CTC Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS

[CD_Editor]

Day 1:

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Want to be noticed driving while down the road?  How about getting noticed stepping out of your car, or maybe you want people to pull out their cellphone to snap pictures as you drive by or as your car sits in a parking lot?  You could buy a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, or name your supercar; that would work for sure. Or, with a more modest budget, you could do it in this week's tester, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.   More...

[rob]

I can remember trying to buy a new Z28 many years ago. The local dealers all had them on their lots, but not a single one with intermittent wipers. Unless the wipers were ordered from the factory, the cost of adding them later was either prohibitive (factory equipment) or ugly (third party).

Living in Vancouver, intermittent wipers are as essential as snow tires in Ottawa. This simple device was standard in import cars costing far less, but unobtainable without a factory order by Chevrolet dealers trying to advertise a cheap price.

Reading the review for day one brought back that memory. The car looks and sounds attractive as you read the pricing - but it keeps going up and up. The base model with the attractive price is stripped of all the nice features that made you look in the first place.

Although GM's pricing structure has been simplified from the bad old days, there's still a long way to go.

[Mitlov]

I can remember trying to buy a new Z28 many years ago. The local dealers all had them on their lots, but not a single one with intermittent wipers. Unless the wipers were ordered from the factory, the cost of adding them later was either prohibitive (factory equipment) or ugly (third party).

Living in Vancouver, intermittent wipers are as essential as snow tires in Ottawa. This simple device was standard in import cars costing far less, but unobtainable without a factory order by Chevrolet dealers trying to advertise a cheap price.

Reading the review for day one brought back that memory. The car looks and sounds attractive as you read the pricing - but it keeps going up and up. The base model with the attractive price is stripped of all the nice features that made you look in the first place.

Although GM's pricing structure has been simplified from the bad old days, there's still a long way to go.

Did you really just compare the absence of a a sunroof and HID headlamps to the absence of windshield wipers?  Those things are optional on most non-luxury cars, import or domestic.

The following is standard equipment on even the most basic Camaro, the LS:

Six airbags
Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS
CD player with six speakers
Power door locks
Traction control
Six-speed manual transmission
Power mirrors
Air conditioning
Two 12V power outlets
Tire pressure monitoring system
...and of course...
Variable intermittent wipers

(and of course, rear wheel drive, independent rear suspension, 304 horsepower, and direct injection are all standard).

Is that luxury car equipment?  No.  Sure, it has steel wheels and a plastic/vinyl steering wheel and cloth seats (with no seat heaters).  But it's not in ANY way comparable to optional windshield wipers.  For the performance and the price, I think the base equipment is actually quite reasonable.

[EddieV]

I think its priced allright but I would ditch the auto box leave the cloth seats but maybe get a leather steering wheel and rims maybe but that's about it.... all that other stuff is just extra.... at 37,000+ its not very attractive.

[G0dspd]

Is that luxury car equipment?  No.  Sure, it has steel wheels and a plastic/vinyl steering wheel and cloth seats (with no seat heaters).  But it's not in ANY way comparable to optional windshield wipers.  For the performance and the price, I think the base equipment is actually quite reasonable.

Like Mitlov said, it's very reasonable.  The insanity starts when you take a look at the factory accessories. 

Ground Effects Kit (dealer installed): 2265$ USD
21x8.5" wheels + 245/40ZR21 tires (dealer installed): 4680$ USD

I don't know how these items are worth in CAD but you can add a lot of "regular" and more useful equipment to a Camaro for the same money. 

[Mitlov]

Like Mitlov said, it's very reasonable.  The insanity starts when you take a look at the factory accessories. 

Ground Effects Kit (dealer installed): 2265$ USD
21x8.5" wheels + 245/40ZR21 tires (dealer installed): 4680$ USD

I don't know how these items are worth in CAD but you can add a lot of "regular" and more useful equipment to a Camaro for the same money. 

Yeah, body kit and extra-large wheels are highway robbery.  Best to stay away and spend your money where it counts.  Though that's true on a LOT of cars, though, not just the Camaro. 

[Alex_S]

The upgraded 20" shoes a must.. Exterior is sharp, not a fan of that interior personally.. If you can anywhere near the stated fuel consumption rating, I will be most impressed..

[johngenx]

Saw a yellow one with the black stripes.  Very nice. Me likey.

[Turbo Bob]

not a fan of that interior personally..

[can of worms = open]

 

[Mitlov]

The upgraded 20" shoes a must.. Exterior is sharp, not a fan of that interior personally.. If you can anywhere near the stated fuel consumption rating, I will be most impressed..

I'll bet you could if you drove it like a Corolla.  Then again, if you drive it like a Corolla, you don't deserve it.

[rrocket]

The upgraded 20" shoes a must.. Exterior is sharp, not a fan of that interior personally.. If you can anywhere near the stated fuel consumption rating, I will be most impressed..

I'll bet you could if you drove it like a Corolla.  Then again, if you drive it like a Corolla, you don't deserve it.

Yea...you don't deserve a V6 Camaro....    Now if we were talking about the V8.....


By the way Mitlov....haven't I heard you talk about the benefits of 300+ HP V6 (in the Camaro) with good fuel economy??

[Mitlov]

By the way Mitlov....haven't I heard you talk about the benefits of 300+ HP V6 (in the Camaro) with good fuel economy??

Camaro V6 6MT:  17 mpg city, 29 mpg highway on regular gas.  RWD.  Just north of 300 horsepower.
Civic Si and Sentra SE-R Spec V:  21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway on premium gas.  FWD.  200 horsepower.

You're not actually going to get those numbers if you drive either like it was meant to be driven.  But remember, these numbers are for comparison purposes.  I have no reason to doubt that, when you drive both like you stole them, the Camaro will get the same fuel economy as the Si or Spec V on the highway (slightly better when you factor in the regular gas), and just one step behind in the city (particularly when you factor in the regular gas).

Yeah, I think that's pretty good company that the 300 horsepower Camaro is in, fuel-economy wise.

[rrocket]

^^I don't disagree....But why say someone doesn't deserve the car if they actually try to get those numbers?  Or were you just kidding around?

[Honda Owner]

I don't think anyone would buy a Camaro for fuel economy.

I saw a loaded V-8 yesterday and it looked very mean, a cool looking car. Since we are all shareholders, I hope the New GM (tm) does well with the Camaro in terms of sale, reliability and depreciation.

As a comparison, the very nicely equipped Nissan 370 Z is about $2000 away and has many nice standard features like leather and aluminum trimmed pedals, viscous differential, homelink, auto dimming mirror, blue tooth, nice audio system, etc. Nice cross shop.

[rrocket]

I don't think anyone would buy a Camaro for fuel economy.

I saw a loaded V-8 yesterday and it looked very mean, a cool looking car. Since we are all shareholders, I hope the New GM (tm) does well with the Camaro in terms of sale, reliability and depreciation.

As a comparison, the very nicely equipped Nissan 370 Z is about $2000 away and has many nice standard features like leather and aluminum trimmed pedals, viscous differential, homelink, auto dimming mirror, blue tooth, nice audio system, etc. Nice cross shop.

We're not shareholders.  Usually, shareholders get a dividend or a return on their investment.  We get nothing.....so don't expect a dividend cheque in the mail if they turn it around.....

[Mitlov]

^^I don't disagree....But why say someone doesn't deserve the car if they actually try to get those numbers?  Or were you just kidding around?

I'm not totally serious.  You don't have to "earn" the right to buy a consumer good, even a four-wheeled one.  It's just a bit of a bummer to see someone driving like they're driving Miss Daisy when they're in a 300 horsepower RWD sport coupe. 

[Honda Owner]

We're not shareholders.  Usually, shareholders get a dividend or a return on their investment.  We get nothing.....so don't expect a dividend cheque in the mail if they turn it around...

Well, it is going to be quite the opposite. We are definitely going to pay higher taxes some time in the future to pay the bills from our borrow and spend Conservative friend.

[rrocket]

^^I don't disagree....But why say someone doesn't deserve the car if they actually try to get those numbers?  Or were you just kidding around?

I'm not totally serious.  You don't have to "earn" the right to buy a consumer good, even a four-wheeled one.  It's just a bit of a bummer to see someone driving like they're driving Miss Daisy when they're in a 300 horsepower RWD sport coupe. 

Well you can't always drive like Grand Theft Auto.  Sometimes you have to use your head...and in those cases, it's OK to nail down good gas mileage.

You don't always drive your Jetta like you in the Jetta Cup series, do you?  Or like Valentino Rossi on your bike?? 

[Mitlov]

Well you can't always drive like Grand Theft Auto.  Sometimes you have to use your head...and in those cases, it's OK to nail down good gas mileage.

You don't always drive your Jetta like you in the Jetta Cup series, do you?  Or like Valentino Rossi on your bike?? 

Not at 10/10ths, but honestly, I'm always a bit too aggressive to get the rated mileage (unless there's Mini-Mitlov on board).  Normally miss it by 15-20%. 

And a MkIV Jetta is a LOT less exciting than a 300 horsepower RWD sports coupe.

[MK2]

even without destination this this is over $36000?  I wouldn't pay that much for a GM V6 car. I'd rather have an Accord coupe that is as fast with a smalelr engine and less hp