"superdave847" (superdave847)
11/13/2014 at 21:18 • Filed to: Camaro, Orange County, Ortega Highway
5
13|
"superdave847" (superdave847)
11/13/2014 at 21:18 • Filed to: Camaro, Orange County, Ortega Highway | 5
| 13 |
( Full Disclosure : I’m a lawyer who mostly defends or takes depositions, so I travel every week. I’m also a gearhead, having owned an AMC Jeep Wagoneer, a Kawasaki Ninja 600R, a Triumph Speed Four, various pickups, and now an E46 BMW (but currently shopping for an E90 335i M-Sport). THUS, Chevrolet wanted me to drive this RED Camaro 2LS SO MUCH that someone sold it to National Rental Car and shipped it to Los Angeles! )
I was attending a deposition in Temecula, California and staying at the Marriott in Dana Point, California. So each day, I had the pleasure of commuting against traffic on the fantastic Ortega Highway (California Route 74). This was a blast and a refreshing break from the monotony of freeway driving, which California does so well. To the 91 Freeway, I bid adieu.
Acceleration: 16/20
The Camaro 2LS comes with a 320 horse power, 3.6 liter V6. And this made me pause (and as you’ll see below, this is why I rated the Camaro so highly in the value section) and think for a second about the cars I typically drool over.
I really like BMW and in particular, the 3 Series. But for a 320 horsepower 3 Series, you’re either going to need to pony up about $50,000 for a 335i or an extra $10,000 worth of DINAN parts installed in your 328i. OR you can buy a V6 Camaro for half.
Huh.
I enjoyed pushing deeply into the gas coming out of turns in this car. With the Orange County fall temperatures consistently lingering in the 60s and 70s this week, the windows were always open so I could listen to the exhaust chortle back at ever touch of the throttle. Chevrolet snapped me out of my BMW fan-boy mode with this fun engine; such a gem.
Handling: 16/20
I have few complaints about the handling, except that this car is so large. As much as I like the engine, I dislike the size of this car. I know the swooping lines of a coupé give pony cars the look are supposed to bear, but I would love this car if it went on a diet. While the chassis was fun to push through the turns, I was so worried about the whale-size of the car staying in the lane of the narrow Ortega highway that the size detracts too much. I know, the car looks cool, but for handling, I’d prefer a more narrow car with a shorter bonnet. It’s really not right to call a machine this large, “nimble”.
Interior: 6/10
The interior was acceptable. Spartan, which is what I like, with nice chrome-looking (they are plastic) accents. The seats are supportive and give my 34 waist plenty of room. Everything was intuitive and the materials are better quality than the Camaro’s competitors—i.e., the Mustang and Challenger. They are especially better than the Challenger’s ocean of black plastic.
The tiny rear seat is basically inaccessible, except to inconveniently toss luggage. Its tiny and really is the reason I wouldn’t buy this car. I’m just committed to sports saloons, which offer the best of both worlds. Last, the blind spot is awful. Not as bad as the Challenger’s but in this class, I’ve found the Mustang has the best visibility. And in Southern California traffic, that’s not a small thing.
Gearbox: 5/10
There is nothing special to write about here. Chevrolet gives you six speeds in the automatic with paddles on the steering wheel. The transmission is OK. Like all of the autos in sport mode (at least those I’ve driven), it lags on each shift. The computer does let you run through the power band with out overriding too quickly, but at the end of the day, the transmission leaves the driver feeling disconnected from a sharp chassis and fun little motor.
[ The roof is a great place to accidentally leave your drink* after eating an In-N-Out burger in Temecula. Animal style of course, because cheap thrills are the best. ]
Braking: 15/20
The brakes were firm and I used them frequently as the Camaro dove into the sharp bends of the Ortega Highway. I never lacked confidence or felt sponginess. And its not surprising as even on a base model like this, large calipers and shiny rotors are like jewelry sparkling through the 18" rims. Again, this is the base model!
Exterior: 7/10
What can I say? The car looks sharp. I prefer the 2015 Mustang with its updated body, but this is a 2014 Camaro. And I’d take the Camaro styling any day over the 2014 Mustang. The red paint looks perfect on this car and the dual exhaust with chrome sparkles.
Value: 8/10
I looked up the MSRP, which lists a new Camaro 2LS at $25,000. For 320 horsepower and 18" wheels, that’s a bargain. I can see what this is great for some—mainly single folks who don’t need to carry passengers for work. But that’s not me.
Total: 74/100
[*No littering of the great State of California actually occurred in the making of this review.]
Thunderface
> superdave847
11/13/2014 at 23:06 |
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I prefer the 2015 Mustang with its updated body
Words of truth
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superdave847
> Thunderface
11/13/2014 at 23:10 |
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The new Mustang really is gorgeous. I can't wait to drive one.
Michael Maguire
> superdave847
11/13/2014 at 23:16 |
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I can't say I agree that it looks better than the 2014 Mustangs, but to each their own.
I honestly like both pony cars and try not to hate on any car type. (Except the 16 year olds with honda fart cans...let them burn. Oh and Priuses...)
Overall, good review!
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superdave847
> Michael Maguire
11/13/2014 at 23:23 |
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Thanks!
All Motor Is Best Motor
> superdave847
11/13/2014 at 23:26 |
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I... ummmm... what?
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superdave847
> All Motor Is Best Motor
11/13/2014 at 23:27 |
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?
DasWauto
> superdave847
11/13/2014 at 23:42 |
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I've made you an author on Oppo so you can post there in the future (I shared this post there too as you probably noticed). Let me know if you need any help.
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superdave847
> DasWauto
11/13/2014 at 23:44 |
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Awesome! Thank you. I'll try contribute well-written posts.
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All Motor Is Best Motor
> superdave847
11/14/2014 at 00:06 |
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What's going on with that picture?
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superdave847
> All Motor Is Best Motor
11/14/2014 at 00:11 |
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It's simply a photo of the interior since part of the review was of the interior. That seemed only fair to me.
Otherwise, its a parked Camaro in the valet lanes of a hotel.
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All Motor Is Best Motor
> superdave847
11/14/2014 at 00:22 |
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Look at your photo more closely. That steering wheel is definitely not right. Was this an attempt at a panoramic photo?
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superdave847
> All Motor Is Best Motor
11/14/2014 at 00:30 |
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Got it, yes, it was the iPhone panoramic function done too quickly.
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superdave847
> All Motor Is Best Motor
11/14/2014 at 00:32 |
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Perhaps a Camaro as imagined by Salvador Dali.
