my ZL1 anyway other than groceries on rare occasions.

The GT500 exhaust sounds fantastic completely stock and the DCT programming is very good, much better than the C8 DCT programming. I guess for me the fact that it feels like a much bigger car than the ZL1 even though its literally almost the same size in length, width and height is still hard to adjust to after having the ZL1.

The GT500 is retaining its value very well also, literally no low mileage GT500 is going for less than their original MSRP price, most are anywhere from $5-15K over depending on year and options.

[clg82]

Originally Posted by jfkheat

I want to find a GT500 to test drive but I can't find one available near me.

Your ZL1 is a GT500 with a better chassis, just save cash and throw a Magnuson on it...

[clg82]

Originally Posted by Z OH 6

Yea, the good news is that at least dealers will let you drive them now. in 2020 when I was looking for one, no dealer would even let you drive one and expected you to pay $20-25K markup to buy a car that you couldn't even drive. That was stupid.

I will say the car is clearly quicker than a ZL1 in a straight line, even though it weighs about 200-250lbs more depending on your configuration, 760hp and the DCT makes up for it. It does feel bigger and heavier than a ZL1, not as heavy as a Hellcat feels though. It is roomier insider than a ZL1 and visibiltiy is better for people that care about those things. The trunk space is also bigger or at least the trunk opening is so you can get bigger objects in there, but I never hauled anything in my ZL1 anyway other than groceries on rare occasions.

The GT500 exhaust sounds fantastic completely stock and the DCT programming is very good, much better than the C8 DCT programming. I guess for me the fact that it feels like a much bigger car than the ZL1 even though its literally almost the same size in length, width and height is still hard to adjust to after having the ZL1.

The GT500 is retaining its value very well also, literally no low mileage GT500 is going for less than their original MSRP price, most are anywhere from $5-15K over depending on year and options.

It's the chassis that are the difference to me....after driving my neighbors 2020 GT500, and than the ZL1 it's night and day. The GT500 felt sloppy and disconnected (kind of like my GT) and the ZL1 is so much more refined....I will give you that the GT500 stock exhaust sounds amazing though.

[jfkheat]

Originally Posted by clg82

Your ZL1 is a GT500 with a better chassis, just save cash and throw a Magnuson on it...

My ZL1 is gone as of last Friday. I loved the car but it wasn't very comfortable for me because of my size. I put 1000 miles on it taking it to Camaro Fest last year and it beat the hell out of me. That is the main reason I bought the Hellcat.

[Gunkk]

Yep and that's the reason they didn't make the 350/350R and 500 in convertibles ... the chassis isn't robust enough and can't take the torque. Weakest part of that car and not practical to correct, unfortunately.

[jfkheat]

Originally Posted by Z OH 6

Yea, the good news is that at least dealers will let you drive them now. in 2020 when I was looking for one, no dealer would even let you drive one and expected you to pay $20-25K markup to buy a car that you couldn't even drive. That was stupid.

I will say the car is clearly quicker than a ZL1 in a straight line, even though it weighs about 200-250lbs more depending on your configuration, 760hp and the DCT makes up for it. It does feel bigger and heavier than a ZL1, not as heavy as a Hellcat feels though. It is roomier insider than a ZL1 and visibiltiy is better for people that care about those things. The trunk space is also bigger or at least the trunk opening is so you can get bigger objects in there, but I never hauled anything in my ZL1 anyway other than groceries on rare occasions.

The GT500 exhaust sounds fantastic completely stock and the DCT programming is very good, much better than the C8 DCT programming. I guess for me the fact that it feels like a much bigger car than the ZL1 even though its literally almost the same size in length, width and height is still hard to adjust to after having the ZL1.

The GT500 is retaining its value very well also, literally no low mileage GT500 is going for less than their original MSRP price, most are anywhere from $5-15K over depending on year and options.

I have been looking at 2020-2022 GT500s online. Like you said, almost all low mile ones are still priced over MSRP. If I get one I would like for it to have the Carbon Fiber Track Package but most of those are mid $90s or higher.
Right now I don't know what I am going to do.

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by clg82

It's the chassis that are the difference to me....after driving my neighbors 2020 GT500, and than the ZL1 it's night and day. The GT500 felt sloppy and disconnected (kind of like my GT) and the ZL1 is so much more refined....I will give you that the GT500 stock exhaust sounds amazing though.

I agree that the ZL1 chassis is superb.