So the Camaro WAS a good car

[TheIntrepid]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=155

This article is from January 2001.  It's a comparo between several sports cars from the time, including the Camaro SS.  What's interesting is how well the Camaro did considering everyone likes to say that f-bodies are one of the worst handling cars in the last 15 years.  Here are the laptimes and car prices, for a summary:

BMW MRoadster 2:17.28 $43.7k
BMW Z8 2:13.30 $135.3
Camaro SS 2:16.46 $30.0
Corvette Z06 2:08.39 $47.7
Ferrari 360 Modena 2:07.65 $146.9
550 Maranello 2:09.25 $224.1
S2000 2:17.66 $32.4
NSX 2:14.15 $88.9
SLK 320 2:20.87 $47.0
SL500 2:16.05 $108.7
Boxster S 2:17.46 $54.3
911 Turbo 2:10.73 $118.4

[Eye of the Tiger]

I never said F-bodies were the worst handling cars in the last 15 years.

[Lazerous]

"So the Camaro WAS a good car"

And you thought otherwise? Silly Indian...

[Vinsanity]

it still couldn't beat the 4100-lb previous-gen Mercedes SL?

[MX793]

This article is old.  I can't recall anybody saying the 4g F body wasn't a capable handler or all around performer.  The car's faults were elsewhere.  Horrible visibility, crappy Fisher-Price interior, and a general lack of refinement.  Great performer, but not a particularly great car overall.

[CALL_911]

Nobody ever said that it was a bad performer...

[CALL_911]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=155

This article is from January 2001.  It's a comparo between several sports cars from the time, including the Camaro SS.  What's interesting is how well the Camaro did considering everyone likes to say that f-bodies are one of the worst handling cars in the last 15 years.  Here are the laptimes and car prices, for a summary:

BMW MRoadster 2:17.28 $43.7k
BMW Z8 2:13.30 $135.3
Camaro SS 2:16.46 $30.0
Corvette Z06 2:08.39 $47.7
Ferrari 360 Modena 2:07.65 $146.9
550 Maranello 2:09.25 $224.1
S2000 2:17.66 $32.4
NSX 2:14.15 $88.9
SLK 320 2:20.87 $47.0
SL500 2:16.05 $108.7
Boxster S 2:17.46 $54.3
911 Turbo 2:10.73 $118.4

I don't know who you've been talking to. It was a fine handler. Just unrefined, that's all.

[Submariner]

Nobody ever said that it was a bad performer...

Not to mention the V6 was a dog.

[cawimmer430]

Not to mention the V6 was a dog.

Dawg, not dog. 

[CALL_911]

Not to mention the V6 was a dog.

Fine. The V6, but the V8? Absolutely not.

[JYODER240]

My friend has a 01 Z28 and unless the suspension setup is very differnent between the two I wouldnt' call it a good handling car. It is no where even close to my Z.

[the Teuton]

I have a friend with a 1994 Firebird V8.  It rode well, it looks great, but the hood is ginormous.  I bet it has some corner carving abilities, too.

[Raza]

A friend of mine has a bugeye WRX 5 speed and a V6 Firebird automatic.  He likes his Firebird most.

[Submariner]

A friend of mine has a bugeye WRX 5 speed and a V6 Firebird automatic.  He likes his Firebird most.

Your friend is on crack.

[Submariner]

Fine. The V6, but the V8? Absolutely not.

Yeah, thats why I said "the V6"...

[CALL_911]

Yeah, thats why I said "the V6"...

Great, I agree.

[the Teuton]

A friend of mine has a bugeye WRX 5 speed and a V6 Firebird automatic.  He likes his Firebird most.

He probably likes it more because it's easier to dorifto.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I always thought they looked like shit.

I'm sure on a smooth track the live axle performs well, in day to day driving you have to live with the rest of the very poor package.

[CALL_911]

I always thought they looked like shit.

I'm sure on a smooth track the live axle performs well, in day to day driving you have to live with the rest of the very poor package.

I never liked the base V6 ones. They looked cheap as shit. But the upper level ones, the V8 ones. Now those were awesome.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I never liked the base V6 ones. They looked cheap as shit. But the upper level ones, the V8 ones. Now those were awesome.

I've never been a fan of any level, the camaro and firebird were just too rounded and bubbly. The pontiacs were infected with vents and buldges that served no fucntion.

[Raza]

I've never been a fan of any level, the camaro and firebird were just too rounded and bubbly. The pontiacs were infected with vents and buldges that served no fucntion.

Ram Air, dude!

I've always loved them.  Sure, I thought they were ugly (especially the Camaro), but I always wanted them.  Still do.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Ram Air, dude!

I've always loved them.  Sure, I thought they were ugly (especially the Camaro), but I always wanted them.  Still do.

You have the most ass backwards taste in automobiles. You wanting one isn't really much of a endorsement for the car.

The only thing i would want to do with a camaro is to take the drivetrain out of it and put it into something good looking and deserving of a good powertrain.

[The Pirate]

My friend has a 01 Z28 and unless the suspension setup is very differnent between the two I wouldnt' call it a good handling car. It is no where even close to my Z.

SS had stiffer roll bars, stiffer springs and better (monotube, among other differences) shocks.

[TBR]

Not to mention the V6 was a dog.

Not really. Sure it wasn't as fast as the V8 model, but the 3.8l with the 5-spd was a decent performer. Much faster than a comparable Mustang IIRC.

[SVT666]

I've never been a fan of any level, the camaro and firebird were just too rounded and bubbly. The pontiacs were infected with vents and buldges that served no fucntion.

The Camaro looks like a bloated Geo Storm, but the WS6 Trans Am was kickass.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

The Camaro looks like a bloated Geo Storm, but the WS6 Trans Am was kickass.

That looks hideous to me.

[MX793]

Personally, I was a fan of the Firebird Formula of that generation.  Much more understated than the Trans Am with the same equipment under the hood.

[the Teuton]

That looks hideous badass to me.

[565]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=155

This article is from January 2001.  It's a comparo between several sports cars from the time, including the Camaro SS.  What's interesting is how well the Camaro did considering everyone likes to say that f-bodies are one of the worst handling cars in the last 15 years.  Here are the laptimes and car prices, for a summary:

BMW MRoadster 2:17.28 $43.7k
BMW Z8 2:13.30 $135.3
Camaro SS 2:16.46 $30.0
Corvette Z06 2:08.39 $47.7
Ferrari 360 Modena 2:07.65 $146.9
550 Maranello 2:09.25 $224.1
S2000 2:17.66 $32.4
NSX 2:14.15 $88.9
SLK 320 2:20.87 $47.0
SL500 2:16.05 $108.7
Boxster S 2:17.46 $54.3
911 Turbo 2:10.73 $118.4

Ohh! Look how well the Z06 did! Second place!  I bet the 405HP version would have fared even better.

As for the Camaro.  This thread reminds me of C&D where Shaman would tear off the head of anyone who had something bad to say about how Camaro's handled.

I've never driven a Camaro so I can't say how they handled, but I think brute force and grip goes a long way to getting a poor handling car around a track rather briskly.

[Middle_Path]

I've not read a single post except the OP's. Lap times tested by magazines have little meaning what so ever. The main thing that counts on a track is the tires. Until magazines do tests with the same tires then it matters very little. I've creamed many a superior car on the track due to car setup(ex: tire pressure, low fuel tank, camber, etc.) and mainly because having superior tires made the biggest difference I've ever seen. I've dominated cars in far superior classes for a reason. Skill, tires, and setup. Wish I had an adjustable suspension, but it's stock. Don't want to get bumped up in class further.