Not feel fast?
Had a free afternoon today so I went and test drove a 2011 Camaro SS, 6spd manual and I am honestly a little underwhelmed.
I was expecting a huge surge of speed like in a Corvette or other high powered sports car but it just never happened. Granted it sounded great.
Anyone else have similar experiences driving one?
It's what, 400-500 lbs heavier than a similarly powered Mustang GT.......also with even bigger heavier wheels, etc?
My Mustang at ~3550ish with 420hp was a BLAST.
Size/Weight. Same reason Full-Size pickups sound fast with exhaust (at least to their owners) when leaving the bar. The Camaro is a big car. I personally have no interest in driving one because I feel I could get the same experience from a Silverado.
Because it weighs almost 2 tons?
z31maniac wrote: It's what, 400-500 lbs heavier than a similarly powered Mustang GT.......also with even bigger heavier wheels, etc? My Mustang at ~3550ish with 420hp was a BLAST.
What year mustang?
Kenny_McCormic wrote: Because it weighs almost 2 tons?
That and gearing I think kill the fun
Storz wrote:z31maniac wrote: It's what, 400-500 lbs heavier than a similarly powered Mustang GT.......also with even bigger heavier wheels, etc? My Mustang at ~3550ish with 420hp was a BLAST.What year mustang?
2013 base GT with the Track Pack.
Because it's about two thousand pounds heavier than a car?
I bet 2000hp wouldn't move a city block real quick, either.
Storz wrote: Not feel fast? Had a free afternoon today so I went and test drove a 2011 Camaro SS, 6spd manual and I am honestly a little underwhelmed. Anyone else have similar experiences driving one?
Absolutely. I posted the exact same thoughts about the same car in this forum before, in several threads actually. 
I also posted that the 5.0 Mustang was underwhelming as far as the torque but that it was 'deceptively' fast because it didn't FEEL like it was accelerating as hard as it was.
I also posted that the 6spd v8 Challengers FEEL the most muscle-y even though they are slower than the other two. The power delivery just has more drama.
Over time i've come to appreciate how subjective factors can make up for 'deficits' in objective performance stats.
It wouldn't surprise me if the computer curbs some of the power even with the T/C off.
hrdlydangerous wrote: It wouldn't surprise me if the computer curbs some of the power even with the T/C off.
Oh, absolutely it does. Notice how Vigo commented that the Challengers "feel" faster because of in increased drama?
Part of refinement is making the power delivery drama free.
If'n you don't like it, build a carbureted small block Chevy and drive that instead.
When I tested a challenger SRT8 I felt the same way. Sure, it felt like it moved pretty quick, and handled its weight well in the twisties, but for over 400hp I was underwhelmed entirely.
My Dad drove an SS and a V6 back to back when they first came out and he preferred the V6. They have power and torque, but it's higher up in the RPM range, so it doesn't feel that impressive.
Knurled wrote: Part of refinement is making the power delivery drama free.
That's the reason my dad preffers his older mustangs (newest is 2001 Bullitt) to the newer ones. My brother the ford salesmen brought a 2010 to show him half expecting a trade in, and my dad responded that it didn't feel like a mustang. He was unexcited. I think he said something like "It feels like it's trying to drive like my phaeton, only the phaeton is better at it. Mustangs should be exciting, not so smooth and quiet"
Well, smooth and quiet a 2001 certainly is not.
What are some newer (08+ or so) engaging cars to drive? I like very visceral, connected feeling cars. My dad had a 96 LT4 Corvette back in 96 and it was a blast to drive. It's shortcomings in the chassis combined with big power output made it feel like you were driving a true sports car. My 87 Corvette and 91 Miata were much the same.
Vigo wrote: Well, smooth and quiet a 2001 certainly is not.
Nor is the driving position optimal, the steering feel very great, or the leather high grade.
I don't think a newer car should feel cobbled together, but a little road feel and some engine noise would be greatly appreciated. Especially if it can be achieved with significant weight loss. Why would I want heavy sound deadening to cancel out the noise, and then the speakers or a tube to reintroduce it? Just less sound deadening and I'd be happy.
Storz wrote: What are some newer (08+ or so) engaging cars to drive?
MINI? BRZ/FRS? MX-5? From what I've read, the Abarth fits as well.
The FR-S I tested out seemed pretty fun. The only miata I drove was a NC so it may not perfectly represent the new ones but it's still pretty fun.
I was surprised at how slow the challenger with the 6.2 was. I raced one in my old sr20 powered 240 (dyno'd 215whp) and put a couple car lengths on it. Then I went home and looked up how much it weighed O_o
I never thought the Coyote felt "down" on torque.
I think it's more like the S2000, the top end hit is just so hard that by comparison the low-end feels lackluster.
All you guys harping on weight as to why it isn't fast need to look at some numbers. Since when is 4.6 seconds, 13 second flat 1/4, and 160 mph top speed not fast? It may not "feel fast" but it is.
Cotton wrote: All you guys harping on weight as to why it isn't fast need to look at some numbers. Since when is 4.6 seconds, 13 second flat 1/4, and 160 mph top speed not fast? It may not "feel fast" but it is.
True. I think the original point was that it doesn't feel fast, though.
And weight will have a lot to do with that. Inertia and all that. A car half the weight with half the power will feel faster.
Cotton wrote: All you guys harping on weight as to why it isn't fast need to look at some numbers. Since when is 4.6 seconds, 13 second flat 1/4, and 160 mph top speed not fast? It may not "feel fast" but it is.
No doubt they are fast, go drive one and let me know if you think it feels fast, connected and visceral.
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