Are they slowly killing the looks of the Camaro?

[dkp2LT]

There are no changes that would keep me from buying a '13 if I was in the market. Don't care for the steering wheel but I could live with it - all it really needs is to loose the bowtie and replace w/ a Camaro logo.

Maybe it should be:

[Rocky1974]

Originally Posted by vetteman

Are they slowly dismantling the Camaro piece by piece for the worse...

first they replaced the retro steering wheel with a parts bin wheel...
then the put the lock controls on the doors like every other chevy...
now they replace the wheels with ones that everyone seems to dislike...
then they added a parts bin Nav System.....

What happened to the really cool Retro Camaro that everyone drooled over at the auto shows and purchased when it came out?


What do you think?

They had to do something with the steering wheel. I remember one of the magazines proclaiming that the Camaro had the worst steering wheel and shift knob in the business. They've now both been changed. I just wish that they'd have fixed the old steering wheel instead of going to a parts bin one.

The door locks should've been on the doors to start with. I remember the first time I unlocked my doors. Once I found the switch, I couldn't believe that they'd put in such a stupid location!

I haven't seen the new wheels in person, but they sure are ugly in the pictures!

I'm not a fan of the new radio. It looks too aftermarket to me and I don't like the idea of giving up my CD player either. If I want nav, I'll just get a nagging wife to tell me about all my wrong turns.

You didn't mention it, but I do really like those new quad exhaust tips.

[Iroczlover]

Originally Posted by monstertodd

Where is Fbodfather? he needs to comment in this thread.

He's working (well right about now hes relaxing with friends)

[Rhyder]

seriously? I havent looked but I cant imagine the mylink is mandatory so if you dont want it dont get it, so thats invalid as far as GM killing the looks.

Personally, I dont see the locks moving from the middle to the door being a sever enough visual change to "kill the looks of the camaro" but if it is to you, Im sure you could get with an older camaro owner, one of the many who complained and do some swapping to mod it back to the center and them getting it on the door so that is basicly a non issue as well, dont imagine it would be that difficult a mod if you just wanted to move them to the center either.

The steering wheel I can grant you is a harder nut to crack, but I would say over all theres probably as many who like the new one, Im one of them, as dont.

As far as the wheels, Ive always gotten the cheapest ones available cause I buy new rims and sell the OEM anyways, depending on the OEM rims to uphold a look is risky at best, besides everyone and thier mother having the same ones which makes the looks moot in my opinion.

But I cant see the locks, wheels or steering wheel as destroying the look in the broader sense, a vast majority hating it, which is the arena you put this discussion in.

Now if you had said they were changing the grill to look like an Audi, like one pony I wont mention, or some other nonsense like that, I would say yes they are destroying the look slowly, but the three you mentioned dont hold water for me.

[usnatclee]

I think that it is funny we have a door lock on both thye door and on the console in the 2012.

[vetteman]

clearly this is all personal taste ...nobody is right or wrong... - I'm just curious what people think....

Personally, I think the wheels for 2013 are less attractive - look like a change for the sake of change - close to the older ones but not as sharp - make the car look more like a rental car...now look at the ZL1 wheels - WOW those are sharp!

I liked the look of the old steering wheel but agree with the complaints that it was not round to hold onto...I would have liked a fix to the real issue people complained about....rather than a wheel from parts bin....

the locks - are neither her nor there...but I liked the fact they were in the center as that made it different....

and the NAV is a great system that needed to be added....

I also think the change to the dash AC/Silver etc is a big improvement to the all plastic that was originally there....

I just wish when they make changes they would do it with the same attention and design detail they use when they create the car and not just rely on the parts bin....

thanks for everyones input!

[DandDC09]

Looks to me like they finally got it right... Killing the 4th gen was the best thing they could have done... Sure they should have done a couple things different like materials of dash and offered a black option in wheels, but it's a retro design with modern amenities! I've been in love wih this car since it was a concept! I think they hit the nail on the head!!

[Ladybugsmom]

I agree with some of the OPs comments, which is why I plan to keep my early 2010!!

[Iroczlover]

Originally Posted by Ladybugsmom

I agree with some of the OPs comments, which is why I plan to keep my early 2010!!

same here

[Neto1978]

Thank god they are not offering chrome clad wheels yet...

[MistyBlu10]

personally i like the new steering wheel but it only looks good in the 45th haha

[samhardy2008]

i like the smaller steering wheel...feels more comfortable for driving

[Iroczlover]

Originally Posted by samhardy2008

i like the smaller steering wheel...feels more comfortable for driving

smaller steering wheels make it easier for fat bellies to get behind them LIKE MINE lol

[Ladybugsmom]

It may be more comfortable, but I just can't get past how much it looks like a uterus...





(Sorry guys....)

[StangKiller-SS]

The Camaro you have for 2013 is one more to par with the auto industry at this time. GM has basically worked each year to fix what's been bashed by the industry on the car. Remember The C6 has always used the 2005-2010 company wide 3 spoke steering wheel found on G6's, Cobalt's and etc. C6 has also always used the same nav set up as well with the rest of GM. I don't think they're killing the looks of the Camaro at all, only enhancing the overall product. Lastly I thought it was weird having the power door locks on radio/havoc and blended in when the 2010's were new.

[SimpleGreen]

Personally I'm SO glad I have a '12.

That old flat, ugly, boring dashboard was terrible. I'll gladly take my 'leather' trimmed dash even with it's bubble. That steering wheel was atrocious too. I prefer the parts bin piece. The wheels I don't care one way or another. I don't want 20's so it doesn't apply to me, lol.

And the central locking switch? There is no way that cost less than just putting it on the doors to start with. That was a sign of being cheap (not they still aren't).

I LOVE my Camaro, 'flaws' and all. I walked outside earlier with my glass of water in hand just to stare at it for a minute. It came with everything I wanted and nothing I didn't. Well, except for that spare tire that I forgot to get in the deal....

Edit: The nav makes no difference to me, either. Never had it before. That's why I have a smart phone Already paying for it, may as well use it.

[BlueChev]

We drove a 2011 for a weekend and then bought a 2012. In our opinion:

Steering wheel - 2011 looks better, but 2012 feels better.
Door locks - 2012 has both locations....but never use center console button.
Navigation - On-Star has turn by turn directions.
Wheels - don't care for the '13 design.
HUD - wonderful addition
Rear view camera - this was truly a must have - if we'd gotten the '11 would have swapped one in.

Also preferred the full power passenger seat. Wife is a bit shorter and likes to raise the height of her seat.

5th Gen looks great. Period!

[GotGame55]

What I like is:

2010-2012 rims
2010-2011 steering wheel
2012 dash
2010-2011 tach
2013 rear view mirror
2013 dual mode exhaust
2010-2012 stereo unit

I would love to trade up to a 1LE but I cant really see past the steering wheel and now the MyLink thingy. Oh well, thats what the aftermarket is for

[liquidsmoke]

Some of the changes are suspect but most of them aren't that bad. Chevy seems to be taking 2 steps forward and one step back on a lot of the changes.
New dash is good, wheel is bad ect. Most of all the specific changes on the zl1 are mostly good. Entire frontend, minus the fogs, but the new diffuser looks muted.

But the single biggest item they changed that now makes a stock camaro look cheap is the new rims! The original rims are damn near perfect for this car. The first time I bought a car and never wanted to change the stock rims. Every other version of wheels they offer is a step down from the 20's. The new ones look cheap and average.

[jmatero]

"They" are Camaro owners. Chevy responded to the biggest complaints by Camaro owners. Since day one owners on this very forum complained to high heaven about the steering wheel, the power lock switch location, and the lack of a touch screen radio. Fixed... Fixed....and Fixed.

As for the 2013 wheels, the majority of complainers (I was one of them) commented based on pics. I've seen them numerous times in person now and they look great actually.

[daveagogo1]

Originally Posted by _Nick_

They've been killin the looks of the Camaro since 1993.

Right.... Because all pre 93' Camaros were fantastic. Then all of the sudden in 94' they strayed so far away they sucked from that point on.

Now i know who started the petition back in 06' to also #BringBackTheIronDuke Even if those came with a free gina in them i wouldn't want one.

[MistyBlu10]

Originally Posted by BlueChev

We drove a 2011 for a weekend and then bought a 2012. In our opinion:

Steering wheel - 2011 looks better, but 2012 feels better.
Door locks - 2012 has both locations....but never use center console button.
Navigation - On-Star has turn by turn directions.
Wheels - don't care for the '13 design.
HUD - wonderful addition
Rear view camera - this was truly a must have - if we'd gotten the '11 would have swapped one in.

Also preferred the full power passenger seat. Wife is a bit shorter and likes to raise the height of her seat.

5th Gen looks great. Period!

i had a 10 LT2 and the lever that slides the passenger seat up and back can be pumped up and down at a fast pace to raise the seat a bit more than the hole it sits in, i hated that the seat was so far down. now on the 12 the driver seat dose not go down nearly as far as the 10 wierd if you ask me

[amz]

I would say that it still looks rather bad ass.

There are goods and bads of every model year/change. , same as years before. Its just that now we have the internet to scrutinize the brochures many times over , not just once or twice , as in decades past.

As for steering wheels , I think that should be the same for the whole generation , and unique to the car model.Again , like before.

[SnowVert]

I think that Chevy has been moving forward in the looks department with almost every change. I'm not sure on the 13 wheels yet, but I haven't seen them in person and I have a good feeling I'm really going to like them when I see them on mine.

[liquidsmoke]

Originally Posted by jmatero

"They" are Camaro owners. Chevy responded to the biggest complaints by Camaro owners. Since day one owners on this very forum complained to high heaven about the steering wheel, the power lock switch location, and the lack of a touch screen radio. Fixed... Fixed....and Fixed.

As for the 2013 wheels, the majority of complainers (I was one of them) commented based on pics. I've seen them numerous times in person now and they look great actually.

Just because something has changed or added doesn't mean that it's fixed.
The new wheel feels better but looks worse and out of place.
Added touch screen that I desperately wanted and bitched about, but it's a POS system.
And on and on.
Also my general opinion is if something has to grow on you, then it's not done right. If the car doesn't look good the moment you see it, then it's not right. Because absolutely anything can grow on you.
When I first saw the camaro it was love at first sight, didn't have to wait 6 months for it to suddenly look good.

I'm pretty much on board for all the items Chevy has picked to address. I'm just less than thrilled with the execution.