14th May 2010, 06:01

I heard "chips" on the review........not orange peel or runs. Chips in rear wheel areas can certainly be caused by any stones picked up by the wide tires including the front area of the rear fender and rockers. Normal driving it even can chip. Especially a back road or dirt road. Does not take a lot. I wish I could post a pic. When I buy sports cars I look for this as it is often an indicator of harder use as well. You can buy clear protectors now almost invisible to go over these areas when cars are new. I love doing the back roads, but then show my car. I have picked up some stones and had my hood chipped as well, but it's a chance you take. Are there any chips whatsoever on any area the top rear of the car? I think the tires are the culprit (chip).

15th May 2010, 15:17

Yes, but now you are talking about a defective design by GM on this car that allows the paint to be chipped off the car at extremely low miles. Still an unacceptable scenario to me, given they want this owner to pay an additional $2,300 for paintwork after the already inflated price they probably paid on the car to begin with. And then, according to you, it would be normal wear when these areas start to chip again in another 2,000 miles.

No wonder GM gets away with these things. Everyone expects this as normal wear or they blame the fact that it has wide tires on it... So inadequate design is normal and not a problem with the average consumer? Yeah, I'll be buying a Mustang. $10K less and the paint stays on the car for longer than 2,000 miles! If nothing else, at least they are designed properly.

It just mystifies me why everyone bypassed the fact that there is probably something that could have been done to avoid this problem. Chipping could certainly be caused by inadequate preparation of the car during the painting process, or some other problem in assembly. Nawwwww, GM would never make a mistake like that now would they?? HEH!! Yeah right!!

16th May 2010, 12:32

This is one review, not stacks of reviews on paint issues. I own 3 with no paint issues on my GMs. I may go with Mylar on mine to prevent chips from road debris. Any chips on the rear deck or roof far removed from the wide tires from the original poster?

16th May 2010, 21:35

Yeah, but do you own three Camaro's? This could be a specific design defect or manufacturing defect on the Camaro. No one is saying every GM car has paint issues. Having to put mylar on your car to prevent chips to me means it is a poor design or paint process. Why should you have to spend extra money on these things in order to cover up GM's inability to do quality work? I'd go to another brand first.

17th May 2010, 20:57

This seems like an isolated incidence, not 3 Camaro owners with identical issues. The mylar is not necessary, but some of us show our cars. You can hardly see the mylar seam, but I do not like it. But drive on a track and then show, it's one more layer of protection on new perfect paint. Is there more than this one chip issue by one owner. I am not seeing it. How is your new Camaro by the way?

29th Oct 2010, 05:19

You forgot to mention, did you upgrade your wheels and tires? If so, you may have tires wider than your fender wells. And yeah, it could chip the first time you hit a pebble. But this could be a problem in the paint. Too many variables and only one side of the story.

12th Feb 2011, 19:24

I have always preferred Mustangs over Camaros, for one reason:

Which of the 2 was in Bullitt? I rest my case.

4th Apr 2011, 15:50

I have an 09 G8. Completely love it. No mechanical issues at all.

I do, however, have a problem with paint chipping on the front fascia. I know it's the front of the car and takes the brunt of road debris. That being said, I still have low mileage and do not drive it in the New England winters. Bought it brand new with not a nick on it. As a matter of fact, I was probably to be the first person to fart in the seat.

I'm very picky, and I'm sure most will agree that the front of my car is destroyed. It bothers me so much that I'm going to get the fascia resprayed and have the 3M body tape installed. I would have done this at first if I thought it was going to be a problem.

All in all, I would think a newer car would be able to take minor road abuse. I will still buy GM cars. Always had great luck with them. But I agree, an evaluation has to be done about paint issues at GM.

By the way, the Camaros are great. I own one too. No issues with paint chipping on the sides. But I do notice those Pirellis pick up a lot of rocks. Try installing "mud flaps". I know, I think they are ugly too.

5th Apr 2011, 19:27

It's great to see that GM put the Camaro back in the game... and it's good competition for the Ford Mustang... Already the car magazines have them squaring off against each other...

Also ford has finally gotten off its assets and invested some money in the car... Many magazines say it's one of the best Mustangs built to date...

Also the car magazines are saying that GM will stuff a huge engine in one of their upcoming 2012 Camaros models... this type of competition can only make both cars better... it's very exciting for someone like me who drives a 110 horsepower Hyundai Accent... hey.. we can dream too....

6th Apr 2011, 11:32

The Mustang is truly the best it ever has been as of 2011. It has the best all around performance package in the GT, and also in the V6 models. The thing I like better about the Mustang over the Camaro, after driving them back to back, is the driveability of the Mustang. It is so much easier to see out of, and it is also more comfortable to get in and out of. The Camaro is an amazing car, but I look at it as more of a third car and not a daily driver. A Mustang, you could live with every day, although I would still put it up for the winter months.

I would opt for a V6 nowadays, as the performance is more than enough for me. You are right in that it is great to see the rival continue after 40 some odd years. Hopefully they will find a way to keep the fires burning as gas eclipses the $5 per gallon mark soon. We need performance and fuel efficiency. The V6 Mustang is on the right track with around 30 mpg out of 305 HP!

12th Apr 2011, 18:45

My girlfriend also prefers the 2011 Mustang GT she owns for the same mentioned reasons, easier to get in and off and better visibility. But when it's time to get off on weekends and have some fun to drive a real sports car, and probably show off (!), she's always asking for my 2010 Camaro SS. I rarely asked her Mustang, unless she has my SS and have no choice!

13th Apr 2011, 15:03

I guess if you want to drive the SS that is slower, then that is your option. I'd prefer the better looking, faster Mustang myself. It is much more than just getting in and out of the Mustang. It is a better all around driver, and has a better sound to it too.

Better watch out that girl doesn't get away from you! She literally can in her Mustang!

19th Jul 2011, 18:52

I hope you get the repaint done with no cost to you. It is really bad when car companies don't back up with products. Honestly from what you had described, it could be the environment that is causing it. Why would it be evenly on both sides by the wheel arches? As someone here mentioned, maybe where you were driving, the front tires would kick off a lot of sand and stones. The proof has to be on you that it was really the paint that was defective, providing that it is in a controlled environment, but apparently this is your everyday car, so good luck with it.