Our Chevy Camaro has that same feature as our Dodge Challenger. You know the one that keeps trying to put you in 4th gear. It drives me crazy. I didn't notice this the first few times I drove it. I must have been in an aggressive mood.
But this weekend, I guess I was feeling mellow. I was listening to music from the 1970s which put me back into Bobby's basement with the black light and the glowing posters. So, I guess I was just kind moseying along to the tunes and the Camaro thought I was in a fuel-saving mood.
The problem is, this skip-shift function is not as smooth as it is in the Challenger. In the Challenger you just sort of end up in 4th. Oops, the Challenger put me in 4th again. But with the Camaro, it's more like you wrestle with the shifter because it feels like it is sticking. And it does it at inappropriate times, like when I'm slowly spiraling the floors in our parking garage. You can bypass this function by driving harder or just hanging onto 1st longer. But why can't it just leave me alone?
Once I learned to drive around its little sidestep, I enjoyed the car. It feels good, has a nice rumble, and you should have seen how many men tried to tackle it at the car wash today.
By the way, the photo above is my favorite angle on the Camaro, low and Corvette-esque.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
lmbvette says:
01:08 PM, 01/25/10
Just spend a few bucks and buy the skip-shift eliminator or !CAGS from one of the many vendors out there. Then, feel free to loaf around at your pleasure!
audisport says:
01:26 PM, 01/25/10
Waaay back in the day I added the skip shift elim on my Trans Am. Perfect! Then we don't have to listen to you guys complain anymore.
desmolicious says:
02:31 PM, 01/25/10
Does the Challenger Srt8 also have the skip shift?
nealibob says:
02:31 PM, 01/25/10
It remains ridiculous that this is not a controllable option.
mptlptr says:
03:39 PM, 01/25/10
If you want to get rid of this feature without having to go through the hassle of jacking up the car to install the usual CAGS eliminator harness in the transmission, then do this:
Look in the owner's manual to determine the location of the CAGS fuse. I believe it's a 10A fuse. Go to your local auto parts store and buy a Smart Glow fuse (made by Littelfuse). Blow the fuse (you can connect it to a car battery charger to do this). Replace the original CAGS fuse with the blown fuse. The resistance caused by the light in the blown fuse will disable CAGS.
This works on a C6, so it should work on the Camaro.
mptlptr says:
03:41 PM, 01/25/10
@nealibob - CAGS is actually a great idea that saves consumers from paying a hefty gas guzzler tax. It's easily defeatable, too. The fuse method I mentioned only costs $5 vs. a $500+ gas guzzler tax.
cr_driver says:
04:22 PM, 01/25/10
Old tricks from the OLD GM. RIght...?
stovt001 says:
06:45 PM, 01/25/10
Your Camaro might be the only Camaro in the whole world that doesn't already have a skip shift eliminator of some sort.
hybris says:
07:14 PM, 01/25/10
One word.
MODS!
greenpony says:
08:18 PM, 01/25/10
lol @ "Oops, the Challenger put me in 4th again."
eidolways says:
07:04 AM, 01/26/10
My G8 GXP does this, too, and it's often just as disconcerting. I think it's the shift action of the Tremec TR-6060 that makes it so awkward to suddenly find second gear locked out. It's like the tranny tries to shuttle you over to 4th, but the linkage does stick as it goes, as you note. Makes it VERY annoying to deal with when you're trying to shift to second and suddenly the shifter just won't go. And yet, somehow, after 16,000 miles I have yet to purchase a CAGS eliminator. Lazy me. Then again, part of that's because I plan to some day just get it tuned out.
stingray454 says:
08:33 AM, 01/26/10
I agree, it is very annoying. On my '02 Z06, I didn't mind CAGS, because it helped the car meet fuel efficiency standards to avoid the gas guzzler tax. My '10 CTS-V has CAGS, and it really annoys me because I had to pay a gas guzzler tax anyway. The way I see it, if I have to pay a gas guzzler tax, than I shouldn't have to deal with CAGS. I paid (big time), now leave me alone. I know it's easy to disable, but still.
ptcdawg says:
09:22 AM, 01/26/10
Typical USELESS Govt intrusion.
deagle13 says:
09:51 AM, 01/26/10
"My '10 CTS-V has CAGS, and it really annoys me because I had to pay a gas guzzler tax anyway."
The gas guzzler tax would probably be $1k higher without CAGS, so there's still a financial benefit. $30 and 10 minutes is all it takes to eliminate CAGS...
How do you like the V and how was the switch from a Vette to a V? I'll probably get one when I'm ready to "retire" my '07 Vette but I'm waiting on (hoping for) the wagon version to come out.
lmbvette says:
10:24 AM, 01/27/10
Hey stingray....what was the guzzler tax on your stick? My V is auto, so it gets slightly worse mileage. Just curious.
Hey deagle13, I traded-in my full bolt-on tuned manual Corvette C6 for my auto V. So far I absolutely love this car. By far my favorite car that I've ever owned.
Took it to the track for the first time last week and it ran 12.3 bone stock. It should easily nab a 12.2 with a slightly better launch. When I start modding this car...it will be scary fast. ;-)