Rented a Camaro 2SS for the hell of it this wkend. unbiased review

280z/300zx

Not really. We took our 2SS camaro to auto-x the other weekend and I was surprised how well it did. It wasn't as poised as my 370z and you were always on the edge of control, but it pulled off some amazing times for it's size and weight. We got better times in our camaro than the smaller, lighter miatas, minis, and hondas. The track was not set up for long straights either. Most of it was slalom and S turns.

Having both the Camaro and the 370z I'll say I enjoy my 370z far more but only because thats what I'm used to. From the age of 17 I've had Z's. Got my 300zx at 17, bouth my 280z at 18, and just recently got my 370z (had a WRX for a little while in between there). The Camaro to me just has a different feel but is still a worthy car. My favorite feature of the camaro is launch control. Just slap it in first and pop the clutch and you get a perfect launch every time. So easy.

I'll close with this. The Camaro could learn a few tricks from the Z but the Z could also learn a few tricks from the Camaro. Lastly, to the OP, we got our fully loaded 2SS for 34k. No need to wait for a year or more for rebates and stuff. There are deals to be made out there, you just have to look for them

elmz

I gotta feeling since the Mustang has stepped it up, the Camaro will follow suit. It's sad to admit, but the days are near where we can no longer say muscle cars are only good at straight line performance.

UNKNOWN_370

I can see how you felt that way. The front windshield has a rectangular narrowness to it that makes something like a rear view mirror feel like an obstruction. It took me like 9 hours to fully adjust to the cars quirks like the one you mentioned.

PapoZalsa

Leave the battle to the Camaro, Rustang, Charger and Challenger. Yes they up the HP because they couldn't compete with car on their league. The price of these muscle car are $40K+.

Be happy with your Z if not just go and buy a muscle car.

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2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT
Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs

Matt

All 4 of the cars you listed, Camaro/Mustang/Challenger/Charger, have models available in the mid 20k range....something that the Z does not have.

All 4 of the cars you listed top out about the same price as the Z tops out, with the Roadster or Nismo packages.

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"Any man who can drive a 370z while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the Z the attention it deserves." Albert Einstein....modified.

theDreamer

That is because those vehicles have an "economy" version of their car where the Z does not. The performance vehicle of the American cars (V8) are all 28K+:
~Camaro - 30,945
~Mustang - 28,395
~Challenger - 31,585

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Matt

Which was my point. He tried to imply that the 4 muscle cars were much higher priced than the Z to justify their higher performance numbers.

The prices of those 4 models (excluding the economy and "collector" versions of each) are priced exactly where the Z is.

EDIT:

To me, this whole "sports car vs muscle car" argument has been incredibly overused on these forums. It's the knee-jerk reaction as soon as some other car shows a faster 0-60 or 1/4 mile. When someone mentions the TTS or Genesis, they scoff at the "wanna-be's". When someone mention muscle cars, they start screaming about straight lines vs. curved lines.

The truth is, it isn't 1970 anymore. Unless your choice in life is between an Auto-X driver and a professional drag-racer, the "sports car vs muscle car" argument means absolutely nothing. NOTHING. Today's consumer isn't going to buy a Camaro, take a turn on a highway and go "man, I wish I had a sports car instead of this muscle car".

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"Any man who can drive a 370z while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the Z the attention it deserves." Albert Einstein....modified.

WICKED_GRIN

If only you could convince Car & Driver, Motor Trend, Road & Track, etc. the proper usage of the term…..(pony) muscle car……. and sports sedan, GT, sports car, roadster, sedan, SUV etc……………just saying

PapoZalsa

I'm refering to the ones with the big HP like the SS, GT350, GT V-8, Hemi 5.7 or 6.1.

I know they have base model with V-6 in those prices ranges close to the Z, however they don't have the performance, style or workmanship to compare with the Z.

Totally different league!

Again, be happy with your Z if not go and get one of those high end HP GM cars.

__________________
2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT
Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs

Matt

The V-6 versions of those cars are much cheaper than the base Z. The price of those performance models are [gasp] the same price as the Z's performance model.

The "leagues" aren't as different as you think.

__________________

"Any man who can drive a 370z while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the Z the attention it deserves." Albert Einstein....modified.

UNKNOWN_370

Just in case anyone is confused? I didn't write this post to compare the camaro to the Z. On the contrary this review should be the clarification that a camaro is a totally different breed from the Z and the two shouldn't be compared unless you are the type who is torn between. True sports and grand touring-sports.
My G37s coupe is more comparable so I made some comparisons there. Price vs quality was a comparison and performance for price. The G won the first, camaro won slightly on the latter. (Only due to extremely powerful engine)

The Z... when I think of her. Its like porsche cayman territory. I know nobody would compare a porsche cayman to a camaro. But IMO, a Z is a poor mans porsche cayman. So I compare them to together.
Muscle cars are a different breed that have an awkward place in society. Even amongst other GT cars. Refined mobiles such as the 135,335,G37,Rx8 and even the genesis coupe have such a different character from let's say the camaro, mustang and challenger.
The breed is different so what I tried to achieve was write a review of realistic expectations from a enthusiasts perspective.

By nature I love the Z and G. I bought my 09 G in november and will have my Z by my bday. The camaro is just a car that many put pre-concieved notions on. My test drive wasn't satisfying. So I rented one for the weekend.
One person wanted the Z owner perspective from my review by saying "halfway through your post I realized you don't own a Z, so I found it harder to relate" if I wrote a review about a camaro from the Z owners perspective? That would contractict my headline. UNBIASED REVIEW.

Either way. I hope you guys enjoyed the review.

Signing off

UNKNOWN

Montez

As of 11, that Mustang V6 has some pretty good performance numbers.

steveg78

I experience the right front hood blind spot with my Z as well. I'm sure I'll get used to it in due time but just over a month in I still find myself taking turns wide at lights sometimes. You can't see how far the car juts out!

pauley

Feeling the Camaro's exterior, a definite head turner! That interior is crap. The whole "retro" themed tach/ speedo and radio setup......EEEUUUHHH!

New '11 Mustang looks real promising with a true 5.0 engine.Way better interior than Camaro.

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2009 370Z Blk/Blk Touring/Sport + 2007 G35SModified