Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible vs. 2013 Shelby GT500 Convertible

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

This is the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible, which on this spec costs 59,545 US Dollars...

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible

...and this is the new Mustang GT500 Convertible, which in all intentional purposes cost 59,200 US Dollars.

For those who love some speed, power, and a lot of grunt, the GT500 is a better bet because this is now hailed as America's Most Powerful Production Car or better yet, the world's most powerful V8 car, beating out the former V8 king, the Corvette ZR1. On this Convertible version, you'll get the same experiences from the coupe version but with the roof down to enjoy the open air. The GT500 is America's new speed king, meaning that on the straights, the GT500 rules but unlike the GT500 because it relies on such prehistoric suspension even though it was tweaked by SVT, the Camaro ZL1 is much more track-focused thanks to its standard Magnetic Ride Control, standard Performance Traction Management, and standard track-capable equipment such as a rear-differential cooler, brake cooling ducts, and an engine and transmission cooler.

If they were softdrinks, they'll be Coke or Pepsi. If they were girls, they'll be Medaka or Rias....

There's more with these two cars; they're both Americans, they're both muscles, and they're both have roofs made of cloth rather than metal. If you put these two on a drag race, rest assured that thanks to its supercharged 5.8-liter V8 aluminum-block engine produces 662 horsepower and 631 lb.-ft. of torque, the GT500 trounces the ZL1 and its all-aluminum 580HP 6.2L supercharged engine. Even if you switch drivers and do the race again, the results remain the same. It's like Bumblebee being fragged by Eleanor.

Truth be told, the GT500 Convertible is quicker than the ZL1 convertible on a straight line but when placed on racetracks, the results are highly different. Thanks to its SVT-tuned suspension and an additional Track Package that costs them more, the handling feels much more dynamic than the old model. So dynamic, you may found out that this muscle's highly challenging if you're not paying attention. It takes a lot of skill and time to master the GT500's dynamic handling and if you do, you'll find it even more rewarding.

On the ZL1 though, it's still a "Dynamic and Dangerous" muscle car but because of its sophisticated computer wizardry or probably thanks to its standard Magnetic Ride Control or Performance Traction Management, the ZL1 tries to tame its dynamism a little bit further. Despite the ZL1's power output less than the GT500's, I can brake later than the GT500, I can turn harder than the GT500, and that's it. The ZL1's a track-focused muscle car with some added dynamism on it. Let's remember, the coupe version of the ZL1 lapped the Nurburgring at 7:41.27, quicker than the Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SV or even the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

On the subject of muscle car convertibles though, thanks to some strengthening needs, both of these cars are heavier than their hardtop coupe equivalents. A trivia though that with no roof, it all ends up with the engine on the front connected to its steering and suspension goodies by just a floor, just like two volumes of encyclopedias and a piece of paper. It's too wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff if you know what I mean.

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible

The 2013 GT500 Convertible though, I believe that this is much better than the old GT500 Convertible. I'm just saying because there are so many stuff to do better than this includes...late night television, working at a fast-food restaurant, or go on a strike with your officemates. Stuff like that. Even though with major improvements, the convertible GT500 is a lot heavier than the hardtop equivalents and it spoils a lot.

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

The hardtop ZL1 is one of the best Chevrolets I've experienced a few months ago but with the convertible ZL1, this is even better. With no roof, you can clearly hear the sound of the 6.2L supercharged engine even better. It sounds like there was a dirty brawl between Nina Williams and Miki Hoshii. That sounds better than this but with such noise, it's hard to notice it and you can't even feel the ZL1 convertible's extra weight. On the race track, both are good but for everyday use, I think the ZL1 is the better bet because on bumpy roads, the ZL1's suspension counterattacks the vibration more than the GT500's.

For a real treat on those convertible muscle cars, get a girl who spend her money on hair rebonding and do some experimenting. Unless your girl had used Rejoice shampoo, your muscle car convertible may end up turning her into a mohawk. Worse, you'll arrive in a black eye...

And that concludes my impressions to the ZL1 and GT500 cabrios. Naming a winner on these two is not that all fun and games because sadly though...well, sorry Mr. JCR Clarkson Esq. for saying your lines...THEY BOTH LOSE.

Photo: General Motors, Ford Motor Company