The other day I noticed a cool feature on the Camaro's instrument panel. With the push of a button you can put a large numerical engine tempurature gauge directly in front of the driver.
Anyone that has driven a car on a racetrack knows this is cool, and it's one of those small details that tells you that the Camaro development team at GM actually had some real gearheads on it. Gearheads that knew the Camaro's small temp gauge (seen on the left) with its simple H and C range just wouldn't cut it when the car is driven hard.
You know the more I drive our long-term Camaro the more I like it.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
greenpony says:
05:16 AM, 10/10/09
Well, you're not Sadlier.
bodyblue says:
05:47 AM, 10/10/09
Ok that is a cool feature...will it do the same for trans temp also?
super_ongoy says:
06:52 AM, 10/10/09
Does it also measure the butt temp? Bun cooling/heating seems to be gaining popularity among luxury cars these days and I would like my car to measure my butt temperature and keep my buns at an ideal temperature.
robert4380 says:
08:47 AM, 10/10/09
Woah, someone at Edmunds who actually likes the Camaro now? I don't believe it.
stovt001 says:
09:15 AM, 10/10/09
Bodyblue- no, the DIC won't, but if you get the four-pack gauges there is a trans-temp gauge included. Unfortunately, the four-pack gauges aren't located in an easily-viewed location - stupid nod to heritage over ergonomics, but its something.
aurakr says:
09:59 AM, 10/10/09
I say this even though I want to buy a convertible in the future. The interior of the Camaro, is not its greatest selling point. Although it is not near as bad as most of the editors make it out to be, it can and should be improved.
I also say this knowing I may be villified. My version wil be the V6 version, with the automatic.
I figure 304 horsepower is plenty. I must be getting old :)
bimmerjay says:
11:09 AM, 10/10/09
Anyone who has driven on a racetrack also knows that engine oil temp is probably more important than coolant temp.
bodyblue says:
11:10 AM, 10/10/09
stovt....I am aware of the out of sight gauges but was wondering if the trans temp was redundant also...thanks
aurakr...304 ponies is more than enough (you knew I would say that,lol) But I will say that the camaro interior is as bad as they make it out to be.
wrinklebump says:
05:34 PM, 10/10/09
Scott is one of the few IL editors that I think really gets cars. Shapes his expectations around the execution of the car — unlike many writers here that hop in the Focus and go WTF THIS ISNT A DIAMOND PLATED LAMBO ZOMG
majin_ssj_eric says:
06:11 PM, 10/10/09
GM has done this for a while. Our old 92 Seville had a temp readout too....
debo1091 says:
07:54 PM, 10/10/09
Does the challenger have readouts like this? My dads 09 Ram has this and more. I believe it has trans temp and oil temp and i cant recall what else. So i would assume the challenger has this too?
cruiserhead1 says:
09:45 PM, 10/10/09
that's cool! I like that multi-function display design a lot!
lostandfound08 says:
06:52 AM, 10/12/09
Not to take anything away from the Camaro with this, but this is pretty much standard across the line for GM vehicles with the DIC. It is a great feature, and GM should be given credit for including it on lowly Cobalts and HHRs along with the pricier vehicles.
fuhteng says:
07:20 AM, 10/12/09
Thanks lostandfound08 - the G8 GT has it too, hold down the round-button on the left side of the steering wheel when you start it up and you'll see the engineering display. It is on there.
jeepsrt says:
08:37 AM, 10/12/09
@majin_ssj_eric, I have this on my '92 Corvette, nothing new but I do like having it available. My Grand Cherokee has the oil temp which is nice also.
1487 says:
12:01 PM, 10/12/09
lostandfound:
Lower end vehicles have the exact temp readout? I don't think my car does this. Cadillacs and Vettes may be different.
lostandfound08 says:
12:35 PM, 10/12/09
1487: My '08 HHR has the exact temp readout. It's the 2LT trim, so I'm not sure about other trim levels, but it is pleasantly surprising at that price point.