2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Long-Term Update 5

In theory, we all live with these cars day in and day out, but that’s not always the practice. I spent three out of the past five weeks out of the office on assignment, not driving the Z/28, and when I wasn’t out of town, I was often on local assignments with other cars. I finally got to drive the Z/28 again for the first time in more than a month, and it’s good to be home.

The Z/28, it goes without saying, is a car with character. It’s one of the reasons my co-workers and I like it so much. It’s not a generic, do-whatever, point-A-to-point-B car. It has quirks that have to be accepted at face value. To most consumers, those quirks would be needless frustrations, but to car fans, they’re endearing at best and worth the trade-off at worst.

Find out how the 2015 Camaro Z/28 fares against a 2016 Shelby GT350R Mustang here.

2015-Chevrolet-Camaro-Z28-delaminated-tire
Running this much camber wears the inside edges of the front tires something fierce. Fortunately, the tire held air long enough to get home and later to the shop.
2015-Chevrolet-Camaro-Z28-promo1 2015-Chevrolet-Camaro-Z28-with-Wicker-Bill-promo1 2015-Chevrolet-Camaro-Z28-front-three-quarter-in-motion-051 2015-Chevrolet-Camaro-Z28-front-three-quarter-in-motion-021

Getting back in the Z/28 after weeks in sedans, SUVs, and trucks was a revelation. Upon first being reacquainted, the Z/28 is difficult to get into, hard to see out of, wider than anything but a midsize barn, and rides like a Conestoga wagon (with the grip of a gorilla playing with superglue, but still). A lot of Corolla drivers might find all that off-putting, but to me and my ilk, it’s all part of the experience.

See, after all that crossed my mind, I turned the key, the big LS7 roared to life, and I forgot all about that stuff. The sound of the engine, the power, the huge grip and playful, talkative steering all came rushing in, and the compromises didn’t matter. Every time I drove it over the next few days, I drove it hard, basking in the car’s performance and responsiveness. Fortunately for me, no law enforcement happened to be in the vicinity. If that isn’t what driving is about, I don’t want to drive.

2015-Chevrolet-Camaro-Z28-temporary-tire-fix
No knife on hand and the rubber kept peeling off rather than tear, so I made a field-expedient repair to get the car the last two blocks home.

It didn’t hurt that the Z/28 was wearing brand-new tires, either. A few weeks back, my evening commute was interrupted by a flat tire noise but without the flat tire ride and handling. Turns out a strip on the inner edge of the left front tire had delaminated and was whipping against the wheelwell. The outer edge of the contact patch had life left in it, but the inner edge was completely worn out due to the serious negative camber specified by the track alignment. Just shy of $2,400 later, a new set arrived at the office for its $120 mounting appointment. A week later, the brand-new left rear would blow out and strand an editor on the side of a desert back road for seven hours. It’s been replaced, naturally.

2015-Chevrolet-Camaro-Z28-front-three-quarter-in-motion1

More on our long-term Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 here:

2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 steering wheel 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 gear shifter 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 front interior seats 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 engine 02 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 wheels 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 tailpipe 02 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 headlamp 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 rear taillight

The post 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Long-Term Update 5 appeared first on Motor Trend.



Leia Mais.