What else did you cross shop?

FlashBazbo

For handling, the 6 cyl Camaro is the closer competitor. It's a better handler than the V8 because the engine is lighter and the chassis is better balanced as a result. On a tight road course or autocross course, the LT Camaro is the better way to go. Of course, as I said, neither is a statistical overall performance match for the Z (although I haven't seen or heard of anyone driving a 6 cyl Camaro as slowly as you claim). But from a practical standpoint? . . . Nobody is using the maximum potential of any of these cars on the street. That's why cars like the GTI and the MINI have a fighting chance in this market. It is always more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slowly.

The only reason I'm even considering a Camaro are the visibility issues of the Z, the lack of luggage space for the Z, and the poor customer service history of Nissan. If the Z were to be my only car? It couldn't happen.

But since my wife drives a fogey-mobile . . .

sensi09

I agree that a slower car is more fun to drive fast than it is the other way around, but then again, 426HP will be a lot more fun than 304HP. Straight-line acceleration does get boring, but it's hard to pass up the extra power.

Unless someone is buying a base V6 with little to no options, it doesn't make sense, at least to me to spend a tad bit more for the bigger engine.

FlashBazbo

That's why they make more than one kind.

Back in the day, there were just about always two sizes of "hot" cars in every lineup. The 289 Cobra was the handling/road racing machine but the 427 Cobra was a straight-line monster (Le Mans with its then 4-mile Mulsanne straight was the exception among road courses). The big engine made the car too nose-heavy. On most road courses, the 289 would beat a 427. On most drag strips, the 427 would win. It was the same with Mustang (351/429), Camaro, Trans Am, Barracuda, even Jaguar's XKE had the six cylinder for handling or the V12 for straight line power.

A Camaro LT with upgraded brakes might be the perfect mountain road weapon (among new Camaros). The bigger engine would be a detriment in that application. It's all a balance of weight/handling vs. power.