Darth,

You would be amazed the frequency and severity difference between NE Ohio and New England in terms of snow. Hell, from Southern New England to Northern New England alone there is a big difference! I live in Western MA, and my girlfriend lives in Northern VT, 250 miles apart. She's not even 1 hour from the Canadian border. Its already snowed where she is...a dusting granted, but it has snowed. We haven't even had our first frost yet!! Sure, your Z may have been "easy" for you in the snow, and I applaud you driving it year round. But how often did you drive it in 6+ inches of snow for any distance? How about stopping on hills and making a right hand turn at a light from a dead stop when it is sleeting out? Without studs, an F body is going nowhere. Up here, for 3 months out of the year this can be VERY common. Now, the GP was a little bit obnoxious on stock tires in Nothern VT...I cannot imagine a daily-driver F body up there.

My '89 RS was driven all winter by my mother with all-seasons for 9 years. She never got stuck. But also, it if was over 3", she didn't leave the house...any time ice was a factor, forget it. Sure, you CAN drive it in snow...but if its more than a couple inches, and ice is a factor, you won't want to drive long. Studded snows will make a 4th gen borderline acceptable in hevy snow...normal snows on my GP will make it a billy goat

Guess what I just ordered for the GP???

 

That is a fair assesment. I won't proclaim to have the worst winter conditions available, but we do get lots of "Lake Effect" snow coming of Lake Eire.

One of my companies remote sites is in Burton Ohio, about 1 hour away, and when we get 1 inch, they get 4... I have driven up there in some bad stuff, but, I agree, it would be more of an issue...

That is one of the reasons why I woudl support the idea of an AWD option on Camaro...

 

I voted "No" because it doesn't fit the affordable performance test. The Camaro needs to stay a fun 2 + 2 with a V8.

If the question was should the Chevrolet Coupe aka Chevrolet GTO have an AWD option I would say yes.

 

as in already a lock in, or completely out?

and to everybody else, why call it rs?
you want to throw out that designation just because it was used before?
this "re-assigning" seems to become more dcx everyday

 

I drove my Camaro for a full winter in Albany NY snow with bald KDWS tires. When it was Icy, sometimes that meant having a little fun - and always light on the gas. No ASR, just a posi and ABS. I had a few moments down steep hills where I nearly lost it or slid a little... but keeping enough distance and I was okay. No biggie. And I took it through a rather bad storm, at one point I was driving through a parking lot pushing snow onto my foglamps... but it wasnt packed hard.

Then again I drove my ex-fiancee's 98 stang v6 in the winter with full tread all seasons and it was a LOT harder to drive - but I still never lost the rear end for even a 180. (Dont know why it was so hard to drive her car...)

I'll say if the R&D for the platform is done, might as well. But aside from lower mpg, higher weight, it also means more expensive service work, more complicated parts, harder to work on the underside of the vehicle, and more weight in the front of the car.

Considering I've driven so many turbo AWD DSM's... I'd love AWD. It'd be awesome - but I dont think it'd be feasable... If it added 200lb and $2000 to the pricetag - I might consider it... but if I got smacked with gas guzzler tax too - forget it. We'll have to see how it goes.

You know... a long time ago... almost all the cars out there were rwd without a posi and crummy tires...

And to say it - a Camaro with AWD vs a Vette with RWD.... even with the weight difference - would put the Camaro's 0-60 time down into supercar turf, and I tend to think GM would not want any car faster then the vette. But...... you never know.....

 

Ah for crying out loud, put AWD on something else. Not Camaro.

 

YA, I'm normally in the boat with you on this... RS shuld be an appearance only package... but, "Rally" really fits the image of an AWD sports car...

I wouldn't care if it were NOT used... just can see a connection.

Maybe they could use "XS" or something.

 

just wanted to say that I've lived in KS, and believe me, it snows!

 

There's no way it'd come in at ~3700 lbs?

An auto V8 or V6 would be worthless for why I want it. I already have a 4x4 for winter driving, I want it so I can carve corners like Jesus. My RS has about as much suspension stuff on it as I can get along with 17" Kumho MX tires, so you can throw it around a course pretty good, but I did a ride along in an EVO 8, it was just sick. There's a reason that fbody/Mustang guys dont want the STi and EVOs in ESP.

Im looking for info on the Holden SSX - ie platform/curb weight, but I cant find anything. Is this a modified v-platform for AWD, or what are they using?

 

Well, you guys who would like AWD, you have to consider the positive and negative aspects of AWD.

NEGATIVES:
-no burnouts
-transmission repairs are more costly
-tires on some AWD cars wear out faster than the tires on the non-AWD versions of the same car
-usually increased weight
-the stereotype and basis for people making fun of Camaros (for bad handling) could be reinforced by the understeer AWD causes. (the Lancer Evos without yaw control can't turn worth a s***).
-possible exterior design, interior design, and comfort problems that cannot be avoided because of the layout. (Remember how much many of you hate that hump where your left leg wants to go when sitting in the passenger seat in a 4th gen.)
-the need for more frequent oil changes I would assume
-get fewer miles to the gallon in a tank of gas (not positive about this, but makes sense to me)
-getting made fun of by the rest of us who want the Camaro to remain only RWD (Hey... I might mention how much I don't like it to ya)

POSITIVES:
-better traction in icy conditions
-quicker launch from a stop
-ability to go offroad and crack your fiberglass
-ability to tow things like a truck

I can't really think of any others... the last two are sarcasm...

 

I'd consider an AWD camaro. The winters here in the Northeast can be pretty rough at times. Since it would be an OPTION what is the big deal? If you don't want it on your Camaro you don't have to get it. But for those of us who would benefit from it would be able to throw down the extra cash....everyone is happy....more sales for the General.



Colin

 

Well, research and development costs are passed on to consumers, so if Chevy offers AWD, it is possible that the RWD Camaros would have like a $500 price spike.

 

If it's on a platform that is already developed for AWD (Zeta, Sigma), most of the R&D is done. Then its making sure the sheet metal fits around it.

 

it's pretty close.... i think Florida will have to decide this one again. don't screw it up this time Florida!

 

Positrac, Anti-slip, ABS, and 8 inch rims should take care of any inclement weather issues. AWD doesn't seem to fit my perceptions of a pony car. Rally car, yes, but not American Muscle.

That's not to say I have anything against Rally inspired cars, Evo's and WRX's are getting doubletakes from me lately. That new MazdaSpeed 6 thats coming looks pretty neat too.

Put AWD on a Saturn or Buick variant with a blown 6. AWD in Chevy skin is for utility & safety concerns, not performance. Doesn't fit the image.

We do get snow once in a while in Texas, definitely get ice storms. AWD would be better in Texas for these times, because it seems that people freak out and can't drive even in the rain ... much less the once in a blue moon ice storm or snow