Oh, Jean, if only the car WERE mine.
I’m talking about the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro with the Synergy Special Edition Package ($2,250), painted in a can’t-be-missed “Synergy Green” metallic paint, accented with Cyber Gray metallic rally stripes. In the looks department, this model vies neck and neck with the Rally Yellow Camaros also come in. The Incredible Hulk wants this car. And he’d be willing to wrestle the Jolly Green Giant for it, too.
Nineteen-inch sterling silver- painted aluminum wheels and a rear spoiler are further cues that this Camaro is uncommon.
The fun continues inside, with black cloth upholstery topstitched with green thread. The most eye-catching aspect of the package, to me, is the LED-light piping embedded in the dash and doors. The glowing green is extremely cool at night. Extremely.
For 2010, there are five Camaro variants: the LS, 1LT, 2LT, 1SS and 2SS. The LS, 1LT and 2LT come with the 304-horsepower V-6 (273 lbs.-ft. of torque); the 1SS and 2SS with the 426-hp V-8 (420 lbs.-ft. of torque). The V-6’s lusty growl under the hood and sweeeeeet exhaust notes, along with its available power, are satisfying, to say the least. Envisioning the V-8’s oomph is a pleasant daydream.
An Aisin six-speed manual transmission is standard across the lineup. Can’t shift? It’ll cost you $995 for a Hydra-Matic six-speed with TAPshift mounted on the steering wheel.
The direct-injection V-6 runs on regular unleaded gasoline and achieves an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city/29 mpg highway. The V-8-equipped SSs run on premium gas; their estimates fall to 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway.
The Camaro’s sport suspension allows the wheels to react independently to the road and is never harsh. Variable-ratio power steering and an almost even 52/48 front/rear weight distribution, combined with the suspension, deliver enviable road manners.
With its low step-in and thickly bolstered sport bucket seats up front, hopping in and getting settled comfortably is accomplished quickly, although I struggled at times with the long, heavy doors.
Inside the tight cockpit, gauges are easy to read and use and there’s the convenience of General Motors’ Driver Information Center to tailor vehicle functions to desired specification. The deep-dish steering wheel is another cool touch, and it telescopes and tilts to accommodate drivers of various statures and postures.
I also liked the magnetized strap that holds the driver’s shoulder belt in place — it’s one of the easiest to release I’ve ever seen when a passenger needs to gain rear access.
As expected from a sports coupe, there’s not a ton of storage space; the glove box, door pockets, center console storage space and the trunk, with a convenience net, take care of storage needs. A smallish trunk opening reveals a not-very-deep space inside, but it’s plenty wide to accommodate cargo. Rear-seat passengers may have to beg for leg room from those up front; there’s not much space if the front seats are pushed all the way backward.
Safety features help keep the Camaro solid, too, and are standard across all five models. Key here are a rear limited-slip differential, stability control, traction control, antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and head-protecting curtain airbags.
Camaro prices start at $23,530 and the high-end SS starts at $31,795. My 1LT tester carried a base retail price of $23,880. With the Synergy package, automatic transmission and $150 compact spare tire replacing the standard tire sealant/inflator kit, the total was $27,275. Tack on the $850 destination charge, and the grand total was $28,125.
Jean, I won’t be surprised if I hear you’re tucking love notes under wiper blades at area dealerships and parking lots. I know which car you’ll be looking for.
About the Author