Sat in Camaro today, some disappointment

[bobby35ny]

While you read this you must know I bleed Chevy blue, however I refuse to drink the fanboy koolaid.

My past cars that I've owned:
1969 Z-28 DZ motor etc.
1970 1/2 Camaro RS
1970 Chevelle SS
1972 Chevelle SS
1983/84 Camaro Z-28 305-ho LOL!!

After those years I felt the Camaro's got bloated and sticker graphic busy. However some of the motors ran like raped apes...


Fast forward to the past 2 yrs. I wanted a muscle car. To me there are only 2 to choose from, the Chally and the Camaro. The Mustang just felt like a tin box when I drove it. Still being a Chevy blue guy all my life I could not bring myself to buy a Chally when the Camaro was coming out a year later.

So I waited.......Pre-order program started and I ordered just like the rest of us. We went by pictures and looking at the car from a distance at the shows.

Until today I only had 2 gripes with the Camaro, and gripes from pictures.

1-Gas filler on the wrong side of the car.
2-Black wire loom in the trunk.

TODAY was the BIG day!! I left the wife and kids at home so I can have peace and quiet so I can soak up all the Camaro juices...Sitting in the car brought back the good old days. There are TONS of positives about the car that we all know and agree on but there are some things that SCREAM "CHEAP" about the Interior.

Remember, I bleed Chevy blue and I will call a spade a spade. I thank the God above for my family, health and good fortune thoughout my life. I'm blessed and done well. I know the value of a buck and if I wanted a vette I would have bought one. To me 38K is alot of money. Don't tell me, "oh hey the car is cheap, its only 38K".

Today, after I sat in the car at the Ft.Lauderdale show I have 3 more gripes.

1-The ip is hard plastic, not like the cushion dash like most other cars today like the Malibu.

2-What were they thinking......If you are sitting in the passenger seat and want to let the person in the back seat out, its a 2 step operation. Even the colbalt has a 1 step slide. Make matters worse, the passenger seat is half power, only power is recline. Don't tell me the back seat is only for show, if its only show why put it there? It has a back seat and I want to use it otherwise I'd buy a Vette.

3-No light for vanity mirrors.

This car costs 38K, how much did Chevy really save by the above cost cutting measures?
Bean counters say if we save a dime here times 80,000 cars thats alot of profit. but guess what, you can cut costs TOO MUCH and there will be no volume...:(

I will return to the show tomorrow for a second look and sad to say I will spend some time in the SRT-8.

*******

=bobby

[GTAHVIT]

Let me be perfectly clear. If we have another thread like the V6 thread we just cleaned up, people will be banned.

Respectfully disagree with eachother. If the debates/arguments reach a stalemate then agree to disagree and move on.

Remember this thread when posting.

Everyone Please Read!

[My new Camaro]

well if u like the SRT tank then i will ignore this post

[rolnslo]

Seriously? Those are your gripes - non-padded dash, poor access to the backseat and no lighted vanity mirrors? No offense but OMFG!

EDIT: I was going to type more but in light of gtahvit's post, I won't. The things you seem to care about are so far down my list of things I care about in a car that I guess I just can't relate to where your comments are coming from.

[DDustiNN]

That's it? No flaming necessary... I can live with these

Although I do agree about the gas cap... that has been bugging me for quite some time. I've owned cars with it on each side though, so I'm sure I will get used to it just fine. In fact, I think I'll like it even better, come to think of it... one time I parked a little too close to the brick pillar by a pump, and the wind flung my door open into the bricks... so now I won't have to worry about it

As for the mirrors, I've never once used one on a visor... so I won't miss it at all. Plus you have your dome lights, so no worries there.

I'm not sure what the "black wire loom in the trunk" is though. Is this the cargo net? If so, that's an option I believe. Or if you're talking about the visible tube that encases the wires... again, oh well... you will hardly ever see that!

The passenger seat thing does concern me though, albeit only slightly. What does this 2-step process involve? I'm curious. I do think it's funny (but sometimes kind of annoying) when people can't figure out how to get out of my back seat though, hehe...

All in all, these seem like pretty minor complaints (at least in my eyes). Every single car I've had always has at least a few things that bug me, regardless of how great all of the other features are. And it's always different in different cars... I don't think any car will ever have everything "just right" for everyone. But, if this is all you've got so far, I'm sure you will not be disappointed with your Camaro.

[Moose]

You're thoughts and opinions are welcome from this, "fanboy".



The Camaro you sat in is not "production". Now I don't know if those issue's you have will be addressed in the actual production model, we'll see.

Assuming they remain the same, so be it. Personally, there are a few minor things I'd have done differently, or would have liked to seen done differently. But as I've heard Scott say on numerous occassions, "You're not going to please everyone."

Personally, I very happy with the overall results. And I'm happy GM brought the Camaro back!

So, yes, I'm proud to say, "I am a Camaro/GM fanboy", who drinks the "koolaid" - but I am still able to be objective, and I'm still able to accept and respect others complaints.

[UCF w00t]

What's the two step operation for the seat? Isn't it just lift the lever on the back seat and climb in? or are you adding move the seat forward as well? I don't think you'd always have to move the seat forward to get in. I can't see how such small issues will sway you to going with a Chally. I encourage you to spend as much time researching/obsessing over that car as you have the camaro and I'm sure you'll find lots of gripes about it.

Originally Posted by Moose

The Camaro you sat in is not "production". Now I don't know if those issue's you have will be addressed in the actual production model, we'll see.

These things aren't changing. These are production-intent.

[Moose]

Originally Posted by gtahvit

Let me be perfectly clear. If we have another thread like the V6 thread we just cleaned up, people will be banned.

Respectfully disagree with eachother. If the debates/arguments reach a stalemate then agree to disagree and move on.

Remember this thread when posting.

Everyone Please Read!

[undrcop2010]

My car has a few things that bug me but i dont get in the car everytime and dwell on them, just learn to live with it, my likes for the car far exceed my dislikes....the seat thing kinda crappy though..lol

[trm0002]

Originally Posted by bobby35ny

While you read this you must know I bleed Chevy blue, however I refuse to drink the fanboy koolaid.

...Today, after I sat in the car at the Ft.Lauderdale show I have 3 more gripes.

1-The ip is hard plastic, not like the cushion dash like most other cars today like the Malibou.

2-What were they thinking......If you are sitting in the passenger seat and want to let the person in the back seat out, its a 2 step operation. Even the colbalt has a 1 step slide. Make matters worse, the passenger seat is half power, only power is recline. Don't tell me the back seat is only for show, if its only show why put it there? It has a back seat and I want to use it otherwise I'd buy a Vette.

3-No light for vanity mirrors.

...

You are well within your rights to voice your opinions. While I have seen the car in person (back in Sept), the one I observed was locked. I'm not a big fan of the dash either BUT I could care less if the car dash had nothing but a readable speedo and a tach in it. For me, it's all about first, what the EXTERIOR looks like, then, having passed that test, what's under the hood, followed by a comfortable (power or not) driver's seat. Everything else is "fluff" to me. Lights in the vanity mirrors? I don't plan on putting makeup on in the car; hopefully not anywhere else for that matter. Map lights? That would be a different story. I would assume it has those? I would whole heartedly agree with your assessment however regarding entering/exiting the back seat if that is indeed the case. I'm hoping that when all is said and done, I'm comfortable with the interior in relation to the GTO I just gave back (Smartbuy). That was BY FAR the nicest interior of any vehicle, GM or otherwise, I have ever owned. Power seats moved at a snail's pace was my only complaint. Just my .02

[bobby35ny]

[QUOTE=UCF w00t;334416]What's the two step operation for the seat? Isn't it just lift the lever on the back seat and climb in? or are you adding move the seat forward as well? I don't think you'd always have to move the seat forward to get in.

YUP, 2 steps, flip the seat back forward and THEN reach in almost to the center console and move the seat up. the Cobalt is one step.

If the car cost 20K It wouldnt be an issue.....

=bobby

don't worry mods, I'm a civil guy..

[ZeeTwentyFour]

how was the view? I remember I sat in a 4th gen a while back ( I haven't gown much since then) and remember the seat was really low. Now the seat could have been like that because that's the way the driver had it (I was checking out a customers car) or they are all like that. I don't know if all camaro seats are low or just that once, so I'll ask here.

[SoFlaZ]

I'll be there tomorrow as well and I'll have to see it for myself.

I think the mirror lights are only for cars with sunroofs, but there has to be some other type of dome light. Again I'll see for myself tomorrow if thats true or not with the sunroof model.

For me, ANYTHING is better than the car I have now or ride in!!!(friends cars)

[RT21]

Originally Posted by gtahvit

Let me be perfectly clear. If we have another thread like the V6 thread we just cleaned up, people will be banned.

Respectfully disagree with eachother. If the debates/arguments reach a stalemate then agree to disagree and move on.

Remember this thread when posting.

Everyone Please Read!

Perfect way to be proactive. i hope I don't get banned...

[truth411]

Originally Posted by rolnslo

Seriously? Those are your gripes - non-padded dash, poor access to the backseat and no lighted vanity mirrors? No offense but OMFG!

EDIT: I was going to type more but in light of gtahvit's post, I won't. The things you seem to care about are so far down my list of things I care about in a car that I guess I just can't relate to where your comments are coming from.

While I agree that we should always be respectfull, But I have to admit that I LMAO reading this post.

Edit: +1

[My new Camaro]

almost like some people have never owned a camaro before

[Redwolf20]

Thanks for the honest assessment. Those items don't really rank high on my list of gripes but that's me.

[ArcAngel]

OHHH man you mean another person who agrees with me that for the money the interior seems cheap! Man your lucky brother there being nice. Remember you are not alone. There are alot of us that are GM guys and have owned all GM cars. Me all but one of my 11 have been GM. I will say this I concur it seems like a big let down to me when you consider the price and the competition. Even the mustangs 2010 interior is nicer, it's sad.

[TJ91]

You got to remember, if these are coming from enthusiasts, then you will see similar responese with the general public as well, honestly, i can see where you have those gripes, it doesnt bother me too much but i see why it would bother you, but to be honest, and heres my opinion and your entitled to yours,. For me im happy because the main gripes i have are soo little and to be honest everything else is soo perfect that it takes over and i dont even notcie nor do i care about those minor gripes. I find that when i sat in the Chally, it didnt give me quite that feel, i knew i would be bored of it just like a cell phone, honestly i find the CHallenger has many MANY gripes, like how everything came off another car.
I hope that when you see compare the chally to the camaro, side by side, in fact i know that you will choose the Camaro, ium sure you'll still have your gripes, but i think you will be less bothered by it after spending time in the Chally.

[GTAHVIT]

Originally Posted by RT21

Perfect way to be proactive. i hope I don't get banned...

Not banned just deleted a couple posts.

Stick to the rules. We aren't kidding.

Repeat offenders will get banned.

[TJ91]

Just to ask, what model cars have you sat in, were they like 2LTs and 2SS or like base LS and stuff, i think that might give a little bias to your initial judgments. I was lucky enough to sit in the 2SS first, then i went to a cloth interior, and obviously it felt a little cheaper in the LT but then agian that was because it was cheaper. I have been in a cloth mustang for a long time so it still felt amazing for the Camaro. So to be honest, i think if i sat in a LS first, i wouldnt have been AS wowed as i was when i first sat in the 2SS.
But i think once you guys sit in a Camaro, have everything on, then you will start to see that its amazingly thought out. Maybe
I know how you guys feel though, its your opioion and yu should express it
But after playing with a functional 2SS, then jumping into the 05 Mustang afterwards, whihc i know haas gotten alot of bad vibe for being plasticy and cheap, the Camaro felt better, but it was also a 2SS.
So basdically i think you guys will have to sit in equally equipped vehicles and prices in order to really know what you want

[bobby35ny]

Originally Posted by ZeeTwentyFour

how was the view? I remember I sat in a 4th gen a while back ( I haven't gown much since then) and remember the seat was really low. Now the seat could have been like that because that's the way the driver had it (I was checking out a customers car) or they are all like that. I don't know if all camaro seats are low or just that once, so I'll ask here.

You sit low but the seat can be raised higher, seats were awesome and comfy. glass is small all over, you know you are in a sports car for sure. I heard one heavy set guy say, I hope I dont flip the car, I [he] wont fit through the door glass opening, LOL

=bobby

[ArcAngel]

I sat in a 1LT and in a 2SS its a touch better in the 2SS (shhhhhs no one is supposed to know that) because of the Acrylic and the leather but it doesnt magically change the interior.

[Lakailb87]

Scared me when I read the title, then I read the post and none of these things will directly effect me, the driver, so I could care less.

[Black5thgen]

Have fun with your Dodge, you will regret it.