1LTV8

Is there anyone else who is interested in GM building a Camaro with a small V8 that uses regular unleaded gas? Use the stock body 1LT car with a V8 option package. How about a 4.8 or 5.3 HO (325 hp) from the Silverado line with a 6 speed auto (6l80E) and 3.08 or 3.23 rear gear. I have not read what size ring and pinion the 6 cylinder car uses, but it should be adequate for a small V8. This setup should be good for 25-26 mpg highway.

My previous Silverado regular cab long bed 2wd had the 4.8, 4spd auto and 3.23 posi and averaged 22 mpg on the highway at 68-69 mph (I drive 110 miles round trip to work and back).

The SS car is a bruiser but not practical for extended driving on premium fuel and I cannot consider buying a Camaro with a 6 cylinder.

Three

I'm not sure what you mean by "not practical for extended cruising on premium fuel". You can run regular in the SS and I have achieved over 24 mpg on the highway without even trying to get decent fuel economy. What you propose (25 to 26) is hardly better than what the 426 LS3 will do in the real world.

So I don't think I'd want 100 hp less for only 1 or 2 mpg more. But having driven the V6 in the Camaro, I really don't think you'll notice the 20 HP more your proposal would give you.

And if when you drive the V6, you will be surprised. You might even rethink your proposal.

1LTV8

I believe you will notice a difference with 20 more HP and the V8 will make more torque and will produce both at a lower rpm range than the V6 engine making it more responsive in everyday driving situations.

I'm not sure why you would want to run regular unleaded fuel in a SS...if you can't afford the gas, don't buy the car. I also find it hard to believe you ran a SS hard and it achieved better than factory rated mpg.

Three

Believe it.

JasonD

This man knows. He probably has more seat time in a 2010 Camaro than anyone.

AdioSS

A while back I was hoping that GM would introduce a new performance V8 specifically for the Camaro introduction. I guess they think we should be happy that the L99 is available.

I mean, you jump from a 300hp 3.6L to a 400hp 6.2L? I have to wonder if there is enough room for a ~350hp 4.8-5.3L? I would love to see an LS3 with a 73.75mm stroke.. That could easily make right around 350hp and 340tq with a very mild cam and the LS3/L92 heads.

1LTV8

Thats what I'm talking about AdioSS.

If Three has so much time in the seat and is who I think he may be, then lets see some pics and post some numbers or direct me to a string that has them. Until then I'm not buying what he's selling.

Now don't get me wrong and think that I'm putting down the SS because I'm not. I'm sure it's a sweet car, but I believe GM has a void in the middle of the Camaro line up and I hope they fill it. Kind of a sleeper V8 car that would compete directly with the Mustang GT and be cheaper to insure.

AdioSS

if Debler says Three has a bunch of seat time in the Camaro, then I would really suggest you believe him...

I'm wondering if the V6 is the gap in the lineup and if there will be a lower output engine added later that might get better fuel economy?

JeremyNYR

I think this is what the thread is really all about. If the 1LT had a V8 with identical output as the 3.6L DI V6 offers, you probably wouldn't have perceived a gap or created this thread. By all accounts, this V6 rocks and prejudices from past V6 Camaros need to be left in the rearview mirror. It offers great power, MPGs and price. Don't dismiss it because there are 6 cylinders.

1LTV8

It's still a V6. Saying it's cool to drive a V6 american (retro iconic) sports car is like taking a two headed goat to the county fair. It gets some attention but it doesn't win the show and you get laughed at and teased by all your buddies.

Now that some of the guys out there have there cars, maybe they will post some stats (mpg) once they get done having there fun playing.

97QuasarBlue3.8

Times have changed. A lot of car companies are dumping V8's for smaller displacement or forced air V6's because they save space/fuel and make just as much HP as older V8's. The only part missing is the sound, but even the newer V6's make their own music. This isn't your daddy's (or your high school) muscle car. It only slightly resembles it in appearance.

When you look at the gap in price between a nicely equipped LT and a base SS with the V8, I don't think it's really worth the trouble of sticking in a V8 with only 46 more horsepower (if you're going for 350hp) versus the base SS' 400.

SSCamaro99_3

If you drive 1100 miles a week, the price difference between regular and premium is $12.70 per week.

81Z28355

You could always buy a Mustang 300hp V-8 and there are some screaming deals on 2009 GT's. My brother just purchased one last week, he could not afford a Camaro SS and felt like you about the V-6 it may be quick but its still a V-6. So for less than a V-6 Camaro he picked up a 09 Mustang GT Premium (thats with Leather) for $22,500 +Tax ect. They have a $3500 rebate and dealers are selling them under MSRP around us.

And he has been driving a Camaro for the last 10 years, he just could not see spending over 10k more for a Camaro SS.

1LTV8

I'll be going to my 30 year high school reunion next year. I have owned quite a few 1st gen and 2nd gen camaro's/firebirds and a couple GTO's since then so I would prefer to stay with GM. My truck is a '07 Silverado Classic ext. cab 4x4 and not fuel efficient/practical for the miles I drive. The used Bonneville I picked up a few years ago was a nice riding car and averaged 28 mpg but it just had the 3.8 bottom end let loose at 120k and it was the first and last FWD car I'll own. After a fall at work (telco lineman) severly injured my left shoulder and left hip I could no longer comfortably drive my '96 LT1 Formula 6spd car so I sold it to a family member and any new purchase as a daily driver will have to be an automatic. I have been waiting like everyone else for the arrival of the new Camaro's and will go check them out and probably will let them talk me into test driving an SS :-) but I am also going to look at the 2010 mustang gt. Lets face it, in a year or two when the economy turns around we will be paying between 3.00 to 4.00 a gallon for fuel, especially premium. Now, trips is saying in this thread that the SS will run on regular unleaded, maybe so, but everything I am seeing says to run premium unleaded in it. I have heard to many horror stories of guys buying new vehicles with these high compression engines and trying to get by with running regular unleaded in them and damaging the engines. Will the warranty cover that...I wonder. Thats my arguement for a Camaro with a 325 HP, 9.8:1 5.3 V8 car.

AdioSS

from what you just said, before you drive an SS, try out the V6 first. It just might surprise you It weighs about 200 pounds less and has a very, very good V6 that should be able to get 30MPG on the highway while performing about as good as a stock LT1 F-body. Or, eventhough you hate FWD, look into the Cobalt SS