2019 Camaro SS 10sp auto, brief review

[02SE]

The 'Vette might be a better chassis, but it's not great. The rear end still isn't controlled. Lots of oversteer. It's not a question of too much power, as more powerful rear wheel drive cars put the power down better. I know when I was looking at sportscars, that was the glaring deficiency I noticed.

Maybe that will finally be fixed with the mid-engine 'Vette.

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted by 02SE
The 'Vette might be a better chassis, but it's not great.


Not great compared to what? From Car and Driver: "The Z51's proving-grounds performance was likewise impressive at 3.9 seconds to 60 mph, 149 feet braking from 70 mph, 181 MPH top speed and 1.05 g of grip on the skidpad"

You'd have to look long and hard to find a faster car anywhere near the price of a Corvette.

 

[4WD]

I know when I was looking at sportscars ...


What did you buy ?

 

[02SE]

Originally Posted by Cujet
Originally Posted by 02SE
The 'Vette might be a better chassis, but it's not great.


Not great compared to what? From Car and Driver: "The Z51's proving-grounds performance was likewise impressive at 3.9 seconds to 60 mph, 149 feet braking from 70 mph, 181 MPH top speed and 1.05 g of grip on the skidpad"

You'd have to look long and hard to find a faster car anywhere near the price of a Corvette.


I've raced motorcycles competitively. Cars on a track for me, are just a non-competitive hobby. So don't take me word for it, instead listen to a professional racecar driver:



He talks about the 'Vette's ever present oversteer. I've driven a new ZR1 with the 755 hp engine, it drives the same, IMO. They did like the 'Vette for the street, but even there it just can't put the power down. They go on and on about it. For me my car is just a toy, so I don't mind a less civil demeanor.

My modded Viper with 930 rwhp, puts down the power better than a new ZR1 with 755 hp at the crank. It's a much better balanced car. Unfortunately it was discontinued due to a lack of side airbags.

 

[Skippy722]

Originally Posted by 02SE


My modded Viper with 930 rwhp, puts down the power better than a new ZR1 with 755 hp at the crank. It's a much better balanced car. Unfortunately it was discontinued due to a lack of side airbags.


A Viper with that much power sounds absolutely terrifying to simply be in during a hot lap, let alone drive it on that hot lap. I want a ride in it!

 

[Mr Nice]

Can you post a photo of your Viper ?

 

[02SE]

I guess if I were home I could take a picture, but I'm also not too interested in posting pics of my belongings. On a somewhat local social media page dedicated to high performance vehicles I occasionally look at, people that post lots of pics of their vehicles, occasionally end up having them stolen. It's best not to advertise things that [censored] thieves might target.

I'll just say that mine is a 5th gen GTS, with forced induction, and the wheels, tires, brakes, shocks, and several of the aero elements from an ACR. That big wing while it does help plant the rear at high speeds, also really slows the car down. I use mine for a variety of purposes, but running in an open road challenge where top speed is paramount, it would be a detriment. Being a GTS, it has a good sound system, and insulation and sound deadening, so it's more hospitable than an ACR. It's a wash weight wise, but with almost 400 rwhp more than stock, and runs on pump gas.

 

[Mr Nice]

I understand....

As crazy as it sounds, I'm thinking a getting a 2020 Charger Hellcat widebody.

Its a little ridiculous and looks like a bodybuilder all jacked up on steroids and growth hormones with mop string style tanktop on Muscle Beach.

 

[john_pifer]

Horrible drive-by-wire throttle response, as well as significant lag and rev hang really took a lot of the fun out of driving my 2016 WRX (now sold).

Supposedly emissions are the reason for the delay. I read that snapping the throttle open or closed increases NOx emissions, and that if the throttle plate opens and closes more slowly, it allows more of those oxides of nitrogen to be burned off.

Nothing beats a good ole cable-actuated throttle. Sadly, those days are gone.

And I'd never buy a small car or performance car with a slushbox.

 

[CBR.worm]

Yes, the reality is that they can snap the throttle open electronically almost instantly. Some drive by wire systems feel like a cable. Others ... don't. This is all engineered in for some reason. I recently drove a different car with the opposite problem - a tiny bit of accelerator pedal motion would launch the vehicle with so much force that it would pull your foot back, backing off the throttle. I can't tell you how many times I looked like a boat bouncing over rough seas while in a low gear - it was truly embarrassing and ridiculous. I have never experienced that in my life in any other car I have driven, and I've driven lots of high and low performance cars. Again, on a track, it would be fine as long as you were in third gear or higher. This was a NA V8 car with variable valve lift and dual throttles - I don't know the exact interaction of the two systems, but it seems like the transition from one to the other is not calibrated correctly.

Many of today's high power cars, with the throttle by wire and too-many speed transmissions (which also will tell the ECU to limit or release torque at inopportune times) are a burden to drive at low speeds. What is interesting to me is that the turbo cars now have more linear throttle response and power curves than many NA engines.

I like technology, and I like power, but I'm not liking a lot of the new performance cars. Not to mention not being able to see out of them.

 

[oilpsi2high]

Never driven the auto, but the manual SS is one of the easiest stick shift cars to drive.

Any vehicle since 2003 or so, whenever they all went to fly by wire, has that stupid throttle delay. Some worse than others. You get used to it after a few miles.

They're incredibly capable cars on the track, and for the money I don't think you can do much better than a Camaro or Mustang. It really boils down to personal preference. The Challenger isn't in the same league IMO and is more of a stoplight old school muscle car versus a well rounded sports car like the Camaro and Mustang.

As for visibility? Get the convertible. And learn how to adjust your mirrors. Never had an issue with visibility when driving one, coupe or droptop, 5th or 6th gen. Also, the seat adjusts up and down, something like 12 ways, and the wheel telescopes. If you can't get comfortable or see safely, then it's your fault, not the car's.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted by CBR.worm
Yes, the reality is that they can snap the throttle open electronically almost instantly. Some drive by wire systems feel like a cable. Others ... don't. This is all engineered in for some reason. I recently drove a different car with the opposite problem - a tiny bit of accelerator pedal motion would launch the vehicle with so much force that it would pull your foot back, backing off the throttle. I can't tell you how many times I looked like a boat bouncing over rough seas while in a low gear - it was truly embarrassing and ridiculous. I have never experienced that in my life in any other car I have driven, and I've driven lots of high and low performance cars. Again, on a track, it would be fine as long as you were in third gear or higher. This was a NA V8 car with variable valve lift and dual throttles - I don't know the exact interaction of the two systems, but it seems like the transition from one to the other is not calibrated correctly.

Many of today's high power cars, with the throttle by wire and too-many speed transmissions (which also will tell the ECU to limit or release torque at inopportune times) are a burden to drive at low speeds. What is interesting to me is that the turbo cars now have more linear throttle response and power curves than many NA engines.

I like technology, and I like power, but I'm not liking a lot of the new performance cars. Not to mention not being able to see out of them.



I have to say that the N55/8HP combination in my F22 is dialed in just about perfectly. Comfort mode is perfect for city/suburban driving while putting the powertrain and autobox in Sport mode sharpens the throttle up significantly. I never thought I'd prefer an automatic to a manual, but in this car I really do.
That said, when I finally snag an M2C it will most definitely have three pedals.