It was a beautiful Navy Blue SS A6. I had the opportunity to drive a Black SS M6 but I did not want to play with the shifter today, I just wanted to enjoy the ride. Well... Here goes... I used to own a 2001 Camaro Z28 so my comparison will be based on the Z28, not my V6. My V6 in comparison is like apples and oranges, even the stance is different.

The Interior...

The way you sit in the Camaro is actually quite awkward in my opinion. The seats do not "grab" you like the 4th Gen F-Bodies do, you simply sit on them and also the ability to adjust the lower portion of the seat to move it up and down is also alittle awkward. I found that it was difficult to make the perfect equilibrium between the gas pedal and steering wheel. You were either perfect with the gas peddle and too close to the steering wheel or perfect with the steering wheel and too far from the gas pedal. I eventually did get it right though. The controls and functions are very intimidating at first, especially the climate controls but they will eventually grow on you. The Digital Speedometer is almost necessary as the 180 Speedometer doesn't give you a very easy view of your speed... but I'm not a fan of digital speedometers as they're constantly changing and it gets on my nerves. Some places of the car are cluttered and the others are blank, there's almost no flow BUT I do realize interior quality and design isn't what this car is famous for and its still heaps better than the 4th gen as well.

The Exterior...

The one thing that REALLY sells the 2010 Camaro is that the design is very distinct and it comes with MANY body modifications or options, such as stripes, ground effects, spoilers, exhaust tips, wheels, and hoods. This was an excellent marketing plan and gives it that "Transformers" appearance as well. The car is quite wide but the dimensions measure it to be shorter than the 4th Gen. The 20" wheels look like standard tires on this car, I'm not fond of this as 4th Gens did quite well with 17 and 18" wheels. 20" Wheels might grab the road but there's a price to pay, their tires don't last long and they are VERY expensive for the average consumer.

The Drive...

Okay. It's been a long time since I drove something with more than 210 Horse Power, at least 2 years so I am a little hesitant that I might over power the machine with my heavy V6 foot so I crank it up and shift her into reverse. I let my foot off the brake and the car did the rest of the work. Cool, no need to tap the gas. I put it in drive and did have to feather it a little, but it was quite responsive. Coming to my first stop sign, I handled it around parked cars much like I would my 4th Gen, they seemed to handle about the same, - The only difference would be the steering was less forgiving on the SS than my Z28 or Firebird. It was crisp and to the point. When I applied the brakes, it didnt stop as fast as my Firebird would so I'm quite disappointed in the Brembo brakes, but stopping was still very efficient. Well, get going again and we come to the last traffic light before the divided highway would convert into an expressway. Now I have people in here so I cant drive the way I wanna drive. But when the light turned green I applied moderate gas and she actually didn't respond like I thought she would. At least, not something with 405 Horse Power. It was a very silent but progressive acceleration, slow at first but then it gathered power as it gained steam. My Z28 felt this way too but its rated 50 horses less and in a lighter body. I was expecting a lot more of an advantage with the A6 than what I felt. We begin cruising at 65 MPH and a car comes up on the side of me and wouldn't move trapping me in the left lane so I put the pedal down again and it instantly increased to 75, it seemed to accelerate a lot quicker on the highway than at a stand still, but it was still silent, no seat of the pants feel, just a joy ride. changed lanes to the right lane, visibility through the windows and mirror was fair, but maneuvering the car did feel a bit bulky and a little shaky too. It didnt DRIVE heavy, it didnt feel heavy, it just feels bulky and easy to lose control of. My Z28 gave me no such feeling. Eventually we get turned around and the light gas pedal did accidentally over accellerate me back onto the on ramp. The Pedal on the Z28 and my Firebird are stiffer. Same driving experience going back. Its a very silent and smooth car... but it doesn't feel like a Muscle, Pony, or Performance Car.. ..it felt more like a Full Sized Sedan, like a Pontiac G8 GT.

Overall, It was a cool experience, but can I see myself paying $30,000 + for it?

Great car, it's not over priced either, but I'm just not impressed with it... My Z28 felt much sportier and just as fast... ...I'm going to fix up my Firebird instead.

 

Interesting review. Thanks for posting it.

Have you posted in this thread yet?
https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho....php?p=6275234

 

VERY helpful. One thing I have to wonder about is you said the seats didnt grab you like a 4th gen. I dont know if the Z28 is different than the 4th Gen V6, but my 98 V6 seats NEVER felt like it grabbed me and almost always hurt my back.

 

I didn't really pay much attention to the way the seats were when I test-drove a Bumblebee M6 SS last week. They seemed fine to me once I adjusted them to my driving position. They seemed like they'd be very comfortable to sit in for a long, long roadtrip session. I drive a 1997 V6 M5 and the main thing I noticed was the shifting and clutch in comparison. My father was along for the ride took every opportunity to say how my gear changes were sudden and jarring, but again like you, I'm used to driving a 200hp 5 speed with a clutch that has a completely different feel. Not sure but there might have been an aftermarket short-throw shifter in the car I test drove too. Overall, I enjoyed it.

My father was not as willing to praise it. His biggest complaint was the size of the rear view mirror and the visibility. When we were stopped at the light, we were the first car in the series at the stop line. He said he could not see the overhead traffic lights and had to use the lower ones, which were blocked by the mirror. I did not notice that while I was driving, but he's got 40 years on me, with experience driving his 1969 Firebird, Pontiac Parissienne Convertible, Ford Falcons, you name it.

 

so...trying to tell us that My 5th(2010 SS) is not as good as my 94 z28??
Please...please...please...where does this silliness end??
I hope this rant drops to the bottom of the register quickly....

 

He said nothing of the sort. Everyone's opinion counts. Posts like this are unacceptable.

100% disagree on this count -- the 2010 seats are a huge improvement in comfort and support compared to those in my 2002 Z28.

Are you aware that the steering wheel telescopes in and out? If not, that might have made it easier.

I felt this way when I drove the automatic version as well, but that problem doesn't exist on the manual transmission version.

 

Why do you click member reviews of their experience with 5th Gens if you're not prepared to read anything but gushing praise? The honest, no-holds-barred reviews are far more useful than the "this car is perfect in every way" kind of stuff....

 

Thanks for the honest review. An "expert" may have rated things differently, but your view is more of a "I just walked into the showroom and this is what I saw" review. Certainly things to consider when looking for a new car.
And "good" is subjective, at best. My 67 Mustang with a close ratio 4 speed was a "good" car, but no where comparable to todays cars.

 

no I read all the reviews and agree with some comments...sure I am biased....but c'mon...just c'mon a little...the writer states flatly at the top of his column that he is comparing to an 01 Z 28.....
All I am saying is that that comparison.... unless you have spent TIME and MILES in the car is pure silliness...the car has issues...every car does...I am the first one to admit its shortcomings but I thought one could gush about the new world class Camaro SS 2010 on a Camaro site....Guess not.
The 01 was a fine car....until the new one arrived...and the 10 is a great car until the 2017 arrives....it is just the way it is ....
I wont apologize for gushing over a fabulous car.

 

Nobody is asking you not to gush. The 2010 is a fine car. I like it.

What we are asking you not to do (and I ask you this officially, as a moderator), is to please stop calling BS any time someone mentions something they don't like about 2010 Camaro. Discussion of shortcomings is perfectly valid and constructive, and your posts in these threads come off like trolling. It's annoying, and it doesn't exactly make people feel welcome (which is especially a problem for people posting for the first time). This is a community site, and I'd like for you (and everyone) to help make our fellow Camaro enthusiasts feel welcome, even if they have something critical to say. We are a community, are not in the business of requiring everyone to love every Camaro unconditionally.

Personally, I think that late 4th gens (along with current Mustangs) are one of the most relevant cars to compare against the new Camaro. What else do you compare a car against, besides its predecessor (4th gens and maybe GTOs) and its competition (Mustangs, and to a lesser extent Challenger and Genesis coupe)?

I, for one, prefer my 2002 Z28 over either of the two 5th gen 2SSes I've driven (one auto, one manual, both RS). It's lighter and noticeably more nimble. With light mods on mine, performance is comparable. Visibility from the driver's seat is a ton better, and the fuel economy is better. The folding rear seat and hatchback offer a ton more usable cargo space than the 5th gen's does. Finally, I take my T-tops out all the time (weather permitting), and I know I prefer that over a pop-up sunroof.

I'd love to have the 5th gen's better seats, better ride, and all of the nice gizmos (bluetooth integration, iPod connectivity, kickass stereo w/ XM, etc), but for the most part I can add those to my 2002 (which I bought used in 2005 for $14,000) and still spend less than I would have spent on a 5th gen. That doesn't make the 4th gen the better car, but it also doesn't mean I'm wrong to prefer it.

 

Gushing about a car while ridiculing others who point out legitamate concerns and flaws (yes, I said flaws) from people posting an honest balenced viewpoint is pretty silly. This is the same blind attitude that led the last Camaro into oblivion.

The point you entirely miss is that blind loyalty simply means that you want everyone else to make you obsolete. To be honest, those who point out legetimate concerns with the Camaro next to the competition and what is standard expectations with cars today is doing a far greater service than those who simply gush and say everything is perfect.

I can go right down the line and say exactly what the new Camaro's strong points and weak points are. I go into detail and actually take time to explain (as the post starter here did).

I can tell you (as I've always said) that the V6 Camaro is the best bargain on the planet because no other vehicle has RWD, IRS, traffic stopping looks, 6 speed manual, 300+ horsepower, can get to 60mph in less than 6 seconds, has a top speed of 157mph, has as nearly an indestructable chassis, has as great as handling as the 2010, V6, Camaro priced at about $22,000.

I can tell you that the SS Camaro isn't.

I will point out that for starters you are paying an additional $10,000 (nearly 50% more) for what amounts to barely more than an engine and tougher transmission, and a set of Brembo brakes. The cheap plastic that is barely passable in the V6 is completely unacceptable in a $30,000+ car. Especially when the Mustang has far better interior pieces in even cheaper prices. All the other goodies in the SS are available in the V6 at a much low price. Even the Challenger makes a good effort at having good interior materials, despite having a dash that's less intresting to look at than the Camaro or Mustang.

If the 2010 V6 Camaro still had a mere 150 to 200 horsepower, a solid rear axle, or even 15" rims, then perhaps the premium charged for the SS might be worth it.

Not by any means saying that the SS isn't good. It does go very quick and looks very good doing it. But at 32 plus, when you look at what else is available, what they have, and how they're made, the SS looks good.... but not great. The Challenger R/T does much of the same with room for full sized people in the back and a bigger-than-Impala trunk at a few hundred dollars less (or a few hundred more if you order the manual). The 2011 Mustang is short only an IRS and a decent looking rear end, but you get a vehicle at least as quick (if not quicker with the new 5.0) and feels a bit more expensive from the driver's seat even though it's also a little less.

Like it or not, this is what Camaro is competing against. And both cars are up for improvements or replacements within the next couple of years.... and you can bet your a** they are going to aim to be better than the current Camaro.

That's why we need honest opinions on the Camaro.... not just a lot of gushing.

If you actually love the Camaro, you want the opinions of people who want it to stay ahead of the competition, not just someone saying "there's nothing wrong with it... you all are crazy!"

The interior needs better materials if we're charging 30+ for an SS (keep in mind, the SS costs as much as the last GTOs...which had far better interior materials!). The seats need to be a bit more snug ( Need4Camaro is the second person to compare the seats unfavorably to the 4th gen). In a nod to Charlie, GM needs to find a way to shed 50-100 pounds from the Camaro. The front suspension needs tweaking to elmininate that understeer we keep reading about that seems to be non-existant in Mustangs and even 4th gen LS1s.

None of this is a flame against the Camaro. In fact I genuinely like the car. I just feel that while the SS would make an exceptional $28,000 car, at $32,000+ the SS needs to be quite a bit better. Keep in mind that a an Infiniti G37 is about $32,000 and Mercedes C-class and a BMW 328i sedan are only $33,000. A V6 Cadillac CTS is also close to that neighborhood.

Next to them, the Camaro SS (value, not styling) looks only OK.

However the Camaro V6 is THE car that GM knocked out of the park.

With a $10,000 surcharge, I think GM can at least make a padded dash, less cheap feeling door panels, and tighten up the front bushings and/or replace the 245s up front with something 10mm (ie: Mustang GT track pack) or even 20mm wider.

 

The 2010 V6 Camaro actually left a much greater impression on me than the V8 did, it was because I wasn't expecting so much power... For $25k you have something that with bolt-ons will take out stock LT1's and run against stock LS1's and it achieves 30 MPG while doing so. The 2010 V6 is an amazing car by far. I would almost buy one but I'm afraid that I'll miss the throaty V8 exhaust note. The V8 car reminded me of a stock 4th Gen combined with a Cadillac. It can be fast don't get me wrong and those 6.2L's have TONS of potential, it's just stock I was expecting more from it.

The 2010 SS isn't a BAD car, In places it's superior to the 4th gen, especially build quality, but the performance aspect of it just seems like it could have been done better IMO... Less Weight, Better Brakes, and a sportier feel would definitely make a world of difference in this car and then it would feel more like a $30k car, but even still you have to realize the market for Camaro owners want a performance car for almost $10k less than the STARTING price of the 2010 Camaro SS... $30k - $40k and we're approaching Corvette territory which is SUPERIOR to the 2010 Camaro SS... Im not trying to sound harsh or anything it's just I feel it could have been done better... GREAT CAR, I do like them and I have respect for them... I just feel that my Z28 was a much better Bargain... It started out almost $10k cheaper and still packed the same punch.

 

I want to improve subsequent cars as much as anyone else....but some comments that I have read over and over again "also" come off as annoying and "trolling"...I know the car is not perfect but IMHO the comparisons with G37 and 328i and last gen Camaro dont come off well for the SS version of this car.
there is a big difference between "trolling" and "owning"....I have said this before....many (not all) people openly deeply critical of certain areas of the car firstly have not driven one at all or have limited seat time in the car.
GM has with one product opened the market again for performance American coupes. The V6 version 2LT with RS is a good match to G37 and 328 and many other performance coupes....not the V8...the V8 is expensive...maybe a bit too much so I will agree but if you want it you pay for it. Maybe GM has snuck in some profit in there for future financing deals...maybe they should have spent an extra 800-1000 bucks on the interior but the value and goodness of the product is often overlooked by folks who dont drive one daily.
maybe some of those points bear worth repeating...heck there has been endless repetition of all the bad stuff on the car
a/ power...exceptional and economical
b/ styling...bordering on untouchable on the market today
c/ chassis engineering ...world class...
d/ wind management...a great pleasant surprise on the highway as was my 94 ...drive with windows down and sunroof open at 75mph and the car is not blowing up the complete insided of the cockpit
e/ chop windows and visibility....one of the heaviest criticized areas of the car yet once you own it for more than a day it is NO longer an issue (my opinion)...GM took a risk on this one so why dont we honor the huge gamble this was instead of demand the visibility issue to be improved and guess what...the camaro starts to look like other coupes....the unique look of the car is based on the tight windows , the huge wide rear flanks and long hood short back and all the 69 cues....I am here to say this was risky and good on you for sticking to your guns...its a big reason the car is SELLING and giving us all the opportunity to have a new Camaro on the street .
f/ interior and plastics...so many things were nailed inside the car that IMHO I find it a little over the to top focus on the 2 or 3 things that were not. Yes...the dash plastic could of been padded and a better grade, door panels in plastic are actually way cool and one of the styling aspects that anyone who has sat in my car say WOW. so not so sure on that one...but very few chat on the neat shifter and the beautiful wheel (could of been a little smaller but again after a day its a non issue). The leather is acceptable...the colors are neat..the stitching etc..is high quality and the bucket could have been a little deeper....but those seats are VERY comfotable on a long trip....
I could go on and on....Not trolling...just owning...big difference.

 

+1 every car made by every company has its downfalls; hell, my current car, bmw 6 series, doesn't have alcantra headliner or a leather wrapped dash, wtf?!?! my escalade ext felt like a cheap, pos on the interior(excluding the emblem stiched headrests, and comfy seats*which still had leather that wore terrible)

in 07 the new escalades came out, although greatly improved i opted not to go with it, because I wasn't a big fan of the exterior styling(i think the 02-06 look better) and the lack of bluetooth, cadillac emblem in headrest, and the bleacher styled seats. the new 6 series will debut in 2012, and based on the spy shots, i won't get one either because the exterior styling appears it will be crap(and it still will probably be lacking alcantra, and leather wrapped dash). so probably going to pick up a used bentley conti gt, guess what, their will be somethings i don't like about it- i've realized in my short 23 years on earth, NOTHING/NO ONE IS PERFECT, cars are certainly no exception...and i agree with everyone else don't critcize the man for an opinion, great thing about opinions is their is no wrong answer...

Sorry went off on a tangent, back to earth; i rented a camaro on a vacation, as previous owner of 4 f-bodies(95, 99 v6 camaro's, 84, 93 t/a), their were things I enjoyed about them all but imo, they were crap compared to the 5th gen...damn your right gm knocked this car out of the park for low $20s, its a nice car, amazing exterior styling, irs, the interior was right on par for the price...not a shabby car by any means

summary: the new camaro is a great car for the price, both the v6 and v8; and i intend on buying one for my dad in a few years, keep up the good work gm(and no lambda escalade!)

 

Lol , a subjective opinion is not a fact . Given that , I have no clue in the world why anything in that post should offend you . Thats great you love your car , but not everyone has to share your thoughts ....and thoughts are from one side of the field to the next with this car .