Camaro Owner Grudges and Etiquette

[terry_b]

I'm still pretty young, but in my 7 years on the road (yep, I'm 23, got my license a day after 16th birthday), the best has been this past one in the 5th gen. This is just a brief account of my experience thus far:

I drove a mustang before the camaro - 2004 V6, left a LOT to be desired - All that ever happened was cobras and gts would smoke their tires or other similar silly macho displays near me. No comradery whatsoever!

Before that was a brief stint with an eclipse spyder gt... I don't wanna talk about that one, I still carry the negative equity to this day!

Before that a Taurus SHO - Badass car for its time, very underestimated and never could shake the stigma of grandma's grocery getter. Not enough of them on the road for their own courtesies.

I rode a CBR 600 around the same time and that was a good time. Bikes have a great sense of fellowship. Sometimes a bit of rivalry between the Harleys and the crotch rockets, but every motorcycle on the road gave me a wave. Some of the best advice I got about riding came from a grizzled old Hell's Angel!

Honda civic before that, complete with coffee can muffler. Instant +50 HP! Got my license suspended within the first 7 months of driving! It almost got killed by a fence and a deer, and later on it got crumpled by a Ram 3500 - I was ironically completely innocent in that accident. In that car EVERY other ricer wanted to race, none of which were fast or furious, mostly quick and frustrated. Also mostly giant douches with no sense of how their car worked, the closest they get to getting grease on their hands was when they dropped the keys off!

And my first car, also my first experience with a stick - 1980 Suburban, otherwise known as a GMC Tank. I learned to drive a manual (3 spd. w/granny gear) at the only stoplight in my small town. Haven't driven an automatic since!

The Camaro world is great so far! Waves and nods from everyone, whether they drive an M5, a 'vette, or a challenger. As a prior 'stang driver I wholly support some good natured rivalry! From experience I say the Camaro blows away the Mustang every day of the week... except on thursday... when the mustang is a GT500. All muscle/sport cars deserve recognition in their own right.

I would like to add, mostly for my pride's sake, that while I seem to have driven many vehicles in my brief time in the driver's seat, that I paid for every single one with my own hard work. I don't disrespect those who are lucky enough to receive a mustang or camaro as a grad present or just grew up with money, but it's important to appreciate what you've earned and I feel that's what sets some car enthusiasts apart from others.

As far as SS vs. V6, if I wasn't paying a mortgage I would have an SS. I absolutely love my Synergy, but the SS is a bit more car. I feel like my immaturities were crushed when the civic was. Since then, I have actually become more SKILLED and less audacious. The caliber of people with a fine tuned muscle car seem to be much higher than the ricer crowds.

Disclaimer: I tend to be quite verbose and I apologize if you actually read all of that.

[kr juice 1]

Originally Posted by heRS

If you tried to wave at all the mustangs you'd get carpal tunnel... I get the wave and nod from other Camaro owners locally and I understand if the guy in the 2010 SS isn't so impressed by my RS... But it was fun watching the guy on the Harley rubberneck my Camaro!

Hey not all ss owners are like that(i'm not anyway). I say the camaro you own is better than the one you don't, weather it's a v6 or v8! Now there are some v6 owners younger ones mainly (not to harp on ALL young people), they come up reving their engines at me wanting to go. But i look at them and think i have nothing to prove, i'll murder you. I always try to be cool to all, but not many camaro owners here are too cool. If you are out there prove me otherwise! I get nicer responses from mustang owners where i live honestly.

[black79ta]

in my opinion dont ever take your car to the car wash...

[LoneCynic]

Wow, I created this topic last year when I first got my Camaro. I clicked on it just now to see what it was about and realized it was one I had started!

Yes, my previous car was a Hyundai Sonata, and yes moving up to a Camaro was a dream come true.

Today at the gas station there was a recent model Mustang filling up next to my Camaro. I looked over at the driver and said, "Hey, nice looking Mustang you got there." He looked my car over, lifted his head back ever so slightly, and with his nose in the air, he replied, "Thanks, it is a great car."

He hopped in and drove off. I guess he was just jealous of the Camaro and wished he had one too. When he was leaving the station, I saw a huge dent in his rear bumper that I hadn't noticed previously. I wonder if he thought I was being sarcastic, or if he was really just a Ford snob?

Who cares, when I went inside to pay, the girls at the registers commented on my ride and asked what the Mustang owner had said to me. I told them, and they said he was probably just sour because he knew he was smoked if he talked any trash. Made me

[RAWarrior]

For me, the hardest part is trying to see thru the tint everyone puts on their windows to see if they wave back or not lol!!!

[lawman007]

Well I think if you waved at any driver they tend to wave back. Here's a funny one. While stationed in Guantanamo Bay(That's in Cuba), there is roughly 25-35 miles of road. In the center of civilization(Where the BX was located) was THE stoplight. We had a couple buses circle the base on the road which was free to ride BTW. Well, those in private cars, department cars, trucks and utility vheicles as you drove by would wave, so you'd wave back. Didn't matter if you knew the driver or not. Even at the various bus stops, those waiting on base transpo would even wave! Man what a place! It sucked at the time but I would like to go back one day, like after Castro dies. I spent over 2 years there, and only left the 'Island' twice. Give the other guy a 'Hi'!
Troy Lawson

[oyealiz]

Originally Posted by kr juice 1

I always try to be cool to all, but not many camaro owners here are too cool. If you are out there prove me otherwise! I get nicer responses from mustang owners where i live honestly.

Well, that just sucks! But honestly, those of us interested enough to be on the forum are probably also those more interested in recognizing another owner. Anyway, here's one for you!

[fbodfather]

I have found one thing to be true:

You can be friendly to people or you can be uncaring/mean to people.

When you're uncaring/mean - people are likely to say "what's HIS problem" or "why is that guy an A##?...."

When you're friendly - people are not going to say the same thing..........

So........regardless of the reaction you get - you at least tried - and in this world today, we need all the friendliness we can get.

As to parking away from things..........

Even within the GM parking decks I park at the end of an 'open' row so that someone does not have to park next to me - and open a door and do damage.

One word of caution - there ARE people in the world who just LOOK for cars parked off by themselves -- and they'll park right up close to you just for the irritation value.............

[mondain]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

One word of caution - there ARE people in the world who just LOOK for cars parked off by themselves -- and they'll park right up close to you just for the irritation value.............

Yes we call them "everyone else in New Jersey"

[Yahtzee]

IMO i feel any muscle car is something to protect i guess... I will find myself parking next to the mustangs and challengers in the back of the lot. One guy in a challenger didnt like it very much. He though i was "rubbing it in his face". Kinda confused by that comment though.

For me i feel like every (male) mustang driver I pass or see just mean mugs me, i still am polite and give them a friendly wave and continue on with my day. But around here... most mustang drivers are women.....

[eggydoo]

I only wave to other modded camaros....I never get a response from the stock ones

[The IOM Ninja]

Originally Posted by terry_b

I'm still pretty young, but in my 7 years on the road (yep, I'm 23, got my license a day after 16th birthday), the best has been this past one in the 5th gen. This is just a brief account of my experience thus far:

I drove a mustang before the camaro - 2004 V6, left a LOT to be desired - All that ever happened was cobras and gts would smoke their tires or other similar silly macho displays near me. No comradery whatsoever!

Before that was a brief stint with an eclipse spyder gt... I don't wanna talk about that one, I still carry the negative equity to this day!

Before that a Taurus SHO - Badass car for its time, very underestimated and never could shake the stigma of grandma's grocery getter. Not enough of them on the road for their own courtesies.

I rode a CBR 600 around the same time and that was a good time. Bikes have a great sense of fellowship. Sometimes a bit of rivalry between the Harleys and the crotch rockets, but every motorcycle on the road gave me a wave. Some of the best advice I got about riding came from a grizzled old Hell's Angel!

Honda civic before that, complete with coffee can muffler. Instant +50 HP! Got my license suspended within the first 7 months of driving! It almost got killed by a fence and a deer, and later on it got crumpled by a Ram 3500 - I was ironically completely innocent in that accident. In that car EVERY other ricer wanted to race, none of which were fast or furious, mostly quick and frustrated. Also mostly giant douches with no sense of how their car worked, the closest they get to getting grease on their hands was when they dropped the keys off!

And my first car, also my first experience with a stick - 1980 Suburban, otherwise known as a GMC Tank. I learned to drive a manual (3 spd. w/granny gear) at the only stoplight in my small town. Haven't driven an automatic since!

The Camaro world is great so far! Waves and nods from everyone, whether they drive an M5, a 'vette, or a challenger. As a prior 'stang driver I wholly support some good natured rivalry! From experience I say the Camaro blows away the Mustang every day of the week... except on thursday... when the mustang is a GT500. All muscle/sport cars deserve recognition in their own right.

I would like to add, mostly for my pride's sake, that while I seem to have driven many vehicles in my brief time in the driver's seat, that I paid for every single one with my own hard work. I don't disrespect those who are lucky enough to receive a mustang or camaro as a grad present or just grew up with money, but it's important to appreciate what you've earned and I feel that's what sets some car enthusiasts apart from others.

As far as SS vs. V6, if I wasn't paying a mortgage I would have an SS. I absolutely love my Synergy, but the SS is a bit more car. I feel like my immaturities were crushed when the civic was. Since then, I have actually become more SKILLED and less audacious. The caliber of people with a fine tuned muscle car seem to be much higher than the ricer crowds.

Disclaimer: I tend to be quite verbose and I apologize if you actually read all of that.

Thank god too, I've noticed that ricers have started dying off near the Edmonton and Sherwood Park area of Alberta. Not to say that they don't exist it's just a lot less of them. I love pulling up to them and they look at me like what the hell is a kid doing driving a real car with real performance .

I have noticed that people with V6 Mustangs near my town are absolutely 100% douchebags. They always act like they have something to prove. My first thumbs up was from a Mustang owner however and then there are the people in their 350/370Z that act like the talk of the town and it makes me laugh. I have a 350Z and while I can say it definatly has some get up and go, the fact that it is as light as a Corvette makes it feel alot faster than it is.

Also regarding my douche comment, I understand that there are good and bad in all crowds, it just seems to me as if people in their V6's feel as if they have something to prove to us SS owners. I have nothing but respect for those who show me respect and it doesn't matter what Camaro you bought just as long as your secure with your choice for what ever reason it may be. As someone with an automatic I know the meaningless discrimination that manual guys give us sometimes but its all good you have a Camaro and it's the V6 guys that will ensure that we have a 6th gen and hopefully further Camaro!

[heRS]

Cynic, to answer one of your original questions, do we acknowlege Firebirds? After my first couple of car shows ever this summer, I met the Inland Northwest Camaro Club and joined. The guy who referred me to the club owns a bad ass early 90's Trans Am. Our club welcomes the fbody cousin, the Firebird into our fold. I always give the wave to 'birds.
As I was going to work early Sat. morning on the 2-lane hiway a sweet TA came up behind me, stuck behind a truck doing 50 in the 60 zone so when a safe opening came up we both passed the guy and enjoyed a rather spirited run for a couple of miles until we got to the 4-lane. He pulled up alongside me, we exchanged the wave and nod. It was pretty cool to know he was appreciating the drive as much as I was. We sorta stuck together through traffic for around 20 miles, flashed the lights as he split off and he did the same.
Oddly enough, just the other day as I was locking my Camaro and setting the alarm, a guy in a bright yellow mustang pulled up to me, told me "Nice Car!" and handed me a dozen yellow roses. So whatever kind of cool car ya have, there's going to be haters, but there's gonna be cool folk too.

[Carver1]

My SS is a Mustang magnet....




Can you hear the Jaws theme song in the background?