Guys were blowing kisses, sounding wolf whistles, winking and giving their overwhelmingly enthusiastic thumbs-up. Girls too, were displaying amorous looks, mock kisses and “grrrr” sounds. People of all ages were showing their approval in most unusual ways.Not for me – for the CAMARO!
This car looks insanely cool. Every line exudes sex appeal with one of the most aggressive front fascias in the industry. There’s a growl in its angry face that looks even more ferocious than the lovingly designed Dodge Challenger. Add this to the cropped roof line (which sits impossibly low) and huge fender flairs and you have one of the most attractive vehicles General Motors has designed.It gets better!
My tester was the V6 with the RS package and an automatic 6-speed transmission. It was as if the automotive gods were teasing me when I found out. Even in this slowest form, the Camaro impresses. You see, many of the components were sourced from the excellent Cadillac CTS.
The 305 horsepower (making 273 lbs feet of torque) 3.6 liter, dual overhead cam thruster is the BEST American V6 I have yet tested. Tis a screamer this one. Even coupled to the automatic (which has “touch-shift” buttons mounted behind the steering wheel) I was able to get from 0 to 60 mph in around 6.4 seconds. That’s fast and I am fairly sure those speeds would increase near sea level. My G-Tech testing rig calculated consistent quarter mile times in a few ticks less than 15 seconds. When using the clicking touch-shift buttons, my times were slightly slower.Ah, but the manual mode with touch-shift is good for something else – turns. This is the best handling Camaro I have driven yet. Part of the blame goes to the ridiculously oversized 21 (yes – twenty one) inch wheels shod with thin Pirelli tires. Even with such massive steam-rollers, the ride was compliant. I pounded one corner to another, holding gears and squealing tires, creating a symphony of sweet abandon. What a playful machine!
Not bad for a car that weighs nearly 3,800 lbs.
Steering feel is quite good; however, the nose begins to lead when you push the envelope. Being that this Camaro did not come with the higher version’s bigger engine, 4-piston Brembo brakes and beefier suspension, it still drove remarkably well at the test track. Few people will push the base model beyond its limit. For those people who desire an abusive relationship with their Camaro – get the SS and have at it!
There are a few glitches…Looks and driving are great, ergonomics not so much. The sacrifice one must endure for the cropped roof (seriously, this is the lowest roof I have ever witnessed in a mass produced vehicle) is a severe lack of headroom. At about 6’2” I had to lean the seat back much further than I deemed comfortable. When testing (and wearing a helmet) I had to go back further still for headroom’s sake. Any further back and I would be laying down.
Although the front seats are comfy for my big frame, they are somewhat wide for thinner folk. The steering wheel has ridiculously oversized spokes. Radio controls are less than intuitive and there is an unfinished feel to the dashboard, especially in front of the passenger. Back seat room is poor at best and the trunk is more like a hole that you drop things inside of. The only way the seats fold is if both fold at the same time.So, if you want a better made interior – drive a Mustang.
If you want a more comfortable and useable interior and trunk – drive a Challenger.
If you want the best performing V6 pony car that looks stunningly good – drive the Camaro.
Not bad for a car that starts at about $23,000.
Stay tuned for driving impressions in Part II!