Say goodbye to the perennial winner in the US of the 'biggest bang for the buck' award as the Chevy Camaro will exit the sports coupe scene after 35 years to make room for - wait for it - the hotter selling Chevy Trailblazer SUV. Sport utility vehicles are now outselling passenger cars and GM needs to put the production where the money is. The smart money for a high-performance sport coupe is on the Camaro Z28 with a base sticker price of only US$21,990 for a 310hp/6-speed model or better still, US$26,990 for the 325hp/6-speed Camaro Super Sport which is given a finishing touch of a specially designed composite bonnet and unique rear spoiler by SLP Engineering of Troy, Michigan.
But Chevy is not just cutting and quietly leaving the scene. For the last production year Chevy is bringing out a limited edition special appearance package of the fabled Z28 available in SS coupe or SS convertible. The Chevy Camaro Super Sport is the most uncompromising expression of the breed, 'America's honest sports car' and the limited edition Camaro SS appearance package makes this one the best ever all-around Camaro SS.
There's no mistake when you are coming down the road - the roar of the Corvette derived LS1 V8 engine through a low-restriction, dual, exhaust with 2?-inch polished stainless steel exhaust tips makes sure of that. The Special Appearance package is painted a bright rally red with wide dual strips fading solid silver into a chequered flag graphic. The SS special package also comes with black 17 X 9 10-spoke, aluminium wheels with machined edges. These sporty wheels are wrapped around by Goodyear 245/40 Eagle F1 high-performance tyres - plus the brake calipers are anodised.
Other distinguishing features of the Special Appearance package include a black accented working hood scoop, a silver embossed Camaro name on the front grille and rear fascia and commemorative front fender emblems. Inside, the 35th Anniversary logo is embroidered onto the front headrests and a special trophy/rear shelf mat. Also included is an ebony leather interior trim with medium grey leather inserts as well as a special-issue owner's portfolio, plus a 35th anniversary badge on the dashboard.
The 2002 Chevy Camaro SS has only the rear quarter fenders made of two-sided galvanized steel sheet metal while the hood, roof, doors, hatch and rear spoiler are made of sheet-moulded compound. The front fenders and front/rear fascias are made of Reaction Injection Moulding (RIM) plastic. The wedge shape is long, low and sleek in silhouette. The unique front fascia features quad-halogen lamps behind clear lenses, air-intakes on each side of the blacked-out wide-mouth grille, high-intensity fog lamps are integrated into the front bumper, and below the front bumper is an air dam. The long, low-slung hood includes a working air-scoop that feeds air directly into the Forced-Air Injection System which helps to increase horsepower by 15 over the stock Z28's - 310 to 325hp (240kW) at 5200rpm, with 350 ft-lb of torque at 4000 rpm.
The windshield pillar has a steep 68-degree rake. The high-arched wheel-wells further enhance the bold and muscular look of the Z28 SS. The power-remote side mirrors are specially designed aero units. Horizontally placed brake/tail/backup lamps, a curved, integral rear spoiler to keep the rear solidly planted, and those twin round exhaust pipes highlight the rear. The co-efficient of drag for the Camaro SS coupe is an acceptable 0.34. The convertible model comes with an electrically operated top that takes only 30 sec to lower or raise. The headliner is a thick, soft cotton. An easy to install 3-piece boot fits over the lowered convertible top.
Under the bonnet is a detuned version of the Corvette's 350hp LS1 5.7litre, cast aluminium, OHV, V8 engine. This 310hp engine gets a 'big shot of air' courtesy of the Forced Air Injection System. After the manufacture of the Camaro at GM's Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada assembly plant the car is shipped to SLP's facility in La Salle, Michigan where the SS package is completed with SLP installing the composite Forced-Air Induction Hood and the unique rear spoiler. You can option for special SLP goodies such as a custom SS grille, cat-back exhaust system (10hp gain), centre-mounted dual exhaust (10hp gain), Hi-Performance Induction Airbox (20hp gain), Bilstein suspension system, chromed 10-spoke wheels or chromed 5-spoke ZR1 wheels.
The Forced-Air Induction System takes cooler air that is channelled through the hood scoop directly into the front of a specially designed larger airbox, and then into the mass airflow filter and into the throttle body. This extra charge of cooler air is denser and increases horsepower 15 to 325hp. The SFI, OHV V8 has a tremendously flat torque band with 80% of the power realized at just 2500 rpm. You can mate this high-performance V8 engine to the Borg-Warner/Tremec 6-speed manual transmission or opt for the 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.
This smooth shifting 6-speed comes with the CAGS (computer assisted gear selection) that takes you into 4th gear from 1st gear when rpm's are 1500-2000, and let's you go into 2nd gear under 1500 or over 2000 rpm. This helps optimise fuel economy - the Z28 SS a very high EPA rating of 19 mpg (city) and 28 mpg (highway) - and that's US gallons too - saving you more money with higher numbers than most 3-litre DOHC V6 engines generating much less horsepower.
My SS came with a Hurst Short-Throw shifter that was extra fun to use during short sprints, I got consistent 0-60 mph (97 km/h) times of 5.1-5.2sec., with the quarter mile covered in 13.2 sec at 106.2 mph Through the 600-foot slalom the Z28 SS averaged 66.01mph. The top speed of the Camaro SS is 165 mph (266 km/h). Both automatic and 6-speed Z28 SS models come with the proven Torsen-Excel Limited Slip Differential.
The unique high-performance suspension of the Camaro SS makes handling fun and exciting. Up front is an independent Short/Long Arm set-up with the upper control arms mounted high to reduce loads. The coil springs are computer selected, and the hollow front stabilizer bar is 32mm. The gas-charged De Carbon monotube shocks are specifically re-valved for the Camaro SS. The rear features a Salisbury rear axle design with lightweight stamped-steel lower control arms, computer selected coil springs, revalved De Carbon gas-charged shocks and a 19mm solid stabilizer bar.
Turn-in is sharp and precise but be careful of sharp curves at high-speed as the 'live-axle' rear end can come loose if you don't use the traditional slow-in fast out approach. The ASC (Assisted Slip Control) traction control system does its best to keep you solidly planted in the rear but it isn't the same as the Corvette's Active Handling System. The ASC works best on wet or slippery pavement. An independent rear suspension would really help in enhancing handling and total ride comfort, but money was not devoted to updating the suspension and this set-up works pretty well anyway. On the skidpan the Camaro SS pulls a respectable .91g's, helped by the stickier specific Goodyear F1 rubber. The power-assisted rack & pinion steering system has its own remote cooler and this steering system enhances the control of the SS with excellent road feedback directed to your hands, plus great on-centre feel.
You safely slow down thanks to power-assisted, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Up front are 11.8-inch vented discs clamped with a dual piston calipers and the rear has 11.8 solid rotors clamped with single sliding calipers. However better brakes are in order because the Camaro SS stops in a dangerously long 132 feet from 60 mph to 0.
Driving excitement is standard equipment with the Camaro SS, yet Chevy hasn't overlooked comfort, convenience and safety. Both doors open wide for easy entry and exit. The high-backed, leather bucket seats are very comfortable with excellent lateral support. The front is cockpit style with separate driver/passenger seating with a wide and deep centre console. The instrument cluster is straight-ahead and easy to see. You have a large 150+mph speedo, large 7000-rpm tach plus smaller gauges below on a straight line for fuel, oil pressure, engine coolant temperature and voltmeter. Bright LED lights warn of system or safety failures.
All buttons, switches and dials are within easy reach and illuminated for safe night-time use. The centre stack is canted toward the driver by 6-degrees and has simple to use dials for the climate system. Just above are the large controls for the awesome 500-watt Monsoon AM-FM Premium Sound System with an in-dash CD player/trunk mounted 12-disc CD changer with the sounds coming through 10-powerful stereo speakers. The Hurst 6-speed gear shifter is leather topped and placed right. Just before the shifter is a large cupholder plus a front passenger cupholder swings out from the left side of the passenger footwall.
The beefy, tilting and leather wrapped 4-spoke steering wheel feels great in your hands and has control buttons for the Monsoon Sound System. Other convenience features include power windows/door locks, electronic cruise control, variable speed wipers/washer, lighted vanity mirrors, cut-pile carpeting/floor mats and two map lamps under the electrochromic rearview mirror. In the coupe the rear seats fold flat to extend the cargo capacity under the hatch while the convertible rear seats stay put in the vertical position - but there is plenty of room in the trunk, even with the top down for a weekend getaway.
Standard safety and security items include dual front airbags, 3-point safety belts for all four occupants, front and rear crumple zones, steel beams in each door with a safety cage design, energy-absorbing steering column and dashboard plus a passive theft-deterrent system, battery run-down protection, engine oil life monitor and daytime running lamps.
For the budget-minded US performance enthusiast there is nothing on the market that compares to the exotic good looks, power, performance, ride/handling comfort and convenience that you get for your money when your behind the wheel of this very special 35th Anniversary 2002 Camaro Z28 Super Sport. This 'poor man's' Corvette gives plenty of excitement and fun for a mere US$27,000 - especially when compared to a Ford Mustang Cobra at US$36,000 comparably equipped, or even a Porsche 911 or BMW M3, each costing many thousands of dollars more.
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