What's The Best & Worst Year For Camaro? - Page 3 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

sainthinds · 06-11-2012, 04:51 AM

2002 ss ls1 camaros,trans am ws6 were the baddest ones so far.

sainthinds · 06-11-2012, 04:54 AM

Worst has to be 82-92 camaro firebirds cars were so frail you would have thought the interiors were made out of Legos.

tonyfred · 06-11-2012, 07:24 AM

I actually had a couple of 76 Camaros that I am still partial to. Granted the HP wasnt there, but with a little work you could get pretty good performance. The red and black RS below was a nice ride. It came with a 350/4 speed. I added headers, high rise intake, Holly 650 and a 375 Horse cam. It could hold it's own.

MikeC5 · 06-11-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2010 SSRS

I like them all

That goes for me also.

djxrated81 · 06-11-2012, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djxrated81

So far for me the fifth gen. is the best but i still love my 94 Z28 and what i did to it to set it out from the rest and no i dont have pics. If i save up enough money i would love to buy one with somewhat low miles and do it again. That was my first car back in 98, and had it for seven years till i finally let it go :(

I know i said i dont have any pics MY car but this is pretty much what it looked like, it did have a different ground effect kit but this is it all in a nut shell

djxrated81 · 06-11-2012, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djxrated81

I know i said i dont have any pics MY car but this is pretty much what it looked like, it did have a different ground effect kit but this is it all in a nut shell

this

meissen · 06-11-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LimaCharlie

I think 1982 is the worst Camaro year. A 4-cylinder engine was available and the Z28 had the 305 with the optional Crossfire intake (garbage). It only had 165 hp. Transmissions were either a 4-speed manual or a 3-speed auto (TH350).
1975 and 1976 were pretty bad too because of the new federal emission standards, safety regs, and the lack of any perfomance model (no Z28 equivalent). Many people say these were the ugliest Camaros due to the big steel bumpers.

My favorite years in order are:
- 1970-1973
- 1967-1969
- 2010+
- 1998-2002 Z28/SS
- 1996-1997 SS
- 1978-1981 Z28
- 350 TPI powered 3rd gen (late IROC and Z28)

It's refreshing to see an educated post about Camaro history on here. To most it seems the Camaro was invented in 2006.

What I find interesting is that there are more people doing full restorations on 4th generation (1993-2002) FBodies. On my website, we had one member who did a full restoration of his 1993 Camaro close to factory new which was very impressive. We also had another member do a full restoration of a 2000 Firebird which was all TASTEFULLY custom and very unique - the end result was simply gorgeous. I'm really hoping to start a "full restoration" project on my 1994 Camaro... It was originally a v6 and swapped in an LT1, but it was a Michigan vehicle that was daily driven while it was a v6. A lot of rusty spots on the undercarriage, for 120k miles it definitely shows its age when you're closer than 5 feet away.

Fiftydriver · 06-11-2012, 08:28 AM

My opinion,

Best, 1969, 2010-2012

Worst: Any gen 3

Again, just my opinion.

Silver2SSRS6spd · 06-11-2012, 08:30 AM

Off the bat, I don't like the '86 because they dropped the HP that year and my favorite would be either one of the first generation pace cars or a '68 RS SS 396 ragtop.

garcmol · 06-11-2012, 11:37 AM

I'd like a '73 Z28 with the split bumper up front. I love my '91 and '10, but would love to have one of these!

GmcSierra6.2 · 06-11-2012, 12:53 PM

best: 69 yenko
worst :03

phess11 · 06-11-2012, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiftydriver

My opinion,

Best, 1969, 2010-2012

Worst: Any gen 3

Again, just my opinion.

I think the third gens are not getting a fair shake. Every car needs to be judged on their place in history. You need to remember that we were just coming off the gas crisis in the 70's. Many feared that the V8 cars would be gone for good. The 305's were tuned for low-end torque and MPG, not HP. Driving the V8's around town felt like you had good HP even when you didn't. If you punched it those 305's would run out of breath around 3500 rpms. Anyway here are some facts:
- For one there body styles were way ahead of their time. They looked very futuristic at the time.
- Yes their horsepower was weak but they had significant low-end torque.
- They also had a lot of emphasis on handling. And actually started the pony cars being judged not just for going in a straight line, but, cornering and skid pad. The mustang of the 80's could only go in a straight line.
- 84 Z28 was selected as the "Best Handling Car made in America" beating the Corvette. It almost was a split decision against the Porsche 944 for "Best Handling car in the world" I assume that is under $100K.
- The 1985 IROC-Z received many accolades for handling and performance.
- The public loved them. The sold a ton of them.
1982 - 189,747 sold (that is almost 16,000 a month)
1983 - 154,831 sold
1984 - 261,591 (that is 22,000 a month)
1985 - 180,018
:
:

Just saying, their HP was not that good by 60's and today's standards, but for their day they were well respected.

Fiftydriver · 06-11-2012, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phess11

I think the third gens are not getting a fair shake. Every car needs to be judged on their place in history. You need to remember that we were just coming off the gas crisis in the 70's. Many feared that the V8 cars would be gone for good. The 305's were tuned for low-end torque and MPG, not HP. Driving the V8's around town felt like you had good HP even when you didn't. If you punched it those 305's would run out of breath around 3500 rpms. Anyway here are some facts:
- For one there body styles were way ahead of their time. They looked very futuristic at the time.
- Yes their horsepower was weak but they had significant low-end torque.
- They also had a lot of emphasis on handling. And actually started the pony cars being judged not just for going in a straight line, but, cornering and skid pad. The mustang of the 80's could only go in a straight line.
- 84 Z28 was selected as the "Best Handling Car made in America" beating the Corvette. It almost was a split decision against the Porsche 944 for "Best Handling car in the world" I assume that is under $100K.
- The 1985 IROC-Z received many accolades for handling and performance.
- The public loved them. The sold a ton of them.
1982 - 189,747 sold (that is almost 16,000 a month)
1983 - 154,831 sold
1984 - 261,591 (that is 22,000 a month)
1985 - 180,018
:
:

Just saying, their HP was not that good by 60's and today's standards, but for their day they were well respected.

I can not argue to much with your comments but of the five gens of camaros, its still by far my least favorite....

Renegade · 06-12-2012, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiftydriver

My opinion,

Best, 1969, 2010-2012

Worst: Any gen 3

Again, just my opinion.

That's why i made this thread for everyone's opinion. Good choice.

06-11-2012, 07:24 AM	#31
tonyfred Drives: 2013 ZL1-Victory Red-Auto Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Jackson TN Posts: 1,108	I actually had a couple of 76 Camaros that I am still partial to. Granted the HP wasnt there, but with a little work you could get pretty good performance. The red and black RS below was a nice ride. It came with a 350/4 speed. I added headers, high rise intake, Holly 650 and a 375 Horse cam. It could hold it's own. __________________

06-11-2012, 08:28 AM	#36
Fiftydriver Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SSRS RJT L99 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Fort Shaw, Montana Posts: 1,242	My opinion, Best, 1969, 2010-2012 Worst: Any gen 3 Again, just my opinion. __________________ Fiftydriver 2010 SSRS, RJTC, L99, Maggie 2300 SC, 3.4" pulley, Roto-Fab CAI, Dynatech Supermaxx LT headers, Dynatech High Flow cats, Corsa Cat back exhaust, Dual Elite Engineering catch can, MSD wires and Jannetty custom tune, JRE custom diff w/ posi mod, 3.91 LPE gears, Pfaht trailing arms, Pfaht trailing arm and Diff bushings, drop springs and sport sway bars front and back, Fesler dual guage pillar pod w/ AM Cobalt Boost and A/F guages. More to come!!

06-11-2012, 08:30 AM	#37
Silver2SSRS6spd Prefer to be blown! Drives: 2010 Silver/Black 2SS/RS Manual Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Nor-Cal Posts: 2,677 View My Garage	Off the bat, I don't like the '86 because they dropped the HP that year and my favorite would be either one of the first generation pace cars or a '68 RS SS 396 ragtop. __________________ MagnaCharger TVS-2300 550rwhp 540 rwt and a radical suspension under the car.

06-11-2012, 11:37 AM	#38
garcmol Drives: 10 1LT SIM; 91 B4C sleeper Z Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ft. Mitchell, Alabama Posts: 7,198	I'd like a '73 Z28 with the split bumper up front. I love my '91 and '10, but would love to have one of these! __________________ Pedders Pace Car Package, Injen CAI, Flowmaster AT, AAC Lighting, ZL1 fascia/skirts, RKSport Ram Air hood, vented fenders, painted stripes (Gary's Customz), Honor and Valor badged (Thank you, John)

06-11-2012, 12:53 PM	#39
GmcSierra6.2 Drives: 05 gmc sierra 6.2 Join Date: May 2012 Location: maryland Posts: 34	best: 69 yenko worst :03 __________________ "It's like a 21 year old stripper marrying a 86 year billionare, it doesn't make sense but, they 're both going to have a great time."

06-11-2012, 04:51 AM	#29
sainthinds Drives: 2010 ss Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: mobile al Posts: 36	2002 ss ls1 camaros,trans am ws6 were the baddest ones so far.

06-11-2012, 04:54 AM	#30
sainthinds Drives: 2010 ss Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: mobile al Posts: 36	Worst has to be 82-92 camaro firebirds cars were so frail you would have thought the interiors were made out of Legos.