Frustrated Camaro SS owner

[6GearSS]

Man, everything is going out on this car. It's a daily driver, never track driven, but with a few horsepower and appearance mods. I've tried to keep it as clean and nice as the GWOT will allow me to do (i'm out there looking for Tuscan Raiders most of my time), by clay bar-ing, Zaino, and in the garage.

My wife has a Mazda Miata, 1995, and we have a Volvo XC90. Both of these cars do not require the amount of attention the camaro needs. We have three dogs (great dane, miniature pinscher, jack russell) and they don't cause much problems in the other two vehicles like in the Camaro. I have to watch every persons move in the camaro, whereas my dogs can roam freely in the Volvo (with leather seating) and they won't damage anything.

GM- c'mon man!!! My father retired 30 years with you guys! Improve everything on all your products, to include the new Camaro. The new Camaro has to be the JDAM of cars when it comes out, for years. And you have to come out with a high end SS, with a bad ass, working hood scoop. Aftermarket items have to be on time as well, please don't half ass it. That's like me fighting the Taliban with Airsoft rifles, it's just dead wrong.

Let's see what you can do, GM. You have it in you.

[E. Haskell]

What do you mean by everything is going out? I've had 2 LS1 fbodies driven about 80k miles and the only problem I've had was a $200 slave cylinder. I also knocked down 27-28 mpg in a city/highway mix.

[big swede]

Troll, I've seen this exact post before.

[TahoeMikeZ71]

I'm suprised you have a wife with your two other vehicles.

[6GearSS]

You all know, if you don't mothball these vehicles, step lightly, pull gently, these vehicles in the past would end up on a used car lot. Everyone I know who purchased a 1998,99, 00 Camaro SS has probably sold, traded in the thing if they didn't live lavish enough to store it up in their two/three car garage.

Plus, you all know someone like my father who won't pull any punches with you, they'll tell you that the cars GM delivered for years could have been made better. But GM made a choice, and we bought into that choice.

I won't again, if the 09/10/11 Camaros are anything equal or less than the current GTOs. When you watch Toyota Hilex's traversing Afghanistan with ease compared to a AMG Hummer for a year (less parts breaking, doesn't fail with no maintenance- C'mon, we're talking people who don't know how to **** in a hole), then you'll realize that you've been fleeced!

All I'm asking for is the product to match the legacy. Not just a reliable engine, but a reliable vehicle.

[BigAls87Z28]

Dont worry, there have been massive light-year leaps in quality since your Fbody.
Hell, your fbody has my problems then both my fbodies. I wouldnt let an ugly girl get in my car, much less a dog!! Get a beat up S10 if you want a good dog hauler or something.

[E. Haskell]

Originally Posted by 6GearSS

You all know, if you don't mothball these vehicles, step lightly, pull gently, these vehicles in the past would end up on a used car lot. Everyone I know who purchased a 1998,99, 00 Camaro SS has probably sold, traded in the thing if they didn't live lavish enough to store it up in their two/three car garage.

Plus, you all know someone like my father who won't pull any punches with you, they'll tell you that the cars GM delivered for years could have been made better. But GM made a choice, and we bought into that choice.

Many people have sold/traded them because they beat the snot out of them and then pass the car on to someone else. As far as quality - I don't know what one can expect from 350hp car that sticked for $22k (SS package is fluff added to a 22k car).

At the time, for $22-25k, you could've possibly gotten better quality with a Prelude or Celica....but then you'd have FWD, a buzzing sound and 1/2 the power.

[F14CRAZY]

yeha must be a troll. I mean, what's going out in a Camaro, and how are dogs damaging things?

Could just not put dogs in the car...

And heck, if you baby it and things go wrong, you might as well rag on it. It's an SS

[F14CRAZY]

Originally Posted by 6GearSS

AMG Hummer for a year (less parts breaking, doesn't fail with no maintenance- C'mon, we're talking people who don't know how to **** in a hole), then you'll realize that you've been fleeced!

I'd like to try driving a Hummer done up by AMG

[chickenkicker]

Mt trans am has just started to have things go wrong on it (fuel pump, distributor, sensors) but then again it's 10 years old, has 150,000miles on it, and I really abused the hell out of it (I run it hard, take corners hard, it's been to the track several times, sliding around in empty lots, etc.) and it's taken this long for anything to go wrong. If I went easy on it it would probably still be problem free.

[caddycruiser]

You bought a 90's/00's Camaro, and you're angry after the fact at what a piece of junk it is? Granted, the drivetrain is absolutely stellar in the cars, whether it be an LT1 (have one myself in a '95 Fleetwood, and LOVE it) or the newer LS1, the car around them was very classic GM, in the worst of ways. Poor build quality, materials, seats, visibility, etc. Just not a great car.

But they can be so fun, people love them, and at the same time, they have the classic "RWD with a Chevy small block" greatness to them, which sometimes can be more important than anything. They can take a beating and keep on going, even if that going entails rattling, clunking, and squeaking along the way as pieces continue to loosen up and break.

But, when new, the fact that you couldn't tell a HUGE difference between the Camaro and something like the Volvo or Mazda you mentioned, even with a simple grasp of the door handle, you must not have been conscious. So, years and miles after the fact, what's the shock?

No worries on the new upcoming model, however, as that will be the first Camaro in a long time to finally be up to date with modern GM build quality, refinement, performance, and style--even the concept models exude that, so it'll be no shock to see how great the real dealer lot cars will be.

[E. Haskell]

Even with the new Camaro I don't think it's wise to expect superb build quality/materials. When you have RWD, IRS, 400+hp, 6spd, $25k price tag and good looks - it doesn't leave much of a budget for other things. I'd expect build quality and materials to be on par with the Mustang. While it would be nice to have everything, it's probably not realistic to expect a $50k car for $25k.

[likearock00]

Troll!

[zabolots]

Originally Posted by 6GearSS

Man, everything is going out on this car. ...
GM- c'mon man!!! My father retired 30 years with you guys!

And he's probably drawing a very healthy pension and gets free healthcare for life. IMO, that is a big part of the reason why your car is falling apart. Legacy liabilities severely impact the amount of $$ GM can put into its vehicles.

[darndot]

I think part of the problem is that it is your baby. My 95 Prizm could have a missing fender, and I don't care. My wife's trailblazer could have a tick, and I don't pay attention. My Silverado can't have anything wrong or I am mad.