Introduction

[AConn]

Hi Everybody,

I am thinking about buying a 2009 Camaro. I currently drive a Subaru WRX STI and I hate it. It's a 4 banger! The thing has no guts unless you slam on the gas. I think, now, I am totally against turbo cars unless they have an antilag system or are high compression setups. It also doesn't have quick steering. To top it off, it's ugly. When I drive it, I want to maintain a power level and to do that I am always keeping it near 3k rpm, which means it makes alot of noise and does nothing. If I shift under 3k I can't keep up with traffic. I traded up from a Toyota Tacoma four cylinder and it [STI] was faster, but it wasn't worth upgrading in hindsight. I'm also getting terrible gas mileage. The STi's power band is crapy as well. It dies off at the top. I know that is the rally car way, but for the street, it sucks. I bought it used, so it isn't a big loss.

Also, EVERY simple, power mod to the car is ILLEGAL in California. I can't get the car to be faster than 13.0 without making it illegal. I'm tired of this!

So I'm looking for something that will take me to the magical 11.5time, legally. I don't want anything faster, unless it comes with a _good_ looking rollbar that isn't in the way of the passangers, and doesn't fubar my interior. After seeing the LS3 numbers on the vette forums, I am stoked about a new Camaro (now that the DIG system was announced, I am even more excited). I really think it can be a stock, 13.0 or less car, and I am all for a supercharged version. I am probably gonig to wait a few years until the supercharged version comes out.

I am looking forward to the IRS and DIG system. I have high hopes that this car will handle pretty well. What I want most out of the Camaro is a high performance automatic transmission. I'm tired of city driving with a stick!

[Aptom]

Originally Posted by AConn

Hi Everybody,

I am thinking about buying a 2009 Camaro. I currently drive a Subaru WRX STI and I hate it. It's a 4 banger! The thing has no guts unless you slam on the gas. I think, now, I am totally against turbo cars unless they have an antilag system or are high compression setups. It also doesn't have quick steering. To top it off, it's ugly. When I drive it, I want to maintain a power level and to do that I am always keeping it near 3k rpm, which means it makes alot of noise and does nothing. If I shift under 3k I can't keep up with traffic. I traded up from a Toyota Tacoma four cylinder and it [STI] was faster, but it wasn't worth upgrading in hindsight. I'm also getting terrible gas mileage. The STi's power band is crapy as well. It dies off at the top. I know that is the rally car way, but for the street, it sucks. I bought it used, so it isn't a big loss.

Also, EVERY simple, power mod to the car is ILLEGAL in California. I can't get the car to be faster than 13.0 without making it illegal. I'm tired of this!

So I'm looking for something that will take me to the magical 11.5time, legally. I don't want anything faster, unless it comes with a _good_ looking rollbar that isn't in the way of the passangers, and doesn't fubar my interior. After seeing the LS3 numbers on the vette forums, I am stoked about a new Camaro (now that the DIG system was announced, I am even more excited). I really think it can be a stock, 13.0 or less car, and I am all for a supercharged version. I am probably gonig to wait a few years until the supercharged version comes out.

I am looking forward to the IRS and DIG system. I have high hopes that this car will handle pretty well. What I want most out of the Camaro is a high performance automatic transmission. I'm tired of city driving with a stick!

Welcome Aboard AConn!
I feel you on that one, tired of 4bangers myself.
I need High horsepower from the factory with a Warranty!

[Mindz]

That makes three bay area people. Welcome aConn.

You really think the STI isn't that good of a car huh? Interesting. Everyone I know who has one loves it. I'll trade you for my eclipse. =P

Also there are some legal mods in CA, you just have to pay more for them. There are also a few minor things for a slight boost in power and what not. Plus, if you get pulled over with say an aftermarket exhaust and ACTUALLY GET WRITTEN UP FOR IT, you just have to replace it with stock and pay a fix-it ticket. Especially with turbo cars, there's not much they can do if you upgrade the turbo as no one at the gas station for smogging knows.

Tons of ways to make it legal to the publics eye. The only way someone's gonna find an illegal part on your car is if they actually open your hood and inspect it, then they have to know what comes stock on each car and all this other junk.

[AConn]

About the CARB stuff
I'm aware of what to do to sneak the car by people. The truth is, though, that it is illegal. If I was stopped by the same cop and he gave me the same ticket twice, I would probably be fined by a judge, and who knows what they would do to the car.

To tell you the truth though, if it were as pretty as the classic Subarus (I did own a GC8, but it was an automatic, and I did a bunch of crap to it that I'm not proud of -BTW I own a 2005 STI), then I would think about putting the illegal mods on it. I thinkt he only real CARB illegal mod to do on that car is to put on a downpipe. (I'm confused to if bigger turbos are illegal. The list says turbos have to be CARB certified, but is that for cars adding forced induction, or is that for ALL cars including the already forced induced motors-because the stock turbos for STIs can crack and it should be an owner's porogative to put in a different brand turbo).



I'm basically trying to talk myself out of purchasing a GC8 (Classic) Subaru and buying the Camaro. For the amount I would pay for a new Camaro, I could have a classic subaru with sti motor swap, and probably a bigger turbo, full exhaust, and a tune. Like I mentioned in my intro though, I would have to worry about lag, and how the car performs off boost. With 8.5 or 8.2:1 compression, its not very good.

I guess I will leave the choice up to A) how the camaro drives, and B) where I will be employed after college. If I work in the bay area, there isn't much to justify the AWD (traction monster, MPG robber)

[Mindz]

Are you going to SJSU? Either way, have you been on highway 9/84/skyline/etc. etc.?

[TAG UR IT]

Welcome to the site, AConn...looking forward to the discussion.

[byebyeImports]

welcome, welcome

[MerF]

I've had my fair share of imports in my garage at one time or another. Welcome. I happen to adore the STi though, except the newest model...that thing is butt-fugly right there.

[AConn]

For reference, this is a "GC8"
It only takes 335whp (dynojet) to make it go 12.2-12.3.

[darthknight72]

If I was you I would definetly get a new camaro.There is nothing like feeling that low end torque from a small block chevy.I used to have a 06 Mustang Gt but I was pretty disappointed with it.It was pretty fast,but it just doesnt have that torque like an Ls1,Ls2 etc. I was never into imports so I really cant give an opinion on one being I never drove one.I think if you drive the new camaro you'll say goodbye to the imports pretty quick.There is nothing like that american muscle.

[AConn]

Thanks for the input. That is really want I want from this car: low end power. I want to be able to give it a little gas at 2k and make it move. Maybe then it would feel natural to shift at 3k rpm instead of keeping it there.

[Mindz]

Aren't STI's built for racing where you keep the rpm's high? Have you ever tracked your car?

[AConn]

Thats where the power kicks in in those cars, so yea, more so for high RPMs.

I don't have the money to buy another car so I don't track it. If I can't fix it, I'm not going to break it!

However, the rally cars use antilag systems and their torque is an almost instaneous 400ft/lb. Which is another reason I don't want to fix up the car. It feels like I am bastardizing the car from a rally car to a high rpm car.

I like that the camaro is just a muscle car and it isn't expected to do anything but haul ass.

[AConn]

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