[HeroNtheShadows]

Hi guys and gals,

Here's a question that my fiance and I have been asking ourselves for about a week....and I've cross posted it on Corvetteforum.com.

We just got back from a trip to the Bowling Green Assembly Plant (where they make the C7) and National Corvette Museum. I rented her a C7 Corvette (unfortunately was the 6A instead of a 7M or 8A). Anyways, we drove it from Kansas City, MO down to BG, KY. She got about 700 miles of seat time in it. She loved it! This car has been her dream car since she was a kid. So naturally I'd like to accommodate that dream.

However, since the announcement of the new ZL1, I brought up the discussion. I've always wanted a Camaro since before highschool and she knows that. We test drove a new Camaro SS 6M for a short distance (about 10 miles). She did like it...liked the looks, interior, and the sound of the LT1.

But as you can guess, she loved the sound of the Vette better. Both cars had the sport exhaust, but i will say the C7 seemed louder and more raw (both cars had Sport and Track mode). The C7 was a 3LT interior and the Camaro was a 2SS...so they had VERY similar options. C7 had touring seats and the ZL1 looks like it only comes with Recaros but they look nice.

Anyways, her arguments for the Corvette are as follows: it's her dream car and we can only get one or the other, it looks better, sounds better, MOST people won't understand what a ZL1 is and will think it's just a Camaro (so I'd constantly have to explain it's a special Camaro)....a Corvette needs no explanation and gets the wow factor more often, the Corvette got FANTASTIC gas mileage on our trip (not that u buy a car like this for MPG, but was nice) and the ZL1 has a guzzler tax and i'm sure gets 18 combined mpg at best.

My argument for the Camaro is as follows: 640 HP FOR THE PRICE OF 460 ON THE VETTE LOL!!!!, the Camaro has a back seat that we can throw stuff into, we can take a trip and include my 5 year old son or her 6 year old daughter or both...or just go get dinner or ice cream, the Camaro MAY be a lil cheaper to insure but idk with the HP number, the Camaro was more comfortable to get into/out of (she literally had a bruise on her right side thigh from repeatedly hitting the steering wheel as the got in (fell into lol) the driver's seat of the C7 since it's so low.

I know this is a Camaro forum, but please TRY to give your honest and UNBIASED opinion. We would test drive the ZL1 and C7 (again) back to back before pulling the trigger.

Thanks all!

[GoneBoy]

My wife and I had a similar conversation when I was debating getting a z06... She wanted the z06. There's no doubt the c7 is more attractive, but the zl1 or any gen6 is so much more practical... especially if kids are in the equation.

As for the reaction of others, who cares what they think or if they realize you're driving a zl1 or a lower model camaro. Buy a car that you guys like regardless of the opinions of others. Yes, the camaro will be more ubiquitous than a c7, but a zl1 will be less common than a standard stingray. And fyi, any car fanatic will know you're in something special when they see that bulging power adder.

[Eric SS]

I'm not judging, but I'm just not ready to be a Corvette guy yet. But I really like the new C7. So I would go with the ZL1

[Trans damm]

My wife said no to the Camaro. So it was Z07 for me. But between your choices I would take the Zl1 over the stingray.

[Robmypro]

Go the Vette. You can have your dream car next.

[HeroNtheShadows]

I'm surprised how 50/50 the responses are...thanks all for being honest...the vette guys are kinda all over with about 90% going Vette...mainly cuz they say the back seats are worthless anyway, i won't be able to use 460hp let alone 640hp, and because "The ZL1 is going to be a cool car and all...but it just isn't a Corvette"

I might just bite the bullet and make her happy...she deserves it...and who knows..maybe when the kids grow up in a decade i cant get something that i want...

[bpang1234]

Went through the whole OP story thinking they were a young engaged couple with no kids...so then it was all about sound, looks and cachet.

Then he FINALLY inserts TWO kids into the mix.

The Camaro, to me, is a no-brainer. I can think of at least 5 times this school year that I had to pick up my daughter unexpectedly from school (I'm divorced, my Mom lives with me to help with my daughter as I have 100% custody and I let my Mom use the Subaru in my profile). If I didn't have a backseat, we'd have been fairly screwed. I know you can put a kid in the front but it isn't the best idea.

[rcandiloro]

Originally Posted by HeroNtheShadows

Hi guys and gals,

Here's a question that my fiance and I have been asking ourselves for about a week....and I've cross posted it on Corvetteforum.com.

We just got back from a trip to the Bowling Green Assembly Plant (where they make the C7) and National Corvette Museum. I rented her a C7 Corvette (unfortunately was the 6A instead of a 7M or 8A). Anyways, we drove it from Kansas City, MO down to BG, KY. She got about 700 miles of seat time in it. She loved it! This car has been her dream car since she was a kid. So naturally I'd like to accommodate that dream.

However, since the announcement of the new ZL1, I brought up the discussion. I've always wanted a Camaro since before highschool and she knows that. We test drove a new Camaro SS 6M for a short distance (about 10 miles). She did like it...liked the looks, interior, and the sound of the LT1.

But as you can guess, she loved the sound of the Vette better. Both cars had the sport exhaust, but i will say the C7 seemed louder and more raw (both cars had Sport and Track mode). The C7 was a 3LT interior and the Camaro was a 2SS...so they had VERY similar options. C7 had touring seats and the ZL1 looks like it only comes with Recaros but they look nice.

Anyways, her arguments for the Corvette are as follows: it's her dream car and we can only get one or the other, it looks better, sounds better, MOST people won't understand what a ZL1 is and will think it's just a Camaro (so I'd constantly have to explain it's a special Camaro)....a Corvette needs no explanation and gets the wow factor more often, the Corvette got FANTASTIC gas mileage on our trip (not that u buy a car like this for MPG, but was nice) and the ZL1 has a guzzler tax and i'm sure gets 18 combined mpg at best.

My argument for the Camaro is as follows: 640 HP FOR THE PRICE OF 460 ON THE VETTE LOL!!!!, the Camaro has a back seat that we can throw stuff into, we can take a trip and include my 5 year old son or her 6 year old daughter or both...or just go get dinner or ice cream, the Camaro MAY be a lil cheaper to insure but idk with the HP number, the Camaro was more comfortable to get into/out of (she literally had a bruise on her right side thigh from repeatedly hitting the steering wheel as the got in (fell into lol) the driver's seat of the C7 since it's so low.

I know this is a Camaro forum, but please TRY to give your honest and UNBIASED opinion. We would test drive the ZL1 and C7 (again) back to back before pulling the trigger.

Thanks all!

The argument about looks is a subjective one. I like the look of the standard C7 Vette (depending on the color), but LOVE the look of the Z06/Grand Sport (with the aero package). I am really torn between the 6th Gen ZL1 and a C7 Grand Sport. I'm looking for a car to be my DD (my current 5th Gen ZL1 is a terrific DD) and while I know the Z06 is awesome, spending $100k on that car is hard to swallow. I know the Grand Sport "only" has 460hp, but she's going to be quick. I think I saw 3.6 seconds 0-60 and they've been very vocal about it running less than a second slower than the C6 ZR1 at their test track. I think the new ZL1 will be even faster (it won't be as fast as a Z06). It's going to boil down to how I feel when I see each one in person and more importantly how they feel when test driving. I really don't think there's a bad choice at all. They are all awesome.

[rcandiloro]

If we're only talking standard C7 Stingray (not Grand Sport) then for me it's not even close, ZL1 all the way.

[BradfordCamaro]

The problem is the assumption is, or as I say, The Misconception is that a corvette is a higher end car or superior.

The 2017 ZL1 is so much more car than a corvette. Corvette is a brand and much is done to keep that brand 'special'

[Raven87]

I owned a 5th Gen ZL1 and two different C7s (own one now) and have driven the 6th Gen Camaro a few times.

All of them are great cars but they are both so different in many ways and not just the 2 vs 4 seats! We can discuss long and hard about the advantages of either a two seat sports car or a 4 seat torque monster but really, that is not what your post is about. None of that really matters here. Your post is not 'Which one should I buy because it does X better?' - it's about getting others to validate your desire to buy the Camaro for you ahead of the Vette for her.

So - what is the MOST important factor for you and even more importantly, how important are HER priorities to you?

She likes the Vette; your initial discussions appear to have been about her dream car being a Vette not a Camaro; you rented a Vette (not a Camaro) and drove to BG to see the Assembly Plant and the Museum (not the Lansing Grand River Camaro Plant); YOU brought up the idea of a Camaro after what seemed like it was established that she was going to get her dream car first; and lastly, how many times do you want to hear her say 'Yeah honey - it's nice but you KNOW I liked the Vette'?

And, even though you are asking this on a Camaro forum, even I know that if you buy the Vette your life (and your future wife) will be happier.

Do the right thing and buy her the Vette. You KNOW it is what you should do for relationship bliss - just re-read your post. Or, you can try and justify putting yourself and your wants ahead of hers (Don't do it!) and pay the price.

Good luck.

[Thor142]

Thats a really tough call. I've been talking about it with my wife also. The new ZL1 looks so badass but so does the C7. We have no kids so the back seat is irrelevant. I know, I'm not helping LOL. I feel your pain. First world problems.

[GoneBoy]

Originally Posted by Thor142

Thats a really tough call. I've been talking about it with my wife also. The new ZL1 looks so badass but so does the C7. We have no kids so the back seat is irrelevant. I know, I'm not helping LOL. I feel your pain. First world problems.

Ha Ha. Then the only decision you have is whether you should wait so see if the '17 Z06 (assuming you're cross shopping the Z06) gets a bump in power, since some are predicting that the '17 ZL1 may surpass 650hp. I know...life is tough.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Raven87

I owned a 5th Gen ZL1 and two different C7s (own one now) and have driven the 6th Gen Camaro a few times.

All of them are great cars but they are both so different in many ways and not just the 2 vs 4 seats! We can discuss long and hard about the advantages of either a two seat sports car or a 4 seat torque monster but really, that is not what your post is about. None of that really matters here. Your post is not 'Which one should I buy because it does X better?' - it's about getting others to validate your desire to buy the Camaro for you ahead of the Vette for her.

So - what is the MOST important factor for you and even more importantly, how important are HER priorities to you?

She likes the Vette; your initial discussions appear to have been about her dream car being a Vette not a Camaro; you rented a Vette (not a Camaro) and drove to BG to see the Assembly Plant and the Museum (not the Lansing Grand River Camaro Plant); YOU brought up the idea of a Camaro after what seemed like it was established that she was going to get her dream car first; and lastly, how many times do you want to hear her say 'Yeah honey - it's nice but you KNOW I liked the Vette'?

And, even though you are asking this on a Camaro forum, even I know that if you buy the Vette your life (and your future wife) will be happier.

Do the right thing and buy her the Vette. You KNOW it is what you should do for relationship bliss - just re-read your post. Or, you can try and justify putting yourself and your wants ahead of hers (Don't do it!) and pay the price.

Good luck.

My thoughts as well...except the monkey wrench, the kids.