2010 Chevrolet Camaro: Family Road Trip

+1 audisport. I was going to say that too. There is nothing wrong with 6th, heck I like the low rpm at highway speed. Really, how often do you need to get out and pass someone?

Plus if you need to pass someone its very quick and easy to go from 6th to 4th or 6th to 5th.

It's almost like that 6th gear was put there for some reason...like highway cruising, maybe? Seriously, leave it in 6th and watch your mileage jump significantly.

Normally, I'm all for fuel economy, too. However, our Camaro can be distractingly breathless in 6th gear from 60 to 70 mph or so. In contrast, this is not the case with the 2008+ Corvette, which I'm more than happy to shove into 6th at the earliest opportunity. The difference likely lies in the Camaro's 500 pounds of extra weight, as the engine and gearing for the two cars (manual transmissions) is nearly identical. -- Brent

Maybe he's like me, and prefers to keep it right at the bottom of the power band. As a motorcyclist, that saved my bacon a few times. The habit has carried over to my automobile driving.

Bacon is freaking awesome. Anything that will save me some bacon is worth it.

Am i to understand that bacon is on sale??!!

I'm with felonious - 4cyl motorcycles rely on engine speed to create hp, not displacement. So keeping revs up a bit provides a bit less time when a pinch of speed is needed. Brent, worry not, bacon is good.

This is why we need to stop thinking of the Camaro and Challenger as sports car and instead as Grand Tourers. They're sporty coupes that are great for long cruises rather than cutting edge sharpness.

I understand the keeping the revs up to help in "oh SH!T" situations but will the Camaros traction control let you hammer it at 60-70 in the first place? Does the Camaro have a LSD in the back?

stovt001, I do not think anyone here has had any illusions about either the Camaro or the Challenger being a sports car.

I am curoius what your wife thought about the ride comfort? Passengers usually have a different perspective.

How dare Brent offer this kind of reasonable critique of the Camaro. How dare he suggest that anyone drive with their hands at any locations besides 9 and 3 on the steering wheel. Figures that the person who has a Vette is able to keep things in perspective with this car.

"stovt001, I do not think anyone here has had any illusions about either the Camaro or the Challenger being a sports car."

I think you havent' checked out some of the prior complaints. Part of the issue is that people don't seem to realize this is more of a cheaper S5 than a sports coupe along the lines of the Z.

I agree with 1487- I wouldn't put the Chally in the same breath as the Camaro in the "Is it a sports coupe or a real sports car" arguement. The SRT-8 can most certainly hold its own better than the R/T, but the Camaro is certainly mroe capable around corners than any Chally. I do like both cars though.

Brent,
Your description on how you installed that car seat for your daughter made me cringe. Two big FAILs for you.
1. You are not supposed to use LATCH without the using top anchor. In the Camaro, there is no top anchor in the middle seat...because there is no middle seat. Pages 2-43 to 2-47 in the owners manual. It's a 2+2 right?
2. Using the inner LATCH points from the two outboard seats shouldn't be used because the latches were not designed to be used that way. The latches could break during an accident. This also goes for many other vehicles. Read the evil owners manuals if you aren't sure.

I just installed a seat this brisk Florida morning so I am in car mode right know. Here are some things my fellow installers and I tell people when installing a child in the seats.
1. Straps should be at or below the shoulders when rear facing, at or above forward facing.
2. To check tightness, if you can pinch the straps and make a peak, straps too loose. No peak, okay. You should only get about two fingers under the straps when properly tightened.
3. The large upper clip should always be at armpit level.

Throughly enjoy that you mention car seats in your posts. Most parents don't factor in cars seats when purchasing a vehicle. Maybe one of your staff should become certified.

Marc Villanova
National CPS Certified Tech. - T64198

If 6th gear cant be used that well at 70 MPH then what is the point? Oh and 1487 dont ever bother since you dont own a car with a man trans. (And I dout you ever have, you are not the type) The Challenger can use this gear comfortably....GM cant figure out how also? So in other words the Camaro is a GT type of car, wich is fine and so is the Challenger. But it seems the Challenger is better at doing the GT thing than the Camaro. And it seems the Mustang is better than both in doing the sports car thing since it is smaller than both. The Challenger has more room, rides better, is easier to see out of, has a better steering wheel, has a bigger trunk and back seat, and is more comfortable along with better mileage and a USABLE 6th gear......so what is the point of the Camaro again? Oh thats right GM has made the perfect GT car....um....well the Challenger is better at that.....OH GM has made the perfect sports car!.........say what? It is too big and fat to be a sports car?......never mind.....at least GM has the quality reputation.......ok just forget it.

Yeah, that part about using the two different LATCH points caught my eye too. When shopping for a new vehicle last month, I took the car seat with us and dismissed vehicles that would not work or fit well. I would love to have a vehicle like the Camaro but it just does not work with a 1 year old child. My co-worker has an SS and it looks nice and is fun to ride in. Unfortunately, those child seats are massive and take up a lot of space, especially when rear-facing.

Brent, how's the engine note compared with the Vette? At what RPM do you hit the sweet spot for each motor, where it sounds like you're really tearing it up and "saving your bacon"?

I believe my car's manual says that it is OK to use the two adjacent LATCH anchors to install a child seat in the middle. But then, my car has a center anchor point for the top tether.

Not the same situation as with the Camaro, but my point is that using two adjacent LATCH anchors is not an absolute no-no.

typical idiotic rant from a familiar troll.

1. challenger doesn't get better mileage than camaro
2. Camaro has 6 speed automatic standard and superior mileage vs challenger
3. Camaros base engine is FAR better than Challengers
4. Camaro weighs less and handles better than non SRT Challenger
5. To me (and apparently many others) Camaro looks better than Challenger.

Challenger has better visibility (slightly) and larger trunk. Thats about where advantages end. challenger is a unique, attention grabbing car but to say its better than the camaro in every way is a stretch.

This thread needs less Challenger v. Camaro and more bacon.

Maybe I'm just not a good highway driver, but in my Mini, if I'm over 60 mph, I have it in 6th gear. Though, I usually tend to plan passing maneuvers rather than just hammering the gas and accelerating to 90...

As for the Camaro, I've always viewed it as more of a GT...and as a Mini owner, a car that can do a lot of miles easily and comfortably is pretty appealing to me. I find it interesting that the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger are compared so often just because they are American and have V8's. It seems like they were all created with different missions in mind: The Mustang is much more of a sports car than the others. The Challenger is pretty much a two-door Buick, and the Camaro is somewhere in the middle. To some, it's a goldilocks car and to others, it's compromised. As for the other two, it really is like comparing a CL to an M3. Yes, they're both German V8 coupes, but they are entirely different prospects.

"1. challenger doesn't get better mileage than camaro
2. Camaro has 6 speed automatic standard and superior mileage vs challenger
3. Camaros base engine is FAR better than Challengers
4. Camaro weighs less and handles better than non SRT Challenger
5. To me (and apparently many others) Camaro looks better than Challenger"

1 Are you sure? (could not resist)

2 We are not talking about the auto tranny.....who is talking about that?

3 We are not talking about the base engine cars are we....who is talking about that?

4 We are not talking about how much it weighs .....who is talking about that?

5 We are not talking about how it looks (we can if you want)

What we are talking about 1487, is what GT cars are used for. Lets talk about that only. You are the best at changing the subject but try not to be obtuse. The Challenger is demonstrably better in the factors that are important in a GT car, so using your logic it must be the better car, correct?

The ride is better in the Dodge

It is quieter than the Chevy

It has more room in the Dodge

It has a bigger trunk.

The gearshift is more comfortable to hold in the Dodge.

The steering wheel is more comfortable to hold in more positions in the Dodge.

It is easier to see out of than the Chevy.

Lets stick to those points....oh and remember the old saying about those who live in glass houses not throwing rocks? Keep that in mind when using words like "troll".

Oh and kudos to you for finally saying something like this "To me (and apparently many others) Camaro looks better than Challenger. " That is the very first credible thing you have posted in months if not ever.

@misterfusion
You are correct. Most adjacent LATCH points are to be used together. It is the middle position that can cause issues. Some vehicles will allow you to use the inner LATCH points for a car seat in the middle, some don't. I believe the latch points can only be so far apart before they don't actually work as designed.

hybris says:

I understand the keeping the revs up to help in "oh SH!T" situations but will the Camaros traction control let you hammer it at 60-70 in the first place? Does the Camaro have a LSD in the back?

Hybris, the traction control well let you hammer it at 60-70 in the camaro.

Also all SS camaros and the manual v6 have a LSD.

I have no problem driving around in 6th gear at 60-70mph in my camaro.

oachalon, what are the rpms at 65? And what kind of MPGs do you get at that speed? I cant imagine it would be undriveable at that speed.......

"What we are talking about 1487, is what GT cars are used for. Lets talk about that only. You are the best at changing the subject but try not to be obtuse. The Challenger is demonstrably better in the factors that are important in a GT car, so using your logic it must be the better car, correct? "

Incorrect as usual. When you say one car is better than another you have to consider all factors such as mileage, technology, handling, styling, value, etc. Regardless of what kind of car you think the Challenger is the reality is that is advantages are trunk space and visibility. That's about it. Everything else you mentioned (shockingly) is subjective and thus not worth mentioning. I mean since the Challenger isnt made by GM we already know you like it better so stop trying act like you are making some sort of intelligent comparison of the two cars.

Also, please back up your assertions that the Challenger is quieter and better riding than the Camaro. Niether car has been criticized for road noise or ride comfort.

"That is the very first credible thing you have posted in months if not ever. "

Now that I have the seal of approval from the least knowledgeable person in the room I can go on living my life. Thank you BB- I am complete now. When I want to gauge my credibility you are the FIRST one I consult. You are widely respected for your deep knowledge and peerless objectivity. Waiting for you to bring bondholders into the discussion- you have remained on topic for 2 or 3 posts and I am shocked.

This thread is awesome becuase I just had bacon last night....i sprinkle a litte bit of brown sugar on before i stick it in to broil for a couple minutes. mmmmmmmmm

Do trolls like bacon? LOL
It seems....

@throwback
My wife didn't complain about the Camaro's ride quality. Obviously, a family sedan would have been more comfortable, but the Camaro seemed to be within her range of tolerance.

@marcvill
Thank you for the clarification and information regarding safety seat installation.

@Jederino
Personally, I think the Corvette sounds better, especially if it's equipped with the optional dual-mode exhaust. The Camaro can sound somewhat flat. As for a sweet spot, both cars can pile on the speed after 2,000 rpm. The Camaro's just working against more curb weight.

"Do you want to know how good bacon is? To improve other food they WRAP it in bacon." -- Comedian Jim Gaffigan

-Brent

^^Thanks, Brent! How expensive is it to insure the Corvette, and would the Camaro likely be quite a bit less expensive?