A history of Camaro steering wheels

[1BADLS3]

First gen/second gen:


Second gen: (1972? +)


Third gen: (V6) 1982-1989


Third gen: (IROC/Z28) 1982-1989


Third gen: (All 1990-1992):


Fourth gen: (1993-1999) Note: Also shared with the Caprice, and Lumina APV minivan


Fourth gen: (2000-2002) Note: Shared with just about anything GM that had a 3.8L engine


Fifth gen: (2010-2011) (Unique to the Camaro)


I may have missed one or two for the first gen, but the Camaro definitely has a *special* history when it comes to attractive steering wheels. IMHO, they finally had it right with the 5th gen's 3-spoke design, calling back to the original 1st gen cars, as well as the 3rd gen IROC/Z cars.

And now...we're potentially getting a steering wheel that is shared with Chevrolet's new small economy car.




What's up with this GM? We had a steering wheel that wasn't half bad, and most importantly, unique to the car. The true abomination was having a steering wheel that was shared with a bloated sedan and minivan, and now an economy car? C'Mon.... please? really?

[IROCanSS]

I agree and you picked the ugly 1st gen wheel.

[Outlaw77]

wow there were some real ugly steering wheels especially in the 90's! I personally love the gen5 wheel.

[The_Blur]

There are several vendors offering alternatives to the stock steering wheel. That is one of the great things about customizing a car.

[1BADLS3]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

There are several vendors offering alternatives to the stock steering wheel. That is one of the great things about customizing a car.

With integrated radio/phone/cruise control, and that still retain the airbag?

[InvaderMoose]

I'd feel weird changing the steering wheel, but if my Zl1 had THAT THING. Yeah, first mod right there.

[GreenMonster]

definitely not feeling any of the steering wheels including the 2012's. our 2010-11 steering wheels are the shi* and should stay through out all 5th gen.

[BJ350HP]

the 2010-2011 wheel does not look good IMO.

[FirstandFifthGen]

Nice post. I think the 5th gen wheels looks nice and sporty...sure seems to be strong reactions on it both ways.
The ZL1 looks terrible, why would they use a generic wheel, on a high end car that surely GM (and buyers) can cover the cost of a unique wheel.

[Kilo-9]

I hated that goofy rectangle-centered wheel I had in my '89 RS!

[1BADLS3]

Originally Posted by Kilo-9

I hated that goofy rectangle-centered wheel I had in my '89 RS!

While I understand it's all subjective, for whatever reason, that one is my favorite! It's music to the 3rd gen's angular lines, in a very quirky 1980's way. The low, thin spokes make for good viewing of the dash, and it's sporty/different.

GM's been responsible for quite a few chunky/weird steering wheels in recent years. Is there a single guy over the "steering wheel design" department or something?

Early C6:


Colorado/Hummer H3:


old Equinox:


Impala/Venture:


I guess I don't know what makes a great steering wheel, but these pictured above definitely don't seem to be 'it', whatever that is. The only one I've liked, other than the one in the new Camaro, is the truck wheel that made it in everything from the S/T series, C/K and fullsize vans:



It's simple, sporty, the airbag isn't intrusive, it's grippy and your fingers aren't always running into the back of broad spokes, and provides a great view of the instrument cluster. What happened to the guy that designed that? You'd think with it's kind of lean/muscular design that it would have gone in a sports car, though...

[slick rick]

Probably changed due to reviewers who cried about the 2010 Camaro steering wheel. Didn't they complain that the steering wheel was too big for their hands?

[SSmoked]

95% of people compaling about the ZL1 wheel here are current gen 5 owners that will never buy the ZL1. The current gen5 wheel is ugly to look at and ugly to drive with IMHO its too bulky.
And soo what if it shares the cruze wheel. the ZR1 has a Cobalt steering wheel.

[MJanowich]

I think most of the criticisms of the 5th gen steering wheel were more about it being uncomfortable and also not really designed for "9 and 3" hand positions which as I found out from Jeff Bucknum is the proper hand position for racing. I think they are trying to address that more than anything with the ZL1. I'll take a proper racing style wheel over one built for looks any day. It remains to be seen whether or not the ZL1 wheel will pass the race car wheel test.