Dirt Road Drive-ability

"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
04/24/2016 at 18:27 • Filed to: CamarovsFiST

As I’ve mentioned before, I plan on buying a new, fun daily driver in the next month or two. Most of you know that I live in SC, and some of you know that the roads are terrible. While we may not have some of the pothole problems of some states, we do have an insane amount of unpaved roads. I like these roads. I try to drive on them as much as possible. They are fun, and I enjoy exploring. That does raise some questions when it comes to my new car. I really, really like the new Camaro, but I know it probably isn’t the best for this purpose. My question is, how much worse would it be than a FiST? I did shortly flirt with the idea of a WRX, but I’d have to get the base and it is spartan for a modern car. Plus, it is the most expensive option.

TL;DR: How will a 2016 Camaro handle unpaved surfaces?

DISCUSSION (40)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:33

Both will probably handle them fine, but neither will exactly coddle you in the process.

Bonus, Camaro will probably dirt driftoooo a little better because RWD.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/24/2016 at 18:36

Yeah, but people are already rallying the shit out of FiST’s.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:37

True.

Well shit, someone has to start the 6th gen rallymaro trend!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/24/2016 at 18:39

I guess I could be the lab rat.

On a separate note, I just read your Jimmy post and some of the comments. One of the best parts of having a somewhat white trashy SUV, is that people tend to not fuck with you.

ranwhenparked > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:40

The Camaro will handle unpaved roads just fine, as long as you don’t try to fly down them 20 mph over the speed limit. Expect a rough ride, though.

My bird IS the word > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:40

Do they make skid plates for the Chebby? Lol I would just look at ride height, both of those suspensions are going to suck on dirt. If anything the camaro might be BETTER.

yamahog > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:40

My 1LE is brutal on Michigan roads. The car itself will be fine as long as you can avoid the worst potholes and don’t actively try to lose traction, but your ass and spine may hate you. If you care about your paint, you may want to invest in a clear bra as the section just before the rear wheels tends to get pelted.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:43

On a somewhat coincidental note, the Camaro Facebook page posted this a couple days ago.

Kinja'd!!!

Rally all the things?

And yeah, desperately want that Jimmy for that reason.

Vicente Esteve > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:44

Neither is really built to do that, but I love when cars do things they aren’t “supposed to”.

I’d say the FieSTa would be a little better, but I would still choose the Camaro.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > yamahog
04/24/2016 at 18:46

I don’t want it to look terrible, but a few character marks given to it as a direct result from me won’t really bother me. I’m used to shitty paint.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > My bird IS the word
04/24/2016 at 18:48

Not necessarily, people jump and rally FiST’s fairly often.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:48

American 2dr RWD V8 with terrible visibility, you say?

Rally the things meant to be rallied, says I.

Kinja'd!!!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
04/24/2016 at 18:49

This will be even more rally spec, as it will be a 4-cylinder.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:56

Well if it’s a turbo 4 you need, as much as I actually like the Camaro (from afar), then the Fiesta is the car I would go for. Simply because if you ever needed to increase ride height or make it a tad more Rally, the bolt-on parts already exist and there’s a well established community of Fiesta amateur rally bods who would most likely give you guidance etc.

LongbowMkII > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:57

Get some 16" steelies and some used SUV tires.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:58

As long as you’re not concerned about sending rocks at your paint, you should be fine with anything. Most of the roads out here aren’t paved either and it doesn’t cause problems, unless you’re an idiot and try driving through a washout.

My bird IS the word > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 18:59

On the stock suspension? I figured the shocks would be a little stiffer, a little more track oriented.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > My bird IS the word
04/24/2016 at 19:05

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > LongbowMkII
04/24/2016 at 19:13

Slight problem: Chevy made even 18's look laughably small on these.

Larger problem: Brake clearance with the Brembos.

Funktheduck > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
04/24/2016 at 19:23

I forgot about these. Now I want one again and I can't. Damn you

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > yamahog
04/24/2016 at 19:29

Also, your’s is a track oriented one, where mine will be just an RS.

My bird IS the word > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 19:34

Never mind then. Shows how little I know. Would have figured a soft suspension would be better.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > My bird IS the word
04/24/2016 at 19:37

Then it would bottom out everywhere due to bouncing.

WRXasaurus > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 20:11

For high speed bombing down country roads, fwd is best, pulls you straight if you lose traction. For low speed antics go with rwd. I’m from ND where gravel roads are many, straight and usually taken care of properly. My old Bonneville SSEi was the best backroad machine, not even my WRX is as good but I haven’t had as much experience on gravel roads. My vote is FiST or FoST.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > WRXasaurus
04/24/2016 at 20:22

While they are better, I’ve mentioned already that this would mainly just be commuting on them. I have something else to beat on.

Moves-Like-Senna > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 20:30

I’d say it’s no problem. I’ve taken both a 2015 Camaro and a 2016 mustang off road for hundreds of miles on a road trip. The 2016 should actually be better than either.

It was no problem for plain dirt country roads and both actually were able to keep up with SUVs up some pretty rutted off road trails just slowing down for large hazards.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Moves-Like-Senna
04/24/2016 at 20:34

Awesome!

WRXasaurus > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 20:41

In that case get whatever you like after you test drive a few options. The new Camaro looks so sexy but everyone loves their FiST on here, I can’t speak from experience since I’ve never driven either.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 20:48

I bomb smooth, dirt roads in my 350Z from time to time, it probably has less suspension travel than either of those cars. You’ll probably be fine if you do a recon first and dont try to go too fast over anything too potholey.

No damage after the following video, and like you I bought my car new. 11 years and basically nothing has gone wrong. A little light abuse every now and then isn’t going to put you at too much risk.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

citizennick > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/24/2016 at 21:07

I live in a gravel road but I’m storing my 2016 at the local track. But if I had to it would be fine on the roads, especially with the MRC but I’m not sure you’re looking at an SS.

Previous car was a Focus ST with coilovers and I cringed every time I took it down the road.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > citizennick
04/24/2016 at 21:11

Just RS.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Funktheduck
04/24/2016 at 21:13

I know right? If I had $100k and had to import something USDM, it’d be a hard call between a Rally Fighter or a CTS-V wagon.

Funktheduck > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
04/24/2016 at 22:28

Rally fighter. You get to build it. Rarer too

Sweet Trav > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/25/2016 at 12:31

Consider the Magnetic ride control shock option. Soft when you want, firm when you want.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Sweet Trav
04/25/2016 at 15:24

I'm not getting an SS.

yamahog > Sweet Trav
04/26/2016 at 14:51

#thatswhatshesaid

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > My bird IS the word
04/27/2016 at 11:45

I rallycross mine regularly. Stock suspension and wheels too. Love it to death and wouldn’t hesitate to do another one today if it was offered.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Vicente Esteve
04/27/2016 at 11:49

Actually, the Fiesta ST was designed to be a rally car. The Fiesta is currently the basis for ford’s rally program, not the focus. Sounds odd, but the Fiesta is pretty comfy (comparatively) over rougher dirt roads as long as you keep the momentum up.

Vicente Esteve > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
04/27/2016 at 16:33

I’d love to find out if that claim is true.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Vicente Esteve
04/27/2016 at 17:06

Here’s one of my many runs. Most of which aren’t recorded or on youtube.

As for the claim of “Ford designed the fiesta ST to rally” - You can buy a pretty cheap kit to turn any Mk7 fiesta into an R2 class rally car. It’s not nearly as intensive or expensive as you would think partly because the base vehicle is that good at being a rally car.