Introduction and ?

[70CopperZ28]

Hi all, I am new to the forum. My wife and I are seriously considering buying a convertible Camaro. We can get a decent deal ($28,000) on a Inferno Orange 2011 2Lt/RS convert. I see and read some of the posts about top problems on the 11s. Is it worth it to pass on a used one for a new 12?

Thanks!
Bryan

[RagTopBee]

I bought my 2011 Rally Yellow 2LT/RS 'vert 2 months ago yesterday. She now has 4700 miles on her (she's my daily driver for an 80 mile rt commute) and I've had no problems whatsoever - and she sees every kind of crazy weather living here in the Northwest. I did have the top "recall" done and everything seems fine so far - my dealer has been very responsive and helpful from the moment I bought her! I did have a problem with my radio, but they replaced it and everything's been fine since. She's sound, tight as a drum, with no leaks, wrinkles, or wind noise. Not everyone has problems, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Be sure to inspect it closely, though! And I'd make sure your dealer is aware of the problems and willing to support you should the worst happen.My two cents for what it's worth.

[ss409cid]

I have had no problems with either of the 2011 verts I have owned. I am a regular user of the top down feature......

[evlar]

2011 convertible here... Many tops do have Rub mark issues and some have water leaking issues. As with the first model of any new design, it's bound to present flaws.

I have the rub marks, but it's not my daily driver and I leave the top up and parked in the garage most of the time. It's a fun car and $28K sounds like a good price. You may want to consider the extended warranty as I do not trust the longevity of these tops.

Good Luck!

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Originally Posted by 70CopperZ28

Hi all, I am new to the forum. My wife and I are seriously considering buying a convertible Camaro. We can get a decent deal ($28,000) on a Inferno Orange 2011 2Lt/RS convert. I see and read some of the posts about top problems on the 11s. Is it worth it to pass on a used one for a new 12?

Thanks!
Bryan

I see that you are in the market for a new Camaro. What is your favorite feature? The purchase of a new vehicle comes with 6-months of OnStar on eligible vehicles and 6-months of XM radio on eligible vehicles. Also, you will feel safe knowing that 2012 Camaros come with a 3 year/36,000 mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. If you want to PM me with any details, please don't hesitate to do so.

Brandon
Chevrolet Customer Service

[EM1/SS]

Knowing what I know now, I would have waited and not got a 2011. I haven't had any problems with mine, but the people who have, seem to get very bad service from GM.

[pony]

Originally Posted by evlar

2011 convertible here... Many tops do have Rub mark issues and some have water leaking issues. As with the first model of any new design, it's bound to present flaws.

I have the rub marks, but it's not my daily driver and I leave the top up and parked in the garage most of the time. It's a fun car and $28K sounds like a good price. You may want to consider the extended warranty as I do not trust the longevity of these tops.

Good Luck!

Tops or mechanisms are NOT covered by GM's extended warranty! Just a FYI. I still have rub/pinch marks after the "fix" and requested an extended warranty. However, was denied th extended warranty component coverage on the top, but WAS given to others. GM gets to pick and choose who they give an additional warranty to.

[plan-b]

I have a 2011. My top has light wrinkles. It's a rag top, fabric wrinkles, duh. I don't let it ruin my day. I also have rub marks. I'll get the "enhancement" done some time this summer. I don't let that ruin my day either. This car is extremely fun to own. I let that brighten my day.

[Falundir]

Welcome, and please consider the following.

There are countless threads on these forums of people wishing they would of went SS, and many of them end up trading up at a loss. The LT is a beautiful car and engine, just be certain it's the one you want. Dealers are so desperate to move 12 2SS Verts that I bet you could get a MINIMUM of 6k off the sticker.

[Tiberious]

Based on your forum name, you come from a similar background Camaro-wise as I do. I have the 2011 SS 'vert and while I love the car, I'm a victim of the rub marks along with many of my brothers and sisters here.

That said it seems like the newer ones are faring much better than us early adopters are. I don't think that I'd have been happy with a different (say Mustang) vert but I will say that you should keep an eye on your top once you have the car.

I see others advising that you go for the SS and while I agree, you have to get what you want. I'm sure that my fellow SS owners are all drooling over the ZL1, but as far as driving enjoyment I don't think that it'll make that big a difference to you if you're just going to cruise in it.

You're going to find issues on any car, I don't know that the Camaro has any more or less than others of its ilk. So long as GM stands behind its tops (remains to be seen) I think you'll be fine with it.....more than fine!

Jim

[70CopperZ28]

Thanks for the replys guys, this car will be for my wife. I'll give the 11's a good inspection and have the dealer run the service history before the buy. A 12 is not out of the question since I have decent GM card points. I also had a dealer quote me on a 2Lt/RS for 2,000 below MSRP.

The SS would be bad ass and I have driven a few but it will be a V6 since decent gas mileage well be needed. Besides I can get in my old Z if I need a rush!

[Tiberious]

Originally Posted by pony

Tops or mechanisms are NOT covered by GM's extended warranty! Just a FYI. I still have rub/pinch marks after the "fix" and requested an extended warranty. However, was denied th extended warranty component coverage on the top, but WAS given to others. GM gets to pick and choose who they give an additional warranty to.

THAT is extremely disquieting to me Pony. My guy told me that the extended warranty would include the top. It's 100% of the reason that I bought it. Now I'm much more concerned than I was.

Tib

[pony]

Originally Posted by Tiberious

THAT is extremely disquieting to me Pony. My guy told me that the extended warranty would include the top. It's 100% of the reason that I bought it. Now I'm much more concerned than I was.

Tib

I read the GM Major Gaurd policy and it specifically excludes convertible or vinyl tops. I'm not certain if this means the JUST the fabric or the associated mechanisms.

[plan-b]

That sucks, Pony. I'd feel pretty miffed over that. Do you have the language handy? I'm wondering if it might be written with legal semantics so that they don't have to cover repairs of someone cuts it or if a tree branch falls and rips it. Or is it written in a way where there's no uncertain terms that all bets are off with regard to the top?

[pony]

Originally Posted by plan-b

That sucks, Pony. I'd feel pretty miffed over that. Do you have the language handy? I'm wondering if it might be written with legal semantics so that they don't have to cover repairs of someone cuts it or if a tree branch falls and rips it. Or is it written in a way where there's no uncertain terms that all bets are off with regard to the top?

They all state "convertible and vinyl tops" and I had GM customer service also tell me the convertible tops were not covered. Maybe they will chime in here and answer the question about top material vs mechanisms; they seem to jump in on everything else.

[Tiberious]

***crickets***

[triplethreat]

I was told and also read where the extended GM warranty does not cover the tops. That is why I didn't buy it also.

[Lee123]

I was sold a 3rd party extended warrenty when I bought my 2012 Convertible but cancelled it when I got the actual document and found out that it did not cover the top.

In answer to the OP's question, I don't believe the top is any better on the '12 than the '11. In fact one of the other members who got a very late production '12 and was told all the fixes were applied on the production line is now experiencing the same problems he had with his '11. That's in another thread in this section.

You have the advantage of knowing about the top problems BEFORE buying, as not everyone did. With that in mind, you might want to think about what your expectations are from a convertible top before buying it. If you really want a Camaro convertible and are willing to either accept some rub marks and wrinkles or don't mind spending a lot of time fighting with the dealer, buy it. But if you expect the top on your car to look like new a year later, this probably isn't the car for you unless you like buying lottery tickets and are willing to take a chance. I spent my time researching drivetrain and performance stuff before buying and never even thought to check into the top. After all, GM had been making Camaro convertibles for 45 years, surely they had the tops figured out. After 6 months, I have some of the rub marks and wrinkles but I like the car so much I'm ignoring that for now. If I get holes or leaks or if GM actually comes out with a real fix, then I'll do something.

[70CopperZ28]

Originally Posted by Lee123

I was sold a 3rd party extended warrenty when I bought my 2012 Convertible but cancelled it when I got the actual document and found out that it did not cover the top.

In answer to the OP's question, I don't believe the top is any better on the '12 than the '11. In fact one of the other members who got a very late production '12 and was told all the fixes were applied on the production line is now experiencing the same problems he had with his '11. That's in another thread in this section.

You have the advantage of knowing about the top problems BEFORE buying, as not everyone did. With that in mind, you might want to think about what your expectations are from a convertible top before buying it. If you really want a Camaro convertible and are willing to either accept some rub marks and wrinkles or don't mind spending a lot of time fighting with the dealer, buy it. But if you expect the top on your car to look like new a year later, this probably isn't the car for you unless you like buying lottery tickets and are willing to take a chance. I spent my time researching drivetrain and performance stuff before buying and never even thought to check into the top. After all, GM had been making Camaro convertibles for 45 years, surely they had the tops figured out. After 6 months, I have some of the rub marks and wrinkles but I like the car so much I'm ignoring that for now. If I get holes or leaks or if GM actually comes out with a real fix, then I'll do something.

I appreciate your honesty and I am sorry you guys dealing with this. My wife has her heart on a Camaro so hopefully we will get the winning lottery ticket! If not I'll join the club and will just leave the top down rain or shine!

We looked at a 12 convert today but found out it has been on the lot since last September going to pass on that one for a fresher one.

[bulllett]

Originally Posted by 70CopperZ28

My wife has her heart on a Camaro so hopefully we will get the winning lottery ticket! If not I'll join the club and will just leave the top down rain or shine!

BUT you are making an INFORMED decision. Good for you. We did not have that luxury.

[70CopperZ28]

Guys, as much as we wanted to buy a Camaro convert we ended up buying a 2013 Mustang premium convertible. As a Chevy guy this hurts my heart to buy a Ford but after my wife drove the Mustang she loved it. The Camaro looks bad ass but the top issues was a player in the decision and the price of the Mustang was $4,000 less. Never thought I would have a Ford in the garage, but at least it's not a another foreign car like the one it replaced.

Take care!

['11 cyber grey vert]

Originally Posted by 70CopperZ28

Guys, as much as we wanted to buy a Camaro convert we ended up buying a 2013 Mustang premium convertible. As a Chevy guy this hurts my heart to buy a Ford but after my wife drove the Mustang she loved it. The Camaro looks bad ass but the top issues was a player in the decision and the price of the Mustang was $4,000 less. Never thought I would have a Ford in the garage, but at least it's not a another foreign car like the one it replaced.

Take care!

great looking 'stang!!!

if I had known about the top problems prior to my purchase, I would have gone mustang also!!!
but I liked the look and driveability of the camaro a little better than the mustang. but taking the top problems into consideration...would have been mustang all the way!!!

[totgate]

Originally Posted by 70CopperZ28

Guys, as much as we wanted to buy a Camaro convert we ended up buying a 2013 Mustang premium convertible. As a Chevy guy this hurts my heart to buy a Ford but after my wife drove the Mustang she loved it. The Camaro looks bad ass but the top issues was a player in the decision and the price of the Mustang was $4,000 less. Never thought I would have a Ford in the garage, but at least it's not a another foreign car like the one it replaced.

Take care!

Well, a lot of people DONT have any problems with their tops. Its a shame that people get scared away from these great cars... Your car looks great though.. :-)

[pony]

Originally Posted by totgate

Well, a lot of people DONT have any problems with their tops. Its a shame that people get scared away from these great cars... Your car looks great though.. :-)

Yet the fact remains that people ARE getting scared away. If I would've known about these issues, I would have at least thought about looking elsewhere (or a coupe). But many of us bought these on faith, and now my faith is fading as I have not had my concerns about longevity and the current pinch/rubs addressed to my satisfaction by GM or GM customer service.

[pensphan87]

After seeing the Camaro concept car at an auto show, all other cars where out.

I would keep looking at new and used till you find the one that speaks to you.
When you find it, top issues wont matter. Any part can be fixed, V6-V8 your call.

Nice 70! Buy it! Drive it! Love it!