It's time to say Goodbye... - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

TastyBake · 10-08-2025, 11:54 PM

Well it happened.

Long story:
Originally, I had a '99 Grand Prix GT. Fairly extensive mods including an '05 GTP engine swap and it made 300 lbs at the wheels. Kept it for 12 years with 247k miles but I got tired of looking at the same interior.

In 2011, I traded it in for a new 2011 Camaro LT/RS. I got onto this forum a few days before I purchased this for mod research.

Mods:
- Ported Throttle Body
- Cold Air Inductions kit
- LED Side marker lights (loved them but pain will occur if you stare at them)
- ZL1 Upper Grille (Best mod)
- Radio Screen Protector (stayed scratch free all those years)
- Red leather stitching and red Camaro badging (same as the GP).

No engine lights. No accidents. Clean title. Yes, rust bubbles were starting again at the rear quarter panels due to the way the rain flowed. Fixed it one year and they came back stronger.

Unfortunately...I hydroplaned on the highway during very heavy rain and I hit the guard rail pretty hard. I knew it was bad on the 1st hit but when I bounced on it again, the air bag to deployed. I knew there was no repair for this. Thankfully, it parked itself on the side and in parallel to traffic so I wouldn't hit on-coming traffic.

911 called the city's tow company which was a huge mistake as they charged me $350 to get it out whereas I could have called someone else for way cheaper. I helped pick up pieces of it and put it onto the tow truck.
Visiting it at the impound lot to clean it out was an ultra sad experience as it looked fine everwhere until you see the missing, pushed in front end and scratches in random places. All the claying, ceramic coating, and waxing...and it is now this. My car. Sitting amongst the destroyed daily driver like it wasn't special. I kept thinking "aww man, this is mine! It shouldn't be this way. It shouldn't be here!".

It only had liability (rats!!) so no payout for it being totaled. Copart is buying it for $1200 which is the best deal I can get for it. Other places wanted $400. I could have parted it out and gotten a bit more as its an RS package with leather and 20" rims but it would be a tremendous hassle to store it.

I've had it for over 14 years and it was officially the most reliable car I've ever owned. I was thinking something random has got to go wrong soon like an alternator or rubber piece but it never happened. It did had pretty serious wheel rash, rust bubbles on both rear quarters, and rust at the bottom of the doors but I was going to fix those next April as I was going to try keeping it for another 10 years. However, I saw rust holes in the front bumper frame so realistically it wouldn't last too long anyway.

Because of this, I got to say good bye. I wanted to officially thank everyone here for the solid advice on what to mod, showing me how cool it can look if I modded it further (Black Camaro forum), and for the hillarious comments.

I won't get another Camaro. and I honestly don't know what I will get. I have snow wheels and tires for sell.

I will stay on a bit more and maybe jump in here / there but its time to take my memories of having one of the coolest cars around into the sunset.

Thank you for reading.

pyroguy · 10-09-2025, 04:12 AM

How sad! I’m glad to hear you’re physically alright, but sad to see you lose your baby. Best wishes in the future.

Aqua Blue RS/SS · 10-09-2025, 09:01 AM

Glad you are ok. That is what matters the most. Looks like you’ve had some excellent memories in your car that will last a life time. At the end of the day as hard as it is to come to grips with some times… cars are nothing more than metal, plastic, glass, and rubber. They can be replaced at anytime. Your life, health, physical comfort and condition can’t. I hope you enjoy the next chapter of your life as much as the 5th Gen chapter. They truly are special cars.

TastyBake · 10-09-2025, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

Glad you are ok. That is what matters the most. Looks like you’ve had some excellent memories in your car that will last a life time. At the end of the day as hard as it is to come to grips with some times… cars are nothing more than metal, plastic, glass, and rubber. They can be replaced at anytime. Your life, health, physical comfort and condition can’t. I hope you enjoy the next chapter of your life as much as the 5th Gen chapter. They truly are special cars.

Thanks.

I think of it this way:
"It got parallel to the guard rail in the very end. Guess it was watching out for me." Is it "alive" with a spirit of some kind. Oh, absolutely not! It is rubber, plastic, glass, and metal designed by folks drinking vats of red bull to meet a deadline.

Since these are Australian cars, they are pretty beefy. Yea, it weighs more but it paid off for me. As far as injuries, just a slightly sore neck per a dr. visit and pride (for now).

Going to sell it today.

1JEWLDSSRS · 10-09-2025, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

Glad you are ok. That is what matters the most. Looks like you’ve had some excellent memories in your car that will last a life time. At the end of the day as hard as it is to come to grips with some times… cars are nothing more than metal, plastic, glass, and rubber. They can be replaced at anytime. Your life, health, physical comfort and condition can’t. I hope you enjoy the next chapter of your life as much as the 5th Gen chapter. They truly are special cars.

Couldn't have said it any better myself. So glad you are alright though! Good luck in the "next" chapter of your life book. And yeah these Camaros are TANKS, and are very safe in protecting us, and am glad you had all those years of enjoyment with it. Oh, and they were built in Canada, not Australia. Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.. Cheers and stay safe..

Moto-Mojo · 10-09-2025, 12:19 PM

Sad story, however...it could've been much, much worse. This old ZL1 crash still haunts me. Happened in Palmdale, CA in 2017. Father and daughter lost in the crash. The car was severed in two. So, count thy blessings and stay safe out there.

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xstuntman · 10-09-2025, 01:06 PM

Good that you walked away, sad to see another Camaro gone tho.

Heres to all the lost but not forgotten Camaros.

Number 3 · 10-09-2025, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TastyBake

Thanks.

I think of it this way:
"It got parallel to the guard rail in the very end. Guess it was watching out for me." Is it "alive" with a spirit of some kind. Oh, absolutely not! It is rubber, plastic, glass, and metal designed by folks drinking vats of red bull to meet a deadline.

Since these are Australian cars, they are pretty beefy. Yea, it weighs more but it paid off for me. As far as injuries, just a slightly sore neck per a dr. visit and pride (for now).

Going to sell it today.

There is a bit of a story on these supposed Australian cars. The first Camaro prototypes were brought to the US for the road simulator validation. Let’s just say they didn’t do very well and the US engineers took it over the finish line.

That being said Holden had a bit in their proving ground schedule called the “Outback Test”. It generally made the cars beefier but also heavier.

Glad you are ok even if the car isn’t.

Dirgam · 10-09-2025, 05:41 PM

Very sorry to hear but as everyone else has said, glad you are okay.

TastyBake · 10-09-2025, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moto-Mojo

Sad story, however...it could've been much, much worse. This old ZL1 crash still haunts me. Happened in Palmdale, CA in 2017. Father and daughter lost in the crash. The car was severed in two. So, count thy blessings and stay safe out there.

Attachment 1168879

Oh. I didn't know about this. That puts things into perspective. Thanks for letting me know about this.

Life is all about a point of view/perspective and this changed mine.

joekono · 10-10-2025, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TastyBake

Oh. I didn't know about this. That puts things into perspective. Thanks for letting me know about this.

Life is all about a point of view/perspective and this changed mine.

I'm glad you're OK, that's all that matters.

redcoats1976 · 10-10-2025, 06:10 PM

Glad you are ok.these cars are built very tough.i was hit in the rear !/4 panel drivers side by a front wheel of a semi.and wound up pushed down the road at 60 mph sideways for about 1/4 mile while listening to the semi bellow through the broken drivers window 6 inches away. when he hit the brakes the car did a 180 and crossed 2 more lanes of traffic before coming to a stop in the median of I-275. air bags didnt deploy..a new door,1/4 panel,rear wheel and other bits and pieces totalling 13k brought it back from the dead,with no problems since then.it is true that i dont like being near semis since then though,any trip on a major highway is still nerve wracking.

102SS · 10-11-2025, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number 3

There is a bit of a story on these supposed Australian cars. The first Camaro prototypes were brought to the US for the road simulator validation. Let’s just say they didn’t do very well and the US engineers took it over the finish line.

That being said Holden had a bit in their proving ground schedule called the “Outback Test”. It generally made the cars beefier but also heavier.

Glad you are ok even if the car isn’t.

The chassis was sort of Australian the ZETA was a full size platform the V series Commodores came in at 4200lbs +.

GM chopped and narrowed it into ZETA 2 getting the Tank down to 3800lbs or so

The cars were then lovingly built in Canada

TastyBake · 10-19-2025, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redcoats1976

Glad you are ok.these cars are built very tough.i was hit in the rear !/4 panel drivers side by a front wheel of a semi.and wound up pushed down the road at 60 mph sideways for about 1/4 mile while listening to the semi bellow through the broken drivers window 6 inches away. when he hit the brakes the car did a 180 and crossed 2 more lanes of traffic before coming to a stop in the median of I-275. air bags didnt deploy..a new door,1/4 panel,rear wheel and other bits and pieces totalling 13k brought it back from the dead,with no problems since then.it is true that i dont like being near semis since then though,any trip on a major highway is still nerve wracking.

Update:
Sold it for $1100. The catalytic converter + RS package equipment are worth more but I had no place to store it for parts.

That sounds like a more intense crash!
I could have been repaired but it would have costed +$9k at a minimum due to the rusty frame, it would have been horrible to drive unless I put in way more $$$, and I could never have sold it to gain back its value since the airbags deployed in my case.

But overall, this helped greatly seeing things from a different perspective. Thanks, guys!

10-08-2025, 11:54 PM	#1
TastyBake Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT/RS Black Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 980	It's time to say Goodbye... Well it happened. Long story: Originally, I had a '99 Grand Prix GT. Fairly extensive mods including an '05 GTP engine swap and it made 300 lbs at the wheels. Kept it for 12 years with 247k miles but I got tired of looking at the same interior. In 2011, I traded it in for a new 2011 Camaro LT/RS. I got onto this forum a few days before I purchased this for mod research. Mods: - Ported Throttle Body - Cold Air Inductions kit - LED Side marker lights (loved them but pain will occur if you stare at them) - ZL1 Upper Grille (Best mod) - Radio Screen Protector (stayed scratch free all those years) - Red leather stitching and red Camaro badging (same as the GP). No engine lights. No accidents. Clean title. Yes, rust bubbles were starting again at the rear quarter panels due to the way the rain flowed. Fixed it one year and they came back stronger. Unfortunately...I hydroplaned on the highway during very heavy rain and I hit the guard rail pretty hard. I knew it was bad on the 1st hit but when I bounced on it again, the air bag to deployed. I knew there was no repair for this. Thankfully, it parked itself on the side and in parallel to traffic so I wouldn't hit on-coming traffic. 911 called the city's tow company which was a huge mistake as they charged me $350 to get it out whereas I could have called someone else for way cheaper. I helped pick up pieces of it and put it onto the tow truck. Visiting it at the impound lot to clean it out was an ultra sad experience as it looked fine everwhere until you see the missing, pushed in front end and scratches in random places. All the claying, ceramic coating, and waxing...and it is now this. My car. Sitting amongst the destroyed daily driver like it wasn't special. I kept thinking "aww man, this is mine! It shouldn't be this way. It shouldn't be here!". It only had liability (rats!!) so no payout for it being totaled. Copart is buying it for $1200 which is the best deal I can get for it. Other places wanted $400. I could have parted it out and gotten a bit more as its an RS package with leather and 20" rims but it would be a tremendous hassle to store it. I've had it for over 14 years and it was officially the most reliable car I've ever owned. I was thinking something random has got to go wrong soon like an alternator or rubber piece but it never happened. It did had pretty serious wheel rash, rust bubbles on both rear quarters, and rust at the bottom of the doors but I was going to fix those next April as I was going to try keeping it for another 10 years. However, I saw rust holes in the front bumper frame so realistically it wouldn't last too long anyway. Because of this, I got to say good bye. I wanted to officially thank everyone here for the solid advice on what to mod, showing me how cool it can look if I modded it further (Black Camaro forum), and for the hillarious comments. I won't get another Camaro. and I honestly don't know what I will get. I have snow wheels and tires for sell. I will stay on a bit more and maybe jump in here / there but its time to take my memories of having one of the coolest cars around into the sunset. Thank you for reading. Attached Images

10-09-2025, 04:12 AM	#2
pyroguy Started#gottalovethatblue Drives: ABM #832 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: GA Posts: 7,088 View My Garage	How sad! I’m glad to hear you’re physically alright, but sad to see you lose your baby. Best wishes in the future. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #832 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

10-09-2025, 09:01 AM	#3
Aqua Blue RS/SS Drives: ABM #93 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Lotaburger Posts: 3,188	Glad you are ok. That is what matters the most. Looks like you’ve had some excellent memories in your car that will last a life time. At the end of the day as hard as it is to come to grips with some times… cars are nothing more than metal, plastic, glass, and rubber. They can be replaced at anytime. Your life, health, physical comfort and condition can’t. I hope you enjoy the next chapter of your life as much as the 5th Gen chapter. They truly are special cars. __________________ ABM #2399 2SS/RS:SOLD ABM #93 2SS/RS Black Rally stripes, Titanium Interior 4,000 miles: GM GFX side skirts and diffuser waiting on paint, GM dovetail, GM heritage, RPI ZL1 style splitter. ‘87 IROC-Z Iroc blue. all original unmolested with 50K miles.

10-09-2025, 12:19 PM	#6
Moto-Mojo Fast Cars and Old Guitars Drives: 2015 2SS RS (L99, baby!) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: N. CA Posts: 4,216	Sad story, however...it could've been much, much worse. This old ZL1 crash still haunts me. Happened in Palmdale, CA in 2017. Father and daughter lost in the crash. The car was severed in two. So, count thy blessings and stay safe out there. __________________ “I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” - Groucho Marx

10-09-2025, 01:06 PM	#7
xstuntman Drives: 2012 Victory Red LFX Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: west central Texas Posts: 1,367	Good that you walked away, sad to see another Camaro gone tho. Heres to all the lost but not forgotten Camaros. __________________ '18 SS wheels, colored matched Heritage grille, actual driving lights, ZL1 strut tower brace, GM Performance billet aluminum fuel door, victory red rotors and calipers, 1/4 window American flags, splash guards, AEM dry panel air filter, Hot Wheels steering wheel and seat covers, Hot Wheels exterior emblems.

10-09-2025, 05:41 PM	#9
Dirgam Drives: 2012 VR GFX SS/RS M6 Convertible Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 142 View My Garage	Very sorry to hear but as everyone else has said, glad you are okay. __________________ Super Power: Love of all mankind Kryptonite: People

10-10-2025, 06:10 PM	#12
redcoats1976 Drives: LT W/2LT,blue metallic Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: central florida Posts: 5,032	Glad you are ok.these cars are built very tough.i was hit in the rear !/4 panel drivers side by a front wheel of a semi.and wound up pushed down the road at 60 mph sideways for about 1/4 mile while listening to the semi bellow through the broken drivers window 6 inches away. when he hit the brakes the car did a 180 and crossed 2 more lanes of traffic before coming to a stop in the median of I-275. air bags didnt deploy..a new door,1/4 panel,rear wheel and other bits and pieces totalling 13k brought it back from the dead,with no problems since then.it is true that i dont like being near semis since then though,any trip on a major highway is still nerve wracking.