Potential new Camaro owner.

[Boost Creep]

Like the title says, looking at possibly getting a sixth gen Camaro SS.
I've been a long time GM owner, since the '70's.
I bought my first new car in 1987, a Buick Turbo T, it's a Grand National in plain clothes. Had that for nearly 30 years.
Had two '06 GTO's and loved them. Nice sleeper, a car no one noticed.
Right now I'm in a Jet Stream Blue 2008 C6 and looking to get back into a coupe after three years and 55,000 miles in a Corvette.

The C6 is a great car but not really "me". I miss the GTO and hope the Camaro can fill that void.

My name's Dan by the way.

[acammer]

Originally Posted by Boost Creep

Like the title says, looking at possibly getting a sixth gen Camaro SS.
I've been a long time GM owner, since the '70's.
I bought my first new car in 1987, a Buick Turbo T, it's a Grand National in plain clothes. Had that for nearly 30 years.
Had two '06 GTO's and loved them. Nice sleeper, a car no one noticed.
Right now I'm in a Jet Stream Blue 2008 C6 and looking to get back into a coupe after three years and 55,000 miles in a Corvette.

The C6 is a great car but not really "me". I miss the GTO and hope the Camaro can fill that void.

My name's Dan by the way.

Welcome Dan. The 6th Gen is quite a car. I'd go test drive and make sure it's what you're looking for. If you liked the GTO, and the Vette really isn't you, I almost wonder if a CTS-V (more like the GTO) fills you void better than a Camaro (more like the vette). Just something to consider - the Camaro isn't really a sleeper.

[Boost Creep]

Originally Posted by acammer

Welcome Dan. The 6th Gen is quite a car. I'd go test drive and make sure it's what you're looking for. If you liked the GTO, and the Vette really isn't you, I almost wonder if a CTS-V (more like the GTO) fills you void better than a Camaro (more like the vette). Just something to consider - the Camaro isn't really a sleeper.

Thanks!
I was looking at renting a Camaro from the local Enterprise to get an idea of what it's like.

I like the looks of the Camaro now, 5th gen was Ok but the sixth looks better to me. The weight loss really helped sway me toward the Camaro, it's right in line with the GTO. I will miss the lightness of the Corvette, but the handling of the Camaro will be a big improvement over the GTO.
I never looked at a CTS-V as they are pretty heavy.
Like Dodge Challenger heavy.

The Camaro might not be a sleeper, but it doesn't stick out like a Corvette.

Plus I like that you don't see the sixth gen much around here.


This is why I'm stalking this site, trying to make up my mind.

Really want a 1LE in black to hide the black trim pieces.

[Ashen 6.2]

Welcome!

[O.F.]

BTDT. Drive one. It is a different animal than a Vette but as a DD, I think better suited.

[acammer]

Originally Posted by Boost Creep

Thanks!
I was looking at renting a Camaro from the local Enterprise to get an idea of what it's like.

I like the looks of the Camaro now, 5th gen was Ok but the sixth looks better to me. The weight loss really helped sway me toward the Camaro, it's right in line with the GTO. I will miss the lightness of the Corvette, but the handling of the Camaro will be a big improvement over the GTO.
I never looked at a CTS-V as they are pretty heavy.
Like Dodge Challenger heavy.

The Camaro might not be a sleeper, but it doesn't stick out like a Corvette.

Plus I like that you don't see the sixth gen much around here.


This is why I'm stalking this site, trying to make up my mind.

Really want a 1LE in black to hide the black trim pieces.

Make sense. What about the Chevy SS? I would think that would be your number one "modern" GTO. Couple hundred pounds heavier than the Camaro, couple hundred lighter than the CTS-V...

[Boost Creep]

Originally Posted by acammer

Make sense. What about the Chevy SS? I would think that would be your number one "modern" GTO. Couple hundred pounds heavier than the Camaro, couple hundred lighter than the CTS-V...

The SS is a four door isn't it? I am looking for a coupe, this will be my "fun car".
Any reason you don't think the Camaro is a good choice?

I sat in the rental Camaro at Enterprise, it's right across the street from work, felt pretty good. The thing was just turned in from what looked like a road trip from hell so it was not ready to be rented and my schedule that weekend made renting pointless.

The only things that concern me from what I can tell is visibility from inside, and it didn't seem like a deal breaker from my limited visit. The other is GM's track record with new models and the fairly new LT1.

I am not really considering a 2016 as I have personally witnessed GM first model year teething problems. I worked for GM for +17 years starting in the '80's up until the early '00's. I swore to myself I would never buy a first year GM anything.

I am a huge LS fan as they are a great engine, but I'm a little leery of the LT1 due to the direct injection with all the extra components involved, making a very simple engine just a little more complicated. Then there's the AFM components that seem to weaken the engine even when not activated.


I thought the Camaro would be a good choice as it's a two door coupe, check.
V8, check.
Manual trans, check.
Decent weight, check.
Not a Ford, check.
And from what I'm hearing and seeing with stuff like the Motor Trend videos, and C&D awards, Camaro seems like the answers to my prayers.
lol

[Boost Creep]

Originally Posted by O.F.

BTDT. Drive one. It is a different animal than a Vette but as a DD, I think better suited.

I drove '60's and '70's Chevelles/Skylarks/LeMans most of my life, an '87's G body for +27 years, a couple '06 GTO's and then the C6. I feel more at home in all the other cars than I do in the Corvette.
Corvette out performs all the others in everything other than the acceleration of the Turbo Buick, but everything is a compromise, and I'm willing to give up some of the C6 performance for some of that "comfort" that I miss.

I'm hoping I can rent a sixth gen Camaro and see if it's really what I want. The rental is an automatic so it won't be a direct comparison, but should give me an idea.


This won't be a daily driver, but my fun car.
I do put +/-20,000 miles a year on my fun car, so there's that.

[E-Ray]

Welcome aboard.

[Sir Nuke]

Dan, Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to Camaro5/6. There is a BIG fridge on the back porch with anything you can think of in it...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have. Make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom's, wives', husbands, girlfriends and boyfriends here don't care....and take it easy.



oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!!

[Boost Creep]

lol

[acammer]

Originally Posted by Boost Creep

The SS is a four door isn't it? I am looking for a coupe, this will be my "fun car".
Any reason you don't think the Camaro is a good choice?

Not at all - was just going off your love for the GTO, the SS is a really similar car, albeit a 4dr. If you want a V8 sleeper, that's probably the best offering out there.

However, I think the Camaro is a great choice. The 6th gen has some really nice evolutionary wins, as you mentioned the lighter weight, horsepower, technology. I'm torn on the decreased size - I love the idea of lighter, smaller, faster, nimble-er. But, I bring my wife and kid along quite often, and that's tough enough with the 5th gen's much bigger back seat. Even the front of the 5th gen isn't that big, especially for taller bigger guys.

I did have the privilege (nightmare?) of working on a 6th gen already, installing long tube headers. Having done that on a 5th gen previously, the 6th gen is a real pain in the butt. It required removing several things under hood and under car: coolant recovery tank, several under body panels (it was a 1LE, so maybe no so many on a regular SS), steering shaft, front subframe brace, and front passenger motor mount. Just lots of additional work - none of it particularly difficult, just time consuming.

[Boost Creep]

Originally Posted by acammer

Not at all - was just going off your love for the GTO, the SS is a really similar car, albeit a 4dr. If you want a V8 sleeper, that's probably the best offering out there.

However, I think the Camaro is a great choice. The 6th gen has some really nice evolutionary wins, as you mentioned the lighter weight, horsepower, technology. I'm torn on the decreased size - I love the idea of lighter, smaller, faster, nimble-er. But, I bring my wife and kid along quite often, and that's tough enough with the 5th gen's much bigger back seat. Even the front of the 5th gen isn't that big, especially for taller bigger guys.

I did have the privilege (nightmare?) of working on a 6th gen already, installing long tube headers. Having done that on a 5th gen previously, the 6th gen is a real pain in the butt. It required removing several things under hood and under car: coolant recovery tank, several under body panels (it was a 1LE, so maybe no so many on a regular SS), steering shaft, front subframe brace, and front passenger motor mount. Just lots of additional work - none of it particularly difficult, just time consuming.

Awesome.
The one mod I would probably do is headers.

I will be the only occupant, so interior space is not a huge concern, the wife won't ride with me in my fun car.

On vacation next week, so I might go and smurf with some dealers and try to get a test drive. See how that goes.




I have to get my ducks in a row and probably won't be picking one up until the middle of January, hope some good sales are still going on.

[Gunmetal Speedster]

Welcome Dan! I'm sure the camaro will do just that for you and much more