Ok guys.......First as nice as magazine tests are , they are not really the best source of real world performance. If you really want to know how well these cars perform against one another go to some local dragstrips and dyno shops or race them yourself.
Bottom line is that magazines have certain testing proceedures, sometimes get test vehicles that are not representative of real production cars , cant necessarily drive well, etc. There are so many variables.
Bottom line is this , typically, LT-4 powered Vettes dyno around 295-300 rwhp on average and weigh 3300-3350 usually (full of all fluids). This will typically net a 13.2-3@106-8 mph on a decent strip with a decent driver under decent conditions. On a good day with good driver and alot of traction, stock LT-4's have hit high 12's and approached 110 mph trap speeds (but this is under the BEST conditions/drivers/cars).
LT-4's will NOT out run ZR-1's , period. The earlier 90-92 models typically dyno 325-330 rwhp and weigh 3450-3500 and will 1/4 mile in the 108-110 mph range. The later 93-95 models typically weigh over 3500 and dyno around 350-60 rwhp and run mid to high 12's @ 111-114 stock. On on the big end they just plain walk away straight up into the 180 mph range.
As for the magazine tests you guys are talking about , I have them (Motortrend) and here is the deal. The GS numbers are the early press release quote numbers from GM, they are NOT actual Motortrend test numbers. They just reprinted them in there from an earlier released smaller intro article when the GS was first being released, they did not actually test it with instruments at that time. The Collector Edition IS a real test and lo and behold it ran almost exactly as most average real LT-4's do , trapping 107+. The tests listed on this site are from other mags and they got slower times and lower trap speeds but remember , they often do for ALL cars, so they are not really very representative of real performance to some degree. Many wont allow any wheel spin on launch or dont power shift or test on regular road surfaces that may not have very good traction at all......
Sorry for the long response but hope it helps.......
