SSTEVEGS

IMHO as good looking as the exterior is, the instrument panel is UGH-LY. The two center huge dials are retro all right, but not from a GM car...more like a 1965 Dodge Dart. I like the instrument cluster (ala 1969) on the console and the rest of the interior, but I just can't handle the dash layout. Everyone who likes the dash needs to chime in; I just can't believe what an abortion it is. Maybe it's just me?!? ...and the tilt steering column - why isn't it spring loaded to operate like the Corvette and every other GM car I've owned? I use my tilt feature to get in and out of my vehicles and the new (to GM) design is time consuming and awkward.

bub

Here are the pics from this morning:

bub

Now with the Z...

bub

Gearhead in training...

dvdkramer

Agreed! A tumor sticking out above the shifter. Hopefully they fix that. Kinda like the ugly steering wheel on the first C6.

jdurhan

Great photos, they look good together.

calmtgguy

Thanks for taking the time to do this. This car with the RS option is just what I've been thinking of buying myself. The underside looks as though it could use more paint or corrision protection of some sort, what do you think?

Go drive the thing and tell us your thoughts, thanks.

Vet

I think the dash / gauges are fine. It appears that attention was paid to making sure you can see the gauges easily through the steering wheel. This is a problem on a lot of cars. With the Camaro, the guages are big and up fairly high (closer to the windshield where they should be), and the three spokes of the steering wheel are down low so there is a lot of open area to see the gauges no matter how you might adjust the wheel tilt. I'm impressed with the car already.

But ironically, the 4 "cool" 1969 Z gauges that sit right above the console, while they are a nifty nod to the Camaro heritage, are not ergonomically efficient. When flying down the road, do you really want to have to move your eyes off the road and all the way down to the console level to check important gauge readings?

So, in sum, I think the speedo and tach are excellent, nice and big, nice and high, no steering wheel obstruction. The 4 console gauges... guess I could live with them, but I don't like having to take my eyes so far off the road to check, especially on a bright sunny day, I think your eyes would get tired fast, going from a bright roadway to the dark under-dash are to see the gauges, then all the way back... over and over.

I sat in a brand new Camaro the other day, felt quite comfortable, but it has that modern "high window sill" design that many new cars have now, including Mustangs, Toyotas, etc, etc... you feel like you're sitting down low because the window lines / hood line is so high... and less glass, less window area. This might give the car a slick style, more of a "chop-top" vibe, but is less efficient from a driver's point of view.

I could live with the high window line thing but it is not preferred. I guess they save money on glass. And Ford's excuse with the Mustang was that they needed a higher hood line to fit their "taller" engines... so, maybe it's a modern engine fit issue too, overhead cams, room for potential superchargers, etc.

This all makes me appreciate my C6 that much more, a giant 6.0 liter V-8, tons of lower-range torque plus all the horsepower you'd ever need on the street, and it sits under a hood that is incredibly low to the ground... beautiful. I'll never stop appreciating the design of the C6, I sincerely believe it's the ultimate car ever produced, and the way things are going, might be the ultimate gasoline powered car the world will ever see.

saplumr

Unfortunately I have to agree. I was disapointed when I actually sat in the car and looked at the dash layout a month ago and whether or not I can over look it will determine if I buy one. The body is fantastic!

POACHR

cool, but no comparison to your Z. And I agree about the interior as well.

bub

Returned the Camaro to Avis tonight.

Additional observations:

If buying the car for myself (vs. the kids down the road) I would upgrade to the SS.

The DIC is controlled a bit strangely, but I was finally getting the hang of the twist **** stalk thing at the end of the day.

Speed warning is a strange DIC function, somewhat reminiscent of the past I suppose tho.

Outward visibility lines are pretty marginal.

Lots of compliments on the car in 24 hr. Crazy attention getter (right now, at least until they become a dime a dozen).

More pics from this afternoon, including some better interior shots to follow.

Overall impressions..."Do you need a car like this...answer = no. But, do you want a car like this, answer = yes."

I give it 6 months or so before one of my own joins the stable.

Still cannot believe Avis got all these cars and dealers have got near 0 product to sell right now.

-CKB

bub

Last set of pics...

saplumr

Good to know you drove it and still like it. My local dealer has 12 for sale but only one V-8.

bub

I put 265 miles on it in a day, and overall, on a scale of 1:10, I would rate it as follows:

Exterior = 9 (would be 9.75 with the 20" RS rims and spoiler, and perhaps Cyber Gray stripes)
Interior = 7.5 (pretty out there)
Power of the V6 = 8
Mileage of the V6 DI = 9
Tap Shifter = 9
Acceleration = 8
Braking = 7
Handling = 8

Overall impression = 9 (major style points)

A loaded up SS would probably be a 9.5 (mainly due to the LS3,, Brembo's and 20" RS rims). BTW, I rate my Z a 9.9.

Looks like Chevy has a winner here to me.

71stang99

Thanks for the write up however I have a question, what is the thing hanging down in the second to last photo on page two last photo set next to the light ****?

Stickboy97

WTF!!!??? The gas tank is on the wrong side!

saplumr

I think car manufacturers do that just to make the public look stupid at the gas pump from time to time.

chirocorvette

I think that the exterior is growing on me, but that may the worst looking dash in any current production car. Absolutely abhorent. I'm sorry but it's true.

71stang99

I wonder why they dont make cars with the gas tank with the fill up in the center like my 72 Mach I, probably safety reasons I guess.

XCELER8

Thanks for the write up..

Thats okay. This is why DSV comes to the rescue...

Take a look at a few items coming out soon for those 2010+ Camaros. (Sema car coming soon)








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Okay, enough for now. DSV gets the ABM car on Monday to have some fun.!!