Economy Camaro

[Joe Remi]

Hey everybody, first post here. I drive an '06 Civic 5-speed (a lot) that will be paid off and half worn out in a couple years. By that time the new Camaro will have survived high initial prices, scarcity and teething problems - not to mention GM's financial woes (hopefully). What I would like to see in a Civic-priced sporty commuter: Turbo-four, 32mpg highway, keep the four console gauges, and - the one I really want them to do - wide steelies with poverty caps! If you don't know what that last one is, ask your dad. What do you think?

[fierodeletre]

weeeeeeeeeeeeell... normally I'd say no way would it happen, but in an article on the camaro in a recent unnamed car mag, they said they were considering and even cheaper engine option for the base Camaro. The mag postulated that the newer 3.0L VVT DI V6 @ 250 hp could be it, or even a variation on the Solstice GXP/Cobalt SS motor, the 2.0 l VVT DI turbo ecotec, only they said it might be the 2.4L version, which would put its numbers close to if not better than the current base engine, as the 2.0 liter turbo eco gets 260hp, a 2.4 turbo might break 300 at the crank. It was all speculation, but since you asked...

[Joe Remi]

That speculation is what prompted me to ask. A enthusiast Camaro site is probably a bad place to gauge economy car interest, but Chevy is going to need to sell a lot of commuter Camoros, so I thought I would put my .02 in about what it should be. By the way, why is the magazine un-named.

[fierodeletre]

Couldn't remember which one. I found it though. April 2009, Road & Track, page 16. They also all but said the Z28 is a go but on hold with the CTS-V's motor. Don't count out the enthusiast crowd here, we're actually pretty open-minded. However, the current motor in the base camaro is pretty dang economical as it is. 304 hp and 27 mpg? Not too shabby for a car of the camaro's 3750 lb girth. That being said, I don't think you'd hear too much belly aching if GM were to offer a turbo four camaro. GM's turbo fours are pretty fabulous, and a 2.4 would most likely outdo the 3.6 in power, torque AND mpg, though not by much in any of those categories.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Joe Remi

Hey everybody, first post here. I drive an '06 Civic 5-speed (a lot) that will be paid off and half worn out in a couple years. By that time the new Camaro will have survived high initial prices, scarcity and teething problems - not to mention GM's financial woes (hopefully). What I would like to see in a Civic-priced sporty commuter: Turbo-four, 32mpg highway, keep the four console gauges, and - the one I really want them to do - wide steelies with poverty caps! If you don't know what that last one is, ask your dad. What do you think?

Won;t happen, Cobalt SS has that territory.. and soon the Cruze...
I think the Camaro base will be safe for a while, Unless they can find a more efficent engine for this car. WHich I doubt. they have tried the turbo 4 in it and there wasn't enough MPG gain to help and from what I heard the performance suffered. A smaller V6 may help but the direct injected engine is pretty efficent as it is.
You need low end torque to get that mass moving and I just don't see a 4 banger with enough low end torque that will help that much...

[VictoryRed08]

Much as I'd love to see a 4-banger camaro, i don't see it happening, just buy the Cobalt SS Turbo, its a damn good car, and I'm sure the cruze will be also.

They drop a turbo-four into the camaro will enough power to propel it it will most likely require premium fuel, pretty much offsetting the gas savings right there.

[CamaroSSforme]

I'd love to see a 4 cylinder Camaro...cuz then there would be Camaro's out there that are half the car I have...

Kidding here folks - get used to the dry sense of humor.

[Miamimatt]

ok im gonna say it. Its a frakin camaro man. V6 for some is ok, but a 4 and turbo and all that sh$% come on. American muscle car. a g37 gets 19 mpg aloso cost around 37k and is 320 hp. A camaro is 304 hp and 27 mpg. The V* 426 and 23 mpg and still less money then a g37. Enough already if you want a prius or a ricer then go get one. Gm didnt bring the camaro back so we could ask for a smaller engine and better mpgs!!! Its a great American muscle hp mustang eating powerful beast!!!! Thats why we love this car!!!!!!

[Joe Remi]

The Cobalt SS looks like a rental. The Cruze might work. I disagree that the Camaro is strictly muscle. It's also a good looking mid-size coupe. If I can get one with 250 HP and 32 mpg, I'll take it. I'm used to 140 HP and 35mpg now, so the trade off is good enough for me. 27mpg won't cut it. How about a turbo-four/hybrid? That would be awesome.

[zebra]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

Won;t happen, Cobalt SS has that territory.. and soon the Cruze...
I think the Camaro base will be safe for a while, Unless they can find a more efficent engine for this car. WHich I doubt. they have tried the turbo 4 in it and there wasn't enough MPG gain to help and from what I heard the performance suffered. A smaller V6 may help but the direct injected engine is pretty efficent as it is.
You need low end torque to get that mass moving and I just don't see a 4 banger with enough low end torque that will help that much...

what he said

Originally Posted by CamaroSSforme

I'd love to see a 4 cylinder Camaro...cuz then there would be Camaro's out there that are half the car I have...

Kidding here folks - get used to the dry sense of humor.

Originally Posted by Joe Remi

The Cobalt SS looks like a rental. The Cruze might work. I disagree that the Camaro is strictly muscle. It's also a good looking mid-size coupe. If I can get one with 250 HP and 32 mpg, I'll take it. I'm used to 140 HP and 35mpg now, so the trade off is good enough for me. 27mpg won't cut it. How about a turbo-four/hybrid? That would be awesome.

if you're looking for a gas-sipper, a sports car ain't what you should be looking at. 27mpg won't cut it for you?! i'm lucky to see 20mpg on a good day. 27's better than anything the camaro's (or just about any other american sports car) ever been able to get. if you look around here, there've been many discussions talking about 4-cylinder options. everything they've tried has been a total fail. the extra work the engine has to do to move the car at any reasonable speed totally negates (and was sometimes worse) any savings you would get over a V6. a hybrid could possibly be in the future, but that would add a bunch of extra weight to an already-heavy car, so i don't see that going too far.

[Miamimatt]

There are many V4 turbos etc they are called ricers. you can go get once any time you want.

[Joe Remi]

Originally Posted by zebra

if you're looking for a gas-sipper, a sports car ain't what you should be looking at. 27mpg won't cut it for you?! i'm lucky to see 20mpg on a good day. 27's better than anything the camaro's (or just about any other american sports car) ever been able to get. if you look around here, there've been many discussions talking about 4-cylinder options. everything they've tried has been a total fail. the extra work the engine has to do to move the car at any reasonable speed totally negates (and was sometimes worse) any savings you would get over a V6. a hybrid could possibly be in the future, but that would add a bunch of extra weight to an already-heavy car, so i don't see that going too far.

I don't agree that a "gas-sipper" can't be done in the Camaro, which I also don't agree is a sports car. It's too big to be called that. Add 2 doors and it's a mid-size sedan. Speaking of which, The new Ford Fusion Hybrid - without a turbo - weighs 3800 lbs., has 191 torgue-heavy (from electric motor) HP, and gets 37mpg highway. Car & Driver got 34 mpg driving like idiots, so America can make a mid-size car with good acceleration and mpg. Of course, it won't be $20,000.00, but a "green" Camaro for under 30 grand would allow more room in the public's eye for the Z/28.

At any rate, if the 2.4 Turbo isn't enough juice for the economy Camaro, I would be happy with a 255HP V-6 - IF they can squeeze 32mpg out of it.

[zebra]

Originally Posted by Miamimatt

There are many V4 turbos etc they are called ricers. you can go get once any time you want.

just for the record...
those are I4 engines. the closest to a V4 you'll likely find in a car would be the flat 4 in the old beetles

[hotdon]

I agree with Miamimatt. Joe you're not looking for a Camaro, you're looking for something else. The Camaro is a muscle car made for speed and power, not saving gas and car pooling.