1996 Chevrolet Camaro Sport Coupe 3.8
Summary:
Sporty and reliable daily driver
Faults:
At 110,000 miles, the water pump failed.
An exhaust pipe rattled a little, but the shop adjusted it for free.
General Comments:
My Camaro came equipped with T-tops, a leather steering wheel, and all the power options. From the outside, and the inside, it looks a lot like a Z28 minus the badges. Runs on regular 87 octane fuel, and gets 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Acceleration, handling, and braking are crisp and responsive. Wet weather traction isn't the greatest, but it is predictable. The ride is smooth, and relatively quiet. Controls are logically placed, and the driver's seat is comfortable for my 6'2" frame. Great car for interstate driving. For the past year, I have commuted 50 miles per day, and the car has held up well.
Compares well with the Celica and the Prelude (both of which were too small for me).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th May, 2008
3rd Mar 2012, 21:31
Update:
This vehicle now has over 200,000 miles on the clock. It's still running great with the original motor, original transmission, original shock absorbers, and even the original exhaust.
I did replace the rear end at about 195,000 miles, because it was getting a little noisy, and I opted to replace the original radiator hoses because they were old, but that was basically preventative maintenance.
It still starts on the first try, takes me wherever I want to go without leaving me stranded, and looks good doing it. More reliable than my coworkers' Japanese cars, despite the fact that it's much older.
Gets lots of compliments on the style, performance for a V6, and how clean it looks for its age. The original paint still shines, the SMC body panels are of course ding free, and the seats are holding up very well. No rips or tears yet, even on the driver's side bolster closest to the door where these cars usually show wear.
With an aftermarket intake, I've managed to get up to 34 mpg on the highway. That said, this car is a lot of fun. I drove the Tail of the Dragon (Deals Gap) in 2010, and lately I've even taken it to a few local car meets and shows. Not bad. The longer I own it, the more I like it.