Even in its base form, the Camaro will feel sporty to many drivers.The low driving position and low center of gravity contribute to a hunkered-down, responsive feel. And while the live axle layout at the rear might seem dated, it gets the job done. The engine is positioned somewhat rearward, enough so that with the V6 is actually behind the centerline of the front wheels. This enhances handling, by moving weight from the front to the rear. The front suspension is upper and lower control arms, not struts. And the rear axle is suspended on coil springs with a system of links that keep it properly located. With the optional Performance Package, the Camaro (or Firebird) becomes a remarkably good handling car-- better, in fact, than many that wear the "sports car" label and cost a good deal more. Driven conservatively the ride is smooth enough for reasonable sports car expectations and well controlled. Driven with more enthusiasm, our Performance Package Camaro had exceptional directional stability, good feedback through the steering wheel and turned into corners with linear precision. We think it's one of those cars that make you look for the long and winding road. And we can't emphasize enough the significant role the 3800 V6 plays in this. It's obviously not as fast as the V8-powered Z28, but it's fast nonetheless, drives great, and hits several targets on the affordability scale. |
