Topic: First Drive: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro

[Autos_Editor]

Digital driver's car.
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[ChaosphereIX]

it can be a great drivers car and all, but most wont be able to get past the GM looks...man their design language right now is terrible

as a former GM fanboy, I can readily admit that Ford clearly has the edge right now

[Benhaze]

Funny I always much better liked the Mustang but this Camaro could be it for me. I still prefer the Mustang interior design but I like both exterior designs. I can't wait to get my hand on one to test drive but it is a darn shame GM launches a sport car in December. They could have waited another month and call it a 2017 model...

This could very well be the answer to the bad decision of Ford not offering any interesting option with the Mustang V6. Wife wants a convertible and we both want some toys on it. Stang ecoboost for me is    so Camaro will be on top of the list. That is if I resist the temptation of going V8 but then it would not be a convertible and that may cause some marital issues 

[dougjp]

I've owned 4 Mustang GTs and one Z28 Camaro (a 1970), so I'm not brand partial, one way or the other. This version is so appealing to me, with one exception that is a deal breaker - visibility. Pretty much everyone over the years told GM that visibility was a huge problem with the Camaro, and what do they do about it? They did nothing. If they won't compromise, neither will I.

[GTABeancounter]

it can be a great drivers car and all, but most wont be able to get past the GM looks...man their design language right now is terrible

as a former GM fanboy, I can readily admit that Ford clearly has the edge right now

As a former import fanboy I can admit that I still have a bias against American pony cars so my opinion matters very little to GM. Having said that, something about the new mustang is just right to my eyes. The details just work.

The Camaro unfortunately just doesn't do it for me. Its like the challenger, but without the retro details. Not sure why exactly but from some angles the rear reminds me of a Scion TC. And the front is over-styled to my eyes. meh. 

[JohnnyMac]

It's too bad they didn't have a manual car for you to drive.  It's funny that every review of the Mustang had the Ecoboost front and center but I've read very little about the base model 2.0T Camaro.

Clearly the Maro is the best drivers car and most sports car like out of the 3 muscle cars (Stang, Maro, and Challenger).  The only appealing thing I find of the Mustang is the price.  Everything else is just blah.  Sure the GT350 is epic but we're talking more about the common models.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Maro wtf?   

[Firm]

As a GM and Camaro fanboi, this should be my thing, and I like it, I just don't love it (yet). The styling is alright, I like it better than the Mustang/Challenger, but it doesn't get me really excited.

Visibility has been an issue for Camaros since the 80's, just get used to it. I understand it's a little tricky when you're only testing the car, but I bet once you've owned it for awhile you'll hardly notice it as an issue.

What is an issue for me with the 5th and 6th gen car is that they killed the hatchback setup. That alone gave the 3rd and 4th gen cars a huge advantage...rear seat down they had SUV like cargo space. Just yesterday I bought some crown molding a HD, it comes in 14' lengths...no problem, ran it through the Firebird down to the passenger side floor and the car swallowed it no problem. My pickup couldn't do that, nor could the Kia sedan I was testing at the time.

One the Camaro got right IMO is the engine options; base 2.0T, mid-range v6, top-line v8...That's the way it should be, and that's what is going to make sense in the minds of a lot of buyers. Mustang's base v6 and mid-range 2.3L Egoboost feels weird to me.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

One the Camaro got right IMO is the engine options; base 2.0T, mid-range v6, top-line v8...That's the way it should be, and that's what is going to make sense in the minds of a lot of buyers. Mustang's base v6 and mid-range 2.3L Egoboost feels weird to me.

Ford's pricing makes more sense to me. The V6 is cheaper to build, so price it lower. It doesn't make sense if you only count cylinders.

For the bulk of V6/2.0T buyers, they're not going to care.

[dave_b]

"The one frustration I had in the Camaro was that bunker-like visibility."

This is, and has since the new Camaro launched in 2010, been my biggest issue with the car. The new powertrain lineup is impressive, the new interior is much improved, and that dual mode exhaust howls. I just wish the would give it more visibility than your average M1A1 Abrams. I would consider that a deal breaker.

[Fobroader]

As a Mustang fanboy....I have to admit that the Camaro clearly has the upper hand.

[Noto]

Visibility has been an issue for Camaros since the 80's, just get used to it. I understand it's a little tricky when you're only testing the car, but I bet once you've owned it for awhile you'll hardly notice it as an issue.

I disagree with this statement.

Excellent styling can be had without bunker-like outward visibility.

[Firm]

Visibility has been an issue for Camaros since the 80's, just get used to it. I understand it's a little tricky when you're only testing the car, but I bet once you've owned it for awhile you'll hardly notice it as an issue.

I disagree with this statement.

Excellent styling can be had without bunker-like outward visibility.

I didn't say that it can't...I just said that the Camaro has had visibility for the last 35 years. Once you've driven one for awhile it becomes a non-issue. I learned to drive in a Camaro, I taught Mrs. Firm to drive in a Firebird. I can park one of those cars within a 1/2 inch of an obstacle, and I know how to adjust my mirrors so that I minimize any blindspots. So for me, visibility is hardly a consideration.

[Fobroader]

Visibility has been an issue for Camaros since the 80's, just get used to it. I understand it's a little tricky when you're only testing the car, but I bet once you've owned it for awhile you'll hardly notice it as an issue.

I disagree with this statement.

Excellent styling can be had without bunker-like outward visibility.

I didn't say that it can't...I just said that the Camaro has had visibility for the last 35 years. Once you've driven one for awhile it becomes a non-issue. I learned to drive in a Camaro, I taught Mrs. Firm to drive in a Firebird. I can park one of those cars within a 1/2 inch of an obstacle, and I know how to adjust my mirrors so that I minimize any blindspots. So for me, visibility is hardly a consideration.

Having driven a 2013, I have to say that being locked inside the trunk of the car, LET MEEEEE OUUUUUUUTTTTT...sorry, probably offers better sight lines than a Camaro.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Visibility has been an issue for Camaros since the 80's, just get used to it. I understand it's a little tricky when you're only testing the car, but I bet once you've owned it for awhile you'll hardly notice it as an issue.

I disagree with this statement.

Excellent styling can be had without bunker-like outward visibility.

I didn't say that it can't...I just said that the Camaro has had visibility for the last 35 years. Once you've driven one for awhile it becomes a non-issue. I learned to drive in a Camaro, I taught Mrs. Firm to drive in a Firebird. I can park one of those cars within a 1/2 inch of an obstacle, and I know how to adjust my mirrors so that I minimize any blindspots. So for me, visibility is hardly a consideration.

The driving school I went to had a  secretary Camaro , way back in '73 or  74

[pcsp]

GM has provided a definitive response to the Mustang's significant improvements. I agree that the 4,6,8 cylinder options/pricing make a lot of sense, much more so than the artificial pricing of the Mustang. The big difference is that Ford de-contented the V6 to ensure it was an appropriate base motor, while GM added great value to the V6, making it, in my opinion, the sweet spot.

Visibility can be an issue, but many reviews have noted significant improvement in this area over the last generation. For some, I can see how it could be a deal breaker, but a test drive can solve that question.

[revalations]

This car has me drooling, I really want one. Thinking a nice CPO V6 could be had for a song come summertime.

[Blueprint]

The original had more glass. Thick pillars are in part due to safety standards nowadays, but with a bit more glass (higher roofline) the new Camaro would be near perfect. Starting to look like an American 2-Series, in fact.

[safristi]

Rather lovely that Black one..if only I lived in the Hollywood Hills.

[Ex-airbalancer]

The original had more glass. Thick pillars are in part due to safety standards nowadays, but with a bit more glass (higher roofline) the new Camaro would be near perfect. Starting to look like an American 2-Series, in fact.

Best generation imo