2010 Chevy Camaro SS: Wave Like a Man

So in CA you guys can't drive in the rain without AWD. But taking pictures while driving is A-OK?

Scott, I'm pretty sure what you're experiencing is simply due to what has been identified as the D-Bag Quotient.

Normally, you'd get a wave; no doubt. However, researchers have noticed over the years that a given automobile which might receive a wave in say, Jackson, Mississippi will more than likely NOT recieve a wave in a place like LA. After years of testing in the field, the team discovered this was due to a segment of the population colloquially referred to as 'D-Bags'. D-Bags are generally categorized as aloof members of a group who don't comply with typical waving rituals out of contempt and/or arrogance for the rest of the group.

Given the alarmingly high value for the D-Bag Quotient in your location in SoCal, I bring you the rather unfortunate news that you may not be seeing many waves.

If it makes you feel any better, at least you're not in NYC.

Oh lookie there, first comment looks like it was from a member of said group.

It's SO fulfilling to see your research verified by independent events.

Here, deep in the Mid-West, the wave only happens if, 1. you are on a bike waving to another biker, or 2. you are on the lake in a boat waving to another boater. Wave to a stranger in another car and you get the "who the hell are you?" look. Give the guy a thumbs up acknowleding his ride and there's a 50/50 shot of getting a thumbs up in return or getting the "wtf?" look in return.

However, if you happen to be a kid giving a thumbs up from the back seat to a "cool" car or any bike, well, that's perfectly acceptable and the gesture will be returned 99% of the time if the other driver sees you.

"D-Bags are generally categorized as aloof members of a group who don't comply with typical waving rituals out of contempt and/or arrogance for the rest of the group."

lowmilelude speaks the truth.

But there's a flip side to the coin and that is the proliferation of "Tool-Bags".

Tool-Bags were most recently introduced to the automotive world with the 2nd generation VW Beetle. Their numbers grew further when the PT Cruiser was introduced a year or so later.

Tool-Bags are generally categorized as insecure members of a group who lack any measurable degree of self-worth and so seek acceptance into societal groups through any means possible. In the automotive world this includes buying a vehicle that makes them feel part of some (imaginary) "elite" club and helps to define their otherwise lacking personality.

cole - I believe that group goes back a good deal further than the new Beetle and that PT thing. I believe researchers first found evidence of the "Tool-Bags" when a certain small German sports car company first introduced its Turbo variant. However, the group was small enough it was difficult to measure. Until the small manufacturer began to produce the Cayenne in an attempt to penetrate the mainstream. Which, sadly, it has done, at the dilution of its heritage.

I get so upset when I see someone driving a cool car and they come of as willfully unaware of that fact. If you buy a cool car you should have to sign a legally binding form that requires you to wave amiably when other motorists wave first.

If you're driving one of the first Camaro SS models on the road, how do you not know that you're driving the current "in" car? No one is that stupid. What, they never heard of it before and just happened across it on the lot and bought it? Baloney! The first Camaro I saw on the road, that's how the driver acted. All aloof and snooty. Jerk.

The next one however, a bright orange one. That guy was cool. He returned the thumbs up. 370 Z drivers also seem to be clueless in my town. What gives?

fuhteng - that is true, but I feel that the group you speak of was original and therefor somewhat legit.

The modern day Tool-Bag, on the other hand, needs constant reassurance (by means of a return wave) that they purchased the "right" $32,999 automobile (with 2.9% financing of course). If they don't get enough return waves then they begin seeking a new car - the "latest" automobile that will help them gain acceptance into the "elite" club as verified by the amount of time they spend waving while driving.

There are also a select few that are known as "Tool-Sheds". They are larger than life and no "Bag" could ever contain them. They are so tool-laden that they require a shed to store them all. They are special and they have to make sure that YOU and everyone else on Earth knows it. They usually drive pedestrian vehicles like RAV-4's or old-ass Chevy S-10's. These vehicles usually are adorned with rim's that cost more than the vehicle's themselves, along with faux port hole vents, dark tinted windshields, and/or bright purple imposter xenon headlamps. They always belong to various groups of similar tool-sheds exhibiting the same behaviors and their vehicles always display no less than (3) web site listings, such as "www.pimpinrav4s.com" or "www.s10ballerz.com". Be aware of this breed, as it truly is a delight to behold.

Audisport brings up a good point. The Tool Shed mentality has, as a nearly defining characteristic, willfull membership in a club that chooses to mispell its own name: Krazy Kustomz, Vivid Illushunz, etc.

It could be said that although all Tool Sheds are not active members of such a group, all active members of the club are, in fact, Tool/D sheds/bags.

We don't wish the world to be this way, we simply observe and report.

I have a 1989 Camaro Iroc Z convertible (fully restored, looks like a new car) ... if the car ledaves my driveway, the top is down. So i get all kinds of waves and people talking to me at stoplights and such, though most don't really know it's a Camaro. I'm fine with it.

But I have noticed that the new Camaros seems to be excluded from whatever "club" of cool cars by other Camaro owners. I have no idea why. During Papa John's free pizza to Camaro drivers day, even the pizza dudes didn't want to give a pizza to new Camaro owners because (and I quote), "Any jacka$$ can buy a new car. They don't compare to the originals."

I have a black 2SS camaro and I drive around LAX all the time. What I see is that 4 gen and 3 gens like to look at car and follow me but not give me thumbs up most of the time. I do not see to many 5th gen, but everybody who has a 5th gen as well, we all have a special bond. We always thumbs up each other. You guys should meet more people like the people at www.camaro5.com . We are always meeting up and talking about our cars all time!

I guess it's because the new Camaros don't possess the proper amount of suckage to be in the "cool car club" the older ones do.

What about the small group of people who actually buy a car because they like/enjoy it? They don't buy it because it's the cool thing to do or simply to be part of some club. When members of that group see others of that group in the same car, they wave so as to say "Hey, we both enjoy the same car." I believe this is a genuine occurrence that exists independently of D/Tool-bags. (See Jeep Wrangler, Mini Cooper, motorcycles, assorted classic cars, etc.)

Also, the whole "I'm not going to wave because my car is the S/Turbo/T(u)RD/SS/GT version/edition and yours isn't" thing is the exact definition of D-bag. It's the same as saying, "I spent more money than you and am therefore a superior being, so no, I will not give you the time of day."

My friend who owns a Camcord gets gang sings flashed at him constantly. You just gotta watch out for those soccer moms and middle managers. However, you sure that was not some sort of gender thing? You know, wink wink, you down with that sort of stuff? You know, Hey Big Boy sort of... you know.

I gotta agree with the whole d-bag thing. I travel all the time and probably spend less than 20% of my time at home. Some countries I visit, people wave at you if you just happened to have a car because cars are rare in some countries. But if you roll down the window or stop, you'll probably get mugged.

In Manhattan, try waving at anyone and you'll get the finger I assume. I would definitely do that because I just can't shoot people for waving at me.

All Camaros that I had seen growing up came with mullets. I assume it was just a factory option that you couldn't scratch off from the list. Even as a kid I never liked the whole mullet/Beavis look. And the last time I was driving around in Jersey, I actually saw a dude driving the new Camaro with a rat tail. And to Camaro owners: Stop blasting Heart, Scorpion, Foreigner, Winger with windows rolled down when you drive!

Scott-

Did you try initiating the wave and get rejected? Or were sitting there and waiting for the wave? I drive an S2000 and will return a wave if waved at but I don't take it personally if I don't get one.

Here's my general waving etiquette:

I'll wave if my top's down (the car... :)) and I'm driving for fun. If it's the commute, I'm usually concentrating on driving. The only corollary is that I will wave at a regular commuter in a yellow S2000 that I see often.

I only wave at cars coming toward me - waving at cars going the same way seems really needy - you have to turn around and stalk the other driver.

I understand the fact that being left high and dry on a wave is like being left hanging on a high five... But writing that you're offended that another Camaro driver didn't wave is a little weird. I guess some people need justification for their rides. It's separates front-runners from the pack, I guess.

BTW- calling someone a "d-bag" because they don't acknowledge that you made the same purchase as they did kind of makes you a "d-bag." Making fun of other's choice of expressing their taste in cars (no matter how horrible it may seem to be - and I'm no fan of the descriptions made) kind of makes you the "d-shed"

@ Super_ongoy:

Blasting Heart, Scorpion, Foreigner, Winger with windows rolled down when you drive is one of the reasons I want to own an IROC Camaro...

The car-to-car aknowledgment always amazed me when I used to have a Smart Car and Mini Cooper S. Mini owners would almost always at least smile, while tons of people would aknowledge the Smart car (from truck drivers to minivans). I liked the positive vibe.

I get waves while riding my Speed Triple- even from Harley riders(!). My Wrangler gets waves from other Wranglers; most CJ owners pointedly ignore the newer YJs, TJs, and JKs, since they aren't "Real" Jeeps. That said, my 2002 evokes the most favorable responses. In contrast, my MS3 gets a lot of one-finger salutes from the drivers of pickups plastered with UAW/"Buy American" stickers. It never fails to crack me up.

@luke: I went through a phase when I tried to be down. I asked my cousin, who was a college kid at the time, what he's listening to. He said 50 cents. When I was visiting my folks, I went to the local CD joint and got myself a 50 cents CD and popped it in to my dad's Mercedes S with windows rolled down. I got pulled over by the town cops.

Now I shut the window when I want to play Skid Row and White Snake and mute at the stop light.

Something people driving a Honda Accord, Civic or Toyota Camry don't have to worry about I guess.

Sylvia-
We'd be causing accidents because there'd be so much damn waving going on. It would cause absolute pandemonium. The resulting chaos would force California to propose laws prohibiting waving while driving a vehicle, then Ford would add a wave option to SYNC so you could give someone a handsfree wave, and so on.

He did not wave at you because the new Camaro is so stupid looking! Like you did not know that!

@roadburner: Here in the Detroit area, every other American car has the "Lose your job yet? KEEP BUYING FOREIGN!!" UAW bumper stickers. It gets annoying when they won't let me merge and generally act like a**holes, but I just shake my head at them....

What the hell is an American car anyways these days?

Is the Ford Fusion that is made in Mexico an American car?

What about the Mazda 6 that is made in Michigan??? Is the Mazda an American car?

@bodyblue

If the Camaro is really that "stupid looking" why do you feel the need to remind everyone in every single Camaro post?

@audisport: I think most union members are very aware of which cars are built where. I would expect tremendous animosity toward even US-built Hondas and Hyundais, but none toward Flat Rock-sourced Mazdas.

Maybe he stole it and he was on the run.

@stephen987- Ahhh, so it's more UAW vs. non-union. Got it.. They should revamp their bumper stickers then to read "Out of a job yet? Keep buying non-UAW". That would make sense then.

One of the more entertaining threads I've read in a while.

"All Camaros that I had seen growing up came with mullets. I assume it was just a factory option that you couldn't scratch off from the list. Even as a kid I never liked the whole mullet/Beavis look. And the last time I was driving around in Jersey, I actually saw a dude driving the new Camaro with a rat tail. And to Camaro owners: Stop blasting Heart, Scorpion, Foreigner, Winger with windows rolled down when you drive!" ...... I laughed for a minute straight - too funny.

And...I also think it's funny that people wave to each other when they're on boats. People who probably never wave at/to strangers any other time in their lives feel compelled to wave to everyone when out boating.

it's hard to wave and be cool.

As an STi owner, I have found that not only are mutual waves the norm from all model year STi owners, but even many EVO guys. I think the Mitsu part comes into play because almost anyone who owns one of the two brands, probably had the other as the runner-up, or pretty close.

dougnash2009,

Sometimes I'll get EVO and STi drivers even waving to me and I drive an SRT-4... it's the 2003-4 STi and EVO 8/9 drivers who do, though. Unfortunately, most people who drive SRT-4s tend to be tools trying to look hard in their Neons and don't wave back. Sad.

After I outran (even through the twisties on a closed course with a professional driver, obviously...) an EVO IX the guy was still nice to me. I told him I'd still rather have his car, though. Upon being asked why I didn't buy one my answer was obvious... couldn't afford one...

uh... my SRT-4, not an SRT-4. We get an annoying redesign on this website and not even an edit button comes with it. Awesome.

I have the 2009 Challenger RT, I get waves and thumbs up all the time. Even the furtive cell phone camera shot or two, (not a lot of Challengers on the road in Alaska). But, I got to say, what seemed cool when I got the car gets sillier with time. I love my car, but it is just a car. I might just be on my way to work and not really in the mood to be the 'happy' spokesman for the model I drive.

As it is my daily driver, not every trip is an invitation for that WRX in the next lane for a drag race (a race I would lose I might add). Or more likely, a RAM 1500 with modified duel exhaust roaring up behind me to race here (a race I'd win!). I'm just going somewhere like any Carolla.

What do you call the guy who charges up to my car, hangs back in the blind spot to look it over, then as he passes or is forced to stop beside me, pretends he never saw me when I look over? Hmm.

"Here in the Detroit area, every other American car has the "Lose your job yet? KEEP BUYING FOREIGN!!" UAW bumper stickers"

What's really sad is the UAW really has no clue that they are one of the major reason for people losing their jobs and and likely the biggest single reason Detroit has fallen as far as it has.

They may be able to force management to accept excessive wages, poor workmanship and bad attitudes but they can't force people to buy their products.

Don't buy the new Camaro if you don't want foreign. I heard a Korean dude designed it. The whole buy american thing is getting out of control. Is it a nice thought? Yes it is and I am all about supporting the local manufacturer as long as they can provide the best choice for me (or close to it). But is it right to attack someone and make them feel like Benedict Arnold or Hitler if you don't buy a Chevy or Ford? The union guys are the modern day neo-commies as they attack our freedom to choose and undermine American way of life. They should be rounded up and sent to Guantanamo. Whose idea was to close that? That person should also be sent there.

More automakers are coming here to set up shops and that should be good for the economy. I bet if there was less union trouble, more will come to set up factories and assembly plants. I heard some automakers avoided having unions (Toyota might be one) in the states but any automaker deciding to build a plant here must be considering if they want to deal with the UAW guys.

"If the Camaro is really that "stupid looking" why do you feel the need to remind everyone in every single Camaro post?"

Now that I know that it irritates you, I will continue doing it.

slickersdrip:

Hah! I didn't much think of the ol' SRT4. I haven't quite had the same experience with those drivers, as some (as you seem to know) seem to have a slight attitude.

But I've given those things wide berth after getting smoked by one years ago on the back-roads of Mission Viejo. Besides the under-reported HP figures from the factory, the fact that those things can get SERIOUS power gains from mere pocket change means that many of those cars on the road are major sleepers.

You can see plenty of YouTube videos of those little things just embarrassing all kinds of expensive cars at the drag strips.

"Now that I know that it irritates you, I will continue doing it."

Now that's what I'm talking about!

"But I've given those things wide berth after getting smoked by one years ago on the back-roads of Mission Viejo. Besides the under-reported HP figures from the factory, the fact that those things can get SERIOUS power gains from mere pocket change means that many of those cars on the road are major sleepers."

I agree; I've only played with a couple of SRT-4s in my MS3(only mod is a MSCAI). One SRT-4 wasn't much faster-if at all-but the other was a monster. I had a Ram SRT-10 try to lose me on the interstate; he was pulling away up to about 125, which is when his truck's aerodynamics-or lack thereof-became a limiting factor

"Now that I know that it irritates you, I will continue doing it."

Whatever, man. It's your problem not mine.

I've only seen five other RS 4 owners on the road in a year and a half, and they've all waved at me or waved back. I also frequently get nods or waves from S4 and M3 owners, but the two IS-F owners were absolutely jerks. And they both changed lanes in front of me without signaling, which is possibly the most irritating thing ever. D-bags indeed.