Trimming the fat...

[jayson71]

Originally Posted by Revo1

x1000

Originally Posted by talwell

The Mustang might be lighter - but I will push a Camaro before I drive a Mustang.

[Blackend SS]

Dont decrease the weight... just increase the power!

[AngryAmish]

I suggest you drive it before knocking it. If it doesn't suit you when all's said and done, buy a used Vette. you might as well, because thats about the price you are going to pay to buy the car plus make the alterations. Losing weight costs money. Had GM done it on their own it would have priced the car out of the range of 80% of the people on this website. I understand your dilemma, but this isn't a sportscar. The main objective of the Camaro was to put affordable speed and good looks in the hands of the common man, not to blow the non-existing doors off an Ariel Atom at the track.

[Doc]

Okay you say your goal is to have a stylish vehicle with a "decent" power to weight ratio. What do you consider decent? And what is your intended purpose for this? HPDE? Autocross? 1/4 mile?

There's many things you can do to reduce weight but it depends on what you want as a final result and what for; generic terms for goals are not useful to us. Give us specifics and I/we can start to tell you what to do for mods.

I have a 1SS/RS and I can tell you the car is NOT a pig; not in any way, shape or form. No picture does it justice; no amount of "imagining" how it will be equals the actual experience. This car is special in a way I don't think I've ever experienced in any car I've owned and I've owned MANY over the past few decades; all the way from British sports cars to muscle cars (including a 69 Camaro), to Japanese sports cars, to off-road, on-road whatever. And I've driven everything from a Ferrari to a truck.

There's something about this car that makes it more than the sum of it's parts. Drive one first before you judge it. Sounds like you have the money to do mods so I'd recommend renting one for a couple days before you decide to get one. Then we can talk mods.

[deletedd]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Disclaimer is this:

I do not intend to offend or harrang you in any way.

Now, though...I would like you to answer a few questions for me.

#1. Have you driven the car, yet?
#2. What do you mean by functional?
and #3....is not a question;

I challenge you to find a new sports car on the PLANET...that has the following:

IRS
400+hp
4 seats
and DOESN'T weigh somewhere between 3700-4200lbs.

I think you'll find that you cannot. For the price range? The Camaro actually comes out on the lighter-side of the spectrum. If you can beat that challenge, then you can call it a pig and fat all you like, otherwise, it is an inaccurate statement to make.

Ok, everyone is telling me, "Drive one, drive one." I have driven one. It's a nice car, but I'm the kinda person who likes to take it to the back roads, too. IMO, it just felt heavy, and it is heavy. I want more out of a car than to drive it in a straight line down Main Street and look "cool." 3900 lbs isn't going to get me around a corner very efficiently, is it? I think not.

As to answer your questions; IRS, 400 hp, and 4 seats- 2003-2004 Mustang Cobra. It was "rated" at 390 hp, and weighed around 3600 lbs. Just like the LS1, the Cobra was also making more than its advertised hp rating.

Everyone is caught up on the "pig" word for some reason. Look, the car's heavy, period. Any way you slice it, a mid-sized car shouldn't weigh 3900 lbs, and besides, I'm not here to debate the car being heavy. I am here to find out what I need to remove so I can go out, buy a Camaro, and be happy with it. I want a new Camaro. I DON'T want a Buick Roadmaster.

That's all great that you all love the 5th Generation Camaro, but I don't think anybody was happy about it being as heavy as it is. You all act like you're afraid of offending someone by saying it's a heavy car. I'm not even going to ask, "Why is the 5th Generation Camaro 450 lbs heavier than my 1994 Camaro?"

So, that being said, let's get down to business. I believe FBodFather is Scott Settlemire, correct? If this is the case, I'll go straight to the source. Scott, what are the 450 lbs of extra weight that I don't need? The only things I'm not willing to sacrifice are safety, a/c, or radio.

[deletedd]

Originally Posted by Doc

Okay you say your goal is to have a stylish vehicle with a "decent" power to weight ratio. What do you consider decent? And what is your intended purpose for this? HPDE? Autocross? 1/4 mile?

There's many things you can do to reduce weight but it depends on what you want as a final result and what for; generic terms for goals are not useful to us. Give us specifics and I/we can start to tell you what to do for mods.

I have a 1SS/RS and I can tell you the car is NOT a pig; not in any way, shape or form. No picture does it justice; no amount of "imagining" how it will be equals the actual experience. This car is special in a way I don't think I've ever experienced in any car I've owned and I've owned MANY over the past few decades; all the way from British sports cars to muscle cars (including a 69 Camaro), to Japanese sports cars, to off-road, on-road whatever. And I've driven everything from a Ferrari to a truck.

There's something about this car that makes it more than the sum of it's parts. Drive one first before you judge it. Sounds like you have the money to do mods so I'd recommend renting one for a couple days before you decide to get one. Then we can talk mods.

I don't plan on autocrossing the car, and I don't plan on drag-racing it. The car will probably hardly ever see the light of day on the track. I simply like a vehicle with a reasonable power/weight ratio because I like the feeling of a car that is light on its feet. I'm not looking for this Camaro to feel like an STi. I'm looking for a car where I can leave the mechanics UNMODIFIED, and have excellent performance. My basic goal is to have the "Ultimate Camaro." The Camaro's a good car, but IMO, its weight keeps it from being great. It has the hardware; the power, IRS, big brakes. It doesn't have the moves.

This car will mainly be a weekend toy, so I don't mind going with a base model or skimping on options. I plan on taking it out on back roads, and probably taking it to some shows. Some people own Miatas as toys. I want a Camaro.

I'm not above going out and buying a Mustang GT with a Track Pack, and if that's what I have to do, then I guess that's what I'll have to do, but I want a Camaro. I'm tired of hearing, "Oh, the Mustang's slow, and the Camaro's faster. The Mustang has a live-axle suspension, the Camaro has an IRS. Blah blah blah." Yeah, that's all great. I've heard it all before, and it's a broken record, but I've driven them both; a Mustang and a Camaro, and the Mustang feels much lighter on its feet than the Camaro. I want a Camaro that feels nearly as light on its feet, and I have no problems with removing things to get that.

[coolman]

In this day an age cars are heavy. They have to be do to all the safety tuff and tec tuff inside. I think the other members on here that are making more power and improving the handling are on the right track. Most people don't want a stripped out full blow race car which is what you would have to do to lose that much wieght. A supercharger would go a long way to changing your mind about the car being a pig.

I do know where your coming from through because I had a 1979 chrysler 300 that everyone called a boat that wieghed less than this car does.

[jmcbeth]

Originally Posted by onechuck

You never would know it was this big if you weren't told. You can't feel it any way.

+1

[deletedd]

Originally Posted by coolman

In this day an age cars are heavy. They have to be do to all the safety tuff and tec tuff inside. I think the other members on here that are making more power and improving the handling are on the right track. Most people don't want a stripped out full blow race car which is what you would have to do to lose that much wieght. A supercharger would go a long way to changing your mind about the car being a pig.

I do know where your coming from through because I had a 1979 chrysler 300 that everyone called a boat that wieghed less than this car does.

I dunno, guys. I'm pulling my hair out over this one. While I don't exactly want a stripped out, full-blown race car, I don't mind giving up some sound deadening or going with a fiberglass hood, smaller wheels, etc. I'm used to driving two cars that weigh about 3400-3500 lbs each, and I guess that's what I'm comfortable with. I dunno, it's like having weight limits for dating, but only this time, I'd be "marrying" into it. My "magic number" has always been 3400 lbs.

Originally Posted by jmcbeth

+1

John, what is your opinion of your new SS on back roads? Are you going to be driving it to the meet on September 26th?

[coolman]

Originally Posted by RatedZ

I dunno, guys. I'm pulling my hair out over this one. While I don't exactly want a stripped out, full-blown race car, I don't mind giving up some sound deadening or going with a fiberglass hood, smaller wheels, etc. I'm used to driving two cars that weigh about 3400-3500 lbs each, and I guess that's what I'm comfortable with. I dunno, it's like having weight limits for dating, but only this time, I'd be "marrying" into it. My "magic number" has always been 3400 lbs.



John, what is your opinion of your new SS on back roads? Are you going to be driving it to the meet on September 26th?

I know how you feel and would like the samething. I have an 87 gta trans am with 75 less hp than my wifes 2010 camaro with the v-6 and it feels way more sports car like. I believe this has to be the wieght differance.

[gac458]

I am not sure, but asking for help with lowering the weight of the Camaro by calling it " a pig of a car" is the best way to get real help from those of us who love the Camaro. Although the Camaro may be wider / heavy than some competitors it is definetly no pig, see the Challenger. If you want lighter maybe you should test drive the Miata, Nissan 370Z or Honda S2000. Those might fit your needs better since it seems you are in search of a sports cars not a muscle car. At least that is MHO!

[deletedd]

Originally Posted by coolman

I know how you feel and would like the samething. I have an 87 gta trans am with 75 less hp than my wifes 2010 camaro with the v-6 and it feels way more sports car like. I believe this has to be the wieght differance.

See, this is where I'm at; the same place you are. My dad has an '89 GTA, and the thing feels large, but I think that's due to the steering rack or tired suspension, or something, but I also find the GTA to feel more sport-like. I like a sporty feeling car.

All in all, I want the car with the most potential. If that means that I have to settle for a Mustang with the "Roushcharger" to get what I want, I will do that. Do I prefer to? I do not. I want a Camaro, but I want a Camaro I can be happy with. What will make me happy is a domestic Muscle Car that weighs no more than 3500 lbs, makes over 400 hp, and costs under $35,000. I don't care who makes it.

[deletedd]

Originally Posted by gac458

I am not sure, but asking for help with lowering the weight of the Camaro by calling it " a pig of a car" is the best way to get real help from those of us who love the Camaro. Although the Camaro may be wider / heavy than some competitors it is definetly no pig, see the Challenger. If you want lighter maybe you should test drive the Miata, Nissan 370Z or Honda S2000. Those might fit your needs better since it seems you are in search of a sports cars not a muscle car. At least that is MHO!

Well, then don't help.

What I want is a powerful domestic Muscle Car that not only looks cool cruising Main Street USA, but performs as cool as it looks. That means it accelerates AND handles.

[coolman]

Originally Posted by RatedZ

See, this is where I'm at; the same place you are. My dad has an '89 GTA, and the thing feels large, but I think that's due to the steering rack or tired suspension, or something, but I also find the GTA to feel more sport-like. I like a sporty feeling car.

All in all, I want the car with the most potential. If that means that I have to settle for a Mustang with the "Roushcharger" to get what I want, I will do that. Do I prefer to? I do not. I want a Camaro, but I want a Camaro I can be happy with. What will make me happy is a domestic Muscle Car that weighs no more than 3500 lbs, makes over 400 hp, and costs under $35,000. I don't care who makes it.

I thought you were an all out chevy guy ,but what you just said changes things. I had a 2010 gt500 and sold it to get a camaro because I was stuck on the looks. But the mustang Is a better handling car by far. Stick with the regular gt and add the supercharger over othe gt500 because the gt500 is also heavy. I'm thinking about doing the sameting because you can also get some good deals on mustang gt's right now. They also have a nicer interior.