Random Camaro Rant

"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01) 02/22/2016 at 17:52 • Filed to: None

0

20

This is a steering wheel from a ‘69 Camaro:

When the new Camaro came out, it had a retro version of that steering wheel:

Them, for some reason, Chevy replaced that lovely steering wheel with the same wheel that allows you to point your Malibu roughly where you want it to go:

What the fuck is going on here? Was this simply a cost-saving measure? Part of the charm of these retro designs (Beetle, Mini, Challenger, Mustang, and on and on) comes from their nods to the earlier design. Witness:

and:

Case closed.

crowmolly > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 17:54

0

I’m not seeing any of the Comfort Grip in the 2010 wheel.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 17:58

1

Except for the fact that it maybe accelerates spiritedly, the new Camaro does zero for me. Nor the Charger, nor any of them, really. That they don’t have any glass would be my chief complaint.

DoYouEvenShift > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 17:58

0

I remember when the 5th gen came out, there was a hate it/love it opinion on the wheel. I guess they changed it sometime along the run to make the other people happy.

I like the ZL1/1LE flat bottom wheel.

Steve in Manhattan > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/22/2016 at 18:00

0

If you google the term “blind spot” a picture of a Challenger pops up. Or should.

Urambo Tauro > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 18:02

0

I like the look of the “Malibu wheel” better.

camaroboy68ss > crowmolly 02/22/2016 at 18:05

1

Besides the comfort grip really wasn’t available on a Camaro. Only one or two window stickers for 69s have been found with the NK1 wheel. If you wanted a 3 spoke in 69 you got the rosewood N34(or the rare and early walnut)

camaroboy68ss > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 18:07

1

It was probably just a cost saving thing. Love those old 3 spoke wheels, my 33 ford has one in it, my grandpas 34 ford has one, his 55 Chevy has one, plus we have 2 more hanging on the wall for future projects, lol

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 18:07

0

Or a Honda Ridgeline. Those things drive like dreamboats but you can’t see out of them. A guy I know well who (thinks he) knows everything told me that in order to lighten the total weight of the car, the manufacturers are figuring the glass into the crash strength of the car and thus, the glass has to be smaller.

camaroboy68ss > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 18:11

2

They need to bring back the wood wheel like my 68 Camaro has.

My bird IS the word > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 18:16

0

Screw you GM.

RIP 1967-2002 never forget

Steve in Manhattan > Urambo Tauro 02/22/2016 at 18:21

0

Fair enough ...

dogisbadob > DoYouEvenShift 02/22/2016 at 18:29

1

Yeah, flat bottom wheels are awesome!

Steve in Manhattan > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/22/2016 at 18:36

0

I just remember sitting in a Challenger at the NY Auto Show and, between the high beltline and the C pillar, feeling entombed.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 18:38

0

The corporate wheel didn’t look especially out-of-place, especially in flat-bottom guise, though I didn’t like the lack of a Camaro logo.

They put it in because lots of journalists and customers were complaining about the retro wheel’s ergonomics.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > dogisbadob 02/22/2016 at 18:48

1

The tail end of the Golden Age of Toyota.

Steve in Manhattan > SonorousSpeedJoe 02/22/2016 at 18:53

0

I’ve never driven either (drove a Volt with the corporate wheel though) - I’d say just redesign the retro one.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 18:56

0

Yeah, I at least liked the airbag cover on the old wheel.

The new Camaro emulates that to some extent with its version of the Corvette Stingray’s steering wheel, though the airbag cover as a whole looks a bit awkward.

Brian, The Life of > Steve in Manhattan 02/22/2016 at 19:00

0

Every ‘67 Ford product had the same wheel as that Mustang.

Nauraushaun > Steve in Manhattan 02/23/2016 at 07:15

0

I don’t think the throwback wheels are especially good throwbacks. It’s like a loose resemblance.

I am sad to see them go though, any cool motif that’s replaced with something bland is a loss.

Your boy, BJR > SonorousSpeedJoe 04/17/2016 at 11:13

0

I can't imagine the retro wheel being worse than the corporate wheel, which I have in my Cruze. One of the worst wheels I've ever experienced, which is a really minor and dumb complaint, but still.