They do not inherently or expressly reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of our publication. The views, opinions and positions expressed by columnists and contributors are the authors’ alone. He was named Canadian Automobile Journalist of the Year twice and is past president of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Ted Laturnus has been an automotive journalist since 1976. Transmission: six-speed automatic or six-speed manualįuel economy (litres/100 km): 11.4 city and 6.9 highway (V6 with automatic transmission), with regular or premium gasĪlternatives: Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang Torque: 273 foot pounds or 420 foot pounds Whether you chose the V6 or V8 models, this Camaro could in no way be classed as a fuel-sipper.įrom a $27,000 base price, the 2011 Camaro has held its value reasonably well, with the base LS model now in the high teens, while a loaded SS with the big V8 is approaching the $30,000 range.
THE DRIVE 2011 SOFTWARE
Issues with the transmissions and software gremlins seemed to be prevalent, as did complaints about fuel economy. Lack of back seat elbow room and poor peripheral visibility were common gripes.
“MP3 player quit working on first major road trip”.While there were no glaring problem spots, and most areas of the car garnered above-average marks, CR nonetheless gave this year of the revised Camaro an “average” used car predictability rating.
This version of the Camaro got mixed grades from Consumer Reports.
THE DRIVE 2011 MANUAL
They covered just about everything from possibly leaky automatic transmissions, to shifting problems with the manual gearbox, to a glitchy fuel gauge, to a “slight engine misfire.” There were, however, a rather hefty 71 technical service bulletins on file with the U.S.-based National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This is easily fixed: dealers simply rerouted the cable. Apparently, with some of the V8 models, the positive cable from the battery could chafe against the starting motor, eventually short out and possibly cause an engine stall or, worse, a fire. There was only one safety recall to report from Transport Canada. The whole driving experience of this Camaro is pure 1960s pony car.Ī convertible version was also offered this year, with many of the same characteristics. The new Camaro has turned out to be one of the most challenging vehicles on the market when it comes to parallel parking.Īs well, the manual transmission features a long throw between gears, with a heavy linkage action. You could also order a special Rally Yellow paint, which made the Camaro a bit a ticket magnet.īecause of its low roofline and small windows, rear visibility while backing up is restrictive.
The SS model, in particular, is an unapologetic high-performance automobile aimed at buyers who like to drive with enthusiasm and want everyone to know it. This version of the Camaro conveys the requisite muscularity and bad boy persona, with a dash of nostalgia thrown in for good measure Some felt the styling of the new Camaro was too angular and rough around the edges, but it does convey the requisite muscularity and bad boy persona, with a dash of nostalgia thrown in for good measure. Again, it’s an almost seamless transition. The automatic six-speed featured GM’s Active Fuel Management system, which shut off half the cylinders under light load for improved fuel economy. It was similar to a system found in some models of the Corvette. Given the substantial torque output of this engine, the transition was handled effortlessly by the drivetrain, and this feature only came into play below 30 km/h. During low engine revs, it automatically shifted from first to fourth in an effort to cut down on gas consumption. The six-speed manual transmission/V8 combo had a slick gearshift override.