Dyer Defends The Camaro In Times Of Backlash

It’s a curious habit of our culture: Once anything attains widespread popularity, there comes an inevitable backlash of criticism and negativity. Maybe that’s why Dave Chappelle became a comedy fugitive — he felt the onslaught of “Dave Chappelle isn’t that funny” comments on their way. Sometimes, the hate brigade has a valid argument, but oftentimes consensus opinion seems to do a 180 for no discernible reason. Which brings me to the Chevrolet Camaro.

When the Camaro first rolled out last spring, it was hailed a performance bargain. Barely a few months later, everyone seemed to think the Camaro SS inferior to the Mustang GT — a car with a solid rear axle and a 4.6-liter V-8 that barely puts out more power than the Camaro offers with its base V-6. The following two quotes are representative of the general sea change in journalists’ opinion of the Camaro...


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pennfootball - 12/30/2009 4:21:22 PM

0 Boost

The Camaro is nice..the new mustang is nice...would I want either? Ummm Maybe...maybe not...I think they are pricey and not exactly a bargain when cars that used to be 25k are going up to 40k!

Agent00R - 12/30/2009 5:09:12 PM

+1 Boost

Considering the amount of technology going into most cars, I find the price increases have been relatively in line with some exceptions.

Think: 300-horsepower is the NORM now and quality has been raised across all brands.

When you look at where the industry has come, it is pretty astonishing.

pennfootball - 12/31/2009 11:13:23 AM

0 Boost

At least the Mustang GT has a spare tire, even though it is a donut, the Chevy has tire inflation goup and on star to toe your arse if you bend a rim!

Shredmo - 12/31/2009 11:50:00 AM

+2 Boost

Good point. Pick the inferior car based on the spare tire, or buy the better car and install your own full size spare/jack like I did. My car does 0-60 in ~5 seconds and cost me $26k new. Pretty sure that adding $300 in "insurance" is not a deal breaker. No different than you carrying a tow strap for your Rubi. Is Chrysler too cheap to throw that in?

BTW, for the $300 I have a matching spare wheel/tire for my G8. My scoob has full size spare, but it is a steel wheel. What does your WRX have?

tango - 12/30/2009 5:58:00 PM

+1 Boost

To the defence of Car and Driver (a magazine that I respect above all other American publications) the first test, done in March 2009, was done by Steve Siler and the second (July 2009) was done by Aaron Robinson. What this says is that this is a matter of the opinions of two journalists and not the outright magazine's verdict on the car. Personal biases will surface from time to time even in the most respected of mags. This is why the writer's name is plastered at the top so you can always read with a dose of caution. Read any magazine often enough and you will learn who favours what brand.