Dilemma. Getting close to purchase. V6 vs. V8. Questions for you guys

[kostnkost]

Originally Posted by soloknight6

Congrats on the V6! Im suprised you walked away with it instead of the V8. Especially if you test drove both. The V6 is plenty fast for public roads, enjoy your beautiful camaro. And the V6 IS a REAL Camaro, anyone who says otherwise is this guy.

And they say the yeti doesn't exist.

[PeeBee]

Sounds to me you're already sold on the idea of a V8...

If you can afford buying one, just take into account that it will be a bit thirstier than the V6. That in itself isn't a bad motor (although I haven't driven one in a Camaro, just in a Cadillac CTS-4), but there are lots of people who actually are convinced that a real "muscle car" needs a V8... And to be honest, there are NOT many engines that sound as nice as a V8...


Either way, it's still a Camaro, so you'll have a nice ride, in both cases...

[90503]

Originally Posted by soloknight6

Mistaken Identity, thought OP pulled the trigger on the V6. Disregard my last post.

Good job copying that guy's pose, though...lol

[gjdavids]

I was much like you. I'm 30 years old and had always loved the camaro. I bought a 2ss/rs automatic about three months ago. I decided on the V8 because i could not stop grinning from ear to ear while driving it, even after the third test drive over the course of two years. My only regret is that i did not get a standard. I did not learn until after buying my car and joining this forum that there is a huge rear wheel horsepower difference. Check out posts by Jannetty Racing on here for more horsepower info. Also, i never thought i would take my car to a drag strip. I went for the first time the other night. Paid 20 dollars and could make as many runs as i wanted from 5pm until midnight. There is no experience like it. While you will never reach top end speed on a highway or drag strip, its pretty awesome how much power you have when passing or getting up to nearly 104mph on a 1/4 mile drag strip.

[Verbolten]

$5 a gal out west... Car insurance.... just make sure you run all the numbers...

[AKA-22]

Originally Posted by mikeSS

personally. the v8 blows away, again blows most of the bells and whistles the camaro as to offer in general. the engine sounds powerful, and IS powerful.

of course the v6 camaro is a nice car, but it will never been a v8 camaro. you have to have enough, or do you want more? that the question

2LT has all the bells and whistle as the 2-ss..

[SSBlack]

Man, that ole "personal endowment" comparison is lame and beyond getting old. Don't you realize, those guys get 4X4 trucks BowtieBelle?

[BowtieBelle]

Originally Posted by SSBlack

Man, that ole "personal endowment" comparison is lame and beyond getting old. Don't you realize, those guys get 4X4 trucks BowtieBelle?

Not the ones on this forum apparently. It is kinda a hoot how the OP said he can't really afford the SS but people here are just telling him to get it anyway.

[dkp2LT]

I didn't read the whole thread so I'm not sure if you're buying new or used, but IMHO you need to drive both & figure out if you want a V6 now or wait for a 2SS/RS later.

I grew up in OPKS & my first question would be what are you going to drive around here in the snow? If answer = Camaro then I'd budget for some spare wheel/winter tires.

[JustBill74]

For me personally, I drove both the V8 and the V6. I had the dealer run numbers on both. Loved both of them. The V8 had all the bells and whistles. The color was also one of my top choices. However, when it came down to it, a choice between 555.00 a month payments (V8) or $330 a month payments (V6), I went with the RS V6. I would have been happy with either of them though.

But you just don't want to not be able to afford something and be strapped in the end. If you want a V8, save for it. It will be worth the wait for you.

[Micawber]

I had muscle cars in the '70s. Like, long strips of twin black rubber at 60 mph off the G/60 tires, way beyond stock, muscle cars. I still went shopping for a V6. It's a great engine! The technology to get that kind of mileage with that kind of power just blows me away. I'd drive one with pride. After shopping around a while, I happened to run across a brand new SS, last years model, with everything I wanted and without the options I didn't want, for a great price. I went back to my roots with the V8, and I love it, but I still wonder sometimes if a V6 wouldn't have been a better fit.

If you get a V6, appreciate it for what it is and drive it with pride. If you can't do that then you probably should stretch the budget and get a V8, because there's no use 'settling' for a new car you didn't really like. A V6 Camaro is a great car though and, especially if you plan to put some miles on it within a budget, it could be a better car for you than the V8. Also, if you don't already know the phrase, look up 'opportunity cost'. It comes down to deciding what's really important to you and what you really need. Good Luck!

[SSBlack]

AND THE ANSWER IS:

Get what you want and can afford and who cares what other people think.

[justinxxvii]

Originally Posted by Forty5th

What's your targeted pricepoint range or bottomline limit?

For example, a quick nationwide query on cars dot com for pre-owned dealer-sold 2011-12 2SS coupes reveal a low end of approx 28K. While a search on dealer-sold 2011-12 2LT coupes reveal a low end of approx 20K. It also depends on mileage and condition of course but granted you should be able to diligently negotiate the get a few more thoursand off their marked up listed prices.

OK I haven't finished reading all the posts yet, I have to get up from my desk periodically. SO just answering this one for the time being.

We got my wife a 2012 Equinox and spent 27,900. After trade in, dealer fees, taxes, our loan ended up being for 28,300. At 3% for 72 months, her payment is $428. I "can afford" way past that but I made the promise to her that my payment would be less than hers. That means after all taxes and fees I need to walk out under 28.3k. The 2010 2SS is kissing that price right now if the mileage is in the high 20s. The 2011s are getting close depending on mileage as well.

So it's not that I can't afford it or will be in the poor house, but my wife has an expectation that my payment will not exceed hers. My trade-in is a little nicer but the windshield has a crack and it's starting to make a whistling sound, so I'm worried about that. I also have a little more to put down this time. If I could get the 2011 2SS in my price range, color (white) and tranny (auto) I'd be happy.

[ShowSStopper]

Originally Posted by Jonster

After reading this thread....you guys have inspired me. I honestly was one of those people waiving between the 2013 2SS and 2LT w/ RS package, auto trans, and convertible. I am 23 years old and this will be my first "real" new car.

I know for a fact I will never race this car or care about my quarter mile time, but yet I was so hung up on getting the SS. I found out it was mostly because i felt like I needed it to have a "real camaro". I test drove the SS and obviously loved it, but i found myself just accelerating all the time and wasting gas in 45mph zones (which I can afford, but find stupid).

After test driving a V6...I knew this was enough power for me. I want to thank you guys who posted (especially ShowSStopper) for now I will be looking into purchasing a 2LT instead of a 2SS.

You're welcome and I'm really glad I could help.

A 2LT is an excellent car...you get all the options possible, and don't have to pay $40k+ for it.

As you probably realize now after driving both, the SS makes a great weekend toy..but it's one expensive daily driver. Since you clearly said you won't be going to the track or trying to break any land speed records, I would say you are making the right decision. I mean, right off the top, that's...well...ok I will guess on the low side...you are saving let's say $8k off the sticker of a 2SS/RS...more after finance charges. So you will have a fully loaded, very sleek car and plenty of cash in your pocket.

I'm sure you've heard the saying "There's no replacement for displacement." Well, let me tell you something from my experience...there's no replacement for money in the bank either.

Who knows? Maybe you get a nice 2LT, and you save up since you won't have a monster payment to deal with....what's to say you don't have a great downpayment on a next-gen SS and a paid-off 2LT to drive also?

Anyway, I think you are making the right choice. If finances improve, and you really want to step it up, then take another look at the SS. But if you are going to daily drive the car and don't want the maintenance of a V8, then the V6 is definitely for you.

And the mentality that a V8 Camaro is the only real Camaro is stupid. Utter that people like to spout off when they are trying to compensate for "short-comings" elsewhere. If it says "Camaro" on it, and it came from Chevrolet, then guess what? It's the real deal, no matter what engine is in it.

Good luck!