DAVE: Jimmy, first, let me say how sorry I am that I got to test the 426-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 engine. (And do you like how I stole your writing style from above?) Let’s just say, when this baby started, nobody was disappointed. Rumble, growl, roar— however you want to describe it, the V8 emotes an almost angry tone. Dual exhausts with polished stainless steel tips add a nice touch on the back end. Combined with a 6-speed manual transmission, the 2SS model we sampled was high on driving fun. The clutch is stiffer than most cars, but maybe that’s to accentuate the aggressive approach most will take to driving this Camaro. For me, that’s what this car is all about.
JIMMY: One thing that I thoroughly enjoyed was the look of the Camaro. I’m a sucker for muscle cars anyway, but with the top down, you get a great view of the aggressively-sculpted hood. When highlighted with the Victory Red paint color, it’s one of the most appealing cars you’ll see on the road.
DAVE: The interior of the car I drove was highlighted by an optional accent trim package. Inferno orange accents — I don’t believe I have seen that color described before — covered the black leather upholstery. This striking visual was a dynamic accompaniment to the gray exterior paint scheme. It was definitely something to show off when the soft top was down, which is the point no matter how hot the temperature gets during the day.
JIMMY: Right. Who doesn’t love a convertible? In this regard, the Camaro did not disappoint. The top went down in 20 seconds. The back seat, while certainly not spacious, had just enough room for passengers to enjoy the sun shining down on them. You forget about the small backseat because of the air blowing over you. I was pleasantly surprised at how (relatively) quiet the car was with the top down. There was almost no buffeting, which further enhanced an enjoyable driving experience. And speaking of driving, the Camaro, with its rear-wheel drive, handles like a dream. The steering has a great feel to it and the suspension is more sedan-like, which is a good thing as it makes for a smooth ride.
DAVE: Chevrolet makes some adjustments to the chassis to keep the convertible rider-friendly. There are also unique front grille and rear diffusers, a lower extension and front air scoop. This Camaro should appeal to fans like Jimmy and me, across generations. A week behind the wheel went by too quickly.
JIMMY: The LT has an affordable base price of $32,650 while the SS has a base price of $39,650. For $7,000 more, get the growl and buy the V8. You’ll pay more at the pump if you do so as the V6 averages about 20 MPG and the V8 averages about 18 MPG. But you’re not buying it for fuel economy now, are you? If you’re a Camaro fan, you’ll love the throwback gauges on the center stack, showcasing such things as transmission temperature. It’s great for Chevy to pay respect to the car’s history this way. As one of the iconic cars in American history, the Camaro has a big following. But what the 2011 Camaro does with this model is expand its brand out to anyone interested in a fun, powerful drop top with great looks.
Jimmy Dinsmore is Wheels Editor for Cox Media Group Ohio and Dave Mikesell is a freelance automotive reviewer based in Indianapolis. Across Generations looks at similar vehicles from two different perspectives.
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