370z or Camaro SS

frost

You would think I was joking, but I have seen TWO different camaros broke down on the side of the freeway. I'm not sure what's going on with that car, but gtfo GM.

ChrisSlicks

I have one of each. Although the wife's Camaro is not the SS, I think aside from the power difference they drive much the same. I did test drive both.

After driving the Z the Camaro feels downright huge. You know you're driving a big car, and you know it's not a sports car. The car feels really heavy, although the suspension is relatively well tuned, the steering isn't as responsive due to a higher ratio. I thought the blind spot in the Z was bad, the Camaro is worse. The interior is functional and of good quality, although it looks a little more kiddish than the Z (that's a personal preference thing).

The SS certainly has the power to get up and go, doesn't really go any faster than the Z in a straight line due to the significant extra bulk. It's no Corvette.

Bottom line, drive both. Figure out which car suits you, and your needs.

ChrisSlicks

Camaro Update:

Drove the car today in order to get an inspection sticker and get some snow tires mounted. Here is what I noticed today. Steering is light as a feather and completely disconnected from anything the car is doing. You can also step the rear end out fairly easily but you don't really feel it, you simply see it. This means your corrective inputs end up being a lot slower than they really need to be. The traction control does catch it, and it does let you slide around a little before intervening, unlike the Z that locks you down almost instantly.

ZKindaGuy

Well my post was the most insulting and I don't wish to change anything I said.

For over 4 decades GM and their car owners have done nothing but disrespect and rub other manufacturer's cars and their owners into the ground. And they had absolutely now respect or tolerance for imports. In that time when quality was pretty much an even playing field across all manufacturers, GM got away with the low quality sh_i_t they have been making in all those years.

While foreign import manufacturers and Ford have used the last decade to raise their quality to a consistent, substantial, recognizable and sustainable levels, GM has done nothing but sit on the laurels of their powertrains and done absolutely nothing to improve anything else.

Look up the abbreviation of "GM" in the urban dictionary...you will find that its synonamous with "POS".

kannibul

If looks didn't matter...and the same with the manufacturer's history and reliability being considered...only price vs performance ratio...

Camaro would get my vote. Once people start modding that engine things will get ultra-insane. Imagine that car with 5-10K worth of mods (all aspects), vs 5-10K of mods to our car...I imagine the Camaro would take better to performance mods - it just needs help with losing weight and suspension upgrades to handle better...

But, nothing make it look as sexy as the Z, IMO.

SophiaZ

I agree with most people. When I first seen the Camaro I was dedicated to buy it, but a few days later I heard about the Z in production. The Camaro is a gorgeous car on the outside but IMO the interior is cheesey and boring ( guess becuz they're doing a throw-back type deal with making all the new cars look like the old version) The Z has good power and the interior is nice..even with the base model. But not everyone wants the same things....so it's all up to you. Just please, PLEASE..if you decide to get the Camaro...don't get YELLOW unless you want to be like all others. Them things are everywhere! Thats the good thing about the Z..they are rare. I haven't seen one on the road since I bought mine 11 months ago

Red370

I've seen more black Camaros than anything, most of the yellow ones that I have seen are the RS versions. I think the Red ones look the best, yet I havent seen 1 on the street yet.

__________________
2011 Mustang 5.0 | 3.55's | Lethal Performance off road H-Pipe | Magnaflow Muffler Delete | JLT CAI/Bama tuned 417whp/ 404 ft/lbs

UNKNOWN_370

I have a very similar opinion to everyone else. I test drove and inspected several cars before purchasing my G. The camaro was on the top 3. I was really excited but was scared they would destroy the interior. But seeing how much of a quality car the new malibu is I thought chances were better than not that the camaro would be a great car...
Then came the dallas auto show. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! The interior was heartbreakingly atrocious.
Cheap looking. Steering wheel looked like it belonged on a power wheels car. The features were very low end for the price range. The 245watt polk audio? Come on. This car is huge. They couldn't at least match mustang in the audio dept. (And I hate mustang) The mustang is a much better value.
Then I decided to test drive it. Nice power, handles great for the battleship it is. Went inside, took a look at the super complex options list that needs translation and photos. (Which they didn't have.) But the options were outrageous. $1750 for stripes, so many wheel packages I didn't know what was what? All very expensive might I add. Aftermarket performance parts through the roof. Basically to make this car look like the kind of car that would make you drool you will be looking @ 51k. Only problem is, you will still have more options and features in a $39k Z or a 45k G.
This is a car for the nostalgia guy. The Uncle Rico's of this world need this car. If you coulda gone state in 78 or you think the mullet is still the best cut ever invented. Then you will appreciate every outdated. Soviet plastic componenent in this vehicle. The engine is an attractive feature. The suspension is just good enough to get by as a sporty coupe.
The Z has this car beat in so many ways its disgusting. Even if the camaro was as fast as a vette? I couldn't justify the chop job of an interior they put together. And at $32-51k price range, that interior is an insult to my wallet, my bank, my credit and most of all, my intelligence. I hope and pray year 2 and 3 bring together some serious interior updates. I don't want to see GM fall. But the camaro is a half azz chop job with a great engine.
If the Z is too small and the G is too expensive. Take a look a the GENESIS COUPE 3.8 TRACK 6MT.
Its the slowest of the bunch but as it stands. Poweraxle has unlocked the ecu, injen has killed it with the sick exhaust and intake. They are also working on a hfc, but are having a little difficulty because hyundai welded some sensor crap in the system and making an hfc so far has thrown crazy CEL's But they are getting close. I test drove the gen coupe and it was a very strong 3rd place.
1.) Z (will sell altima for Z)
2) G37- (chose cuz of killer deal. Massive car for money)
3) genesis coupe.

my2004Z

Anybody walk up to the Camaro from a rear quarter angle about 40 feet away? I think it looks boring from that angle, too much like a charger. Walking up to my 370Z from that angle (or any angle) puts a smile on my face every time. I agree with the exclusivity comment above because the Z is something very special whereas the Camaro will become a bore in a year or two. I still see people getting excited with the 300TT and the 350Z's. If the rear of the cars doesn't make your mind up then you should drive a kia...

kannibul

Wide post is wide!

BrianMSmith

I had the old SS, albeit with some well upgraded suspension, and geared down, still geared way higher than the Z...

The old SS kills the Z in seat of the pants kick, way more torque, and with my set up noticeably faster in a straight line. The SS was excellent in the corners, until I drove the Z on the same roads. The Z makes it feel so much easier, and is noticeably faster through twisty, bumpy, challenging roads, and it feels safer (which it actually is) and that makes it more fun for me. The Z refuses to under or over steer with the stability control on, at any speed I'd hit on the road...which is extremely fast, like 75mph in a 45mph-signed corner. The Z has way higher technology in stability control, which keeps the car safer for very agressive driving. The Z is almost as fast as the SS in numbers, but doesn't feel it, as the power comes from high RPM and not high torque.

The Z is a much more mature vehicle, it's like a luxury car in terms of interior experience, fit, finish, refinement (except for the road noise...which is insane...but probably will be much improved with better tires..see Tire Rack ratings for comparos).

The SS is dominated by the experience of the engine. In the Z you hardly notice the engine, it's rather all about the handling dynamics and incredible braking....you can go into a corner at completely mad speeds and last second braking...I'd never do that in the SS, which doesn't have nearly the braking nor the composure. The SS takes it's time getting set up in a corner, but once it does it has very high grip, though well below the limits available in the Z. The SS would get all rear end steery with traction control off, which was fun, very controllable. I haven't tried that in the Z yet, and probably won't.

TARDCORE

One of my co-workers is getting an SS soon. He said he liked the interior. I know that doesn't help haha If you looking for bang for the buck performance and plan to keep the car stock then the camaro might be your best bet.

__________________
XBL:EVENTYDE

kannibul

I also agree that the camaro could easily be mistaken for the charger.

MightyBobo

The fanboy-ism in this thread runs deep!

Get what you want, not what people on this board tell you to get.

__________________
I don't own a car anymore.

MightyBobo

Great story.

__________________
I don't own a car anymore.