My downfalls of the camaro are very minor: geting in/out the car, insurance, and always haivng to keep it clean. But it makes up for that when guys wifes exchange glances with me at stoplights and the trumpet-fart imports won't even attempt a race.
Gas milage is surprisingly great in my car! I think it is even more a point to look at! My LS1 with just SLP dual/dual and hi-flow intake puts out a near 320 RWHP and I get 28.5 mpg on the highway! I love being able to correct someone who spits out the common remark, "But hows your gas milage?"

 

Well, coming from a '65 Chevy stepside pickup with a 292 str-6, and then a '72 Chevy pickup with a sb350 (both were lucky to see 7 or 8 mpg on a GOOD day), the fuel mileage in my Z28 is a step up, so i guess fuel mileage is all about perspective.

Now that i own both and import and a domestic, i can see both sides. I love both my cars. The Integra is more fun in the corners and although realistically, the Z28 will run circles around it, the Integra is just a lighter car and is easier to flick around turns. The Z28 can match it in the turns then easily power away in the straights, but it just *feels* like it's a little more brute force turning.

Having said all that, since i got my Z28, my Integra hasn't seen much of the road. lol.

 

I was also thinking.. you should specify Z28! Before this car, I owned a 94 V6..... there are many downfalls to that car. But on the other side it had its ups. It was easier to get a rush out of racing rice b/c i was on the same level, and it was cheap as hell. It lasted forever too! i ran mine to about 175K miles, drove hard and put away wet time and time again, expecting it to die. Then when i had the money i bought a Z, and sold the crap V6'r for $1500 and bought me some upgrades!

 

I don't think there are too many downfalls. .

- some people say the optispark is one. . but its not that bad, pretty easy to install, just a pain to replace IF it goes out

- alot of the people around my area HATE working on them, yes there isn't that much room, but once you get in there. . its not that bad.

- last but not least, no one can deny it. . the 10-bolt just doesn't cut it. I say when u can put a pair of slicks on and break a rear-end with a stock car is too weak! As far as i know, the f-body is the only one with this issue. Even the v6 mustangs come with an 8.8 which is good for 11's maybe even 10's stock! Why couldn't they have put that rear-end that was in the Z06! damnit GM!

Overall, not a bad car. Some of my friends don't want them cuz they are too common, lol.

 

As far as the safety issue goes, a friend of mine in a 6 cyl 95' Camaro T-boned a tanker truck doing about 45. Totally destroyed the right front of his car back to the door. He walked out without a scratch. I take the car seat out of my 2500 HD crew cab and put it in the Camaro to take my 2 year old on rides. He loves it and the car seat fits good in the back seat. My Z28 actually gets better highway mileage than my wifes Town and Country.

 

ive been into imports my whole life and still am. i do however hold great repsect for the corvette and camaro/firebird so im not bashing here. however a civic or integra is cake to work on. i can do engine swaps and turbos on them all day long. plus their aftermarket is huge even compared to the f-body. my last honda was running 12's from a built engine swap. no nitrous no FI. the camaro on the other hand is a bitch to work on and the 10 bolt is junk. plus mullets suck. other than that the car is badass!

 

i know you say you arent bashing but, how much did u spend on a 12 second civic with no power adder (fi=forced induction right?)!? I've never heard of a nat aspirated civic approaching 13 even!!! i think a new diff, full exhaust/intake and some used drag radials are a much better and cheaper way to reach 12's, IMO

 

The mullet stereotype is so much worse than the ricer stereotype...

 

I have a few ricer friends who have low 13, high 12 sec civics all motor. but of course the motor isnt the one that came with the car - usually its a 2 litre from the rsx or the 1.8 from the integra type r. You wont get those times without compromises, tho. Lots of weight reduction and slicks. Its funny that import guys say that fbodies dont handle, but when if you compare apples to apples (i.e. a civic that runs 12's vs a fbody that runs 12's), its the civic that is the one trick pony. My car can run 12's, then go straight to the road course or cruises on the street with NO changes. I wouldnt be ashamed to take my gf out for a drive in it either, as I have a/c, full interior, stereo etc, and not a hacked up shell with a motor stuffed in it.

 

total cost was around 7000. i used a prelude SiR H22A7 from europe with matching trans/diff. added cams, vtec controller, and all the other little bolt-ons that go with it. the cool thing about imports especially in socal is that the engines are fresh off the ship and you can go pick them in the wharehouse so they are dirt cheap if you know where to shop. my engine and harness was less than 2 grand. i know a few people that spent over 5 for the same motor back east. oh an i had full interior and a/c and p/s (granted the a/c and p/s were custom).

 

In addition to what has already been mentioned:

Handling is not great stock, turning radius is (sorta) large, and the car is heavier than inports. Handling can be greatly improved, however this will always be a big car with a small back seat.

Some parts of the interior and whatnot are not of the highest quality. Window motors are a bitch. Stock stereo system is of wierd resistance.

Quality of motor components and low pricing will easily outweigh the previously mentioned problems.

 

i never said gas millage was bad i just said it shouldnt be an issue. so please dont jump on my case about it. i think you should think about things befor you make a coment like that

 

And he never said that YOU said gas mileage was bad.