General Camaro Questions - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Thatsheepguy · 07-28-2014, 12:54 AM

Hey guys, my current car is about to die on me in the next year or so, so right now Im planning out what to get next and I think Ill be ditching my VW golf for a Camaro! But theres a few things Im curious about and would like to have answered. First off I may be buying a used V6 instead of a brand new one, are there particular things to watch for when buy a 2010 or newer besides the regular things to watch for when buying used?

Secondly I know alot of people prefer manual and swear by it but I learned on automatic and I want to know is it worth it from a praticality stand point to learn manual before buying it? How about if I plan to drive it in winter?

And lastly, just want to make sure that these cars do alright in winter. I live in southern ontario and it can get pretty snowy out here but its usually just alot of slush, that wont be too much for it, right?

07-28-2014, 03:01 AM

I bought my 2011 lt2 rs a6 used and absolutely love it. It had 3200 miles on it with a clean carfax ( it was a repo).

Go over the car thoroughly and make sure you know what your honestly looking at. Carfax or the like is imperative..I have also heard that gm also keeps good records on each car. My car came with bald tires so check everything. Also ask and look to see if any mods have been done. Some.mods will void any factory warranty that's left, and others wont.

I live in southwestern colorado and mine is my daily driver. Good snow tires make all the difference. The car is a blast in fresh snow! If you get the rs package be aware of the stagger set up and additional cost in tires over all. The general gmax as03 tire has done awesome by me...6" of fresh snow over red mountain pass.

Good luck and happy hunting...get ready for a Perma grin

Tuurtje · 07-28-2014, 03:35 AM

Purchased mine a week ago, it's like firedruish says, get ready for a perma grin...

Stick is the way to go, it's working harder than an auto, but it's a lot of more fun to drive. An advise when driving stick, be sure you are ready shifting before entering a corner.

Winter driving depends on the tires you have. When temps go down use an other set of rims with good winter tires, they make a hell of a difference. When you use them in the winter it's fine to drive the camaro. You also have the advantage that you can take of in second gear on a slippery road...

rebelyell22 · 07-28-2014, 03:47 AM

Get an 11+ 2lt if you can swing it. That gets you leather, HUD, ambient lighting, and the 4 pack gauges. RS package is a nice deal too (HID halo headlamps, darker tails on 10-11, and body colored roof ditches). In 2010 and 2011 the v6 had the LLT (312hp) engine and in 2012 they changed to the LFX (323hp) engine. These cars are pretty solid as long as they have been maintained. I have heard they are beasts in the snow with snow tires, but obviously have no first hand experience.

rscheff3 · 07-28-2014, 10:11 AM

If it's something you're open to you should definitely learn stick and get this one in stick. The clutch and shifter on these cars are both absolutely awesome.

You want it in winter too. I used to live in the midwest and I felt like having a stick was easier for snow driving. I had a roommate who had the same car as I did but his was automatic and I could drive through things he couldn't just because I had better control. He ended up trading his automatic for a stick shift the second winter we both lived there...

stoopid · 07-28-2014, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thatsheepguy

Secondly I know alot of people prefer manual and swear by it but I learned on automatic and I want to know is it worth it from a praticality stand point to learn manual before buying it? How about if I plan to drive it in winter?

And lastly, just want to make sure that these cars do alright in winter. I live in southern ontario and it can get pretty snowy out here but its usually just alot of slush, that wont be too much for it, right?

The auto is good, it doesn't hunt much and downshifts quick. Unless you have a particular need/preference, I feel confident in recommending this auto to an aggressive driver. Not sure the rear wheel gearing ratio on the older Gen5 models, but on the 2014 2LS auto the gearing favors fuel efficiency and you lose a little power at the start. I'm pleased to trade the ease of the auto for the slightly slower start (and increased fuel efficiency). I don't plan on racing this thing anyway.

Had the privilege to drive in a snow storm within a few days of getting mine and it handled fine. The stock BFG tires are rated decent for light snow on tirerack. IMO unless you get decent tires and AWD/4WD, being overly cautious in snow/ice is required anyways, in which case it doesn't matter what car you're in. Get a set of cheap rims and snow tires if you need.

Scalded Dog · 07-28-2014, 10:32 AM

I drove manuals for many years... including 18- wheelers, sports cars, and vehicles with less than four wheels. However, I prefer auto. Purists may look down on that choice, but, autos do have a lot of advantages over manuals. Sure, manuals have their OWN advantages, too... bottom line is that it's a matter of personal preference, and should be based upon what YOU prefer, not what others tell you that you should prefer.

I won't go into the reasons why auto is MY personal preference (there's plenty of debate to find on this forum from those wishing to "prove" that one is better than the other), but instead will just say that it's almost like a color choice, or music selections: There is no "wrong" or "right," just a matter of personal preference.

PalmerGA · 07-28-2014, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

I drove manuals for many years... unclding 18- wheelers, sports cars, and vehicles with less than four wheels. However, I prefer auto. Purists may look down on that choice, but, autos do have a lot of advantages over manuals. Sure, manuals have their OWN advantages, too... bottom line is that it's a matter of personal preference, and should be based upon what YOU prefer, not what others tell you that you should prefer.

I won't go into the reasons why auto is MY personal preference (there's plenty of debate to find on this forum from those wishing to "prove" that one is better than the other), but instead will just say that it's almost like a color choice, or music selections: There is no "wrong" or "right," just a matter of personal preference.

This is a great reply to our so-to-be fellow C5 member. It's your choice and your decision - though it doesn't hurt to ask for opinions. The main thing is, get what you can be comfortable and safe with. Don't let people goad you into getting stick but at the same time, don't let people scare you into thinking you can't handle one. With some practice, you can make the transition. I would suggest you find a car with a stick and get a feel for the left foot being involved... then you will be ready to test drive both Camaros (auto and manual) before making your purchase.

Like Scalded Dog, I drove manuals most of my life and really enjoyed most of the experiences. Today I drive automatics, just for the added ease of driving. I don't need to shift to enjoy the ride. Good luck!

detamble13 · 07-28-2014, 11:45 AM

Living in southern ON you're close enough to Michigan or New York to have a look there as well. Prices are cheaper but the big thing I've found is there selection is so much greater. Exchange isn't as favourable for us Canucks as it was just a few years ago but it may be worth it... defintely worth a look anyways.
With regards to Auto vs Stick it would really depend on location for me. If you're in Toronto I'd say go with the Auto as stop and go sucks with a manual. If you're more in the country I'd go manual. Do you know anyone with a manual that would let you learn to drive? Figure out if you even like to shift gears yourself and go from there. My only previous experience with a manual was on a 93 Ford Escort and I just liked the added involvement in driving. I knew my Camaro was going to be stick.
If you're driving this car year round I'd recommend winter tires and Krown rust proofing. I can't vouch for the all seasons that come on certain models, maybe they're sufficient. But the "summer only" Pirelli's are just that

Thatsheepguy · 07-28-2014, 02:03 PM

Thanks guys for all the advice, in the end yea I am going to go with what is most comfortable for me, but I do have a family friend that has a manual car and is willing to teach me so I may have to take him up on the offer

Quote:

Originally Posted by detamble13

Living in southern ON you're close enough to Michigan or New York to have a look there as well. Prices are cheaper but the big thing I've found is there selection is so much greater. Exchange isn't as favourable for us Canucks as it was just a few years ago but it may be worth it... defintely worth a look anyways.
With regards to Auto vs Stick it would really depend on location for me. If you're in Toronto I'd say go with the Auto as stop and go sucks with a manual. If you're more in the country I'd go manual. Do you know anyone with a manual that would let you learn to drive? Figure out if you even like to shift gears yourself and go from there. My only previous experience with a manual was on a 93 Ford Escort and I just liked the added involvement in driving. I knew my Camaro was going to be stick.
If you're driving this car year round I'd recommend winter tires and Krown rust proofing. I can't vouch for the all seasons that come on certain models, maybe they're sufficient. But the "summer only" Pirelli's are just that

And thanks for the advice on searching in the US, I never really thought about it, but whats the process like of bringing the car back into Canada? Also I live in the suburbs of Toronto but go to school and work about an hour and a half from Toronto so I think it'll come down to If I can pick up driving stick and i like it

By the way, funny you mention rustproofing, my current car is almost entirely rusted out on the bottom and Ive been having problems with power steering fluid leaks because of it so either way Im going to rust proof the shit out of my next car

Oh, and what does the RS package do to the wheels that makes it more expensive for winter tires? I thought it was just larger wheels among the other things, but it staggers the wheels???

Rock-It Man · 07-28-2014, 03:02 PM

The biggest problem with the V6 automatic is that it comes only with an open diff.

Not great for winter driving.

RedHotRuby · 07-28-2014, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thatsheepguy

Thanks guys for all the advice, in the end yea I am going to go with what is most comfortable for me, but I do have a family friend that has a manual car and is willing to teach me so I may have to take him up on the offer

And thanks for the advice on searching in the US, I never really thought about it, but whats the process like of bringing the car back into Canada? Also I live in the suburbs of Toronto but go to school and work about an hour and a half from Toronto so I think it'll come down to If I can pick up driving stick and i like it

By the way, funny you mention rustproofing, my current car is almost entirely rusted out on the bottom and Ive been having problems with power steering fluid leaks because of it so either way Im going to rust proof the shit out of my next car

Oh, and what does the RS package do to the wheels that makes it more expensive for winter tires? I thought it was just larger wheels among the other things, but it staggers the wheels???

Yes, larger wheels, 20" with Pirelli's. You have to get the winter shoes yourself. No one has mentioned this yet but the car is a rear wheel drive. Not usually a first pick for a snowy garage. First time you get stuck you'll realize why all wheel or even front wheel drive is boss in snow. But I understand why it has to be a Camaro,

You want a permagrin.

Also with an automatic it does come with the tap shift on the steering wheel. So if you wanted to practice shifting manually you can simulate it with the automatic tap paddles. Sort of. Then you can step up next time you buy. I have fun with the paddles but there are lots of time when I just want to sit back and enjoy the car. Just cruise. Driving a manual is the way to go for racing but driving it as a daily driver sucked for me when I had a stick. Too much work at 6 AM and after a brain or ass busting day. Nice on the weekends though and if you do indeed intend to race your Camaro.

EDIT: Then there are threads like this you worry about:

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...60#post7847860

Xii239 · 07-28-2014, 03:25 PM

I had the same questions, too. Mostly about the driving in the winter part. The tires and rims for these Camaros are super expensive, I've been told it is actually cheaper (in some cases) to just buy a beater up to use in the winter! So near the first snow fall I am going to look for a $1500 beater up car to use for a year or two. Saves paint, miles, and in my opinion safer!

Thatsheepguy · 07-28-2014, 05:44 PM

Yea I know the car is RWD which is why I question how the car will perform in winter, my current car is FWD and does really well, but I have a good set of winters on it and would do the same for the camaro but even though the RS package is 20" wheels, cant you get away with something smaller like 18"s for winter rims? For me at least, getting a winter beater isnt really an option.

07-28-2014, 12:54 AM	#1
Thatsheepguy Drives: Vw Golf TDI Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Ontario Posts: 6	General Camaro Questions Hey guys, my current car is about to die on me in the next year or so, so right now Im planning out what to get next and I think Ill be ditching my VW golf for a Camaro! But theres a few things Im curious about and would like to have answered. First off I may be buying a used V6 instead of a brand new one, are there particular things to watch for when buy a 2010 or newer besides the regular things to watch for when buying used? Secondly I know alot of people prefer manual and swear by it but I learned on automatic and I want to know is it worth it from a praticality stand point to learn manual before buying it? How about if I plan to drive it in winter? And lastly, just want to make sure that these cars do alright in winter. I live in southern ontario and it can get pretty snowy out here but its usually just alot of slush, that wont be too much for it, right?

07-28-2014, 03:47 AM	#4
rebelyell22 Drives: 2011 SIM 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 5,902	Get an 11+ 2lt if you can swing it. That gets you leather, HUD, ambient lighting, and the 4 pack gauges. RS package is a nice deal too (HID halo headlamps, darker tails on 10-11, and body colored roof ditches). In 2010 and 2011 the v6 had the LLT (312hp) engine and in 2012 they changed to the LFX (323hp) engine. These cars are pretty solid as long as they have been maintained. I have heard they are beasts in the snow with snow tires, but obviously have no first hand experience. __________________ 2011 2SS/RS built 8/24/10

07-28-2014, 10:32 AM	#7
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	I drove manuals for many years... including 18- wheelers, sports cars, and vehicles with less than four wheels. However, I prefer auto. Purists may look down on that choice, but, autos do have a lot of advantages over manuals. Sure, manuals have their OWN advantages, too... bottom line is that it's a matter of personal preference, and should be based upon what YOU prefer, not what others tell you that you should prefer. I won't go into the reasons why auto is MY personal preference (there's plenty of debate to find on this forum from those wishing to "prove" that one is better than the other), but instead will just say that it's almost like a color choice, or music selections: There is no "wrong" or "right," just a matter of personal preference. Last edited by Scalded Dog; 07-28-2014 at 11:07 AM.

07-28-2014, 03:25 PM	#13
Xii239 Drives: 2014 2LT/RS Black Camaro Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: CT Posts: 195 View My Garage	I had the same questions, too. Mostly about the driving in the winter part. The tires and rims for these Camaros are super expensive, I've been told it is actually cheaper (in some cases) to just buy a beater up to use in the winter! So near the first snow fall I am going to look for a $1500 beater up car to use for a year or two. Saves paint, miles, and in my opinion safer! __________________

07-28-2014, 03:01 AM	#2
firedruish Guest Posts: n/a View My Garage	I bought my 2011 lt2 rs a6 used and absolutely love it. It had 3200 miles on it with a clean carfax ( it was a repo). Go over the car thoroughly and make sure you know what your honestly looking at. Carfax or the like is imperative..I have also heard that gm also keeps good records on each car. My car came with bald tires so check everything. Also ask and look to see if any mods have been done. Some.mods will void any factory warranty that's left, and others wont. I live in southwestern colorado and mine is my daily driver. Good snow tires make all the difference. The car is a blast in fresh snow! If you get the rs package be aware of the stagger set up and additional cost in tires over all. The general gmax as03 tire has done awesome by me...6" of fresh snow over red mountain pass. Good luck and happy hunting...get ready for a Perma grin

07-28-2014, 03:35 AM	#3
Tuurtje "Something else" Drives: '10 yellow Camaro Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Netherlands Posts: 20	Purchased mine a week ago, it's like firedruish says, get ready for a perma grin... Stick is the way to go, it's working harder than an auto, but it's a lot of more fun to drive. An advise when driving stick, be sure you are ready shifting before entering a corner. Winter driving depends on the tires you have. When temps go down use an other set of rims with good winter tires, they make a hell of a difference. When you use them in the winter it's fine to drive the camaro. You also have the advantage that you can take of in second gear on a slippery road...

07-28-2014, 10:11 AM	#5
rscheff3 Drives: 10 Camaro 2SS, 97 Wrangler Sport Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Georgia Posts: 38	If it's something you're open to you should definitely learn stick and get this one in stick. The clutch and shifter on these cars are both absolutely awesome. You want it in winter too. I used to live in the midwest and I felt like having a stick was easier for snow driving. I had a roommate who had the same car as I did but his was automatic and I could drive through things he couldn't just because I had better control. He ended up trading his automatic for a stick shift the second winter we both lived there...

07-28-2014, 11:45 AM	#9
detamble13 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS LS3 VR Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chatham, ON Posts: 662	Living in southern ON you're close enough to Michigan or New York to have a look there as well. Prices are cheaper but the big thing I've found is there selection is so much greater. Exchange isn't as favourable for us Canucks as it was just a few years ago but it may be worth it... defintely worth a look anyways. With regards to Auto vs Stick it would really depend on location for me. If you're in Toronto I'd say go with the Auto as stop and go sucks with a manual. If you're more in the country I'd go manual. Do you know anyone with a manual that would let you learn to drive? Figure out if you even like to shift gears yourself and go from there. My only previous experience with a manual was on a 93 Ford Escort and I just liked the added involvement in driving. I knew my Camaro was going to be stick. If you're driving this car year round I'd recommend winter tires and Krown rust proofing. I can't vouch for the all seasons that come on certain models, maybe they're sufficient. But the "summer only" Pirelli's are just that

07-28-2014, 03:02 PM	#11
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,033 View My Garage	The biggest problem with the V6 automatic is that it comes only with an open diff. Not great for winter driving.

07-28-2014, 05:44 PM	#14
Thatsheepguy Drives: Vw Golf TDI Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Ontario Posts: 6	Yea I know the car is RWD which is why I question how the car will perform in winter, my current car is FWD and does really well, but I have a good set of winters on it and would do the same for the camaro but even though the RS package is 20" wheels, cant you get away with something smaller like 18"s for winter rims? For me at least, getting a winter beater isnt really an option.