Callaway Camaro SC Review By Edmunds Inside Line:

[Callaway Chris]

Originally Posted by hairtrigger

It's a cool car but I honestly would like to know how outfits like Callaway SLP Hennessy and all the others can throw on a few bolt ons and double the price of the car.

Most of the people who read forums like this one are car guys and know what the parts and pieces are really worth. Maybe their built for the rich unwashed masses.

I'll speak for Callaway only, when I say our drivability is unparalleled, our powertrain warranty is peerless, and our fit and finish is second to none!

On Friday night, I was at a cruise-in in our Callaway Corvette SC606 - the package costs $20,900 and delivers all the aforementioned items in a package that looks like it's been there since day-one.

Beside me, was a 2007 red Corvette w/ a TVS1900 SC "package" the owner said he had $30,000 in the car, including two trips BACK TO THE BUILDER/SHOP to make things right...

He did claim to have 12 more hp than our car however, his engine bay was a mess. No trim itms and hardware store clamps used throughout.

Callaway has engineered seriously fast cars for the past 35 years and while some might think it is easy to be a car guy and make a car fast, I'll ask - is it reliable? How's the drivability, fuel economy, and what happened to your warranty? I've been around long enough to already know the answers...

[hairtrigger]

Originally Posted by Callaway Chris

I'll speak for Callaway only, when I say our drivability is unparalleled, our powertrain warranty is peerless, and our fit and finish is second to none!

On Friday night, I was at a cruise-in in our Callaway Corvette SC606 - the package costs $20,900 and delivers all the aforementioned items in a package that looks like it's been there since day-one.

Beside me, was a 2007 red Corvette w/ a TVS1900 SC "package" the owner said he had $30,000 in the car, including two trips BACK TO THE BUILDER/SHOP to make things right...

He did claim to have 12 more hp than our car however, his engine bay was a mess. No trim itms and hardware store clamps used throughout.

Callaway has engineered seriously fast cars for the past 35 years and while some might think it is easy to be a car guy and make a car fast, I'll ask - is it reliable? How's the drivability, fuel economy, and what happened to your warranty? I've been around long enough to already know the answers...

Thanks for explaining that. I have seen some of your cars in person but have never driven one. You do a very professional job for sure. And if you can sell them for that price then there is a market for quality tuner cars.

Maybe there aren't as many guys like myself, though, who completely enjoy doing my own research and have the skills and shop to do my own modifications to a very high level for half the price.

I will admit the satisfaction of doing it to my own cars doesn't give me the cool factor that comes with your 'badge'.

[godfathercrc]

Vortech supercharger kooks longtube headers corsa cat back vortech boost-a-pump $ 10300.00 runs 11:70 1/4 mile you can keep your $ 90000.00 dallar callaway camaro that runs 12s

[IamLliw]

Originally Posted by Bryan

The 17k is just for the blower package if I recall correctly. Add in brakes, body kit/spoiler, see through hood, suspension etc and it gets a lot more.

Ah you're right.

but it isn't like 90k more.

with the blower, suspension, brakes, all that, u still get only like 30~40K more on the car.

i dunno how it's 90k total???

http://www.callawaycars.com/las/Call...aroPricing.htm

[Thrillz]

I think its fair to say we have beatn him up about the price including myself but i say lets move on and talk about the car itself.

[maxxer442]

This is a rediculous thread.....No one who is in the market for a new camaro is ever going to consider buying a callaway version. Its going to be bought by someone with fat cash who wants a fast car and doesn't want to mess w/it. That being said, if you people at Callaway want to come off as arrogant,(maybe you don't mean to, but thats how its coming off), saying that people on this forum couldn't build a camaro that would out perform yours for half as much money or less, and still pass emissions, you're insane. I know, I know the warranty. But for 20k more on top of the mods?? I have a 2010 SS, it was 37k, and if you think I can't pick up a half second for 50g more?? wow.

[jpf1087]

I think a lot of people are still missing the point. Yeah you can take some bolt ons and make a Camaro faster than the Callaway one. Yeah its a little pricey. But the idea is that its driveable, reliable, and completely compliant with all emissions standards in every state. Just the engineering feat of improving driveability while improving performance is a serious success. Then you have to add on top of that the supercharged engine that runs on 91 octane without knock. As much as those of us with bolt ons may be satisfied with the performance, we've none the less lost in some aspect. The bolt ons we put together aren't always designed to work with one another. Starting with the intake and going all the way to the exhaust, changing any piece changes a piece of the equation and this can cause trouble. Just thermally, there's the alteration of inlet and exit temperatures that affect the actual performance and the repetitive thermal loading of engine components. Add to this the physical fatigue loading of components. Then there's the vibrations alterations based on the new distribution of weight and material because of addons. This is not to mention several other aspects of the engineering. While I cannot vouch for callaway, the company has obviously thought a lot more about these - and designed for them - than the standard person adding mix and match components. Congratulations on having a faster car than callaway. They've likely done the work to know when and where theirs will fail though - a piece of mind they can hopefully pass on to their customers for the monumental price tag.

[monstertodd]

Originally Posted by jpf1087

I think a lot of people are still missing the point. Yeah you can take some bolt ons and make a Camaro faster than the Callaway one. Yeah its a little pricey. But the idea is that its driveable, reliable, and completely compliant with all emissions standards in every state. Just the engineering feat of improving driveability while improving performance is a serious success. Then you have to add on top of that the supercharged engine that runs on 91 octane without knock. As much as those of us with bolt ons may be satisfied with the performance, we've none the less lost in some aspect. The bolt ons we put together aren't always designed to work with one another. Starting with the intake and going all the way to the exhaust, changing any piece changes a piece of the equation and this can cause trouble. Just thermally, there's the alteration of inlet and exit temperatures that affect the actual performance and the repetitive thermal loading of engine components. Add to this the physical fatigue loading of components. Then there's the vibrations alterations based on the new distribution of weight and material because of addons. This is not to mention several other aspects of the engineering. While I cannot vouch for callaway, the company has obviously thought a lot more about these - and designed for them - than the standard person adding mix and match components. Congratulations on having a faster car than callaway. They've likely done the work to know when and where theirs will fail though - a piece of mind they can hopefully pass on to their customers for the monumental price tag.

Yea, but not for 90,000. That's crazy.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Nice car for sure but 12. 4 in 1/4 mile? There is a stock time of 12.5 up here, so something is off here. 90K for 12.4 or 32K+ for high 12's stock. Not to be disrespectful,
but you have to admit that's not much performance gain for that kind of coin.

[Callaway Chris]

Originally Posted by jpf1087

I think a lot of people are still missing the point. Yeah you can take some bolt ons and make a Camaro faster than the Callaway one. Yeah its a little pricey. But the idea is that its driveable, reliable, and completely compliant with all emissions standards in every state. Just the engineering feat of improving driveability while improving performance is a serious success. Then you have to add on top of that the supercharged engine that runs on 91 octane without knock. As much as those of us with bolt ons may be satisfied with the performance, we've none the less lost in some aspect. The bolt ons we put together aren't always designed to work with one another. Starting with the intake and going all the way to the exhaust, changing any piece changes a piece of the equation and this can cause trouble. Just thermally, there's the alteration of inlet and exit temperatures that affect the actual performance and the repetitive thermal loading of engine components. Add to this the physical fatigue loading of components. Then there's the vibrations alterations based on the new distribution of weight and material because of addons. This is not to mention several other aspects of the engineering. While I cannot vouch for callaway, the company has obviously thought a lot more about these - and designed for them - than the standard person adding mix and match components. Congratulations on having a faster car than callaway. They've likely done the work to know when and where theirs will fail though - a piece of mind they can hopefully pass on to their customers for the monumental price tag.

A well thought out post - thanks! Sounds like you not only read the article, but also understand there is much more to fast cars than throwing parts and hoping it works, and holds together

[Callaway Chris]

Originally Posted by monstertodd

Yea, but not for 90,000. That's crazy.

Yeah, good thing that includes (the price of) the car

Also, the carbon fiber body adds significant cost to the Callaway option. So do the brakes. If you took those two options away, one would save nearly $30k

[buzzy56]

Man you guys sure are tough!Starts out with a great product review and ends up with a critical assessment of someones product.They are providing a product for a market that must be there or they would not have been in business this long.That being said it might not be everyones cup of tea,but dam if you don't like the price or think that you can do better go do it and don't bash the man and his business.Need more respect for individuals and their post on this forum.We are all just individuals that have one thing in common.We love this car.Let's not be so critical!!If you want do it yourself go for it.If you want to buy it and drive it, more power too you.See it really does not matter as long as we enjoy what we have and apprecitate how we got it. In the end it is a CAMARO!!

[monstertodd]

Originally Posted by buzzy56

Man you guys sure are tough!Starts out with a great product review and ends up with a critical assessment of someones product.They are providing a product for a market that must be there or they would not have been in business this long.That being said it might not be everyones cup of tea,but dam if you don't like the price or think that you can do better go do it and don't bash the man and his business.Need more respect for individuals and their post on this forum.We are all just individuals that have one thing in common.We love this car.Let's not be so critical!!If you want do it yourself go for it.If you want to buy it and drive it, more power too you.See it really does not matter as long as we enjoy what we have and apprecitate how we got it. In the end it is a CAMARO!!

Regardless of that fact, just the mere action of posting this article is going to invite opinions. Yes you have to "register" to be here, but this is a forum made up of the public. And everyone is going to have different opinions on a car like this. It comes with the territory and Callaway Chris understands this.

If no one was critical of anything, nothing would ever change. Fact of life.

[Callaway Chris]

Originally Posted by buzzy56

Man you guys sure are tough!Starts out with a great product review and ends up with a critical assessment of someones product.They are providing a product for a market that must be there or they would not have been in business this long.That being said it might not be everyones cup of tea,but dam if you don't like the price or think that you can do better go do it and don't bash the man and his business.Need more respect for individuals and their post on this forum.We are all just individuals that have one thing in common.We love this car.Let's not be so critical!!If you want do it yourself go for it.If you want to buy it and drive it, more power too you.See it really does not matter as long as we enjoy what we have and apprecitate how we got it. In the end it is a CAMARO!!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by monstertodd

Regardless of that fact, just the mere action of posting this article is going to invite opinions. Yes you have to "register" to be here, but this is a forum made up of the public. And everyone is going to have different opinions on a car like this. It comes with the territory and Callaway Chris understands this.

If no one was critical of anything, nothing would ever change. Fact of life.

Actually, I do not understand. But then again, it's the internet... I posted the article written by a set of journalists and our product was picked apart by those who probably didn't read much, if any of the feature.

It is always interesting to see/hear of those who put out their opinions on the internet, as if they ARE the authority. Maybe, in an effort to level the playing field, folks should post their qualifications. Reading something on the internet and hoping it works, does not make one an engineer