[Quinten_33]

All of these people saying that the new DOHC engines will be so much better... this description shows the advantages of the pushrod smallblocks, and speaks volumes about the intangibles that Chevy brings to the table. Magazine tests push these cars to the limits and that makes the high-rpm voodoo engine look really good. But a small displacement, high reving engine lacks torque, especially on the low end. Hopefully the Z/28 is a 427 and NOT a DOHC. Thanks for this unique perspective on the GT350 and Chevys

[Quinten_33]

And one other thing: the low-end torque of these LT engines must be the reason why they can set such great lap times with a six-speed. The 10-speed keeps them above peak torque, which is terrible on these cars creating 200-300 pounds of downforce at track speed. The six-speed manual really allows the engines to stay in the peak of their range. Thus the manual-only 1LE package. That makes me wonder how insane a 10-speed GT350 would be...

[BlaqWhole]

The only good thing about the DOHC engines is that after about 4000 RPMs it starts to pull like crazy. But comparing the GT to the SS and the Shelby to the ZL1, the Camaros pull hard everywhere all the time. I never had the desire to test drive a Shelby. One look at it's numbers was enough to know that it would never be able to satisfy me. Even when I found used ones in the $50K range (non-R), I still just couldn't picture myself paying that much for it. On every level the Mustang is unimpressive.

[init4fun]

Very much the same feeling I had. Granted the car I drove was the normal GT350 and not the R. If you wanted anything even remotely entertaining to happen you had to let the clutch fly at 5K and it still wasn't as exciting as rolling into the throttle on my run of the mill 2SS. My time in the car was limited and restricted to surface streets and a decent stretch of open highway but even running all the way through 3rd gear I kept waiting for something more to happen.

Ford build a great track car no doubt but it doesn't give the driver that raw, about to tear you head off feeling that you get from the camaro.

[rootus]

I'm not entirely surprised. The real glowing reviews are for the GT350R, I've heard a few reviewers comment that the regular GT350 feit more like a GT with a fancy motor.

I've been a Ford guy for a long time and I drove the 17 GT PP and was underwhelmed. Didn't care for the ride quality at all, it actually made me a bit motion sick because the dampers and spring ratea felt wrong for each other. The dealer I went to is a dual Ford/Chevy store so I walked across the parking lot and test drove a 2SS. A half mile later I said out loud to myself "Ford should be ashamed.". The Camaro put a great big smile on my face. And for not much more than the Mustang my Camaro will hang with GT350s for at least 30K less. I'm going to be such a happy guy in a couple months.

[Deakins]

I ran into a GT350 at the track a few weeks back. It was a very nice, well put together car that I would be happy to own. There are things about the Camaro that I don't care for and likewise for the Mustang. It was an awesome car though for sure!

[BlaqWhole]

Originally Posted by rootus

I'm not entirely surprised. The real glowing reviews are for the GT350R, I've heard a few reviewers comment that the regular GT350 feit more like a GT with a fancy motor.

I've been a Ford guy for a long time and I drove the 17 GT PP and was underwhelmed. Didn't care for the ride quality at all, it actually made me a bit motion sick because the dampers and spring ratea felt wrong for each other. The dealer I went to is a dual Ford/Chevy store so I walked across the parking lot and test drove a 2SS. A half mile later I said out loud to myself "Ford should be ashamed.". The Camaro put a great big smile on my face. And for not much more than the Mustang my Camaro will hang with GT350s for at least 30K less. I'm going to be such a happy guy in a couple months.

At least you didn't go thru with buying it, lol! I test drove a 16 GT with PP and a 15 GT Premium. The 16 was more fun because of the gearing but it spun at the lightest input. The 15 Premium was more civilized but man did it feel slow as hell. Bone stock they are supposed to be as fast as the 5th Gen SS. But my SS always felt fast even when it was bone stock. The GT just felt like it was missing 100 hp or something. It woke up after tuning, GT350 IM, and other bolt-ons. But it still didn't have that burst like the SS had. Even compared to a 2011 GT I test drove some years back, the new GT just was unimpressive. I should have never bought it. But at least it looked nice.

[HeaterMan]

Originally Posted by BlaqWhole

At least you didn't go thru with buying it, lol! I test drove a 16 GT with PP and a 15 GT Premium. The 16 was more fun because of the gearing but it spun at the lightest input. The 15 Premium was more civilized but man did it feel slow as hell. Bone stock they are supposed to be as fast as the 5th Gen SS. But my SS always felt fast even when it was bone stock. The GT just felt like it was missing 100 hp or something. It woke up after tuning, GT350 IM, and other bolt-ons. But it still didn't have that burst like the SS had. Even compared to a 2011 GT I test drove some years back, the new GT just was unimpressive. I should have never bought it. But at least it looked nice.

I went from a 6 speed 2010 2SS to a 2011 auto equipped 5.0 and initially felt the same way about the difference between the Camaro and the Mustang. the Camaro always drove and felt like it was ready to come unglued at the slightest throttle input where as the 5.0 felt very docile and didn't feel nearly as fast or powerful as the LS3 Camaro. I would have never dreamed of letting my girlfriend at the time drive my Camaro but wouldn't have given a second thought to her driving the mustang because it was so docile.. finally the day came where I took the Mustang to the track, I wasn't expecting anything impressive based on how mellow the car was. first pass was a 12.77 where the best I ever got out of my 2SS was a 13.3x. while the Mustang was a faster 1/4 mile car the Camaro was a more fun street car and felt way faster. Torque is king!!

[BlaqWhole]

Originally Posted by HeaterMan

I went from a 6 speed 2010 2SS to a 2011 auto equipped 5.0 and initially felt the same way about the difference between the Camaro and the Mustang. the Camaro always drove and felt like it was ready to come unglued at the slightest throttle input where as the 5.0 felt very docile and didn't feel nearly as fast or powerful as the LS3 Camaro. I would have never dreamed of letting my girlfriend at the time drive my Camaro but wouldn't have given a second thought to her driving the mustang because it was so docile.. finally the day came where I took the Mustang to the track, I wasn't expecting anything impressive based on how mellow the car was. first pass was a 12.77 where the best I ever got out of my 2SS was a 13.3x. while the Mustang was a faster 1/4 mile car the Camaro was a more fun street car and felt way faster. Torque is king!!

That is interesting. My 2010 Camaro SS with bolt-ons did a best ET of 12.8 and a best MPH of 114. That was on street tires, no launch, rolling off idle, and with TC off. I had the M6 Camaro tho. The only time my GT felt faster was when doing top end pulls. But see my Camaro always felt fast no matter if it was from a dig or a roll. My GT never felt fast from a dig but it was fast from a roll. Yet the even weirder thing is that I could control the SS from a dig whereas the GT was super hard to launch and did nothing but spin. It could have been the crappy P-Zero tires. I don't know. But I do know I never should have bought that damn thing.

[Chadicus]

Originally Posted by BlaqWhole

That is interesting. My 2010 Camaro SS with bolt-ons did a best ET of 12.8 and a best MPH of 114. That was on street tires, no launch, rolling off idle, and with TC off. I had the M6 Camaro tho. The only time my GT felt faster was when doing top end pulls. But see my Camaro always felt fast no matter if it was from a dig or a roll. My GT never felt fast from a dig but it was fast from a roll. Yet the even weirder thing is that I could control the SS from a dig whereas the GT was super hard to launch and did nothing but spin. It could have been the crappy P-Zero tires. I don't know. But I do know I never should have bought that damn thing.

Not only do the p-zero tires suck the torque management sucks. The 5.0 cuts power on launch to "protect It's self". I removed that with a tune but you're right. The difference in low-end torque is astounding.

[Bosse'sBoss]

I presently own a '14 ZL1 and previously owned a '11 Mustang GT 5.0 and have test drive the new GT350 and the Stingray lately. I'm not a car brand fan and can share you my unbiased 2 cents opinion:
-The quality and reliability of GM & FORD products are good, they are about the same, but they haven't reached yet Toyota's or Honda quality and reliability standards.
-The GT350 looks very similar to the regular Mustang but they are thousands of miles apart on the performance side.
- The dealer's overpricing of the GT350 it's crazy, the car does not worth more than a Corvette that is on a higher league and looks way better, no comparison here.
-It's great that the 6TH gen Camaro SS 1LE can match the GT350R at some tracks for much less $, the SS 1LE it's a great bargain and a super track performer.

Any way, after I recently test drove a brand new Shelby GT350 this is what I encounter:
-The Recaros seats are great but only have mechanical adjustment.
-Drivers controls and cockpit are great, but not amazing compared to the lower driving seating position of the Stingray, but has way better visibility compared to the Camaro.
-There are control for individual suspension, steering and mufflers sound adjustment.
-The exhaust sounds very strong and it's even louder than Roush's, even a Guy on a Chevy pick up told me that it sounded amazing and recommend me to buy the car.
-The GT350's engine loves to rev up to 8000 rpm, several times I raised it to that level and didn't felt that the car wanted to destroy itself like a car magazine writer mentioned, it really felt solid and adrenaline addictive. Intentionally I drove below 4000 rpm, like on a regular city driving traffic conditions to see if there was any weakness, but I didn't find any issue at least compared to my previous 5.0 mustang or my Camaro, it was fine I could live with that.
-The six speed manual transmission shifter was great compared to a previous Porsche 911 Carrera that I once had, and way more precise compared to the insecure 7 speed shifter from the Stingray. I can't compare it to 6th. gen Camaro because I have not yet shifted one, I guess they could be similar since both are 6 speed manual transmissions.
-After driving the GT350, I climbed up to my car and steeped up on the gas of my 5th gen ZL1, and didn't miss the GT350's power.

My final conclusion: Even that the Shelby Gt350 its a way up improved Mustang, it does not worth what dealers are trying to get for this car. My hard earned $ would go for a Stingray instead without looking back.
Enjoy driving your great 6th. gen Camaros. GM has done a great job with them.

[Camaro Maybe]

The GT350 is merely the equal of the 1LE...the GT350R is needed to outperform the 1LE.