Anyone Happy

[IBM2ss2012v]

I love mine.. one issue but it was fixed quickly.. driver side ball joint separated from the hydraulic lift mechanism. not sure of the technical name...

[spikess581]

I too have had my fair share of problems with this car but only related to the top. I still love driving this car everything else has been great, a absolute blast to drive. I have owned every generation of camaro and this is by far the best ever. I am just waiting for a permanent fix for the appearance problems. GM seems to have fixed my mechanical issues I have no leaks and the top is 85% as quiet as it was new and rub marks are very minimal but should not be there. As for wrinkles it is cloth so they will appear but they do seem to be excessive when compared to other verts.

[bulllett]

Originally Posted by totgate

Why do you people with bad tops "destroy" each and every topic on this board. This thread was about nice tops not to listen to the same people bitching over and over again. Dont you guys have your own threads you have started to write. Why do you have to destroy for everybody else in here. I know that you are extremely angry with GM, fine, but enough is enough you dont need to shout about in every new thread that is started in here. If you are determined to destroy all the fun in here you are just inches away from succeding.. :-(

Ah, I really do love this question. I'm glad you asked it. If you look at the OP's passive agressive first post;

Originally Posted by fishface

Just trying to take a poll because all I hear are people who hate this car. I have been in the same boat with top(without car for two weeks). But GM and my dealer are doing all they can to fix the problem. I give them both a lot of credit for how easy the whole process has been at least with me. Besides that this is a dream car and a convertible none the less. Wrinkles are going to appear, lines may show if you guys didnt want this then they also make the camaro in a hard top. I love droping the top and cruising but with that added feature you deal with the wrinkles and rub marks all tops have them. GM has realized their top wears in spots more and are fixing the issue. I love this car no matter what. Just my two cents.

You can see in the parts that I highlighted that the OP had a hidden message to get across. He apparently thinks that those of us who have problems should just suck it up and call it normal. And if we don't like it, then get lost and buy a coupe.

Yup, the same message we are getting from GM. THAT is why I NEED to respond. Hey, you dump the attitude of "whiners whining about nothing" and the thread moves on. But why do those people have to insist on trying to get THEIR negativity (yup I said their negativity) out there in a backhanded way like that?

Here's a thread I started just to get some positive pics going (because I honestly like looking at other people's car that are nice a clean. In hopes that mine will someday be the same) http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226556 You'll see that there was some initial conversation about it, but I ignored it and the thread moved on.

And yet, well after it has moved on, we get this;

Originally Posted by casper11

This being not my first but my third vert. If your top is down for any time at all it will have fold marks. It can't be helped. Don't put the top down if that bothers you. I do have a rub mark where the top does not fold tight on the drivers side but I simpliy push it down when I get out. IT is a movable part and will show some kind of wear but that is why you bought it right because it's movable??? Love mine and use it often. Oh yeah! 1st vert was a 80's mustang...2nd and still have it is a 73 SL mercedes and my 11 camaro. This is camaro # 6 for me.

Why? I guess just to stoke the fires?

So all the threads on here are just filled with us "whiners" complaining. Lets's see;
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228977
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229871
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229585
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229659
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226748
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229768
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229773
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224932
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229356
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229613

And what do all these threads have in common? They don't start out with a hidden agenda of belittling those that have problems.

Yup sure, there are plenty of threads on here complaining about problems we have with tops. But that is because there are SO many problems and GM has proven that they are using a strategy of denial (or blaming the customer) to avoid many of these problems. For that you will get no apology from me.

I DO find it sad that when you look in here (the convertible section) you see all these problems and negativity. But that is easily addressed; simply have GM do the right thing for those of us with problems (and judging from what "everyone" is saying on here, there must be a lot of problems).

Oh yeah, one more thing; sell it any way you like, but I'm actually a very happy and helpful person. Along with that second trait comes having to spend the time to do things like this so that others are not out by themselves. I'm a big boy and I got big shoulders. I'll shoulder the angst if it helps others.

But really, totgate, thank you for bringing up that question (um, that is sincerity not sarcasm )

[rangomr]

I'm sure you folks that are having problems with your convertible top is a very small per-cent of all Camaro's sold over the last few years. I joined this site last year before I actually bought my car. Bought the 45th Anniversary, 2LT with the V6 on 3/11/12/ Carbon Flash Metallic and have added custom Red brake caliper covers and Red bow-tie's. Anyway this is my first convertible and I'm retired and loving the attention my car gets around this samall town and the V-6 is plenty of power for me. Sorry I'm unable to post pictures since I don't have what ever I need to post pictures and at my age, I just keep it simple. Anyway the negative comments I read, certainly did not stop me from buying my very first convertible and it's been alot of fun.
Bought my first car in 1962 and in all the new cars I have owned in my life time, I really can't remember any major problems.

[evlar]

What is fascinating and also frustrating to me about these top issues is that GM does not seem care about customer lifetime value. Take my situation for example. I am mid 30's, buy a new car on average every three years. This C5 vert is my first GM purchase (I've owned Ford, Honda and VW) and my first convertible. For a new car, I am shocked at the design flaws that exist. How this car ever made it through the years of testing and the engineers didn't notice some of these issues is beyond me. But back to my point. It is clear that I will buy many more cars in my lifetime and GM is on the verge of losing my business forever.

I would not be surprised if I am alone in this line of thinking and however many more people have strayed from purchasing this vert due to these top issues that are becoming more prevalent every day we own them.

I'll finish by saying that I am not trying to be cynical, I am simply looking at the facts of my situation and what appears to be the same for many others. Having said this, I am still trying to enjoy this vehicle the best I can .

[95birdible]

GM lost my business. I have a son turning 16 soon. I was going to get my wife a new Sonic or Spark since she doesn't really need anything except good gas mileage. Not now with the issues I had with my last 2012 Camaro Vert. Plus, I gave GM a chance to make it right with my new 2nd Camaro. So far 1900 miles, top down 27 times, and only 1 trip to the dealer for a minor adjustment.

[cactuseater]

My snake oil warranty, the much acclaimed General Motors Protection Plan Major Guard. Worthless, actually. Dealer failure on this one. We bought this so-called GM Certified nightmare in on January 12, 2012.

My GMPP Major Guard on my coupe started the day I bought it, and expires 7 years after or 80,000. The convertible warranty was written wrong, expires only 1 year after the 3/36 GM new car warranty. So, in essence, it's $1500 for a one year warranty - that also does not cover the top - which was discussed at length in the finance office when it came to the warranty.

I got hosed, yes, but look at the page where it states "not covered" -- I was told the top was covered, again, dealer failure. I'm visiting that tomorrow when I go in to pick up the convertible (had to drain the lake in the back). Cancellation of the warranty unless it can be changed to show the correct terms, a visit to the General Manager's office, and hopefully some satisfaction.

[cactuseater]

Originally Posted by 95birdible

GM lost my business. I have a son turning 16 soon. I was going to get my wife a new Sonic or Spark since she doesn't really need anything except good gas mileage. Not now with the issues I had with my last 2012 Camaro Vert. Plus, I gave GM a chance to make it right with my new 2nd Camaro. So far 1900 miles, top down 27 times, and only 1 trip to the dealer for a minor adjustment.

My 19 year old in college had a Cruze and it was a DOG. Thankfully, it was totaled in a flash flood, that one is gone. In the market for a replacement, and Chevy lost my business almost instantly. I bought a used Toyota Solara SLE that is balls to the wall a better vehicle than anything they had to offer.

They tried to sell us a few beaten to death used cars there as well, junk, all of them in the back bullpen. And they wanted an alarming amount of money for them, saying the market was such that people would pay cash for them! hahaha, no shit.

The Solara is built like a tank - I know the car well, and dry underneath, all records, great car for under 10K. Reminds me of my old Lexus SC400 I used to drive, just with the V6 rather than the V8 I had. Damn. Cheaper to insure, less maintenance, and proven track record of longevity.

[Chuckster]

Yes, I'm happy. It's got to be a vert!

[cactuseater]

You guys are right. Wrinkles that will go away after a few hours are acceptable and the nature of the beast. I've been around convertibles all my life. My dad owned a trim shop, and I gained the experience to install tops after working for him when I was a kid. My first top was the Cadillac "Scissors" top and it was a bitch, but it came out perfect.

Permanent pinch marks, holes, tears, lumps, leaks, and other shit is totally unacceptable. Especially when it is a recurring issue after several attempts to replace the canvas and in some cases the mechanism. Then there's the tops right on the dealer's lots, brand new cars, with the problem built in. (Last picture taken this week,on a 2012!) See pics...

[SSTOKED]

I'm in the process of the water leak repair and I have faith in GM fixing it eventually but not my dealer right now. It's been there two days and the jack wagons haven't even called me yet. Not too concerned since I'm having a urethane floor put in my garage and I needed the storage. But how can you not call to update a customer with a brand new $40K car? I won't totally judge Doyle Chevrolet in Webster, NY until this is over but overall....

I love my car and look forward to the day when I don't have to worry about water.

I have a college friend that I believe was or is a quality engineer/manager at the Camaro plant. I'm working it to get the scoop. No guarantee's. I'm sure they are told to keep their mouths shut with issues like this.

[cactuseater]

Originally Posted by SSTOKED

I'm in the process of the water leak repair and I have faith in GM fixing it eventually but not my dealer right now. It's been there two days and the jack wagons haven't even called me yet. Not too concerned since I'm having a urethane floor put in my garage and I needed the storage. But how can you not call to update a customer with a brand new $40K car? I won't totally judge Doyle Chevrolet in Webster, NY until this is over but overall....

I love my car and look forward to the day when I don't have to worry about water.

I have a college friend that I believe was or is a quality engineer/manager at the Camaro plant. I'm working it to get the scoop. No guarantee's. I'm sure they are told to keep their mouths shut with issues like this.

You'll love the floor!!!!

[SSTOKED]

Originally Posted by cactuseater

You'll love the floor!!!!

Than as fishface would like to know, I will be !

I actually first though about installing the floor about three years ago with absolutely NO thought in my mind of buying my first muscle car. I'm doing it to fix a slight pitch problem (another water issue) instead of replacing the whole floor. My subconscious was steering me in the right direction (no pun intended) because what better way to store a car other than over a urethane floor?

[gkcfm95]

took my vert in for the top recall. they found a different broken piece in the top mechanism & ordered new fabric. took them 2 weeks to get the parts & install. had my car back 2 days & the sides of the top by the back corners came off. now they're ordering more parts & new fabric. thinking of trading it in for a coupe. the warranty may cover these repairs now, but what about in 5 or 10 years? I'm not paying thousands of dollars for a manufacturer defect.

[SSTOKED]

I am happy about my car regardless of any issues! Or should I say SStoked!

[Blitz]

I'm very happy actually... it's either vert or no Camaro for me. I am also lucky enough that I do not ever drive it in the rain to worry about the leaks or really drive it much at all with the top up to see the holes wearing away the top.

I'll be getting around to letting them try the "fix" soon here...

[SSTOKED]

Originally Posted by Blitz

I'm very happy actually... it's either vert or no Camaro for me. I am also lucky enough that I do not ever drive it in the rain to worry about the leaks or really drive it much at all with the top up to see the holes wearing away the top.

I'll be getting around to letting them try the "fix" soon here...

If you don't drive it in the rain then wait to have it fixed. Let us dopes work out the kinks for you. That way, you stay extra happy

[Robertf65]

Originally Posted by evlar

Bravo, Bullett. I am with your line of reasoning on these. I just have a hard time giving GM over $500 a month for a poorly designed, flawed product that was advertised to be a well working product that is free from defects.

Bottom line is, until GM openly admits that the tops are flawed in design and will make it right through a recall, buyback, or extended warranty... we are not going to stop complaning and hopefully educate others before they buy!

This is scary stuff you folks are going through with these expensive verts.

But it reminds me of GM's rich history of leaving customers to work out the company's engineering defects in the field after purchase. Just go to a GMC Acadia forum and read about all the problems with the leaking sunroofs on those vehicles.

Back in 1982, I bought a brand new Trans Am that amongst other problems, had a faulty cruise control system. I found this out one day on the Ventura Fwy when, after engaging the system, it began accelerating my car towards 100 mph -- no amount of braking or turning the system off had any effect and the car continued to accelerate. I finally had to jam the transmission into neutral and turn the engine off to get the system to disengage.

It took no fewer than 6 return trips the dealer, including several scary rides with techs trying duplicate the problem, and promise after promise that the CC had been fixed (only to have the uncontrolled acceleration problem return), before GM and Pontiac admitted the problem and that they had no technical fix for it. They disconnected my CC system for over a year before I got a letter asking me to bring the car in to have it restored. That car also went through two transmissions and several lock-up tourqe converters in a very short space of time. I found out later that GM had used the POS transmission from the Monza in the new TA's.

The only way to get forward progress with these problems, was to be an absolutely screaming bastard with the service managers and zone office people. One time, after a particularly loud week of angry exchanges between myself and the service manager, they called to tell me my 2nd transmission had been installed and the car was ready to go. I picked it up and got about 5 miles away on Sunset Blvd, when the drive shaft fell completely off the car at 45 MPH. This was late on a Friday afternoon and the dealer initially refused to do anything until the following Monday -- until I threatened to have the CHP take the car and conduct a willful tampering investigation. The dealer sent a tow truck out, took it back to the shop, pulled a drive shaft off a new car on their lot and installed it. We didn't get outta there until after 9pm. I've always felt the tech purposely mis-installed that drive shaft because I was such a PITA about the issues with that car.

No lemon-law back in those days, so I was screwed. When the warranty expired I sold the POS.

You folks with the vert issues -- I feel your pain. Stick to your guns until GM makes it right or gives you a new car. But watch your backs...

[evlar]

Originally Posted by Robertf65

This is scary stuff you folks are going through with these expensive verts.

But it reminds me of GM's rich history of leaving customers to work out the company's engineering defects in the field after purchase. Just go to a GMC Acadia forum and read about all the problems with the leaking sunroofs on those vehicles.

Back in 1982, I bought a brand new Trans Am that amongst other problems, had a faulty cruise control system. I found this out one day on the Ventura Fwy when, after engaging the system, it began accelerating my car towards 100 mph -- no amount of braking or turning the system off had any effect and the car continued to accelerate. I finally had to jam the transmission into neutral and turn the engine off to get the system to disengage.

It took no fewer than 6 return trips the dealer, including several scary rides with techs trying duplicate the problem, and promise after promise that the CC had been fixed (only to have the uncontrolled acceleration problem return), before GM and Pontiac admitted the problem and that they had no technical fix for it. They disconnected my CC system for over a year before I got a letter asking me to bring the car in to have it restored. That car also went through two transmissions and several lock-up tourqe converters in a very short space of time. I found out later that GM had used the POS transmission from the Monza in the new TA's.

The only way to get forward progress with these problems, was to be an absolutely screaming bastard with the service managers and zone office people. One time, after a particularly loud week of angry exchanges between myself and the service manager, they called to tell me my 2nd transmission had been installed and the car was ready to go. I picked it up and got about 5 miles away on Sunset Blvd, when the drive shaft fell completely off the car at 45 MPH. This was late on a Friday afternoon and the dealer initially refused to do anything until the following Monday -- until I threatened to have the CHP take the car and conduct a willful tampering investigation. The dealer sent a tow truck out, took it back to the shop, pulled a drive shaft off a new car on their lot and installed it. We didn't get outta there until after 9pm. I've always felt the tech purposely mis-installed that drive shaft because I was such a PITA about the issues with that car.

No lemon-law back in those days, so I was screwed. When the warranty expired I sold the POS.

You folks with the vert issues -- I feel your pain. Stick to your guns until GM makes it right or gives you a new car. But watch your backs...

Wow... thank you for the perspective, Robert.

[cactuseater]

Good read Robert, thanks for sharing....

['11 cyber grey vert]

Originally Posted by SSTOKED

I'm in the process of the water leak repair and I have faith in GM fixing it eventually but not my dealer right now. It's been there two days and the jack wagons haven't even called me yet. Not too concerned since I'm having a urethane floor put in my garage and I needed the storage. But how can you not call to update a customer with a brand new $40K car? I won't totally judge Doyle Chevrolet in Webster, NY until this is over but overall....

I love my car and look forward to the day when I don't have to worry about water.

I have a college friend that I believe was or is a quality engineer/manager at the Camaro plant. I'm working it to get the scoop. No guarantee's. I'm sure they are told to keep their mouths shut with issues like this.

Sorry to hear SStoked.
get on the phone with your dealer.Find out if they have even started on it.
I have received daily calls since I took mine in 2 days ago.Last update I had on mine, is they have apparently located the source of the leak and are having the parts they need couriered in overnight.Parts should be here today and they will continue with the fix.
They will also be replacing the rubber gasket seal around the trunk and adding some sort of clip to the wire harness, as the wire harness is chaffing the gasket.

[fishface]

Originally Posted by bulllett

Ah, I really do love this question. I'm glad you asked it. If you look at the OP's passive agressive first post;



You can see in the parts that I highlighted that the OP had a hidden message to get across. He apparently thinks that those of us who have problems should just suck it up and call it normal. And if we don't like it, then get lost and buy a coupe.

Finally putting this to rest. I had no hidden message in my original statement so if you feel that way I apologize. Having my top put on next week dealer just called yesterday saying they have the redesigned top for me. I was stuck without my camaro for over two weeks and GM did everything in their power to make me happy. I can only speak from me experience with verts and believe that GM is doing their best at least with me to solve the issue. From rental cars to other added goodies I have been very satified with GM and my dealer. I also have been seeing that it depends on your dealer the more motivated the dealer is the better the results from GM tend to be. My dealer has done about 99% of the leg work to get my problem resolved. The last thing I wanted was to think I had hidden messages in my post just speaking my mind. I just believe screaming and yelling will end up slowing the process down. Because in my experience the louder you scream and bitch the farther down you fall on the list. Hope I cleared the air.

[tramtwo]

Originally Posted by fishface

Just trying to take a poll because all I hear are people who hate this car. I have been in the same boat with top(without car for two weeks). But GM and my dealer are doing all they can to fix the problem. I give them both a lot of credit for how easy the whole process has been at least with me. Besides that this is a dream car and a convertible none the less. Wrinkles are going to appear, lines may show if you guys didnt want this then they also make the camaro in a hard top. I love droping the top and cruising but with that added feature you deal with the wrinkles and rub marks all tops have them. GM has realized their top wears in spots more and are fixing the issue. I love this car no matter what. Just my two cents.

I have not heard this one time about this car! Maybe you have been on a different forum... Now GM customer service, well...

[95birdible]

So true Tram. I have never heard one person complain about their Camaro Convertible. It is such a beautiful car with the top down. Now, bad dealerships, GM customer service, and quality issues with the tops is a totally different story. With my old car I had better service from returning a $3 item to Walmart than trying to get info on my 40 thousand dollar car from GM or the dealership.

[fishface]

This is why I started with this post to finally start talking this car up man. Every other post is about this vert is horror stories just wanted a little positive post. The post has strayed from the orginal purpose, trying to make nice with everyone. Can only talk about my experience with my vert and my previous vert's.