1 SS Test Drive Review - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

CaMario · 05-17-2009, 08:41 AM

For those of you (like me) who hadn't driven a Camaro I recently test drove an SS (fully loaded). Here are my thoughts.

Took her out on a sunny day. There is a Camaro moving from dealer to dealer and my dealer was generous enough to offer a test drive. As I've said in previous posts the camaro interior is nice. Really nice! The seats are comfortable and the iterior is bigger, more roomier than I thought (I'm 6ft 210lbs). This had a sunroof and I did notice the reduced head room. But for me it was just a matter of adjusting the seat. Obviously took some time for me to get used to the display. This was the automatic with paddle shifting. Took me a moment to figure out where the gear number when shifting. The absoute coolest, I mean jaw dropping experience was when I drove under an underpass and the I saw the ambient lighting. In a word WOW!! Not sure if ambient is automatically on/off or always on. I would really love to see this at night. Would look awesome!

The handling is precise. I found the automatic gear shifter too big, but, that's my opinion. I couldn't get too aggressive - didn't want to press my luck

But overall the car had great responsiveness and I can't wait to open her up for a real spin one day. One thing I paid special attention to because I read in another thread was cabin noise. And the good news is - there is none. It is very quiet, almost in my opinoin too quiet! I like to hear the rumble of the V8 and that was lacking somewhat with the windows closed. This is a quiet ride so for those with wind etc issues I would definately look into it.

Power - well in a word this thing can motor. On the highway I was doing 100km. I passed a rig without even a thought and when I looked down I was doing 140km. Scary powerful, I mean It didn't even feel like I was driving at 140km. Scary because this could become a ticket machine - oh well, only live once.

This really is a great, great car. I test drove a Challenger SRT8 and in my opinion both great, great cars, but, the Camaro definately wins out overall.

*DGthe3* · 05-20-2009, 07:58 PM

Thanks for the review. What were the cloth seats like?

PQ · 05-20-2009, 08:04 PM

I'm diggin' it. Thanx, this is what I want to hear.

Supermans · 05-20-2009, 08:07 PM

The 1SS doesn't have ambient lighting.. Perhaps you are only talking about the speedometer?

canadian ss · 05-20-2009, 08:12 PM

Wouldn't a fully loaded SS be a 2RS/SS? What color was it? What options did the 1SS have? And were the seats cloth and how comfortable was it? Ambient lighting on a 1SS? I didn't know that was an option for 1SS?
Reason i'm asking is because I ordered a 1SS.
Oh yea, almost forgot, how's the view over the hood?

PQ · 05-20-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supermans

The 1SS doesn't have ambient lighting.. Perhaps you are only talking about the speedometer?

I soooooo totaly didn't catch that. Nice work.

hydraulicman · 05-20-2009, 08:15 PM

Where in Canada are you? What dealer is allowing test drives?

MerF · 05-20-2009, 08:17 PM

I'm confused. A fully loaded 1SS with ABL?

I think you mean 2SS...easy way to settle this, were the seats cloth or leather?

05-17-2009, 08:41 AM	#1
CaMario Drives: Mazda 3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 66	1 SS Test Drive Review For those of you (like me) who hadn't driven a Camaro I recently test drove an SS (fully loaded). Here are my thoughts. Took her out on a sunny day. There is a Camaro moving from dealer to dealer and my dealer was generous enough to offer a test drive. As I've said in previous posts the camaro interior is nice. Really nice! The seats are comfortable and the iterior is bigger, more roomier than I thought (I'm 6ft 210lbs). This had a sunroof and I did notice the reduced head room. But for me it was just a matter of adjusting the seat. Obviously took some time for me to get used to the display. This was the automatic with paddle shifting. Took me a moment to figure out where the gear number when shifting. The absoute coolest, I mean jaw dropping experience was when I drove under an underpass and the I saw the ambient lighting. In a word WOW!! Not sure if ambient is automatically on/off or always on. I would really love to see this at night. Would look awesome! The handling is precise. I found the automatic gear shifter too big, but, that's my opinion. I couldn't get too aggressive - didn't want to press my luck But overall the car had great responsiveness and I can't wait to open her up for a real spin one day. One thing I paid special attention to because I read in another thread was cabin noise. And the good news is - there is none. It is very quiet, almost in my opinoin too quiet! I like to hear the rumble of the V8 and that was lacking somewhat with the windows closed. This is a quiet ride so for those with wind etc issues I would definately look into it. Power - well in a word this thing can motor. On the highway I was doing 100km. I passed a rig without even a thought and when I looked down I was doing 140km. Scary powerful, I mean It didn't even feel like I was driving at 140km. Scary because this could become a ticket machine - oh well, only live once. This really is a great, great car. I test drove a Challenger SRT8 and in my opinion both great, great cars, but, the Camaro definately wins out overall.

05-20-2009, 07:58 PM	#2
DGthe3 Moderator.ca Drives: 05 Grand Am GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Niagara, Canada Posts: 25,372	Thanks for the review. What were the cloth seats like? __________________ Note, if I've gotten any facts wrong in the above, just ignore any points I made with them __________________ Originally Posted by FbodFather My sister's dentist's brother's cousin's housekeeper's dog-breeder's nephew sells coffee filters to the company that provides coffee to General Motors...... ........and HE WOULD KNOW!!!! __________________ Camaro Fest sub-forum

05-20-2009, 08:04 PM	#3
PQ Booooosted. Drives: 2010 Supercharged SS Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 36,716 View My Garage	I'm diggin' it. Thanx, this is what I want to hear. __________________

05-20-2009, 08:07 PM	#4
Supermans Camaro & Stang Enthusiast Drives: 2011 Mustang 5.0 in Kona Blue Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 4,752 View My Garage	The 1SS doesn't have ambient lighting.. Perhaps you are only talking about the speedometer? __________________ Bought my Camaro from Eric Hall(817) 421-7266

05-20-2009, 08:15 PM	#7
hydraulicman Drives: 2007 Avalanche Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fonthill, Ontario Canada Posts: 5	Where in Canada are you? What dealer is allowing test drives? __________________ Current Vehicles 2007 Chev Avalanche LTZ 2007 GMC Yukon SLT 2007 GMC Sierra Past Vehicles 2003 GMC Denali 2003 GMC Sierra Z71 2001 GMC Yukon 2001 GMC Sierra 2001 GMC Somoma 1999 GMC Sierra 1998 Chev Blazer 1995 Chev Astro Van AWD 1994 GMC Yukon 1994 Camaro Z28 Convert - sold last June 1989 Buick LeSabre T Type 1988 Buick LeSabre T Type 1987 Buick Grand National 1985 Buick Regal 1982 Buick Lesabre 1980 Chev Monte Carlo 1978 Chev Monte Carlo 1976 Chevette 1974 Firebird 1972 Nova 1970 Nova 1969 Nova 1968 Nova 1964 Chev II 1962 Chev II

05-20-2009, 08:12 PM	#5
canadian ss Psycho on day pass Drives: 2010 yellow 1ss m6 -GM tech Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: grimsby, ont. Posts: 487 View My Garage	Wouldn't a fully loaded SS be a 2RS/SS? What color was it? What options did the 1SS have? And were the seats cloth and how comfortable was it? Ambient lighting on a 1SS? I didn't know that was an option for 1SS? Reason i'm asking is because I ordered a 1SS. Oh yea, almost forgot, how's the view over the hood?

05-20-2009, 08:17 PM	#8
MerF Go Rays! Drives: 03 Trailblazer Join Date: May 2007 Location: St Pete, Florida Posts: 2,533	I'm confused. A fully loaded 1SS with ABL? I think you mean 2SS...easy way to settle this, were the seats cloth or leather?

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