My first month (ish) with the Camaro

"Hooker" (Hooker) 11/10/2016 at 18:30 • Filed to: None

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I have had the 4 cylinder Camaro 8-speed auto 1LT for about a month (so I missed it by a few days, shoot me.) Here are my impressions thus far:

It’s a tight car. Like, really tight. I thought my Cruze was compliant (and it was, for its basic roots) but this thing feels so confident on the road. Pretty much on any road. With tar, don’t get all crazy.

It’s a tight car. It’s big on the outside, small on the inside. Visibility blah blah blah.

No matter what angle I see it from, I’m intrigued. I even enjoy the base wheels. Base tail lights? Getting new RS ones in the mail any day now.

The 8-speed auto, when you floor it, tends to hesitate a bit. Until sport mode is activated (more on that later.) It also tends to hesitate and hunt for gears a good bit under mixed acceleration. If you accelerate smoothly, it will return smother shifts. A few times, it has caused a surge and a slam into a gear. Hoping that’s just a break in period thing.

The interior is whisper quiet compared to my Cruze, which was already a pretty quiet car.

The turbo four has more than enough power, not only for daily driving but also passing maneuvers. Passing maneuvers are a newfound source of smiles. Will it win a drag race? Not likely. However, you never feel like you don’t have enough. Ever. It’s a smooth, good little motor that does work.

The seats. Yes. Those things are rather awesome. They strike a seemingly perfect balance between comfort and sport. The side bolstering seems to keep my 5-8 fat ass frame in check most times.

Cornering is fun.

Look! He found a friend!

The biggest problem I have had with it is that it’s not my Cruze. I have had several Cruze’s and I know them. I know them well. I know how they handle. How hard I can push them on just about any road. How much abuse they can take before telling me to go fuck myself. The Camaro, I am still learning. I came to that very serious conclusion this weekend in the mountains. Curvy roads are awesome but I am nowhere near the point of being able to challenge myself on a curve. I need to learn the car more first. The car will far out-perform my Cruze, certainly. But I am not ready to take the gamble just yet. We’re getting there.

The curves I did take, were fun. How could they not be? The car was composed, flat, direct and comfortable. Turn in was quick, direct and exhibited a small, but predictable amount of understeer. It wasn’t severe, but noticeable. I find myself smiling a lot more while driving. There are smiles at every corner and soon, challenges to be had.

The car has a few different driving modes. There are not a lot of differences, however, I stay in sport. Wouldn’t you? Tightens up the steering and throttle responses. Also, in sport mode, when it detects spirited driving(!) it will go into an enhanced throttle mode where the responses are even quicker and the shifts held longer. 0-60 runs are fun ish. With the base tires, the best I got was 6.1 seconds. It’s rated at 5.4. In ideal conditions. With a tail wind, no doubt.

Coming out of the mountains the breaks were admirable. Quick to react with a strong bite. Something to get used to as my Cruze was a bit soft. Fade wasn’t an issue even in the mountains. The paddle shifters are quick to react for gear changes, however, selecting a lower gear (gear 3) coming down a steep grade did little for controlling speed. A bigger motor has its perks.

I’m not going to talk much about technology, however, I am impressed that this car has so much. It’s a base 1LT car with the 7 inch MyLink system. So you get things like:

Carplay/Android Auto

Bluetooth streaming

satellite radio

Rear vision camera

Also, in the interior, mood lighting! Not really, but there is a neat light that shines on the center console. Also, door pull lights. A nice feature especially in a base model. It’s the little things that make the difference. The dashboard lights up pleasantly at night and the gauges are a thing of beauty in my opinion. Let’s face it, mine is the only one that matters!
As I said before, the seats are comfortable. All day comfortable.

All in, this is a great car with a lot of features. The details are really what make this car for me. I don’t think I’ve missed anything but as always, you guys will ask me questions and I’ll be like “oh yeah, should have mentioned that!” Get on it! I’ll be in and out all day.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Hooker 11/10/2016 at 12:54

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But can you out drag a Porsche 911 Turbo or Ferrari? Last person I met with the wrong engine Camero told me they could. (And wrong engine is not really wrong, still 100x cooler then the V6)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/10/2016 at 12:57

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Any self respecting Camero owner would have murdered the 911 or Ferrari driver before they even got to the line.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 11/10/2016 at 13:01

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How many Ferrari/911 owners bodies can you fit in the trunk of a Camerrro? THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE NEEDED ANSWERED.

nafsucof > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 11/10/2016 at 13:06

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Seriously and then put the driver in the trunk.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/10/2016 at 13:09

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I will not be assisting with this question. I like living too much.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 11/10/2016 at 13:15

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How many bodies of people on the side of the road filming can fit in a Mustang? Or do we need to ask someone who has the correct engine?

extraspecialbitter > Hooker 11/10/2016 at 13:23

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Important question: Would you dragon?

Hooker > extraspecialbitter 11/10/2016 at 14:25

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When tail pipes are clean? Likely.

Hooker > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/10/2016 at 14:26

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No. No on so many levels! And that dude is insane.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Hooker 11/10/2016 at 14:30

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It was a girl. The boyfriend with his Hemi Charger had her convinced Im pretty sure.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Hooker 11/10/2016 at 15:58

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Very nice car. When you put in those new tail lights, make sure you get rid of the tramp stamp from the dealer too :)

Hooker > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/10/2016 at 16:29

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Not sure if worse?

Hooker > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 11/10/2016 at 16:30

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I work at the dealer I bought it from but that’s an old image. Already gone. :)

Chasaboo > Hooker 11/10/2016 at 18:48

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It’s a shame GM can’t figure out the visibility issues. You’d think after all this time building cars they’d have a good handle on it.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/10/2016 at 19:14

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How does it affect the 0-60?

Jayhawk Jake > Hooker 11/10/2016 at 22:14

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Does it remember sport mode or do you have to set it every time?

Axial > Hooker 11/11/2016 at 02:20

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I really wish I could get an SS with the base model grille. The SS grille is just so goddamn ugly.

uofime-2 > Hooker 11/11/2016 at 09:14

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Way to evade the question, it’s a direct injected turbo, the pipes are never clean!

Hooker > uofime-2 11/11/2016 at 11:25

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I’m discovering that. My empty bottle of degreaser confirms what you say.

Hooker > Axial 11/11/2016 at 11:26

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Yeah, do not want. I also can’t stand how the fenders protrude through the front fascia. Like, what is that? That can’t be good for aero.

Hooker > Jayhawk Jake 11/11/2016 at 11:28

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Well, it remembers sport mode. But it doesn’t remember spirited driving. So you’re always in “S” even after multiple restarts. You just have to get on it to get it to shift more willingly. My best 0-60 came aftrer a spirited drive. AKA full throttle launch. The stock tires leave something to be desired as far as grip is concerned in the 0-60 run. I think they’re OK on regular runs around bends but stickier would better!

uofime-2 > Hooker 11/11/2016 at 11:44

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Eagle One “Never Dull” is really great for cleaning up the soot and polishing tips. It’s cheap and available all over the place

Axial > Hooker 11/11/2016 at 11:54

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The good news is that you can somewhat mitigate the fugly with the body-color inserts option. The bad news is that it costs extra. They have turned fugly into a profit center.

Hooker > Axial 11/11/2016 at 12:29

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Haven’t they kind of always done that on some level? I remember, back in the 70's (wasn’t born but I’ve seen it!) Chevrolet’s had disgustingly ugly colored interiors. The reason was to move you up to a Buick or even an Olds. It worked.

Hooker > uofime-2 11/11/2016 at 12:30

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Thanks for the tip! I’ll grab some!

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Hooker 11/11/2016 at 20:42

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“Will it win a drag race? Not likely.”

Well, I mean, it is pulling the same kind of times in magazines as my 95 Z28 was, so I think you’re selling yourself short.

I want a 2.0T, manual Camaro... I wish they would come out with a 1LE pack for the 4cyl. Preferably the full-fat V8 1LE package, too.

PardonMyFlemish16 > Hooker 12/01/2016 at 18:15

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What kind of gas do you have in it? IIRC this is one of those “will run on regular but really prefers premium” deals. That will definitely be good for some extra HP across the board.

Hooker > PardonMyFlemish16 12/02/2016 at 14:04

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I wish it was one of those deals! The owners manual states 91 or above. Only less in an extreme pinch and to put premium back in ASAP. Otherwise knocking will occur and could cause damage. Trust me, I wish I could save the premium by not buying premium. The only stuff I can get around here is 93 octane. 91 would be a bit cheaper but no one carries it.

Steve in Manhattan > Hooker 12/22/2016 at 01:10

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No one shall judge another by their transmission ... so let it be written, so let it be done .

Hooker > Steve in Manhattan 12/22/2016 at 15:51

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Much appreciated! So far I love it! Just needs a wash. Badly. Haha.