General Comments:
I came from a Fiero GT, needing a bigger, easier-to-drive car, but still having pretty high standards for acceleration and handling and comfort.
Well, let me tell you, other than a new Camaro (4th-gen), there was no better car for me and I would not be able to tolerate driving really anything else.
Ergonomics are OK, remember it's still a musclecar not a jet-fighter cockpit like the Fiero. Front seats decently comfortable, lots of elbow room. Throw kids or friends in the back if you want to punish them. Car fits me very well but keep in mind I am 5'-4'.
Brakes stop the car decently with OK feel. Consider how small they are, how big and heavy the car is, and the fact that drums are in the back. Not miracle workers, though.
Steering is just my type, ultra-firm and quick. You will only find better power steering on the new Camaro, maybe c4 and c5 vettes, but nothing else in the world.
Car handled pretty damn well when I got it for having a bone-stock suspension at 76,000mi.
I added poly bushings in the panhard rod (BIG improvement!), front and rear sway bars too. Edelbrock 3pt strut-tower brace. Also fresh 215/65HR-15 Sonar S-665 tires. Turned the power steering box screw all the way in.
Handles pretty good, but the way-too-tall and narrow tires are the main thing holding this car back. If anyone wants actually good handling out of their 3rd-gen F-body you need a minimum of 245-series tires. I would prefer 245/50ZR-16s like came on the highest-performance models.
Another thing holding the car back is weight balance - pretty bad. Since I came from a Fiero with 50/50 balance, I can notice it here significantly - and it's only got a tiny iron V6 in the nose! Forget everything with a V8.
The solid axle bangs around badly on crappy Syracuse city roads. My 4-wheel independent Fiero had no problem...
Just keep in mind that this is a nose-heavy musclecar, NOT a sports car... if you want a sports car get a sports car.
Rides pretty bad and only gets worse, considering I have 82,000 mile shocks and springs and tall-sidewall tires. Worse than a much lighter Fiero with Eibach springs.
Watch out for scraping the nose - happens often - if you lower your Camaro think about getting a bra as the long pointy nose will be scratched up often.
Now the bad part - acceleration. I have the 3.1L V6/ TH-700R4 combo and it can barely move out of its own way. Such a crappy engine can't wait till it throws a rod. Auto doesn't shift well at all, but it is better than new GM autos. I also have driven a 350 model and they don't feel that quick either - they aren't - and the crappy-shifting 700R4 doesn't help. Expect to get beat by diesel Golfs, like I have.
At least it gets 20-24mpg no matter how hard I thrash it, and sounds mean.
It had 76,000 miles on it, I have driven the car very hard and put on over 6,000 miles in just 3 months, and not had one single problem.
Make sure you get one with AC, though - these cars are a BEAR in the summer without it!
13th May 2001, 11:23
Hey buddy! You got a nice ride, so keep on driving your Camaro. I got a 92' red Camaro RS and the car has been great! Yeah, I had some problems with the car starting, it is kinda weird, but get your battery cables cleaned, that might be it! Man, the car handles great and excellent power! Keep that car, cause its going to be worth something!