Any 4th gen Camaro or Firebird owners here?
Discussion
I was having a chat with 300bhp/ton in another thread and he kind of steered me towards a 4th generation Camaro.
I have driven several f-bodies in the U.S. But it has been several years now. Last time was around 2003-2004.
Although the proposition of owning one of these cars here never crossed my mind. But given my current situation, I'm starting to consider a 4th gen Camaro, courtesy of 300bhp/ton.
I'm coming out of a RX8 as a daily driver and looking for another daily. I'm looking for something else which is also fun to drive, not too heavy, RWD manual, with sporty looks, some practicality but no hatchback or saloon and hopefully more reliable than the RX8,. A 4th gen Camaro check many of these boxes.
I already know that it is quite different from a RX8. But this is a past subject.
What I would like to chat about is how is owning one of these cars here, how is getting parts and consumables, how practical they are as a daily and so on.
I remember the rear seats being quite short in space. But somehow not as bad as a GTV 916 or XKR. Is it feasible for small children? Anybody here uses it for that? I guess a booster chair with seat and back rest is out of question? I don't mean the facing backwards ones.
Does everything need to be imported or bought in specialize U.S. car websites? Or does it share any parts with the GM European products which are readily available?
Have you ever had any down time where you couldn't drive the car because you were waiting for parts? This is to be my daily driver. So down time would be a big negative.
Maybe 300bhp/ton will come in again to share more experiences. It would be great to hear from anybody who owns a 4th gen f-body in the UK or Europe.
I have driven several f-bodies in the U.S. But it has been several years now. Last time was around 2003-2004.
Although the proposition of owning one of these cars here never crossed my mind. But given my current situation, I'm starting to consider a 4th gen Camaro, courtesy of 300bhp/ton.
I'm coming out of a RX8 as a daily driver and looking for another daily. I'm looking for something else which is also fun to drive, not too heavy, RWD manual, with sporty looks, some practicality but no hatchback or saloon and hopefully more reliable than the RX8,. A 4th gen Camaro check many of these boxes.
I already know that it is quite different from a RX8. But this is a past subject.
What I would like to chat about is how is owning one of these cars here, how is getting parts and consumables, how practical they are as a daily and so on.
I remember the rear seats being quite short in space. But somehow not as bad as a GTV 916 or XKR. Is it feasible for small children? Anybody here uses it for that? I guess a booster chair with seat and back rest is out of question? I don't mean the facing backwards ones.
Does everything need to be imported or bought in specialize U.S. car websites? Or does it share any parts with the GM European products which are readily available?
Have you ever had any down time where you couldn't drive the car because you were waiting for parts? This is to be my daily driver. So down time would be a big negative.
Maybe 300bhp/ton will come in again to share more experiences. It would be great to hear from anybody who owns a 4th gen f-body in the UK or Europe.
Coming from a RX8 my main worries are handling, interior quality and comfort, and rear seat space.
I have driven the 4th F-bodies. Both Camaro and Trans Am in the U.S. But it has has been years. I do remember being bothered by the rigid rear axle which was twitchy and would get upset on bumps, and that it didn't inspire confidence around curves. But somebody posted a video of a 4th gen Camaro going around English B roads and another around the Nurburgring, which made me question my old memories of driving them.
I remember the interior was very rattly. But I hear thal Camaros which came to Europe had the Trans Am leather seats. So at least this is a bit better. But I guess there is no way around the interior? Has anybody tried upgrading it? Are there any nicer leather front seats thst would fit? Maybe from the the GM divisions European such as Saab ? I guess the cheap plastic there is no way around. But if a least the front seats are nicer and the rattle could be taken care of, it might make it a better place to be.
But the deal breaker will be the rear seats. I have two kids. 4 and 7. If I can't fit booster kids seats in there it will be a deal breaker. I don't need it often or for longer runs. We have a proper 4-doors. But sometimes I might have to do the school run or something. Unfortunately I can't find much info on that. This is all I could find:
But this is a convertible F-body and has a bench seat. The bucket rear seats in the coupes look smaller.
I have driven the 4th F-bodies. Both Camaro and Trans Am in the U.S. But it has has been years. I do remember being bothered by the rigid rear axle which was twitchy and would get upset on bumps, and that it didn't inspire confidence around curves. But somebody posted a video of a 4th gen Camaro going around English B roads and another around the Nurburgring, which made me question my old memories of driving them.
I remember the interior was very rattly. But I hear thal Camaros which came to Europe had the Trans Am leather seats. So at least this is a bit better. But I guess there is no way around the interior? Has anybody tried upgrading it? Are there any nicer leather front seats thst would fit? Maybe from the the GM divisions European such as Saab ? I guess the cheap plastic there is no way around. But if a least the front seats are nicer and the rattle could be taken care of, it might make it a better place to be.
But the deal breaker will be the rear seats. I have two kids. 4 and 7. If I can't fit booster kids seats in there it will be a deal breaker. I don't need it often or for longer runs. We have a proper 4-doors. But sometimes I might have to do the school run or something. Unfortunately I can't find much info on that. This is all I could find:
But this is a convertible F-body and has a bench seat. The bucket rear seats in the coupes look smaller.
rockin said:
If you want a 2+2 that's a bit different have a look at the post-1997 Saab Turbo Coupe. A 2-door with full size rear seats and a brilliant engine. Early cars were called Saab 900 and later cars were called Saab 9/3.
https://www.netcarshow.com/saab/1997-900_coupe/
But the Saab is a FWD.https://www.netcarshow.com/saab/1997-900_coupe/
OverSteery said:
I used a 4th gen as my family car until my daughter was 13 and son 11.
Whilst some people seem to need a people carrier for a six month baby, we found it fine for family holidays to Cornwall and centre parcs.
That's very interesting. So you can fit child seats in the rear bucket seats? If so then a 4th gen Camaro will become a good contender. Whilst some people seem to need a people carrier for a six month baby, we found it fine for family holidays to Cornwall and centre parcs.
I wasn't sure also about leg space. Specially behind the driver's seat. I'm not really tall. I'm 6',1".
OverSteery said:
booster seats, rather than full child seats
Ok, but those don't work with the shorties, as they need the back rest to set the height of the seat-belt. Or the belt is too high and chokes them. 
I believe booster seats are for slightly older children.
So full child seats, the facing forward kind, won't fit?
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