Review gripe prediction: light clutch - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

UCF w00t · 01-06-2009, 10:12 PM

I was looking at a review from Edmunds of the G8 GXP and I noticed something that sounded familiar...

"We're not as convinced about the clutch, however. The engagement point is easy enough to detect, but the pedal effort is too light."

I remembered back to Jamey's thoughts from when he got to drive HeatherR's red 1SS...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamey

The clutch is very easy. I got used to it immediately. I let the clutch out in Bryans gravel driveway almost at idle so I wouldn't throw any rocks, and the car didn't sputter or start to stall. Once you get a feel for where it starts to grab upon pedal release, you're golden. Very much like what my 2002 Z06 felt like. Just for reference purposes, my wife learned to drive the Z06 in about 10 minutes and then drove it all the time without any problems. Shifter throw is smooth and relatively short. The clutch pedal is very light, actually lighter than my preference. I'm more used to the one in my 71 Vette, which takes a lot more pedal effort. I like it a little heavier, but as long as it bites good, I can live with the lighter pedal.

Just a heads up on what we can expect. If that's all the gripes (they didn't have much more for the GXP and loved it overall) I think they're going to be madly in love with the Camaro SS.

Xanthos · 01-06-2009, 10:30 PM

I have to agree completely about the above points, at least to the V6 camaro I sat in, but I absolutely loved it about the car. It was very easy to tell when the clutch engaged, which is good, and yet light enough to where it wouldn't kill your leg in heavy traffic...

I saw it as a good thing.
- Xanthos

UCF w00t · 01-06-2009, 10:34 PM

Yea, being that I've not driven a stick much (never owned one) this sounds like a good thing to me; at least as long as it's not super light. I guess the reviewers see it differently though.

Can someone enlighten me as to why this would be a bad thing?

Xanthos · 01-06-2009, 10:37 PM

Too light of a clutch and it becomes difficult to judge when its engaged, and slipping the clutch becomes a bit trickier.

Not so good for a performance car.
- Xanthos

TheCavalry · 01-07-2009, 05:33 AM

This may be a dumb question but i'm not the most car savvy guy around, anyways. Will the clutch feel hydraulic or more like a cable? The reason i ask is because on my lancer it feels more like it's pulling on a cable as opposed to my mom's S2000 which feels needs a little more force to push. it would be perfect if it feels in between. i realize i sound like a moron by the way lol

MerF · 01-07-2009, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UCF w00t

Yea, being that I've not driven a stick much (never owned one) this sounds like a good thing to me; at least as long as it's not super light. I guess the reviewers see it differently though.

Can someone enlighten me as to why this would be a bad thing?

IMO light clutches are a lot harded to drive then medium feedback clutches. I'm sure it's more of an opinion than a fact, though.

MerF · 01-07-2009, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCavalry

This may be a dumb question but i'm not the most car savvy guy around, anyways. Will the clutch feel hydraulic or more like a cable? The reason i ask is because on my lancer it feels more like it's pulling on a cable as opposed to my mom's S2000 which feels needs a little more force to push. it would be perfect if it feels in between. i realize i sound like a moron by the way lol

I doubt that 90% of the forum has ever driven a cable clutch. It's a whole different animal. For one, it's harder than a hydraulic clutch. So I think you might be thinking of it backwards. Cable means you are personally doing the work to operate the clutch. Hydraulic means you are being assisted.

TheCavalry · 01-07-2009, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MerF

I doubt that 90% of the forum has ever driven a cable clutch. It's a whole different animal. For one, it's harder than a hydraulic clutch. So I think you might be thinking of it backwards. Cable means you are personally doing the work to operate the clutch. Hydraulic means you are being assisted.

yea maybe i did have it backwards. thanks for the info though

stovt001 · 01-07-2009, 11:24 AM

All very subjective judgments and everyone might see it differently, but I'm encouraged by the reviews so far showing light effort but good feedback and feel.

zebra · 01-07-2009, 12:09 PM

my Festiva had a cable clutch, if i remember right, & was a bit heavier than the one in the GMC. i never had a problem feeling either, but it's definitely easier on my left knee with the lighter pedal, especially in traffic.

Xanthos · 01-07-2009, 01:58 PM

Like I said, I liked it.

I don't think you'll have a problem with it.
- Xanthos

Angrybird 12 · 01-07-2009, 02:20 PM

As long as it give good feedback to the engage point I don't see any problem.

No two cars I have ever owned the Clutch felt was the same on, and even when I replaced them they felt different than what they did before.

Right now it's just based on someone elses perception. You need to wait and judge it to your own liking if you listen to others, Heck someone that that is used to a really light clutch may think the Camaro's is heavy yet someone that is used to a heavy clutch may think it is too light...

Xanthos · 01-07-2009, 02:25 PM

True dat.

The first lesson my step-dad taught me when teaching me to drive stick is "clutches are like living things. No two are alike."
- Xanthos

SoFlaZ · 01-07-2009, 03:47 PM

I dont want it to be like trying to smash a brick and am glad thats how it will be

. The clutch in my cav is perfect(for me) but as everyone else said it is still different after the clutch was changed. The one in my old porsche had an adjustible spring to assist you to make it like a feather all the way to heavy, I kept some weight to it.
I drove a friends WRX and that clutch was HEAVY. I got in my car a little while afterward and was slamming the clutch down accidentially because I still had the motion of driving the other car lol.

01-06-2009, 10:30 PM	#2
Xanthos PWA Relapse Drives: Formerly-Stick Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 12,588 View My Garage	I have to agree completely about the above points, at least to the V6 camaro I sat in, but I absolutely loved it about the car. It was very easy to tell when the clutch engaged, which is good, and yet light enough to where it wouldn't kill your leg in heavy traffic... I saw it as a good thing. - Xanthos __________________ 2017 1LT/RS A8 Hyper Blue Metallic

01-06-2009, 10:37 PM	#4
Xanthos PWA Relapse Drives: Formerly-Stick Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 12,588 View My Garage	Too light of a clutch and it becomes difficult to judge when its engaged, and slipping the clutch becomes a bit trickier. Not so good for a performance car. - Xanthos __________________ 2017 1LT/RS A8 Hyper Blue Metallic

01-07-2009, 05:33 AM	#5
TheCavalry Here it comes Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS, '02 Lancer OZ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Killeen, TX Posts: 243	This may be a dumb question but i'm not the most car savvy guy around, anyways. Will the clutch feel hydraulic or more like a cable? The reason i ask is because on my lancer it feels more like it's pulling on a cable as opposed to my mom's S2000 which feels needs a little more force to push. it would be perfect if it feels in between. i realize i sound like a moron by the way lol __________________ Ordered IBM 1SS 20" Polished Wheels You want to kick ass, or fondle the door panels, sissy? - Jason Kavanagh

01-07-2009, 11:24 AM	#9
stovt001 Drives: 2006 Cobalt, 2004 Taurus wagon Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,812	All very subjective judgments and everyone might see it differently, but I'm encouraged by the reviews so far showing light effort but good feedback and feel. __________________ "It's kind of fun to do the impossible" - Walt Disney There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day There's a great big beautiful tomorrow Just a dream away

01-07-2009, 12:09 PM	#10
zebra just can't seem to leave Drives: your mom wild!! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: cold & windy Posts: 10,625 View My Garage	my Festiva had a cable clutch, if i remember right, & was a bit heavier than the one in the GMC. i never had a problem feeling either, but it's definitely easier on my left knee with the lighter pedal, especially in traffic. __________________ Eve ('00 FRC): hot-air intake Rowan ('09 H3): 5spd mom-mobile Penny ('99 Sierra): 5.3 / HD 5spd... gone but not forgotten Samson ('18 HD): compounded 408

01-06-2009, 10:34 PM	#3
UCF w00t Geek Drives: IOM 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orlando Posts: 4,452	Yea, being that I've not driven a stick much (never owned one) this sounds like a good thing to me; at least as long as it's not super light. I guess the reviewers see it differently though. Can someone enlighten me as to why this would be a bad thing?

01-07-2009, 01:58 PM	#11
Xanthos PWA Relapse Drives: Formerly-Stick Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 12,588 View My Garage	Like I said, I liked it. I don't think you'll have a problem with it. - Xanthos __________________ 2017 1LT/RS A8 Hyper Blue Metallic

01-07-2009, 02:20 PM	#12
Angrybird 12 7 year Cancer Survivor! Drives: 17 Cruze RS, 07 G6 GT, 99 Astro Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 21,547	As long as it give good feedback to the engage point I don't see any problem. No two cars I have ever owned the Clutch felt was the same on, and even when I replaced them they felt different than what they did before. Right now it's just based on someone elses perception. You need to wait and judge it to your own liking if you listen to others, Heck someone that that is used to a really light clutch may think the Camaro's is heavy yet someone that is used to a heavy clutch may think it is too light... __________________ Cancer's a bitch! Enjoy life while you can! LIVE, LOVE, DRIVE... The Bird is the word!

01-07-2009, 02:25 PM	#13
Xanthos PWA Relapse Drives: Formerly-Stick Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 12,588 View My Garage	True dat. The first lesson my step-dad taught me when teaching me to drive stick is "clutches are like living things. No two are alike." - Xanthos __________________ 2017 1LT/RS A8 Hyper Blue Metallic

01-07-2009, 03:47 PM	#14
SoFlaZ Drives: 2013 SS LS3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: WPB FL Posts: 947 View My Garage	I dont want it to be like trying to smash a brick and am glad thats how it will be. The clutch in my cav is perfect(for me) but as everyone else said it is still different after the clutch was changed. The one in my old porsche had an adjustible spring to assist you to make it like a feather all the way to heavy, I kept some weight to it. I drove a friends WRX and that clutch was HEAVY. I got in my car a little while afterward and was slamming the clutch down accidentially because I still had the motion of driving the other car lol.