A Few Concerns Pre-Purchase

[Blackbean]

I've owned the auto and the stick,and for your driving.I would drive the auto. The auto actually accelerates faster and is a really nice ride.The Camaro is real quiet,handles great and your time in traffic can be more enjoyable.

[tradosaurus]

Originally Posted by Tsaar

Some background: 24, engineer, married, no kids YET (within 2 years), Atlanta traffic every day for ~60 miles ->

Looking to purchase my first out of college car.

1) I have always owned automatic transmission trucks. I have driven a stick maybe 1 hour of my life on country roads that were perfectly flat (my grandfather's old '90 Toyota Tercel). Assuming I buy this car I am very nervous about getting a stick. First, because I have practically no experience and will not have time to invest a lot of learning before I am stuck in traffic. Second, I am worried with stop and go traffic I will burn out my transmission in 10k miles. I definitely do not want to buy any sports car with an automatic though (I am getting a V6...I care about gas mileage with my commute). Any thoughts on these concerns?

2) Kids will be on the way when I own this car. How bad would it suck for me to carry a baby in this car?

3) I am trying to decide between Silver and Cyber Gray. I *want* Cryber Gray more, but how well does it hide dirt and scratches (I currently drive a black vehicle and HATE how the scratches and dirt show)? I like the Silver, it just seems kind of plain.

I am afraid if I don't get the 2 door sports car now, I won't be able to for 25+ years. I am also nervous about committing myself to something I have no clue if I will love or hate.

As an engineer with 9 kids and a Camaro I think I am more qualified to speak on this issue than anyone.


1) You are young but driving a stick in traffic will be a PIA after a few months of driving. That and there have been issues with the clutch on the Camaros. With an automatic you can drink your coffee and eat your breakfast with ease.

2) Well if it was me I would let the wife worry about what kind of car she will drive that will be baby friendly. You worry about the fun you will have in the Camaro. You might as well start training your wife now so she will know who wears the pants in the family. Print this file out for your wife to review. http://kmwithjeanne.files.wordpress....usekeeping.jpg (Clarification:The word gay in this article means happy).

3) Silver is the most popular color and probably will have the best resell value if you decide to sell later on. Personally I am impartial to IOM.

If you have any other issues look for my column in the USA today called "Ask Bubba".

[MagsSS]

With alot of driving I would take the automatic. You can always have the wife get a four door car for the kids.

[Tsaar]

Thanks for all the great replies. I should have clarified that my wife already has a baby friendly car (Mercury Mariner).

Honestly during the week my wife would be the only one driving the baby (I can see very rare situations in which I would have to drive).

On the weekend though, it would be a choice which car to take, and I know I would always choose the Camaro.

So I am hoping it will not be too big of a pain sticking the baby in the back.

Edit: This manual vs automatic decision is KILLING me. I really *WANT* a stick, but there are just so many disadvantages.

[jackka]

I would strongly recommend borrowing or renting a manual shift car and taking it to work every day for a week. So that you can get a feel as to whether the inconvinience of the stick is enough to opt for an automatic Camaro.
It will take some time getting used to and you might stall the car every now and then, but it's not really a big deal if you do. Best advice is to just remain calm out on the road no matter where you happen to stall and how many cars are backed up behind you. As long as you remain calm, stickshift is not hard to learn at all.


I just went with manual because I've had a manual car before and it was not too bad for me.

I think Grey looks better than Silver. Silver is too plain. I got Black because I plan to polish and wax the shit out of my car whenever I get free time, lol.

The baby seat should fit well in the back and I don't think it'd be a problem at all. In fact, a baby would probably be the only practical and perfect passenger in the back of a Camaro, lol.

I would absolutely hate a ~60mile commute, through traffic. If I were you I would be looking to move close to my job ASAP. Not only is it a stress factor for you every day, it's a huge waste of money and time, every single day.

[Tsaar]

Originally Posted by jackka

I would absolutely hate a ~60mile commute, through traffic. If I were you I would be looking to move close to my job ASAP. Not only is it a stress factor for you every day, it's a huge waste of money and time, every single day.

I do hate the drive, but where we live is close for my wife.

I actually usually leave early enough in the morning to only have a few slowdowns. In the afternoon the first 10 miles (roughly 30 miles each way - 60 miles total - it sounded like you thought I drove 60 miles each way) are usually pure stop and go. The last 20 are usually OK.

[dmiller66]

OMG....24......married??? I'm sorry to hear that. Don't worry, life will get better once you get the car.

[Tsaar]

Originally Posted by dmiller66

OMG....24......married??? I'm sorry to hear that. Don't worry, life will get better once you get the car.

We started dating in high school...to delay getting married was to only delay the inevitable.

[trm0002]

Originally Posted by Tsaar

We started dating in high school...to delay getting married was to only delay the inevitable.

If only I had married my high school sweetheart...

Oops- wife coming- gotta go.

[StreetReporter]

I have two young kids -- a three year old and a three month old.

The Camaro is FINE for young kids. As a daily kid hauler? No. As an occasional "pick up the kids from day care" car, no problem.

My son LOVES the Camaro. I plan on giving it to him in 13 years!

KEEP THIS IN MIND: My Mom had NINE KIDS and still had a '73 Camaro when we were young. Dad had a '71 Monte Carlo Super Sport. Sure, we also had a station wagon.

I had a Crossfire -- a real two seater. I'm selling that because I upgraded to the "Family Car" that is the four-seat Camaro!

[Eric's Blue]

Even if you have kids now in 5 years they arent going to be that big? I think we now believe that every kid has to have an SUV with their own TV and a PS3 in it for the ride to Walmart. When I was growing up we had a 1979 Corolla. I was 4 and I had two brothers 6 and 8. All 3 of us were put in the back of that car. The car had a hole in the floor. So we watched the pavement go by really fast for entertainment. Sometimes we d go over really neat bridges or different types of roads.

Come 2015, this look maybe done away with completely. Your kids can look back one day and say Dad had such a cool car when we were little. Or they look back and laugh and say something similar to "remember when were shoved into that 1979 Corolla with the hole in the floor and we used to watch the pavement as we rode."

Don't get me wrong, I have great parents. They just didnt have much money in the early 80s.

[RubyCamaro]

"2) Well if it was me I would let the wife worry about what kind of car she will drive that will be baby friendly. You worry about the fun you will have in the Camaro. You might as well start training your wife now so she will know who wears the pants in the family. Print this file out for your wife to review. http://kmwithjeanne.files.wordpress....usekeeping.jpg (Clarification:The word gay in this article means happy)."

Sometimes the male chauvinist/macho crap on this site gets a little infuriating. Chill guys. Lots of Female owners on here just as enthusiastic & dedicated. Love to be thought of as comrades not objects. I was reared very strict christian values & fully understand/respect the "head of household"/"faith leader" roles - no problem. But BOTH parents are equily responsible for kid hauling. Face it kids get sick & later hurt a lot & when one needs to be picked up fast it becomes a matter of FAMILY, CHILD, & CAREER needs.

But in response to the original questions, I do both city & rural driving & you will love the automatic especially with the tap shift option. It has plenty of power & get-up-and-go. Good way to learn to shift, have the sporty response & no worries. Getting kids in & out of the backseat would for sure be a pain but you are young. (I refer to my back seat as a pocketbook shelf & tell folks they can ride in back if they are a contortionist). When/if I have grandkids I will have to deal with it cause I'm keeping my Camaro. Regardless of the model you choose you would love the Camaro. But at your age/stage of life, family considerations should come first. P.S. What does she want/think about it?

[FB3]

I drive a 2SS with manual transmission. It is my daily driver and I have to drive about 55 miles a day, much of it in stop and go traffic coming home. I would not even consider driving an automatic. The manual is so much fun to drive, gives you so much control over what you want from the car, and is just plain enjoyable.

With minimal instruction and careful driving you should not have any problem mastering the manual, and should not have to worry about "burning up your transmission". I think that you will be surprised how easy it is to get very comfortable with the manual transmission.

As far as your family situation goes, that is your call. Looks like you already have a child friendly car, so enjoy yourself now. This is coming from an old guy with a lot of hindsight.

[2SSARMY]

Too much hype about stick.

Paddleshifters are more fun. Don't have to worry about grinding your gears or messing up your clutch. You don't have to impress anyone.