Camaro convertibles: Because nothing improves a car with no visibility like cutting the back window in half and adding a fatter windshield header.
Today’s Camaro lineup features some serious heavy hitters, like the 650-horsepower ZL1 and the track-ready 1LE. And then there’s our test car, the V6-powered Camaro RS convertible–fitted with an automatic transmission. In reality, it probably better represents the average Camaro dreams.
The new Camaro is still a big, big car, but at least now the interior is no longer cramped and its occupants no longer feel as if they’re driving a pillbox. Interior space for those up front feels adequate. Over-the-shoulder visibility, as expected, stinks.
The new interior looks modern, a step up from the past Camaro. Having the fan bezels double as the temperature controls is neat and removes some extra buttons from the dash.
The new body works for me, too. It has a hint of C7 Corvette yet doesn’t look too much like a Transformer. It’s a big car but the proportions are spot on.
Most drivers will totally dig the new eight-speed automatic. It delivers smooth, comfortable performance. Those looking to shift it themselves will wish for a real stick, though. While it’s possible to hold a gear for as long as you’d like, the shifts are still laggy. It’s not a twin-clutch transmission.
The V6 engine found in our test car provides 335 horsepower and 284 lb.-ft. of torque. Remember when those were healthy V8 numbers? Despite all that horsepower, it still sounds like a V6.
I found the driving position to be just fine, and the seats didn’t give me any issues, even after an hour so at the wheel. Personally I wish that the dash pod sat just a tick lower. (I know, raise the seat.)
The Camaro convertible rattles some. At least ours did.
This isn’t a Miata replacement. It’s aimed at the broader market–someone who wants a car that’s comfortable yet sporty enough. In that context, the automatic (and other compromises) works just fine.
Compared to the last-generation Camaro, this thing was better. Is it the car for me? Absolutely not. It's big on the outside, small on the inside, and impossible to see out of. Driving it was like driving a Malibu, except I don't remember the last Malibu I drove having a loud clunk from the right rear when driving over bumps.
But, it's reasonably priced, has four seats, and looks like a Camaro. For most buyers, that's all that matters. I could see this being a great engine donor in a few years.
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