I am way more comfortable with RWD over FWD anyday.

Sure the tail can kick out---that only happended when I it to. Say if wanted to go driviong down the road sideways--just to look cool you know

Otherwise it did not come out (maybe a tiny bit but otherwise no)

So you don't need FWD and I hope they never make an AWD Camaro. Thats wrong on so many levels.

 

Why would an AWD Camaro variant be wrong? Just a variant, not the whole line-up, just a small part? If they want the Camaro to sell well then they have to appeal with the times, Right now, AWD appeals.

I still don't understand how any of you think RWD>FWD in the snow. I really can't. I know we've had this discussion for years on here, but honestly. I remember shortly after I bought my '99 Z28, I got stuck in my own freaking driveway! I couldn't make it out! So I just used my roomiest Cavalier, which was parked next to the Camaro in the same driveway, and had absolutely no problems getting out. This happened several times actually. A lot of you use the argument that while your going, RWD>FWD, what good is that if you can't get going?! I think it largely depends on the car too. I used to work for a cab company that had a Caprice fleet. Those things were very easy to drive in the winter, even to get going, and they didn't even have Traction Control. I could never dream of doing that in the Camaro, which has TC. Traction Control isn't a godsend to us Camaro enthusiasts AWD would be.

 

Like 305 said, it usually only steps out when you're not being careful. The problem with FWD is that it has only one operating mode: understeer. If you're ploughing into a corner, there's not much you can do except go along for the ride. With RWD you have the ability to control both ends of the car.

I disliked this trait so much in my FWD cars that I would tighten up the rear drum brakes on my Buick Skylark so that by using both feet, I could lock the rear wheels and keep driving with the fronts if I needed to get it out of terminal understeer mode. I will say that that was kinda entertaining .

 

Exactly.

My 1988 Dodge Aries actually PULLED MY CAMARO OUT OF A SNOWBANK. Good luck trying to do that with a RWD car... AND IT'S AN ARIES.

Pick your RWD car, I'll drive circles around you in snow with a Cavalier.

Sorry, any argument to the contrary is utter BS, and you haven't spent enough time in snow.

R377, your area of Ontario get lake-effect snow?

 

RWD 4th gen Camaros suck in snow, so they are a bad gauge of how good RWD is. Cars like the CTS, BMW's and other Sedans that have a 50/50 weight distro and TC/SC are good in snow. (as long as they don't have summer tires). Tires and weight distro are the things that matter most when driving in the snow.

 

Not really, certainly not anything like Buffalo.

The only time I've ever gotten stuck in my Z28 was when the snow was higher than the air dam. As long as I had clearance, the stock Z-rated RS-As would always get me going and keep me going.

 

I think AWD would be a sweet option on an SS with the z28 retaining the traditional RWD setup. People on here have been clamoring about the price differences (pretty much biggest difference) and how the overall SS package isn't as drastically different from the z28 as most hoped. An optional AWD would change all that and would separate the SS from the z28's. That differentiating may be needed, because many think the two are too alike. The SS needs something other than an almost worthless ram-air hood, and some other minor **** to seperate it from the z28's. If a different powertrain option isn't going to be one, why not an optional AWD? And since it is the most expensive trim, cost really isn't as big as an issue as it would be with v6 or z28. This is something that would seperate it from the mustang and Dodges future pony/coupe car as well.

 

I suspect AWD sells because most folks would prefer to pay $1,500 for that option instead of spendind $600 on a dedicated set of winter tires & rims.

Personally, having driven the SS for a couple of winters on steelies with winter tires and a 100 lbs in the trunk, I'll take the improved car control (steering and braking) of the winter tires over the improved accelleration of AWD. Of course a proper AWD system on winter tires would be even better.

Using our Envoy as baseline GM has a long way to go on their "almost on demand" AWD systems.

 

I have never driven my camaro in the snow. It is easy to lose traction when its raining hard, and have the back end come loose. I can't even imagine trying to drive it in the snow. Nothing works as well as a old FWD car with no abs. My old regal makes a better snow car than those SUV's and trucks that weigh between 4000-6000lbs. Its a lot easier to stop a 3300lb car than those huge trucks. I got around fine with that old buick when we had 16" of snow a couple of years ago. If your FWD car can't get you there, just stay home.

Also, AWD is a sin on the Camaro.
1. We don't need something more complex that will add to cost to the car.
2. We don't need more weight added to the car.
3. We don't need something that will tear up when we mod our cars to 500whp.

 

Actually, heavier vehicles do better in snow because their tires cut through to the pavement more easily, whereas lighter cars have the danger of floating on the surface. Turning becomes trickier. It's like hydrogliding on the highway in heavy rain.

The pitfall of FWD is making turns under certain conditions, such as downhill.

Someone posted here about Mercedez RWD sliding sideways and not being able to get uphill. Try making a turn on a steep downhill in a FWD car...

While for the average person it is easier to navigate snow with FWD, there are a number of people that I have come across who actually prefer RWD, and I am one of them.

Having said that, proper tires are essential. And they are even more important on RWD cars such as Fbody.

 

For those really nasty turns at the bottom of a hill, I always threw the tranny into 1st gear and made sure I wasn't doing more than 10mph. I got around them just fine.

 

Thats why I brought up the whole Caprice thing. I definately agree with that. I would drive a Caprice in the winter any day over a Taurus or something like that. But people are saying "I prefer RWD in the winter blah blah blah" Stuff like that doesn't necessarily work with a Camaro. The 5th gen might be a lot better, who knows. Even if it is, most customers are going to trust AWD over RWD. Do you think most customers in the snowbelt know to get certain wheels and tires everytime winter comes around? Some do, but most just get all-season tires and thats the end of it. All-season tires on a 4th gen in the winter is suicide. Even for the customers that don't live in the snowbelt, AWD is still appealing for many people. Why not have it as an option?

 

Bravo--well said! I will jst add that AWD doesn't fit the pony car image.
You can forget about 2nd+3rd gear rubber---thats cool stuff. Screw AWD--too sanatized. Takes away too much fun and makes it easy to drive for people who have no skills.

Ah..I don't really care too much--doubt I'll ever own one. Buying my dream car--74 Formula 400