The Smoking Tire is back with yet another one take review video, and this time, it features the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible.
The biggest question to answer here is how it stacks up against a comparable coupe, and which driving experience is the better one. It boils down to the chassis flex, which is inevitable from a convertible bodystyle. However, the Camaro SS convertible still manages to be quite the driver’s car despite the drawback.
However, some things hold the Camaro SS convertible back, per our reviewers. The price tag rings in at nearly $55,000. That begins to really encroach on the Corvette, and the interior cabin simply doesn’t present itself like a $55,000 car should. It’s a debatable facet, but the hard plastics and material choices don’t lie.
Still, the boys walk away mighty impressed, stating the driving experience may be second to none when it comes to a convertible that also pairs well as an enthusiast’s choice. Check it out right up above.
Comments
As a person putting at least his big toe into the water shopping an America performance car with a strong preference for a ragtop to replace the convertible sports car I’m currently driving, I’m very interested in this review. I have to agree with everything they say here because it’s my impression of the 2017 Camaro as well.
No car is perfect so I can live with the pitifully small trunk, poor visibility, and some poor interior design choices. My current Honda S2000 shares them all though I find it ironic that tiny car competes trunk-wise and boasts better rear window visibility given its tiny rear window.
However, what I can’t live with is the bloated Camaro ragtop’s monster price. Going from coupe to convertible is $7,000. Seriously GM? On the Corvette it’s only $4,000 and don’t both car share the same features like being able to raise/lower up to 30 mph? This is on top of bloated Camaro pricing relative to their major competitor: the Ford Mustang.
Much has been written here about GM’s Camaro pricing strategy which boils down to average transaction pricing versus sales volume. It’s a classic economics elasticity of demand study.
What isn’t discussed, IMHO, is the long-term impact of this questionable strategy. All things being equal, a car performance car is going to sell best the 1st year the model (or variant like a ZL1) is released as fans pounce. So 2016 is the best GM can expect. And the best sales pitch moving forward is people seeing examples on the street. They not only inspire purchases, they validate people’s decision to shop and buy Camaros. I’ve seen 2 6-Gen Camaros on the streets of my metropolitan area (population ~800,000). Not good.
Like the folks in this video I’d estimate the Camaro’s sticker is many thousands of dollars overpriced relative to a similarly equipped Mustang. I’m looking at a fairly loaded 2SS in the mid-$50,000s and it’s in a ~$6,000 price disadvantage against a GT Premium. Add to that the advertised discounts and price offers I’ve gotten on the Camaros is pitiful – easily 1/2 what Ford dealers are offering – and I can’t see a sustainable marketing model for GM.
Sure, the Camaro SS statistically edges out the Mustang GT and would beat it out by a small bit on any track. But few track their cars and it’s hard to argue the difference on public roads is more than 5%. Meanwhile, GM is charging about a 20% price premium.
Well said. My sentiments exactly!
I’m waiting until next year to see what upgrades Mustang does before I chamnge my 2012 Mustang GT Premium but also looking very closely at Infinti Q60 Red Sport now as the interior is miles ahead in the area of quality! IMO
And as my Jaguar XK Convetible only has 12,000 miles that covers my convertible needs.
In summary I just cannot justify spending so much for the new Camaro SS even though on paper and on track it is a significant improvement…just too much money for so much hard plastic interior bits.
I picked up my 2017 Camaro SS Coupe manual about a month ago. It was a factory order so i didnt have to pay for any of the usual extras that dealers usually order on their vehicles. I think it was fairly priced for the specs. I didnt want the sunroof or the 6 piston brake pads upgrade nor the magnetic ride control. The sunroof ruins the reverse mohawk roof and the interior cabin gets slighty louder and has less head room i think. The 4 piston brembo brakes are more than enough imo. With all the programs i was eligible for such as supplier pricing, loyalty, student, gm visa points, forces and online vouchers i got a fantastic deal!
The interior of the car is quiet comfortable. We r a family of 4 with 2 growing kids. The kids have plenty of room in the bsck seat. It might become an issue in 3-4 yrs but for now its fine. Sure it could have been more upscale but if u want upscale you go for the Cadillac V series coupe/sedans. The interior design language is in line with the rest of the chevys and i like it. Its a lot of fun to drive.
I didnt find any problems with visability in my 2SS. The backup camera, backup sensors, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert are very helpful when u need them. I wish it had front parking sensors ss well or the corvette style front bumper cameras. So far its been ok but when parking front in i cringe a bit so i usually park back in and its easier to drive out that way as well.
Trunk space is actually more than i had expected. Enough for 2 standard carry-on luggage and space for a small icebox and other nick nacks. We made a family road trip to the camaro factory in Lansing, MI and then went on to Chicago. The car did well on fuel and was a comfortqble drive.