MT First Road Test of 2010 Camaro SS LS3

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Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL


Mid-80's Fox:

capri010.jpg




I had a couple of friends with Capris back in the early 90s when I had two different 87 Mustang GTs (almost all of my friends had Fox bodies back then!)

I always preferred the look of the Capri over the Mustang. The bubble hatchback just looked so cool. One of my friend's Capri's was a rare 84 Turbo model. Not all that fast, with only 145hp or so, but he eventually stuffed a nice carburated 302 in it with a B303 cam and it made about 300hp (it ran high 13s at 105 mph) He still has that same 302 block right now, it's in an 86 GT, but he's rebuilt the rest of the engine and it's got a roots style supercharger on it. The GT is a pure drag car now, it runs mid 9s at about 140-145mph. IMO, you can't beat the Fox body cars at the dragstrip, they cost a lot less to get into the 9s than most other cars out there. The aftermarket is still going strong for those cars even after all this time!
 
Originally Posted By: Patman
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL


Mid-80's Fox:

capri010.jpg




I had a couple of friends with Capris back in the early 90s when I had two different 87 Mustang GTs (almost all of my friends had Fox bodies back then!)

I always preferred the look of the Capri over the Mustang. The bubble hatchback just looked so cool. One of my friend's Capri's was a rare 84 Turbo model. Not all that fast, with only 145hp or so, but he eventually stuffed a nice carburated 302 in it with a B303 cam and it made about 300hp (it ran high 13s at 105 mph) He still has that same 302 block right now, it's in an 86 GT, but he's rebuilt the rest of the engine and it's got a roots style supercharger on it. The GT is a pure drag car now, it runs mid 9s at about 140-145mph. IMO, you can't beat the Fox body cars at the dragstrip, they cost a lot less to get into the 9s than most other cars out there. The aftermarket is still going strong for those cars even after all this time!


My '82 Black Magic is a turbo-4 car actually. Probably was very similar to your friend's.

The car pictured above is gorgeous, it is from the GTA, though I don't know the owner.
 
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Originally Posted By: ViragoBry
I just hope GM has dealt with their space inefficiencies and plastic quality with the new Camaro. The last F-bodies were huge, heavy-looking cars on the exterior but were strangely tight on the inside. My 94 Eclipse had more interior space than my roommate's '96 Formula Firebird. I hated going anywhere in his car because it felt like you sit down inside a bathtub when you get in. I'm 5'11" tall and all you could see of me was my head when I sat down. While the engine was bullet proof, the body fell apart around him during the 2 years he had it and I don't think there's one electric component that didn't go south at some point. I don't miss the last F-body and I hope GM is resurrecting it correctly.
umm, I'm 6'6 and have an 01 Trans Am, same interior as your roomies 96, and I'm quite comfortable in it.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL


The SS/Formula was direct competition for the Cobra. A 2000 Cobra is very similar performance-wise to your 2000 Firebird. a 2003/2004 Cobra ate the last-year F-body for lunch, and will make over 1,000RWHP on the stock internals. These are not "Special Edition" cars, the Cobra has always been the performance equivalent of the F-body's SS lineup. But the Mustang line has the mid-level GT, a trim-level that does not exist in F-body land. We've also had the Mach 1, which fit between the Cobra and the GT.

From 2003 to 2009, there has not been an F-Body to compete with the Mustang, GT, Cobra or otherwise. So how important was the performance of your Formula in relation to the GT anyways?
First of all, there were no 2000 Cobras.
wink.gif
Considering a stripped down Z28 was had for low $20s, it should be compared to the GT, even tho there is no comparison there. As for 03-04 Cobras, yes they are faster but came with a bigger price tag as well. Either car (LS1 F bod or 03 Cobra) can be made to go as fast as you want it to. The 2 valve GTs tho were just junk imo.
 
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Originally Posted By: INMY01TA
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL


The SS/Formula was direct competition for the Cobra. A 2000 Cobra is very similar performance-wise to your 2000 Firebird. a 2003/2004 Cobra ate the last-year F-body for lunch, and will make over 1,000RWHP on the stock internals. These are not "Special Edition" cars, the Cobra has always been the performance equivalent of the F-body's SS lineup. But the Mustang line has the mid-level GT, a trim-level that does not exist in F-body land. We've also had the Mach 1, which fit between the Cobra and the GT.

From 2003 to 2009, there has not been an F-Body to compete with the Mustang, GT, Cobra or otherwise. So how important was the performance of your Formula in relation to the GT anyways?
First of all, there were no 2000 Cobras.
wink.gif
Considering a stripped down Z28 was had for low $20s, it should be compared to the GT, even tho there is no comparison there. As for 03-04 Cobras, yes they are faster but came with a bigger price tag as well. Either car (LS1 F bod or 03 Cobra) can be made to go as fast as you want it to. The 2 valve GTs tho were just junk imo.


2000 sure did have a Cobra; it was the Cobra-R
grin2.gif
But yes, the '99's exhaust issue led to a "year off", making '01 the car that should have been the '00 model. Err on my part for sure.

To clarify: the '01 Cobra had an MSRP of 29K, the SS Camaro was 33K, and since the Cobra is by no means a "stripper", the SS/Formula is the car it should be compared to. The "stripper Z28" does not have a crossover in Mustang land; GM only offered two engines in the F-body, whilst Ford offered 3 in the Mustang. If Ford had offered the Cobra engine in a base GT without any of the interior upgrades, that would have been on par with the zedder. In fact, the Mach 1 sorta fit the bill, but wasn't produced on a scale big enough to classify it as "filling" this position.

The Termi was indeed close to 34K, but with a stock engine capable of the power it is, it was a fantastic buy. This is considering you'd easily spend twice the difference putting together a bottom-end for an LSx to handle similar power.

I don't consider the 2V GT's junk; they are a great "all around" car; those who don't want V8 power grab the V6, those who want to race grab the Cobra. The GT was a great car for people in the middle. Forged pistons and rods would have been greatly appreciated, but hey, GM cheaped-out on the pistons too, so meh
wink.gif
 
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Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
The Camaro is very ugly.

Maybe if they made the windows a little bigger, it would not look that bloated and boring.



I dont think so.


rsss.jpg
 
The highest paid one is $350,000 which was sold in Barret Jackson.It was the first one made and Nascar Team owner Rick Hendrick bought it.Rick can make his own choices on the options.Jimmy Johnson has one and is giving his way with a garage load of Kobalt tools.I was told Kevin Harvick is on the list for one
 
I'd rather pay $49,995 for a Mustang that has more go than show. I don't want gas mileage or I wouldn't have a hot rodded F-150. Guts sumu style.
 
Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
If they would have come out with it 3 years ago and put in this kind of effort for all of their models who knows, maybe some other manufacturer would be getting all the bailout money.

Love the look of the new Camaro, can't wait to see how my Stang does against one.


Not sure anything is done to yours, but if MT can handle a new Camaro to 13 flat at 111mph, the new GT doesn't stand a chance
wink.gif


It's interesting these days how much coupes weigh. Although it is lighter than the challenger.
 
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Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
If they would have come out with it 3 years ago and put in this kind of effort for all of their models who knows, maybe some other manufacturer would be getting all the bailout money.



+1 I really like it. But Ford did a better job capturing the retro essence of the Mustang as far as styling goes. GM is giving you a next generation Camaro that still has the DNA of the old ones. I will have to see the interior in person. Photo's inside a car can be so misleading. But that overall look is very good IMO. I don't like the guages on the console where you have to look down. Some meatier tires would help as well. BTW, I am so critical of GM after the screwing I got on my Denali that if I like it....lots of people will probably like it.
 
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Originally Posted By: Buffman
Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
If they would have come out with it 3 years ago and put in this kind of effort for all of their models who knows, maybe some other manufacturer would be getting all the bailout money.

Love the look of the new Camaro, can't wait to see how my Stang does against one.


Not sure anything is done to yours, but if MT can handle a new Camaro to 13 flat at 111mph, the new GT doesn't stand a chance
wink.gif


It's interesting these days how much coupes weigh. Although it is lighter than the challenger.


http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coup..._test_data.html

The Camaro's reign will be short, as the GT gets 400 HP next year.
wink.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Ben99GT
Originally Posted By: Buffman
Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
If they would have come out with it 3 years ago and put in this kind of effort for all of their models who knows, maybe some other manufacturer would be getting all the bailout money.

Love the look of the new Camaro, can't wait to see how my Stang does against one.


Not sure anything is done to yours, but if MT can handle a new Camaro to 13 flat at 111mph, the new GT doesn't stand a chance
wink.gif


It's interesting these days how much coupes weigh. Although it is lighter than the challenger.


http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coup..._test_data.html

The Camaro's reign will be short, as the GT gets 400 HP next year.
wink.gif



until the z28 is released.... I'd imagine with the 400hp the GT will get, it will probably run close to what the average person could run a termi at.
 
Originally Posted By: Buffman
Originally Posted By: Ben99GT
Originally Posted By: Buffman
Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
If they would have come out with it 3 years ago and put in this kind of effort for all of their models who knows, maybe some other manufacturer would be getting all the bailout money.

Love the look of the new Camaro, can't wait to see how my Stang does against one.


Not sure anything is done to yours, but if MT can handle a new Camaro to 13 flat at 111mph, the new GT doesn't stand a chance
wink.gif


It's interesting these days how much coupes weigh. Although it is lighter than the challenger.


http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coup..._test_data.html

The Camaro's reign will be short, as the GT gets 400 HP next year.
wink.gif



until the z28 is released.... I'd imagine with the 400hp the GT will get, it will probably run close to what the average person could run a termi at.


Then there's the Shelby.
 
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