My $0.02 on the new Camaro - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

BonzoHansen · 04-26-2009, 09:27 PM

I saw one in person today, finally next to other cars - an SS with the bonus caliper vibration dampening system. Now that I have seen in in person next to another car I have a better point of reference. It's too big. Too wide. Too long. A car that big and still the back seats appear worthless - the driver was no taller than I and the seat was all the way back to the back seat. I don't think I could squeeze my kids (5&8) back there in a pinch. Now I know why the 20s & 21s don't look out of proportion like they do (IMO) on older cars. The car is bigger. Challenger bigger.

I like the car, but it's not what I'd call a Camaro. They should have called it Chevelle. I don't think I can buy one now. I may change my mind, but that is what I think right now. I hope they save the G8 as a Chevy or Buick.

I really wanted to love this car. I really wanted it to be a home run. I've been excited to see one in person in the real world, not all by itself with no cars around it. A bit of a let down.

I can't wait to part one out.

LTb1ow · 04-26-2009, 09:28 PM

Have yet to see one around me, but have seen the challengers up close.

Sucks, I wanted it to be nice too, but seems like eh to me.

BonzoHansen · 04-26-2009, 09:31 PM

Well, this one was parked next to some impalas/caprices. It fit right in - that was the eye opener. Al will like that give his fondness for that police issue boat.

WildBillyT · 04-26-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

I saw one in person today, finally next to other cars - an SS with the bonus caliper vibration dampening system. Now that I have seen in in person next to another car I have a better point of reference. It's too big. Too wide. Too long. A car that big and still the back seats appear worthless - the driver was no taller than I and the seat was all the way back to the back seat. I don't think I could squeeze my kids (5&8) back there in a pinch. Now I know why the 20s & 21s don't look out of proportion like they do (IMO) on older cars. The car is bigger. Challenger bigger.

I like the car, but it's not what I'd call a Camaro. They should have called it Chevelle. I don't think I can buy one now. I may change my mind, but that is what I think right now. I hope they save the G8 as a Chevy or Buick.

I really wanted to love this car. I really wanted it to be a home run. I've been excited to see one in person in the real world, not all by itself with no cars around it. A bit of a let down.

I can't wait to part one out.

I hope they drop the Chevelle name on the G8 and keep selling it. I'm going to need a new ride in a few short years.

69BirdX · 04-26-2009, 09:37 PM

i like the g8 much better then the new camaro

baddest434 · 04-26-2009, 10:18 PM

i mentioned in an older post that it was as almost big as the new challengers. i'm not sold on it yet but i have'nt seen one either.

sweetbmxrider · 04-26-2009, 10:52 PM

there is one at a local chevy dealer by me. i want to go check it out. i was talking to a couple guys about it and they loved it. i don't think they are that big into cars but they were giving it good reviews.

fire95bird · 04-26-2009, 11:22 PM

It didnt seem that big at the NYIAS, its lighter than the challenger but i havent seen a camaro out in the street yet

karr95 · 04-27-2009, 07:31 AM

I saw a yellow one this past weekend at the Chevy Dealership in Point, it is a sweet looking car. On a side note I also saw a 2010 Mustang this weekend too, didn't realize they were coming out just yet either.

Is it true that the new Camaro doesn't come with a spare tire or jack? They just give you a can of goo?

edpontiac91 · 04-27-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karr95

I saw a yellow one this past weekend at the Chevy Dealership in Point, it is a sweet looking car. On a side note I also saw a 2010 Mustang this weekend too, didn't realize they were coming out just yet either.

Is it true that the new Camaro doesn't come with a spare tire or jack? They just give you a can of goo?

Yeah, and still charge you tax for a 5th tire when you buy the car. It's true that the rear seats are GREAT for holding a gallon of milk in place. About 93% of the people who will buy will never have a LIVING person in there. They should have made an option to have NO rear seat, let down the entrie rear panel and at least have a decent sized trunk. Less weight/no rear seats=go faster. Those hash marks on the rear quarters also do nothing for me, and those plastic engine dress covers may look fine, they trap a LOT of heat coming off the motor. My son's G8 GT is fast, very comfortable, handles and rides like nothing I have ever been in. Traction control is so awesome that you can punch it out of the gate and get about an inch of wheelspin, and that's coming from a RWD car.

JL8Jeff · 04-27-2009, 08:52 AM

Seeing one in person at CNR made me like the car better in person, but I still can't believe how small the back seats are for a car that is so big. It's like the quarter/side panels are each 1.5 feet wide leaving a very small rear seating arrangement. I'm guessing that this is to meet some future side impact requirements, but if that's true, then the imports will have room for 1 seat in the rear! Looks is one thing, but I would like to know how the car rides and drives before making an overall decision on the car.

ar0ck · 04-27-2009, 09:06 AM

The G8 as a Chevy is probably going to be a Lumina SS, because that's what it is called in the Middle East.

BonzoHansen · 04-27-2009, 09:31 AM

"About 93% of the people who will buy will never have a LIVING person in there."

A car that big should have at least back seats as roomy as a 2 door civic. Throw the buyer some kind of bone buying a tank. The car is being marketed to more than 20-25 year olds. For me it woud be a secondary car so I need to be able to put at least one kid in the car once in the while. I don't think I could put a car seat in the car because his feet will be jammed up against the seat.

Send the G8 to Buick as regal, make the GXP a grand national!

NJSPEEDER · 04-27-2009, 10:51 AM

I like the new car, but I also have no concern about rear seats. The seats in the new car are very comfortable and the interior doesn't look like it should say mattel on it like so much more of the GM line up.
I like the exterior styling, I think it looks more low and mean than the original that they were trying to emulate. The 67 Camaro was a sporty and sharp looking car, the 2010 looks more like it's angry big brother.

MonmouthCtyAntz · 04-27-2009, 02:42 PM

Saw them at the auto show in phili a few mths back and a yellow one on chevy lot in point. pleasant yesterday and Id buy one in heartbeat..might be a little big but its a sweet car.

String · 04-27-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karr95

I saw a yellow one this past weekend at the Chevy Dealership in Point, it is a sweet looking car. On a side note I also saw a 2010 Mustang this weekend too, didn't realize they were coming out just yet either.

Is it true that the new Camaro doesn't come with a spare tire or jack? They just give you a can of goo?

Yea. Thats the one at DeFelice. My brother stopped to look at it. I believe its 27,000. V6 Auto.

thunder · 04-27-2009, 03:43 PM

i sat in one at the NYIAS and played with the 6speed, i think its one of best trannys out there. really smooth short shift

Camaro.Joe.LT1 · 04-27-2009, 04:00 PM

I saw one drive by me on route 3 in clifton. A red 6 cylinder I'm guessing, it had Camaro on the side fender and nothing on the back from what I saw. I tried to take a cell phone pic but it ditched into traffic. Maybe it was a dealer promo since this was about about a month ago. My take on it, I'm not really impressed, too big, wheels to big and if they wanted to make it look like a 69 I think they failed. It just doesn't have the look. The Mustang and Challenger did capture the look and feel of the 70's muscle cars. Chevrolet could have done better. Maybe I'll grow to like it who knows, we'll see.

BigAls87Z28 · 04-27-2009, 09:31 PM

I will say that I personally have sat in the back, and it has more room any any fbody I have ever sat in via rear.
I fit in my 87 in the rear till I was old enough to drive.
The only thing is head space, that there is little of. But unless your sons are heading into the NBA, then you should be good.

I had the totaly different experiance with the Camaro. In pictures, the car looks big. In person, its smaller then I pictured.
Its sedan-based platform can make the car seem big. It is tall, no doubt but I think thats a good thing compared to the low slung fall into third and fourth gens.
Its actual dimentions are rather are not that big. At 190 inches long, its nearly a foot shorter then the Challenger, but only 2 inches longer then Mustang.
Camaro's body work, its fenders, its lower door work, its overall large features give it a "big" look.
Its more then a foot shorter then a Caprice/Impala, I think you need to get your eyes checked.

String · 04-27-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaro.Joe.LT1

I saw one drive by me on route 3 in clifton. A red 6 cylinder I'm guessing, it had Camaro on the side fender and nothing on the back from what I saw. I tried to take a cell phone pic but it ditched into traffic. Maybe it was a dealer promo since this was about about a month ago. My take on it, I'm not really impressed, too big, wheels to big and if they wanted to make it look like a 69 I think they failed. It just doesn't have the look. The Mustang and Challenger did capture the look and feel of the 70's muscle cars. Chevrolet could have done better. Maybe I'll grow to like it who knows, we'll see.

I don't know about the Mustang. Maybe the Shelby and whatnot capture the look and all that but the GT looks like a box of garbage.

String · 04-27-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJSPEEDER

I like the new car, but I also have no concern about rear seats. The seats in the new car are very comfortable and the interior doesn't look like it should say mattel on it like so much more of the GM line up.
I like the exterior styling, I think it looks more low and mean than the original that they were trying to emulate. The 67 Camaro was a sporty and sharp looking car, the 2010 looks more like it's angry big brother.

+1

BonzoHansen · 04-27-2009, 09:53 PM

Al, just for you, I will re-examine the back seat room. But that guy had the seats all the way back and he was no taller than I am.

Here is is in front of a Caprice wagon.

NJ Torque · 04-27-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

"About 93% of the people who will buy will never have a LIVING person in there."

A car that big should have at least back seats as roomy as a 2 door civic. Throw the buyer some kind of bone buying a tank. The car is being marketed to more than 20-25 year olds. For me it woud be a secondary car so I need to be able to put at least one kid in the car once in the while. I don't think I could put a car seat in the car because his feet will be jammed up against the seat.

Send the G8 to Buick as regal, make the GXP a grand national!

no no no

BonzoHansen · 04-27-2009, 10:41 PM

Ok, a GSX

NastyEllEssWon · 04-27-2009, 10:45 PM

merge the fwd impala and malibu into one package. keep malibu namesake. move impala namesake to the g8. only reason they call it the lumina ss in other parts of the world is because the lumina is a very recognizable namesake. over here its just known as a crap mid 90s rehash of everything else they put out. overseas the impala would just be known as a fwd sedan as they never got the original muscle impalas