I’m going to go out on a limb here . . . a very loooong one and declare that I’d rather have a new Camaro than a Corvette. Yes, you heard that right. Give me a Camaro – anything from a 1SS right on up to a Z/28 – because it’s a bucket full of rip-roaring American fun. The Corvette, on the other hand, has morphed into a bargain exotic that, to me at least, no longer shouts “U-S-A!” Its Asian-style creases now make it look more like the Nissan GT-R’s angry cousin and its driving and interior sophistication are moving it into European territory. Those aren't bad attributes, but do they still capture Chevy's all-American spirit?
Most of us, from time to time, have run into people who just have to make their presence known. They shout “Here I am!” through their bold and unusual clothing, loud voices and gobs of braggadocio. The Camaro does the same thing. Look at those all-American haunches. Listen to the loud burble of that exhaust. Take in the less-than-stellar, American-cheap interior. Then hit the gas, revel in the howl and smoke those tires. You just know you will turn heads. It’s a car that can easily transform an innocent Baby Boomer into a Bad Boy.
At the same time, though, the Camaro surprises with sophisticated suspension and steering that make it a star on the track and the twisties. In drives of the Camaro (1SS and ZL1 convertible) and the Corvette, on both back roads and the race course, I just felt the former gave me everything I wanted -- and more.
But perhaps that’s just me. Go for the Stingray if you must, especially with upper-level Camaros such as the ZL1 now heading north of $60K. But give me just a 1SS -- Bright Yellow will do -- and I’ll have fun-fun-fun all day across the U-S-A.
BY THE NUMBERS (1SS, ZL1 convertible)
Price: $34,350, $62,850
Horsepower: 426, 580
0-60: 5 secs (est.), 4.1 (Chevrolet)
Curb weight: 3,908 lbs, 4,374
TO LEARN MORE
Chevrolet
Car and Driver
Motor Trend
Most of us, from time to time, have run into people who just have to make their presence known. They shout “Here I am!” through their bold and unusual clothing, loud voices and gobs of braggadocio. The Camaro does the same thing. Look at those all-American haunches. Listen to the loud burble of that exhaust. Take in the less-than-stellar, American-cheap interior. Then hit the gas, revel in the howl and smoke those tires. You just know you will turn heads. It’s a car that can easily transform an innocent Baby Boomer into a Bad Boy.
At the same time, though, the Camaro surprises with sophisticated suspension and steering that make it a star on the track and the twisties. In drives of the Camaro (1SS and ZL1 convertible) and the Corvette, on both back roads and the race course, I just felt the former gave me everything I wanted -- and more.
But perhaps that’s just me. Go for the Stingray if you must, especially with upper-level Camaros such as the ZL1 now heading north of $60K. But give me just a 1SS -- Bright Yellow will do -- and I’ll have fun-fun-fun all day across the U-S-A.
BY THE NUMBERS (1SS, ZL1 convertible)
Price: $34,350, $62,850
Horsepower: 426, 580
0-60: 5 secs (est.), 4.1 (Chevrolet)
Curb weight: 3,908 lbs, 4,374
TO LEARN MORE
Chevrolet
Car and Driver
Motor Trend
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