A Skeptic Finally Sits in the Camaro

[Camaro_Corvette]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Appreciate the honest review, stovt001. Been waiting for it for awhile to be honest, because we had some of the same concerns.

First, as a 3-time Z28 owner and 3-time Mustang GT owner, I'm not expecting Mercedes-quality from the 2010 Camaro. I'm expecting a LOT of performance and style, and a reliable car, and anything after that is gravy.

LOL, most of my posts on the interior have been my honest opinion. No BS from me. The interior is just not my style.

[shockandawe]

I'm glad mine will not be an early production car! I'm at 3000 now.

[stovt001]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Anyway, I actually quite liked the steering wheel and gauges, and the driver's side of the dash is fine. The passenger side does need something to break it up - I really think it could use a strip of aluminum or something like that - but that's nitpicking. Definitely wouldn't stop me from buying the car.

I actually do think the drab dash with the accent strip will be a great way for people to personalize their car with aftermarket kits. Want to class it up? Wood trim. Color match the exterior of the car? No problem. I personally would love some brushed aluminum, so as soon as someone makes that, I'll be all over it.

[stovt001]

Originally Posted by levi1922

so are we saying that a 6'1 135 pound guy, would be slung around in the seats due to lack of lateral support?

Depends on what kind of driving you're doing. I'm 5-8, 140 lbs. When I drive hard on Glendora Mountain Road in my Cobalt, the seats do very little to keep me in place. Most of that work goes to my foot jammed hard against the dead pedal. After a hard GMR run, when I pull back up to my apartment my knee is absolutely killing me. The Camaro seats seemed like a very, very small improvement over the Cobalt seats in that regard. I may very well go aftermarket for seats. Recaros they are not. More like La-Z-boys

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by stovt001

Now I'm excited that it has a strap coming out of that hole. That's a huge upgrade from the system in my Cobalt, where I have to dive into the trunk, pull some knobs, while simultaneously having a friend pull the seat backs forward. That is a good feature!

I hear ya on that one ... the few times I've had to try and fold down my rear seats in my Grand Am I've had to reach in from the trunk like you, then go back around and then pull the seats down. I liked the pull tabs in the Saturn a lot better.

[KILLER74Z28]

Originally Posted by BackinBlackSS/RS

This is the first I have heard of these kinds of issues. Mine has none of those issues.
Let's not go off the deep end here. This is one car with easily fixable items although this should never have left the plant this way. As far as your review goes, quality control aside, there are so many things I disagree with you, I don't know where to begin. I will simply say that based on your review, I don't think this car is for you.

Very true… Let us not forget that the dealership should have inspected and corrected these issues before the care was put in the show room. Looks like it just got a wash and placed in the spotlight. There are many issues we as customers never see if the dealership preps the car the right way.

[levi1922]

Originally Posted by fdjizm

if your 6,1 and 135 i think you have more to worry about than a camaro, how about a cheeseburger or 3?

Originally Posted by irpq11

The guy you're talking about needs to mix in some meat and potatos.

long distance track and cross country seems to burn alot of calories.

[FordDave]

Thanks for the posts. i agree that the roof joint should not have been an issue, and caught during Q/A. As for the paint, very pale colours are always going to be more problematic than solid white or darker ones... nature of the beast. yellow would be the worst. I can't see the 'orange tint' you're refering too on my monitor (laptop) but i'm willing to bet in low light or bright sun you wouldn't see it. Show room floors have direct lighting (frequently LED or halogen) to accentuate the shine of dark paint, but its prehaps the *worst* lighting condition for a yellow car.

As you can tell from my handle i'm a ford mustang guy, but I'm watching the camaro 5 launch closely -- if GM can pull up their socks a bit it has potential of being a great car. The specs are great, they just need to really knuckle down on quality.

I bought a 2010 V6 mustang and have been driving it for a month. I love my car, its the right choice for me (daily driver, fantastic interior). But even my mustang had a few minor production faults, which have been corrected. I offer them here as a peace-offering of Mustang fans to Camaro fans -- keep the faith and hold GM accountable!

1) they forgot a fastener for the right side trunk liner


2) perfectly acceptable and non-visible, but look at the tolerance for the trunk curve:
left side:

right side:

dead on...unnoticeable and sealed tight in rain.


My bad-ass V6 automatic pony w/ 2 kids seats in the rear on weekends!



My point is, for these types of cars there's going to be slight production variations and faults. Watch for them, hold your dealer accountable, don't be afraid to walk away from a purchase. But i've had similar problems with a Lexus and Honda in the past, its par for the course...especially in a new model year.

If you're nervous, wait until the fall and get a later production model, when these issues have been resolved.

[2010SLVRBULIT]

You sure you't drive a 'stang(not a cobalt)?

[stovt001]

Originally Posted by FordDave

Thanks for the posts. i agree that the roof joint should not have been an issue, and caught during Q/A. As for the paint, very pale colours are always going to be more problematic than solid white or darker ones... nature of the beast. yellow would be the worst. I can't see the 'orange tint' you're refering too on my monitor (laptop) but i'm willing to bet in low light or bright sun you wouldn't see it. Show room floors have direct lighting (frequently LED or halogen) to accentuate the shine of dark paint, but its prehaps the *worst* lighting condition for a yellow car.

Right you are that yellow is probably one of the worst paints for showing defects, right up there with black. The problem I noted wasn't orange tint, it is what is called "orange peel" where the paint looks like it has a pebbled texture, sorta like an orange peel. It shows up clearest in the picture in my second post of the Camaro badge. Notice how the light isn't reflected smoothly? That's what we're talking about. The flat, matte spot is really tough to see in these pictures. In the picture from the rear quarter looking at the door, you can just barely see a difference below the door handle stretching back to the back of the door, almost coming to the rear "gills". I had trouble finding lighting that made it show up on my humble point-and-shoot camera. As Number 3 said, paint defects happen on all mass produced cars, but they do vary by extent, so just make sure your car has a paint job you can live with. I'm ok with some orange peel, but this car's paint had a few too many defects for me.

Let me reiterate that my view of this car is almost completely positive. I feel even better about this car now than I did before I got a chance to sit in it. The visibility, steering wheel, and materials are not at all as bad as they are made out to be in the professional reviews, at least in my opinion. The seats I'm still not too happy with, but they along with these isolated build quality issues were my only negative perceptions, and I really looked this car over. Now if only I could drive one...make that two, V6 and SS please.

[speedster]

Originally Posted by KILLER74Z28

Very true… Let us not forget that the dealership should have inspected and corrected these issues before the care was put in the show room. Looks like it just got a wash and placed in the spotlight. There are many issues we as customers never see if the dealership preps the car the right way.

Agreed. Thank You stovt001 for the review. It seemed to be quite unbiased.

I will add that if anyone thinks these are dealbreakers you are looking at the wrong car. Buy a Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren or Bugatti. Perfection costs a bundle. These are mass produced units of a new design on a retooled production facility. There WILL be bugs. If you think it does not happen with other mass production items, you are only kidding yourself. It does.

Overall, a great review. Thanks Again.

[Camaro_Corvette]

Originally Posted by FordDave

Thanks for the posts. i agree that the roof joint should not have been an issue, and caught during Q/A. As for the paint, very pale colours are always going to be more problematic than solid white or darker ones... nature of the beast. yellow would be the worst. I can't see the 'orange tint' you're refering too on my monitor (laptop) but i'm willing to bet in low light or bright sun you wouldn't see it. Show room floors have direct lighting (frequently LED or halogen) to accentuate the shine of dark paint, but its prehaps the *worst* lighting condition for a yellow car.

As you can tell from my handle i'm a ford mustang guy, but I'm watching the camaro 5 launch closely -- if GM can pull up their socks a bit it has potential of being a great car. The specs are great, they just need to really knuckle down on quality.

I bought a 2010 V6 mustang and have been driving it for a month. I love my car, its the right choice for me (daily driver, fantastic interior). But even my mustang had a few minor production faults, which have been corrected. I offer them here as a peace-offering of Mustang fans to Camaro fans -- keep the faith and hold GM accountable!

1) they forgot a fastener for the right side trunk liner


2) perfectly acceptable and non-visible, but look at the tolerance for the trunk curve:
left side:

right side:

dead on...unnoticeable and sealed tight in rain.


My bad-ass V6 automatic pony w/ 2 kids seats in the rear on weekends!



My point is, for these types of cars there's going to be slight production variations and faults. Watch for them, hold your dealer accountable, don't be afraid to walk away from a purchase. But i've had similar problems with a Lexus and Honda in the past, its par for the course...especially in a new model year.

If you're nervous, wait until the fall and get a later production model, when these issues have been resolved.

Welcome FordDave

Originally Posted by 2010SLVRBULIT

You sure you't drive a 'stang(not a cobalt)?

?Not getting you?

[ArcAngel]

Originally Posted by FordDave

Thanks for the posts. i agree that the roof joint should not have been an issue, and caught during Q/A. As for the paint, very pale colours are always going to be more problematic than solid white or darker ones... nature of the beast. yellow would be the worst. I can't see the 'orange tint' you're refering too on my monitor (laptop) but i'm willing to bet in low light or bright sun you wouldn't see it. Show room floors have direct lighting (frequently LED or halogen) to accentuate the shine of dark paint, but its prehaps the *worst* lighting condition for a yellow car.

As you can tell from my handle i'm a ford mustang guy, but I'm watching the camaro 5 launch closely -- if GM can pull up their socks a bit it has potential of being a great car. The specs are great, they just need to really knuckle down on quality.

I bought a 2010 V6 mustang and have been driving it for a month. I love my car, its the right choice for me (daily driver, fantastic interior). But even my mustang had a few minor production faults, which have been corrected. I offer them here as a peace-offering of Mustang fans to Camaro fans -- keep the faith and hold GM accountable!

1) they forgot a fastener for the right side trunk liner


2) perfectly acceptable and non-visible, but look at the tolerance for the trunk curve:
left side:

right side:

dead on...unnoticeable and sealed tight in rain.


My bad-ass V6 automatic pony w/ 2 kids seats in the rear on weekends!



My point is, for these types of cars there's going to be slight production variations and faults. Watch for them, hold your dealer accountable, don't be afraid to walk away from a purchase. But i've had similar problems with a Lexus and Honda in the past, its par for the course...especially in a new model year.

If you're nervous, wait until the fall and get a later production model, when these issues have been resolved.

Very honest and nice review!! I am sure that all cars will have hiccups even the supposedly awesome Toyotas lol PS you see guys Mustang drivers arent all bad lol

[bluch]

Originally Posted by Number 3

First, A-pillar trim is basically a snap in attachment. Likely needs to be popped back in place. Not a huge deal, should have been caught in prep. And the part may have been removed and reinstalled for some other reason and not re installed properly. I haven't seen anything like this in any Camaro so far and I've seen way more than you guys.

Second, gap in the rear seat is where the pull tab for the folding seat comes out. IT IS NOT POOR QUALITY IN THE STITCHING. Someone clearly pushed it back in. Look at any other photo on this site including mine and you'll see the pull tab coming out of the slot.

The "Orange peel" is on nearly every car to some degree. Lighting can and often does make it look worse than it is. This isn't a problem for me. But you'll have to judge for yourselves. Mass production does not allow for "perfect" paint jobs. The paint on the Camaro is equal to any other GM car or truck.

I can't speak to the other issues as they don't show up in photos.

Don't over react to this.