A Few Concerns Pre-Purchase

[oldfriend]

This car is not a friendly [kids] transporter , two door front pass seat airbag and ,and on should keep what you drive and get the one you want as a second one !

[FB3]

Well since 2SSARMY brought up the paddle shifter I have to give my opinion also. I had a C6 Corvette that I ordered with the auto paddle shift. Huge mistake. No matter what anyone says it is still an automatic. All the swithes on the wheel do is exactly what the shift lever on the console does - tell an automatic transmission when to shift.

A lot of people like automatics and that is great. If you are someone who likes driving manual, the auto will not be acceptable. If you are someone who likes driving auto then the manual is not for you.

However, anyone who says that the paddle shift is a great substitute (or even a mediocre substitute) for a manual transmission just does not know how to drive or does not like to drive a manual. And before someone pipes up and says the the auto is as fast as the manual, that is true, but it has a lot to do with the skill of the driver of the manual.

[Sidewinder]

Just go ahead and get the V8 Automatic and a low priced DD for everyday. Be careful though because your wife will want the Camaro and leave you with the DD and baby seats.

[Tsaar]

Originally Posted by 2SSARMY

Too much hype about stick.

Paddleshifters are more fun. Don't have to worry about grinding your gears or messing up your clutch. You don't have to impress anyone.

Actually I just am afraid I will have to replace the clutch often because of stop and go traffic burning it up, not because I will be showing off.

I am a fairly vanilla driver.

[FB3]

Clutch wear is a non issue if you don't intentionally abuse it. It will not take you very long to get comfortable with it and shifting will become second nature.

That being said, if you are really that worried about driving a manual perhaps you shoud get the auto. Nothing wrong with that if that is your persuasion.

[Sterling]

I've got a Cyber gray LT/M6... I love it. Stop and go traffic doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would. I love driving the manual... it makes it more of an experience. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly in stop and go traffic, you'll be a pro before you know it. The gray does seem to get dirty very easily... of you really want low maintenance you really should go with silver. Just get some rally stripes on it to change up the character a little. It's amazing how much rally stripes changes the look of the silver cars.

[Tsaar]

I definitely do like Cyber Gray better, but it just seems that people think it is hard to keep clean.

I also worried about how well it hides scratches.

I thinking about going silver over the gray just for these reasons.

I am absolutely torn on the manual versus auto thing. I think I will regret my decision either way.

At this point I have it like this:
Color: CGM or SIM
Int: Gray or Beige
Trim: 2LT
Transmission: ARGHHHHH!!!!

Edit: I sincerely want a manual, and I am not worried about my limited experience because I would pick it up fairly fast, but with my wife not even wanting to learn to drive manual and with the terrible traffic...I may just go with automatic...

[NicksVSix]

I have an LS with manual trans as my only car. I also have a car seat in the back formy 5 year old. She/we have no issues with her getting in and out. It's a bit tougher than my old 4 door Alero, but not so much as to make it an issue.

But...kids make *everything* tougher than it needs to be. It's like they do in on purpose, so don't worry....2 door, 4 door, either way it's a battle just to get your kid(s) in the damned car! If you love Camaros, don't let kids in the future stop you...trying to get your kids dressed in the morning and out of the house on time is gonna make getting them into your 2 door Camaro look easy by comparison.

As for the tranny....I love manual transmissions. There are times where I think the auto might have been the right choice, but that's usually only when I'm driving in stop and go traffic with a cup of coffee in the cup holder.
Other than that I really feel that any type of sports car screams for manual transmission. It's just *really* fun to shift!

My $0.02

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by Tsaar

Some background: 24, engineer, married, no kids YET (within 2 years), Atlanta traffic every day for ~60 miles ->

Looking to purchase my first out of college car.

1) I have always owned automatic transmission trucks. I have driven a stick maybe 1 hour of my life on country roads that were perfectly flat (my grandfather's old '90 Toyota Tercel). Assuming I buy this car I am very nervous about getting a stick. First, because I have practically no experience and will not have time to invest a lot of learning before I am stuck in traffic. Second, I am worried with stop and go traffic I will burn out my transmission in 10k miles. I definitely do not want to buy any sports car with an automatic though (I am getting a V6...I care about gas mileage with my commute). Any thoughts on these concerns?

2) Kids will be on the way when I own this car. How bad would it suck for me to carry a baby in this car?

3) I am trying to decide between Silver and Cyber Gray. I *want* Cryber Gray more, but how well does it hide dirt and scratches (I currently drive a black vehicle and HATE how the scratches and dirt show)? I like the Silver, it just seems kind of plain.

I am afraid if I don't get the 2 door sports car now, I won't be able to for 25+ years. I am also nervous about committing myself to something I have no clue if I will love or hate.

Sounds to me like the camaro is not the right car for you right now. From what you said in your post ,I think you might regret the purchase not far down the road.

[USAFJeeper]

One more point on the auto vs manual. Now I am a Manual driver I have owned a manual transmission on every vehicle it was available on that I bought. I feel like I am really driving when I shift.

If you have not been a manual driver there is no stigma in an automatic at all. The newer ones are quite good.

During Katrina I drove 180 miles evacuating New Orleans. I was driving a Jeep Wrangler manual shift. The trip took 12 hours. At that point I was begging for the Lord to come down and install an automatic in my Jeep. My legs were jelly and I was seeing visions of brilliant colors and leaping fanciful creatures.

If you are spending a lot of time in Atlanta traffic, get the automatic, especially if you are not a regular manual shift driver.

[USIRON]

Tsaar, I have been driving stick shift vehicles for over 40 years, in all conditions, on and off road, I have never burned out a clutch!! The control is in your right foot, you don't floor it until the clutch is fully engaged. You already know how to drive one as you have stated. You WILL be comfortable with driving a stick in any condition in a very short time after you get your Camaro. Here is a question, can your future wife drive a stick? Or is she willing to learn? My wife loves to drive ours. She says she decompresses after work when she drives home. It seems that you have the KID thing covered as she has a 4-door. I don't have kids but can see that dealing with them in the back seat of a Camaro will be a super PITA! All I can say from many years of experiance is get WHAT YOU REALLY WANT, Don't compromise as you will not be happy in the long run and the Camaro will end up being your (and her) fun car any way. Her's will always be basic transportation 1-each. Have fun and good luck.

[Tsaar]

Originally Posted by USIRON

Tsaar, I have been driving stick shift vehicles for over 40 years, in all conditions, on and off road, I have never burned out a clutch!! The control is in your right foot, you don't floor it until the clutch is fully engaged. You already know how to drive one as you have stated. You WILL be comfortable with driving a stick in any condition in a very short time after you get your Camaro. Here is a question, can your future wife drive a stick? Or is she willing to learn? My wife loves to drive ours. She says she decompresses after work when she drives home. It seems that you have the KID thing covered as she has a 4-door. I don't have kids but can see that dealing with them in the back seat of a Camaro will be a super PITA! All I can say from many years of experiance is get WHAT YOU REALLY WANT, Don't compromise as you will not be happy in the long run and the Camaro will end up being your (and her) fun car any way. Her's will always be basic transportation 1-each. Have fun and good luck.

I *KNOW* how to, but very limited experience. Like I said a couple hours max in an old Tercel on flat country roads with no traffic (grandparents live in Mississippi literally in the middle of nowhere it seems...it is peaceful out there).

I also have quite a bit of experience on a dirt bike...but that doesn't translate very well to a pony car.

After I decide which color (maybe a good question would be...how bad is scratches/cleaning of a CGM versus a pure black?), I will probably just go to the dealer and tell him <Color>, 2LT, RS, and either transmission. Whichever is available I will take.

[Jefe's SS]

Originally Posted by Tsaar

I *KNOW* how to, but very limited experience. Like I said a couple hours max in an old Tercel on flat country roads with no traffic (grandparents live in Mississippi literally in the middle of nowhere it seems...it is peaceful out there).

I also have quite a bit of experience on a dirt bike...but that doesn't translate very well to a pony car.

After I decide which color (maybe a good question would be...how bad is scratches/cleaning of a CGM versus a pure black?), I will probably just go to the dealer and tell him <Color>, 2LT, RS, and either transmission. Whichever is available I will take.

In my experience gray cars do not show scratchs. I can't speak to the gray on these Camaros but I imagine not even close to swirls you see in black. The gray also seems to hide dirt better than even silver. The best is somewhere inbetween dark gray and silver.