Background: The rear-wheel-drive Camaro sports coupe has been the four-seat performance leader at General Motors' Chevrolet division since its introduction in the fall of 1966. Over the years, its gained the reputation of a relatively affordable, sporty two-door coupe. Camaro and its automotive twin, the Pontiac Firebird share common components, with different exterior nuances. This current, fourth-generation Camaro was completely redesigned in the 1993 model year.
Trim levels: Camaro shoppers have four variations to choose from. Camaro Coupe and Camaro convertible come with V-6 engines while Camaro Z28 and Z28 convertibles include the more potent V-8 powertrains. The best seller? Base V-6 versions. Assembly takes place in Ste. Therese, Quebec, Canada.
New for 1998: Visually, Camaro's updated hood, fenders and front fascia create a sleek ambiance. In previous years, Camaro offered an optional RS appearance package. This year, Chevrolet renames RS as the Sport Appearance Package, and is standard in all editions. Camaro Z28 engines have more punch this season too.
Safety features: Driver and front-passenger air bags, daytime running lights, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, energy-absorbing steering column and front and rear crumples zones are all standard. Traction control, which decreases tire spin on slippery surfaces, is optional in Z28 models only. All edition feature standard battery run down protection, which automatically turns headlights off if inadvertently left on after 10 minutes. Remote keyless entry is optional in all models except the Z28 convertible where it's standard.
Engine: Two engine choices power Camaro. A 3.8-liter, 200 horsepower V-6 is standard in Base Camaro and Camaro Convertible. A five-speed manual transmission comes standard with this engine while a four-speed automatic is an option. This year, Camaro's two Z-24 offerings borrow technological enhancements from Chevrolet's two-seat Corvette sportster, which received its own major redesign last year. Both Camaro Z28 and Z28 convertible include a modified Corvette 5.7-liter V-8 engine delivering 305 horsepower. A four-speed automatic transmission comes standard while a six-speed manual transmission is optional at no extra cost. For even more pizzazz, opt for the SS performance package, available in Z28 editions which includes larger wheels and slightly greater horsepower (320).
Price: The least expensive of the four offerings, a Base V-6 hatchback, includes a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $16,625 while Z28 hatchbacks check in at $20,470. Camaro's Base convertible is priced at $22,125 while the top-of-the-line Z28 convertible includes a $27,450 window sticker. Chevrolet provided the Daily Herald with a Z28 hatchback and Z28 flip top. Our Z28 two-door included a bottom line of $21,217 after factoring in four-speed automatic transmission, rear window defogger, compact disc player, sport appearance package and $525 destination charge. The well-equipped convertible's price check totalled $30,264 with chrome wheels, traction control, six-way power driver seat and destination fee.
Standard equipment: Air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cloth bucket seating, intermittent wipers, AM/FM/cassette stereo and power rack-and-pinion steering come standard. The two uplevel Z28 models include a performance ride and handling package while Base Camaros include firm ride and handling features.
Options: Power door locks and power windows are optional in all models with the exception of the top-of-the-line Z28 convertible, where it's standard. Rear-window defoggers come standard in convertible offerings, but are optional in hard tops. Many options are marketed in preferred equipment packages. Compact disc players and remote 12-disc changers are optional across the board. Also optional in Camaro hard tops is the removable T-Top, which provides a lower-cost alternative to convertibles for drivers who enjoy open air experiences.
Dimensions (convertible): Wheelbase: 101.1 inches Overall length: 193.5 inches Overall width: 74.1 inches Overall height 52 inches Curb weight 3,574 pounds
Seating comfort: Camaro includes a true mark of modern sports coupes; all four riders sit relatively low to the ground. Drivers and passengers who enjoy resting their elbows outside the rolled-down window must reach their arms up a bit to accomplish this feat. The optional leather-surfaced seats ($499) in the convertible Z28 were very comfortable even after three hours of traveling. However, front seat passengers must content with an awkward floor hump which reduces leg room. All Camaros include four-way adjustable manual seats. Power six-way driver seats come optional across the board. If your unfortunate enough to end up in the back seats, leg room is almost non existent. Head room is adequate thanks to scooped-out seats which are not the easiest to maneuver out of. The disappearing back seat is nothing new to sport coupe enthusiasts which is why a majority of travel is done up front. Interior: The tachometer and speedometer are prominently displayed within the instrument panel while the fuel, oil and engine temperature gauges are less pronounced. It's an analog design except for digital odometers. The turn signal stalk is home to several functions including cruise control, windshield wipers and squirter fluid. Toggle switches, controlling power windows and power door locks, are located on the doors. Three large, easy-to-operate dials monitor temperature, fan speed and direction. Ventilation controls situate below the stereo with its own set of large, easy-to-operate preset buttons. Both can be easily reached by driver and front seat passenger. A dial controlling front headlights is left of the steering column. Below the stereo is a cigarette lighter and ashtray and a second power outlet for today's portable office. Between front bucket seats is a flip-top storage bin capable of handling cassette tapes and compact discs. A single-molded cup holder is positioned between the bin and floor-mounted transmission shifter The hand-operated parking brake is in this area too. Back seat passengers have access to their own permanently molded, dual cup holders.
Exterior: Camaro's trademark low hoodline, with steeped windshield angle and short rear deck create a powerful image. Rear spoilers come standard in all four Camaros. Heavy, long doors require ample room to swing out for entry and exit. Flush-mounted exterior door handles are body colored this model year. The non-locking fuel door, found on the left rear fender, includes a tethered gas cap. The right fender is home to the radio antenna. Fog lamps come standard in Z28 convertibles, while optional everywhere else. Exterior clearcoat color choices include gold metallic, navy blue metallic, black bright green metallic, bright purple metallic bright red, red metallic, silver metallic, teal metallic and Arctic white. The power, convertible top is easy to operate and includes a glass window with integrated rear-window defogger. Glass is easier to see through and keep clean than distorted, plastic varieties. Kudos to GM for a simple system that retracts in seconds once two sunvisor-area latches are unhooked.
Tire and trunk: Camaro includes 16-inch steel-belted radial touring tires on all models with the exception of Camaro Z28s with the SS packages, which feature performance radials and upgraded cast-aluminum 17-inch wheels. Trunk space is limited, although Chevrolet boasts two full-size golf clubs fit snugly in the hatchback area. The deep hatchback storage region, with 12.9 cubic feet of cubic space, requires bending and lifting action when loading and unloading these golf clubs though. A temporary spare tire stows conveniently in the hatch area's right side between the outside fender and a removable plastic inside housing.
Fuel economy: While Camaro won't win any fuel mileage championships, it's on par with many sport coupe competitors. There are slight variations between manual and automatic transmissions. Our V-8 convertible coupled with the automatic transmission checks in with estimates of 17 miles per gallon city and 25 m.p.g. highway. With six-speed manual transmission, figures inch up slightly to 18 m.p.g. city and 27 m.p.g. highway. The V-6 engine averages 19 m.p.g. city and 29 highway with automatic transmission. With five-speed manual transmission, city mileage remains the same while highway mileage increases to 30 m.p.g. With 4,700 odometer miles, our Camaro convertible averaged 18.5 miles per gallon in combined driving. The fuel tank holds 15.5 gallons of gasoline. Chevrolet recommends mid-level, 91 octane fuel for its V-8 engine, although regular 87 octane fuel is acceptable.
Final thoughts: This generation Camaro provides a smoother ride with less jarring motions than ones tested in previous years. It's matured along with its potential target market. When Camaro debuted some 30 years plus years ago, young males with a liking towards power and speed were the primary audience. These days, the target audience has grown to include middle aged baby boomers. Sales of Camaros, Firebirds and many sports coupes have hit hard times this decade due to a mix of several economic factors including the popularity of the sport utility segment and high insurance costs of these high-powered coupes. But this works to consumers' advantage in the form of favorable financing and incentives. Currently, General Motors has a $1,500 cash back offer on Base V-6 hard tops. |