I drove a 600whp Camaro and now my life has changed

"Bandit" (2bandit) 06/10/2014 at 23:11 • Filed to: None

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I had the opportunity to drive a 2010 Camaro SS 6-speed pushing 600hp to the wheels (dyno proven). How did this Camaro get 600hp? A HUGE FRICKEN BLOWER! The car has been set up more for handling rather than all out straight line speed. This was only the 4th time I've driven a manual and surprisingly it was the easiest time I've had (first three times were in a Saturn 2000 series, a 1946 International pickup, and a Mini cooper S). First gear was surprisingly easy to start in (other than it ends in a blink of the eye), although that may just be me gaining skill. Roasting the tires is overly easy to do, Perelli PZero's are not cheap... The clutch was mildly heavy and had a well defined bite point. The ride was stiff but not too bad at all. The thing handled so much better than my T/A (go figure). Also, they weren't lying when they say you can't see out of the car. The side windows are so tiny! The exhaust was perfectly progressive, quiet at cruise and face rippingly loud at WOT. The exterior was practically stock save the small body skirts that most normal people wouldn't notice (like pictured but with a different stripe and stock wheels). The car was a piece of cake to cruise in, no annoying sounds and low revs. Also, the speedo must be lying because there was no way I was doing 100+ in such a short amount of time...

The owner (family friend who owns a speed shop) of the car threw me the keys and said "don't come back 'till you're smiling." I don't think the grin came off my face for a few hours. I am addicted to speed. I don't think I could ever own a powerful car without a manual, it just made the experience so much more involving and enjoyable. If you've never had the chance to hoon around in a stupidly powerful car, you need to do it. It is life changing, now I have a new bar to compare every other car I drive (aka my Trans Am isn't fast enough). Oh, also, 20mpg...

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Bandit 06/10/2014 at 23:15

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Damn, I am so jealous. I wish someone would toss me the keys of a manual and give me a license to hoon. Shit, I'd be happy if someone would just let me drive their manual >_<

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Bandit 06/10/2014 at 23:18

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Welcome to the GM LS-series of motors; where you can be making 600 horsepower and still get 20 miles to the gallon.

That's amazing.

Bandit > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/10/2014 at 23:18

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I don't think he knew I hadn't really practiced with a manual. I was forced to stop on a hill and I hadn't tried a hill start yet... a burnout ensued.

Bandit > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/10/2014 at 23:22

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I now understand why people LS swap everything... Anyone want to trade for a pontiac 400?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Bandit 06/10/2014 at 23:26

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I can maybe get you a 5.3 out of a Silverado... so long as my dad doesn't find out.

Jayhawk Jake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/10/2014 at 23:27

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Have you never driven manual?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jayhawk Jake 06/10/2014 at 23:52

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I did once, and it was a Kia with about an inch of clutch travel, which was pretty terrible for the low-speed parking lot maneuvering I was doing. Wanna engage smoothly? NOPE IT'S ALL ENGAGED OR NOTHING, BITCH.

Might as well have had a light switch and been flicking it on and off.

Jayhawk Jake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/11/2014 at 00:00

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Well shit why didn't you say anything? You can drive mine on Saturday

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jayhawk Jake 06/11/2014 at 00:05

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Sweet! How difficult would you say the clutch on the Sonic is?

Holy crap I just now got the fact that Chevy Sonic = Sonic = Video game character that runs fast and collects rings = Dankey Kang. I thought it was some weird reference to you owning an *actual* pet hedgehog. I am not a clever man.

Jayhawk Jake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/11/2014 at 00:12

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haha for a while my avatar was a screen cap from jeopardy, it was a little clearer.

Of all the cars I've driven the sonic is among the easiest. The clutch engages a bit high, but other than that it's fine. Extremely easy to start moving without gas.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jayhawk Jake 06/11/2014 at 00:25

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I got the reference to the video game character, it just took me forever to realize you meant car instead of an actual animal.

Start moving without gas? Wow. Certainly not possible with the rubbish little car I drove. I had to give it 50% throttle else death and whiplash. T'was brutal.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Bandit 06/11/2014 at 03:02

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The more torque a car has the easier it is to start in first gear. That may be a reason why it was so easy to drive manual in this one.

Bandit > YSI-what can brown do for you 06/11/2014 at 08:25

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I didn't know that, that's probably the reason then

Rock Bottom > YSI-what can brown do for you 06/11/2014 at 12:18

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Not entirely true. The first gear ratio has more to do with ease of starting.

My previous car was a 2008 Civic Si and you could pretty much get that little car rolling without touching the gas pedal. It was the easiest stick I've ever driven, and I've driven a TON of cars over the last 20-ish years (owned 17 now, about 1/2 were sticks). I drove that car all over San Francisco for 5 years without a care in the world. My current car, a C5 Corvette, has infinitely more torque but a WAY taller first gear (goes about 55 mph in first). The Corvette is a huge pain in the ass to get rolling compared to the torqueless wonder that preceded it!

Axial > Rock Bottom 06/11/2014 at 14:04

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Hwut? I have a C4 Corvette with the same gear ratios (actually very slightly taller) in its ZF6 that you have in your T56, and it's easy as cake to start rolling without gas.

Does the LT4 just produce more idle torque than the LS1?

Axial > Bandit 06/11/2014 at 14:05

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I want to drive that 348 that Farah posted a video of yesterday. This car reminded me of that. D:

Rock Bottom > Axial 06/11/2014 at 15:33

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I guess we could look at it like this:

Civic Si: 3.27 1st, 4.77 FDR, 15.57 total ratio

C5: 2.66 1st, 3.42 FDR, 9.10 total ratio

That means that the Civic Si had 71% more torque multiplication in 1st gear. I would bet that at idle, (~800 RPM in the Civic, ~500 RPM in the C5) the Si and Corvette aren't far apart. Add to that the fact that the C5 has more mass (~500 lbs) and more rotating mass (bigger wheels and tires), and I get the feeling that the Civic wasn't really at a disadvantage until the C5 gets moving.

Or, the more likely answer is that I'm just not very good at driving! I really need to tighten-up the nut behind the wheel...

:D

Axial > Rock Bottom 06/11/2014 at 15:38

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It is true, a Civic Si is quicker than the Corvette. However, once you're on your way the Si is a goner.

As for the getting started issues, after doing some slight searching it does appear that the LT-series motors produced greater torque off of idle than the LS. Very interesting.

TulsaMtnBiker (OkieRising) > Bandit 06/11/2014 at 15:46

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Danngggggg