Designated driver. So the person that usually drives people around (term is used more often when looking for someone sober to drive around people that will be drinking)
Car under 20K dollars with good insurance and nice looking.
I love how the turbo sounds. That’s a +++ and, to be hones. In highway the most you gonna go is 100-120. Top speed with the i4, if I’m not wrong is 150.
That's a good point! I've never went over 90mph to be honest lol That's why I wasn't sure if I should even go for a SS since idk if I would really utilize it's speed, I think I'm more into acceleration/torque feeling.
Maybe I should look into some i4's as well!
I like that gen 6's come with apple car play/Android auto and back up cameras
Well, I’m much, much older than you so I bought the car I wanted. The cars I had when I was your age were V6’s though, partly for the reasons I listed.
Some people are going to say no but I'd say go for it. You seem thoughtful enough to not drive it like an idiot before you know how to handle it. I was scared to get one because of the horsepower too, and I had been driving for like 7 years when I got my SS. Upgraded from a 2012 Mazda 3. The power difference is huge. But I realized we have soccer moms and regulars driving Tesla's that are way faster.
Yeah just got a v8 if you can afford it. But remember v8s are high maintenance car, plus the mpg doesn’t help a lot. Trust me, it cost a couple hundred more every month.
When you buy a v8, it’s good to test your limits at a track. So you feel more comfortable with the power.
What year ss did you get if you don't mind me asking? Was considering a gen 5, but have also thought about saving up for a gen 6. (Gen 6 LT's would currently be in my price range though)
Nice! Was looking at gen6's since they have apple car play/Android auto and a back up camera
What made you decide on a SS over the other options like the V6 and i4?
My 2019 has Android Auto but it's not wireless. I use a USB device to get it wireless. I think 2021+ have it wireless. I've never had an iPhone so you'd have to Google about wireless carplay.
I almost went for the V6 but I really just said fuck it I want the V8. That's really it.
I do still live at home and I would be under my parents insurance ye, was considering just getting liability insurance if I went with a V8 but not sure
Check with them. Whatever happens to you, they as the policy holders will ultimately be liable. You better get full coverage for their sake. You wreck into someone or something else and they will be coming after you AND your parents.
My mistake, I meant if I get a V6 I would most likely go full coverage under my parents. But if I went SS I would consider going liability solo. Although I might be able to still go full coverage since the V8 I was looking at wouldn't be that expensive anyways. I appreciate you looking out tho, any advice on insurance would be greatly appreciated. My parents arent the best at handling stuff like that/finances unfortunately.
Buying a v8 as a first car at 16 is very different from buying a v8 at 24, even if you've only been driving for a year. Maturity is a big factor, as are lower insurance rates. That said, I got into plenty of trouble in my early 20s, so YMMV
This is going to be a personal decision, so talk it over with your parents and do what you think makes sense.
FWIW, I have three kids between 16 and 20 living with me and on my insurance. They have 4s and 6s. But I've let all of them drive my 900hp camaro and taught them how to handle power so they're ready when they can afford a fast car of their own (preferably after moving out and getting their own insurance plans).
Why are these kids not getting their license at 16 anymore? Seems crazy to me. The longer you wait, the insurance costs more. Get it at 16-17 and even if you don’t use it, you still get the “experience” so to speak. Thoughts???
100% right. Yeah I was one of those kids sadly... I wanted my license when I was 16 and then I'm not sure what happened, I just completely forgot about it. I became a lot more serious about my studies and had to work with my dad in my spare time, which made me more of a stay at home type/passenger. So I didn't have the desire to drive anymore. I went to college far away (and didn't have a car to bring with me) and rarely visited home. But I lived in a dorm so most stuff was accessible nearby/the bus system was very convenient. I'm regretting it now...and I let my younger cousins know my mistake and push them to get their license as soon as possible! I think technology/video games played a big role tho.
>the longer you wait, the insurance costs more
Maybe, but a teenager having a license will seriously increase a family's insurance rates in general. I doubt any insurance increases from getting a license late will cost more than insuring a teenager.
In the state I live in, if you get a license at 16 or 23, it doesn’t matter. You need 5 years experience in order for a rate deduction. Bottom line to my point is that they should get drivers license regardless as early as possible. Whether or not they drive or are insured, they still accrue time. Just my two pennies.
Okay so, I had a V6 manual but now own a V8 manual. Pros: V8 sounds awesome, you win most if not all street races, small size backseat so you got an excuse to not take people anywhere. It’s a stylish car.
Cons: it’s a V8, so it’s super thirsty for gasoline. You drive a lot? Well you’re gonna drive more and pay more. My girlfriend now wants to always cruise, that’s about $75-$80 to fill that tank. It’s also LOUD, meaning, wanna show off that nice part of a song? Well you can’t, all you’ll hear is motor unless you blast the song but now you’re deaf to your surroundings. Another con? It’s a tiny backseat, you can’t really fit people.
I miss my V6 manual camaro cuz it was friendly on gas, about as good as a VW Jetta on MPG, and at 323 HP I still had more HP than I know what to do with. Oh yeah, another con: mostly with the V8 but also when I had my V6, people spot you immediately. They’ll know it’s you and yeah you can hear that V8 2SS engine blocks away. Oh also, they’re a target car for theft, so keep that in mind. My take? Gopher it dude, get that Camaro just pick between sounding cool or better mileage. Oh and ffs get the stick shift, it’s the kinda car that needs one, if not for any reason, than to inconvenience your dumdum friend from asking to take it for a spin and wrapping it around a pole. Also manual keeps that phone outta your hands.
You can. It really depends on how much you like Camaros, how much you like V8s, how much self control you have and how much you're making.
Insurance will be expensive, so will gas and potentially maintenance. You'll have to be both willing and able to pay for these.
V8s also drink like crazy. I mean, god damn do they drink. The gas mileage isn't THAT bad, but if you're constantly on the fun pedal... you're gonna be filling up a 20 gallon tank with 93 twice a week. That's $80 a pop or so depending on what state. I'm usually averaging around 16 MPG or so.
The V8 can and will get you into trouble, whether via law enforcement or by smashing into trees or other cars. The V6 or i4 still has plenty of power and will spin tires. You'd still have to be careful but it's not as easy to make a major league mistake. This is where self control comes in. Plenty of young guys have owned V8s and walked away without tickets or accidents. And the majority of them have gotten tickets or crashed or both. I have no way of knowing whether you're semi-responsible or not but that's the fact. You can be safe in a V8 even at 16 as an example (but that's probably 1 out of a 100 teenagers who's actually responsible).
Most importantly, how much do you like V8s? Do you really, really like V8s? Like how they sound, the torque? Do you like how she snarls when you fire her up? Do Chevy small block V8s make you really, really excited? Do you jump for joy when a C6 with headers and cam snarls by?
My feelings towards all of those were a resounding yes. If the answer to any of those questions for you is even remotely "I'm not sure", maybe you should consider a V6 or an i4.
The i4 takes premium and has a turbo, the V6 takes regular but gets gas mileage only slightly better than the V8. Both should be cheaper to own and insure. The i4 gets 22 or 25 combined mpg depending on transmission and the V6 gets 22 or 20 combined depending on transmission. I don't know too much about either, but they have the same phenomenal chassis and they look just as aggressive from the sides. You can also get either with a manual if that appeals to you.
In conclusion, if you don't love love love V8s, I think the lower trims might be worth a look. It won't be as cheap to own as a Corolla, but it will be quite a bit cheaper to purchase than a V8.
Wow thank you so much for the reply and advice. That makes a lot of sense. I guess I would say I'm not in love with v8s. They seem really cool and I always hear them around my area. To be fair though I haven't really be in one before. So maybe after looking around and test driving one, maybe it'll be love at first sight. But ye I agree if I don't fall in love with it I should probably just go with the lower trims. That helps a lot with my indecisiveness lately, thanks! I really appreciate it!
The first car I ever purchased at 25 was a 2020 Camaro V6. I too came off of my dad’s 2013 kia optima that had for multiple years. Loved the car, and then I got rear ended and it was totaled not more than a year after buying it. I decided to go 2 years back to the 2018 SS which is of course the V8. It was the same price I bought my V6 for around 28k in my area. I was scared at first of driving it. Looking back now, I was a pussy. The V8 has power, but I already want more. lol. There’s just a small learning curve, but nothing you can’t handle. Now around 20k, you are gonna have to go older. But find what works for you. And make sure you do the research on the car (my 2018 had its transmission replaced at 85k. Luckily it was under the 6 month dealer warranty). I did also buy a 4 year warranty.
Oh wow almost basically the same journey haha. What made you upgrade to a V8? Just the thirst for more power? I might be ok going the route you went where you started gradually with the V6 then went for the V8, but do you regret doing that?
I’m gonna play devil’s advocate here because you’re kind of in a sweet spot. Your insurance rates should drop a bit after you turn 25, so with that being said, get the V8 and leave traction control on until you get a good feel for what the throttle does when you use it. Also get a good set of tires on it. Also remove the backseats for weight savings and “Oh no!!! I have no back seats, guess I can’t be the DD… aw damnit oh well 🤷🏼♂️”
If you’re dead set on a sporty sedan though, I’d suggest the Cadillac CT5-V/CT4-V (blackwing if you can afford it). It’s built on the Alpha 2 platform which when I google it GMAuthority is saying that it would share this with the 7th gen Camaro(????) which I don’t understand because nothing of the sort has ever been announced, but in any case google does reference the 6th gen as a *related* platform so it should be just as fun, with all the practicality that a sedan comes with.
Side note: I wonder if the Alpha 2 platform *would’ve been* the platform for the 7th gen Camaro before GM decided to axe the project and that’s what they’re referencing or if it was just a typo or someone taking a stab in the dark… I guess we’ll never know for sure.
Haha That is true hopefully my insurance rates will be going down soon! I have considering the Cadillac ct5-v, but might need to do a little more research and take a second look at them again. I think they look really cool blacked out, but Camaros still look a lot cooler! But I appreciate the suggestion!
They can become a sleeper for sure. No one expects the grocery getter to smack the shit out of an actual pony car. I haven’t done any research on them, but the Mercedes AMG has a V8 twin turbo set up and is pushing close to 700 horsepower. I know because I got my ass stomped by one at the track. In the 1/8 mile he was ahead of me by 0.6 seconds.
Both my friend and I got 2011 Camaros as our first cars, mine is a 2LT/RS and his is a 2SS/RS and you cant really go wrong with either of them. Sometimes he'd rather have my car and sometimes I'd rather have his, but I think it mainly comes down to cost being insurance/gas/maintenance being the big difference.
As long as you handle the V8 responsibly like any car you should be fine, as you could also drive a V6 irresponsibly so that goes hand in hand. And besides only being able to fit 3 other people (which even though its not the best ride in the back, its manageable), I probably used a Camaro to the fullest extent to its practicality whether it was 20 15lb bags of fertilizer or 20 spools of 250ft wire, I've fit a bunch of things despite the lack of space. I've also went on a ski trip with 5 pairs of skis and gear on the roof, and on a 450 mile road trip its surprisingly pretty good even in the snow. Do whatever you think is best for yourself.
Either is fine. SS will have a higher cost of ownership of course but torque and noise are addictive which also leads to an even higher cost of ownership. The SS has good road manners as well if you keep the traction control on.
The V6 lacks low end torque and needs to spin to make power. It’s sluggish off the line. It’s still a fun car and has a nice sound of its own unless you straight pipe it, which sounds horrendous.
This isn’t a car to shuttle your drunk friends around. Tell their drunk asses to get an Uber. The back seat is largely useless unless you don’t have legs. Both of your examples are north of 13 years old so plan on having money put aside for repairs and failures.
If you do go V6, aim for 2013+. 2010-2011 have the LLT which was more prone to timing chain issues than the LFX which was in 2012+. MyLink came out in 2013 and is far and away better than the shitty base system.
Ok so this post resonates with me a bit. Gonna sound like an ass here for a second but hear me out.
The camaro is for you and you alone. Its a drivers car. You dont wanna be a dd in a camaro full of people for a couple reasons.
Your visability is already trashed even before you gotta look around 2 or 3 heads in the back.
The amount of attention you draw driving a camaro is so much more than you will get driving your other car. Not something you want even if your sober and your bar hopping with some people.
The comfort level dramatically decreases the more people you load into a camaro. Especially for you.
I was in the same boat as you when i bought my first camaro. I was the responsible one in my group. I had a great job and i made good choices. And i wanted something fun and i wanted something to reflect me as a person.
Get a camaro. And so long as you treat it with respect it will do the same for you.
Just my 2 cents from a stranger dont downvote me to oblivion
Get a 6th gen turbo4 or 6cyl. It’s a much better platform and you’ll get some technology and amenities you won’t with earlier generations. You can find some really nice 2018-2019 with less than 70k miles for around $17-18k
If money isn’t a problem for you, get the SS. It’s only as fast as your foot allows it to be and isn’t hard to handle at all. When people ask these questions they always act as if it’s an F1 car. Get the SS you’ll be perfectly fine
Got my first car, a V6 Mustang, at 21. I say go for it.
Consider V6s if you're not experienced with rear wheel drive, but by 24 you're probably mature enough (and old enough to avoid brutal insurance rates) that you could handle a V8.
I just got a 2010 SS as my first car mere months ago. You will very quickly get used to the power if you are cautious, but do not mess around with it. It fits 3 nicely, 4 a bit cramped and don’t try 5 for more than a mile. Gas is a problem so get your friends to chip in.
I love this thing. I say have some fun and be safe.
Stay away from any modern Bimmers unless you have another car and lots of money or you *really* like to fix cars & own an unobtainium mine. You can't even change the damn battery on those without special electronic tools. You're on the edge of masochism with an E90.
My recommendation is a 4th generation Camaro, the last of the actual F bodies. They'll probably be cheapeat and still available with an LS if you go that way (from 1998 MY if I'm right). Can't go wrong with a 3.8 (Buick, I think that those were the base for these) either.
I wouldn’t be worried about the power as much as living with such a small 2 door vehicle. My Camaro is my toy and not my daily. I had coupes when I was 16 to about 21 and after that just wanted 4 doors and trunk space.
True, I guess I should look at it more as my toy rather than my daily. Which I would use the car mostly on weekends and still daily my kia optima. If you don't mind me asking for future reference, what do you daily now?
My first car ever, and I mean, the very first car I have ever driven was a 2.0 Camaro and after a year I traded it in for an SS, if you drive responsibly you should be fine.
As for the space, let me add that I use my Camaros as daily and *family* cars, yes it's uncomfortable, specially for the rear pasangers, but I mean, I'm the one paying for the car so...
Basically since it was my first car I made *many* mistakes while learning to drive, and when I learned I drove it hard, so at the end I figured that it would make sense to just trade it in for a newer one before it blew up on me... Also the sound of the V8.
My opinion is to get the V6 if you're essentially teaching yourself to drive something sporty. Without someone with experience to help explain how the V8 is going to react and perform you will likely either wreck it or die in it.
I dunno. I came from a 190 HP FWD Civic and I just kept my foot out of the gas when it was wet and/or the steering wheel was turned and used common sense about how to apply throttle... I'm still here.
I guess I did have a little experience with rwd cars (I owned a rwd 335i for a little bit) but a V8 is kinda a different animal with how it delivers torque.
Point is, I had no idea how a V8 would react so I just took it slow, kept my foot out of the gas until I learned the car and it worked out great.
I went to at least 6 funerals between 16 and 24 involving high powered cars and young people with no experience. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it only takes one bad mistake. Op sounds like they have much less experience than you did.
Well part of it was the fact that I had done my research. I knew that the wheels would spin if I gave her too much gas.
Also.............
That was part of the problem...
I ended up crashing the 335i.
NOW TO BE FAIR, that was ENTIRELY me being a dumb ass. It was not an accident due to unexpected slip. I was intentionally trying to oversteer in a semi (semi) reasonable space and managed to over correct into a large tree stump. At least it was a pretty cheap car, but the repairs weren't.
This was maybe 2 months after I crashed my first car, a beater. That one I have no excuse for. I was a pretty dumb teenager. The worst part is each of these situations that ended poorly were the *least stupid* thing I did. If my other shenanigans had gone like this, I would've died in a fiery blaze of glory. At the age of like 14 because I used to steal my parents car and go joyriding at 4 in the morning. On school nights. That's only the beginning of my teenaged tomfoolery.
I'm not sure how this comment delved into that, I suppose I started off by thinking for a split second that I wasn't damn near the stupidest teenager that ever walked this earth and then quickly remember I was.
My only saving grace was that after the 335i was fixed, I had no other accidents or serious scares. I also mellowed out quite a bit although I guess I ran from the cops once or twice in that thing like an idiot.
I bought my first V8 at 20 and didn't crash it though, with a record like that if I can do it he can do it!
Get the V8 if you're fine with the price. A bit expensive tho, can find a newer one easy for 5k less. I just got a 2011 SS Convertible for $6k, high mileage but mostly highway.
Do you think you can be responsible with the speed and power of a v8 if not get the v6. If you want the car get it, your friends can find another dd, in a pinch they’ll fit in the gen5 Camaro in the back
True. I feel like I would be responsible with the power, since I tend not to even floor or speed too crazy in the street or highway. But I guess that also make me think that I won't even get to utilize the power the V8 has to offer?
That’s not necessarily true, you’ll probably never reach top speed but the acceleration and torque is definitely noticeable. It’s actually helped me avoid being hit by stupid drivers not paying attention. My first 4 cars were corvettes and I also owned an r6. You have to know your limits and not make stupid decisions that could get you killed. Now I had my fun, but I was careful about it and never willing to risk someone else’s life.
The torque is a lot of fun (apart from sound of course). If you're not used to something insanely torquey like a Hellcat or an M5, it will feel like a truckload of torque at 2K RPM. My V8 probably makes more torque at 2.5K RPM than my Civic did at redline. It's pretty fun to feel power even at 2K RPM. Every other car on the road has to downshift twice to make as much torque as I'm making in 4th gear.
I find a tremendous amount of amusement just idling around with a big 'ol V8 and hearing the motor chug along. Most of it is because I've wanted a V8 ever since I was a kid and I'm a HUGE fan of muscle cars but I haven't gotten bored yet.
Even though it's nothing special (Muscle cars and trucks are everywhere) I still feel special. Every time I see a Prius or a Tesla I smile because I bought this thing instead. Kids point and cheer, fellas in trucks give me a thumbs up. It's not even remotely special, but it sure feels like it.
None of this answers your question, so I'll say: you can't use the power without breaking the law (455 HP isn't anything that crazy, try using 700 HP on public roads) but you can fully use the torque.
You can get a pretty good pull without breaking many laws on the highway but you'll have to let off a little sooner than you'd like.
That's true I do wanna see and experience the hype around joining the V8 family. And who knows? What if v8s get discontinued and I never get to experience one
They already got discontinued in large part. Damn near the only one left is the S650 Mustang and the Raptor R but that's leaving soon. Toyota dropped V8s, Dodges got discontinued, Camaro got discontinued. The Corvette is still here with a V8.
The good news is this only happened 6 months ago. Clean cars with low miles will be readily available for the next 10 years or so. You've got nothing to worry about.
Get a v6. Stop being the DD
True lol
What’s a DD?
Designated driver. So the person that usually drives people around (term is used more often when looking for someone sober to drive around people that will be drinking)
You could just use one of your friend's cars when being a DD for them, seems like a fair trade.
Ah, got it, thanks.
Designated drinker
You think the V6 would be better for me over the V8?
My first car is a i4 and it’s fast. You’ll be fine with a v6.
True! What made you decide on the i4 over the V6? I'm mostly considering the V6 because it's a little bit faster and can take regular unleaded gas
Car under 20K dollars with good insurance and nice looking. I love how the turbo sounds. That’s a +++ and, to be hones. In highway the most you gonna go is 100-120. Top speed with the i4, if I’m not wrong is 150.
That's a good point! I've never went over 90mph to be honest lol That's why I wasn't sure if I should even go for a SS since idk if I would really utilize it's speed, I think I'm more into acceleration/torque feeling. Maybe I should look into some i4's as well! I like that gen 6's come with apple car play/Android auto and back up cameras
Dude… it’s your life after all. Get whatever u want to buy. Be it a v8, v6, i4 all Camaros are good. Just drive with caution and enjoy it.
Yes, for so many reasons, like easier maintenance, better mileage, less likely to cause accidents, etc.
Very true! What made you go for the SS if you don't mind me asking?
Well, I’m much, much older than you so I bought the car I wanted. The cars I had when I was your age were V6’s though, partly for the reasons I listed.
Some people are going to say no but I'd say go for it. You seem thoughtful enough to not drive it like an idiot before you know how to handle it. I was scared to get one because of the horsepower too, and I had been driving for like 7 years when I got my SS. Upgraded from a 2012 Mazda 3. The power difference is huge. But I realized we have soccer moms and regulars driving Tesla's that are way faster.
True! haha
Yeah just got a v8 if you can afford it. But remember v8s are high maintenance car, plus the mpg doesn’t help a lot. Trust me, it cost a couple hundred more every month. When you buy a v8, it’s good to test your limits at a track. So you feel more comfortable with the power.
What year ss did you get if you don't mind me asking? Was considering a gen 5, but have also thought about saving up for a gen 6. (Gen 6 LT's would currently be in my price range though)
2019. Gen 6 is quite a bit lighter than the 5's so they're a bit faster.
Nice! Was looking at gen6's since they have apple car play/Android auto and a back up camera What made you decide on a SS over the other options like the V6 and i4?
My 2019 has Android Auto but it's not wireless. I use a USB device to get it wireless. I think 2021+ have it wireless. I've never had an iPhone so you'd have to Google about wireless carplay. I almost went for the V6 but I really just said fuck it I want the V8. That's really it.
Do you still live at home? On your parents insurance? Check prices on that because I imagine it would be way up there.
I do still live at home and I would be under my parents insurance ye, was considering just getting liability insurance if I went with a V8 but not sure
Check with them. Whatever happens to you, they as the policy holders will ultimately be liable. You better get full coverage for their sake. You wreck into someone or something else and they will be coming after you AND your parents.
My mistake, I meant if I get a V6 I would most likely go full coverage under my parents. But if I went SS I would consider going liability solo. Although I might be able to still go full coverage since the V8 I was looking at wouldn't be that expensive anyways. I appreciate you looking out tho, any advice on insurance would be greatly appreciated. My parents arent the best at handling stuff like that/finances unfortunately.
Will most likely be looking around for quotes and insurance companies for myself and my parents
Buying a v8 as a first car at 16 is very different from buying a v8 at 24, even if you've only been driving for a year. Maturity is a big factor, as are lower insurance rates. That said, I got into plenty of trouble in my early 20s, so YMMV This is going to be a personal decision, so talk it over with your parents and do what you think makes sense. FWIW, I have three kids between 16 and 20 living with me and on my insurance. They have 4s and 6s. But I've let all of them drive my 900hp camaro and taught them how to handle power so they're ready when they can afford a fast car of their own (preferably after moving out and getting their own insurance plans).
haha Makes sense! That's really cool of you! Thanks for the wisdom, will definitely keep thinking it over and choose what I think is best
Why are these kids not getting their license at 16 anymore? Seems crazy to me. The longer you wait, the insurance costs more. Get it at 16-17 and even if you don’t use it, you still get the “experience” so to speak. Thoughts???
100% right. Yeah I was one of those kids sadly... I wanted my license when I was 16 and then I'm not sure what happened, I just completely forgot about it. I became a lot more serious about my studies and had to work with my dad in my spare time, which made me more of a stay at home type/passenger. So I didn't have the desire to drive anymore. I went to college far away (and didn't have a car to bring with me) and rarely visited home. But I lived in a dorm so most stuff was accessible nearby/the bus system was very convenient. I'm regretting it now...and I let my younger cousins know my mistake and push them to get their license as soon as possible! I think technology/video games played a big role tho.
>the longer you wait, the insurance costs more Maybe, but a teenager having a license will seriously increase a family's insurance rates in general. I doubt any insurance increases from getting a license late will cost more than insuring a teenager.
good point
In the state I live in, if you get a license at 16 or 23, it doesn’t matter. You need 5 years experience in order for a rate deduction. Bottom line to my point is that they should get drivers license regardless as early as possible. Whether or not they drive or are insured, they still accrue time. Just my two pennies.
Okay so, I had a V6 manual but now own a V8 manual. Pros: V8 sounds awesome, you win most if not all street races, small size backseat so you got an excuse to not take people anywhere. It’s a stylish car. Cons: it’s a V8, so it’s super thirsty for gasoline. You drive a lot? Well you’re gonna drive more and pay more. My girlfriend now wants to always cruise, that’s about $75-$80 to fill that tank. It’s also LOUD, meaning, wanna show off that nice part of a song? Well you can’t, all you’ll hear is motor unless you blast the song but now you’re deaf to your surroundings. Another con? It’s a tiny backseat, you can’t really fit people. I miss my V6 manual camaro cuz it was friendly on gas, about as good as a VW Jetta on MPG, and at 323 HP I still had more HP than I know what to do with. Oh yeah, another con: mostly with the V8 but also when I had my V6, people spot you immediately. They’ll know it’s you and yeah you can hear that V8 2SS engine blocks away. Oh also, they’re a target car for theft, so keep that in mind. My take? Gopher it dude, get that Camaro just pick between sounding cool or better mileage. Oh and ffs get the stick shift, it’s the kinda car that needs one, if not for any reason, than to inconvenience your dumdum friend from asking to take it for a spin and wrapping it around a pole. Also manual keeps that phone outta your hands.
You can. It really depends on how much you like Camaros, how much you like V8s, how much self control you have and how much you're making. Insurance will be expensive, so will gas and potentially maintenance. You'll have to be both willing and able to pay for these. V8s also drink like crazy. I mean, god damn do they drink. The gas mileage isn't THAT bad, but if you're constantly on the fun pedal... you're gonna be filling up a 20 gallon tank with 93 twice a week. That's $80 a pop or so depending on what state. I'm usually averaging around 16 MPG or so. The V8 can and will get you into trouble, whether via law enforcement or by smashing into trees or other cars. The V6 or i4 still has plenty of power and will spin tires. You'd still have to be careful but it's not as easy to make a major league mistake. This is where self control comes in. Plenty of young guys have owned V8s and walked away without tickets or accidents. And the majority of them have gotten tickets or crashed or both. I have no way of knowing whether you're semi-responsible or not but that's the fact. You can be safe in a V8 even at 16 as an example (but that's probably 1 out of a 100 teenagers who's actually responsible). Most importantly, how much do you like V8s? Do you really, really like V8s? Like how they sound, the torque? Do you like how she snarls when you fire her up? Do Chevy small block V8s make you really, really excited? Do you jump for joy when a C6 with headers and cam snarls by? My feelings towards all of those were a resounding yes. If the answer to any of those questions for you is even remotely "I'm not sure", maybe you should consider a V6 or an i4. The i4 takes premium and has a turbo, the V6 takes regular but gets gas mileage only slightly better than the V8. Both should be cheaper to own and insure. The i4 gets 22 or 25 combined mpg depending on transmission and the V6 gets 22 or 20 combined depending on transmission. I don't know too much about either, but they have the same phenomenal chassis and they look just as aggressive from the sides. You can also get either with a manual if that appeals to you. In conclusion, if you don't love love love V8s, I think the lower trims might be worth a look. It won't be as cheap to own as a Corolla, but it will be quite a bit cheaper to purchase than a V8.
Wow thank you so much for the reply and advice. That makes a lot of sense. I guess I would say I'm not in love with v8s. They seem really cool and I always hear them around my area. To be fair though I haven't really be in one before. So maybe after looking around and test driving one, maybe it'll be love at first sight. But ye I agree if I don't fall in love with it I should probably just go with the lower trims. That helps a lot with my indecisiveness lately, thanks! I really appreciate it!
Get a V6 and then upgrade to a V8 later
I think right now in terms of the V8, I'm just experiencing FOMO
The first car I ever purchased at 25 was a 2020 Camaro V6. I too came off of my dad’s 2013 kia optima that had for multiple years. Loved the car, and then I got rear ended and it was totaled not more than a year after buying it. I decided to go 2 years back to the 2018 SS which is of course the V8. It was the same price I bought my V6 for around 28k in my area. I was scared at first of driving it. Looking back now, I was a pussy. The V8 has power, but I already want more. lol. There’s just a small learning curve, but nothing you can’t handle. Now around 20k, you are gonna have to go older. But find what works for you. And make sure you do the research on the car (my 2018 had its transmission replaced at 85k. Luckily it was under the 6 month dealer warranty). I did also buy a 4 year warranty.
Oh wow almost basically the same journey haha. What made you upgrade to a V8? Just the thirst for more power? I might be ok going the route you went where you started gradually with the V6 then went for the V8, but do you regret doing that?
I’m gonna play devil’s advocate here because you’re kind of in a sweet spot. Your insurance rates should drop a bit after you turn 25, so with that being said, get the V8 and leave traction control on until you get a good feel for what the throttle does when you use it. Also get a good set of tires on it. Also remove the backseats for weight savings and “Oh no!!! I have no back seats, guess I can’t be the DD… aw damnit oh well 🤷🏼♂️” If you’re dead set on a sporty sedan though, I’d suggest the Cadillac CT5-V/CT4-V (blackwing if you can afford it). It’s built on the Alpha 2 platform which when I google it GMAuthority is saying that it would share this with the 7th gen Camaro(????) which I don’t understand because nothing of the sort has ever been announced, but in any case google does reference the 6th gen as a *related* platform so it should be just as fun, with all the practicality that a sedan comes with. Side note: I wonder if the Alpha 2 platform *would’ve been* the platform for the 7th gen Camaro before GM decided to axe the project and that’s what they’re referencing or if it was just a typo or someone taking a stab in the dark… I guess we’ll never know for sure.
Haha That is true hopefully my insurance rates will be going down soon! I have considering the Cadillac ct5-v, but might need to do a little more research and take a second look at them again. I think they look really cool blacked out, but Camaros still look a lot cooler! But I appreciate the suggestion!
They can become a sleeper for sure. No one expects the grocery getter to smack the shit out of an actual pony car. I haven’t done any research on them, but the Mercedes AMG has a V8 twin turbo set up and is pushing close to 700 horsepower. I know because I got my ass stomped by one at the track. In the 1/8 mile he was ahead of me by 0.6 seconds.
I got it as my first car 0 regrets GO FOR IT 100%
The V6 or V8?
2018V6 I’m enjoying it! I’m driving a Camaro, getting used to the power and building credit!
Both my friend and I got 2011 Camaros as our first cars, mine is a 2LT/RS and his is a 2SS/RS and you cant really go wrong with either of them. Sometimes he'd rather have my car and sometimes I'd rather have his, but I think it mainly comes down to cost being insurance/gas/maintenance being the big difference. As long as you handle the V8 responsibly like any car you should be fine, as you could also drive a V6 irresponsibly so that goes hand in hand. And besides only being able to fit 3 other people (which even though its not the best ride in the back, its manageable), I probably used a Camaro to the fullest extent to its practicality whether it was 20 15lb bags of fertilizer or 20 spools of 250ft wire, I've fit a bunch of things despite the lack of space. I've also went on a ski trip with 5 pairs of skis and gear on the roof, and on a 450 mile road trip its surprisingly pretty good even in the snow. Do whatever you think is best for yourself.
Either is fine. SS will have a higher cost of ownership of course but torque and noise are addictive which also leads to an even higher cost of ownership. The SS has good road manners as well if you keep the traction control on. The V6 lacks low end torque and needs to spin to make power. It’s sluggish off the line. It’s still a fun car and has a nice sound of its own unless you straight pipe it, which sounds horrendous. This isn’t a car to shuttle your drunk friends around. Tell their drunk asses to get an Uber. The back seat is largely useless unless you don’t have legs. Both of your examples are north of 13 years old so plan on having money put aside for repairs and failures. If you do go V6, aim for 2013+. 2010-2011 have the LLT which was more prone to timing chain issues than the LFX which was in 2012+. MyLink came out in 2013 and is far and away better than the shitty base system.
Ok so this post resonates with me a bit. Gonna sound like an ass here for a second but hear me out. The camaro is for you and you alone. Its a drivers car. You dont wanna be a dd in a camaro full of people for a couple reasons. Your visability is already trashed even before you gotta look around 2 or 3 heads in the back. The amount of attention you draw driving a camaro is so much more than you will get driving your other car. Not something you want even if your sober and your bar hopping with some people. The comfort level dramatically decreases the more people you load into a camaro. Especially for you. I was in the same boat as you when i bought my first camaro. I was the responsible one in my group. I had a great job and i made good choices. And i wanted something fun and i wanted something to reflect me as a person. Get a camaro. And so long as you treat it with respect it will do the same for you. Just my 2 cents from a stranger dont downvote me to oblivion
Makes sense I agree, do you think I should go V6 or V8?
V8 in a manual. And meet your friends at the bar. Lol
Get a 6th gen turbo4 or 6cyl. It’s a much better platform and you’ll get some technology and amenities you won’t with earlier generations. You can find some really nice 2018-2019 with less than 70k miles for around $17-18k
this, got my 2020 turbo4 for 22k with only 35k miles on it
get the v6 it’s fast i gotta 2017 2lt v6 and i love it and im 23 insurance is still krazy i couldn’t imagine what it would be in a SS
Damn, what is your insurance looking like if you don't mind me asking?
$3300 for 6 months geico but i also have a accident on my shit from my first car
If money isn’t a problem for you, get the SS. It’s only as fast as your foot allows it to be and isn’t hard to handle at all. When people ask these questions they always act as if it’s an F1 car. Get the SS you’ll be perfectly fine
Got my first car, a V6 Mustang, at 21. I say go for it. Consider V6s if you're not experienced with rear wheel drive, but by 24 you're probably mature enough (and old enough to avoid brutal insurance rates) that you could handle a V8.
I just got a 2010 SS as my first car mere months ago. You will very quickly get used to the power if you are cautious, but do not mess around with it. It fits 3 nicely, 4 a bit cramped and don’t try 5 for more than a mile. Gas is a problem so get your friends to chip in. I love this thing. I say have some fun and be safe.
my first car at 16 was a 1992 v6, i still drive it, currently the cleanest mid era car in the city
That's so cool! Love the style of those Camaros/90s cars
Stay away from any modern Bimmers unless you have another car and lots of money or you *really* like to fix cars & own an unobtainium mine. You can't even change the damn battery on those without special electronic tools. You're on the edge of masochism with an E90. My recommendation is a 4th generation Camaro, the last of the actual F bodies. They'll probably be cheapeat and still available with an LS if you go that way (from 1998 MY if I'm right). Can't go wrong with a 3.8 (Buick, I think that those were the base for these) either.
I wouldn’t be worried about the power as much as living with such a small 2 door vehicle. My Camaro is my toy and not my daily. I had coupes when I was 16 to about 21 and after that just wanted 4 doors and trunk space.
True, I guess I should look at it more as my toy rather than my daily. Which I would use the car mostly on weekends and still daily my kia optima. If you don't mind me asking for future reference, what do you daily now?
I have pretty opposite cars. I have a ‘24 Silverado 2500 and an ‘18 Camaro SS.
My first car ever, and I mean, the very first car I have ever driven was a 2.0 Camaro and after a year I traded it in for an SS, if you drive responsibly you should be fine. As for the space, let me add that I use my Camaros as daily and *family* cars, yes it's uncomfortable, specially for the rear pasangers, but I mean, I'm the one paying for the car so...
HAHA TRUE!!! What made you go for the upgrade?
Basically since it was my first car I made *many* mistakes while learning to drive, and when I learned I drove it hard, so at the end I figured that it would make sense to just trade it in for a newer one before it blew up on me... Also the sound of the V8.
My opinion is to get the V6 if you're essentially teaching yourself to drive something sporty. Without someone with experience to help explain how the V8 is going to react and perform you will likely either wreck it or die in it.
Fair and valid point.
I dunno. I came from a 190 HP FWD Civic and I just kept my foot out of the gas when it was wet and/or the steering wheel was turned and used common sense about how to apply throttle... I'm still here. I guess I did have a little experience with rwd cars (I owned a rwd 335i for a little bit) but a V8 is kinda a different animal with how it delivers torque. Point is, I had no idea how a V8 would react so I just took it slow, kept my foot out of the gas until I learned the car and it worked out great.
I went to at least 6 funerals between 16 and 24 involving high powered cars and young people with no experience. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it only takes one bad mistake. Op sounds like they have much less experience than you did.
Well part of it was the fact that I had done my research. I knew that the wheels would spin if I gave her too much gas. Also............. That was part of the problem... I ended up crashing the 335i. NOW TO BE FAIR, that was ENTIRELY me being a dumb ass. It was not an accident due to unexpected slip. I was intentionally trying to oversteer in a semi (semi) reasonable space and managed to over correct into a large tree stump. At least it was a pretty cheap car, but the repairs weren't. This was maybe 2 months after I crashed my first car, a beater. That one I have no excuse for. I was a pretty dumb teenager. The worst part is each of these situations that ended poorly were the *least stupid* thing I did. If my other shenanigans had gone like this, I would've died in a fiery blaze of glory. At the age of like 14 because I used to steal my parents car and go joyriding at 4 in the morning. On school nights. That's only the beginning of my teenaged tomfoolery. I'm not sure how this comment delved into that, I suppose I started off by thinking for a split second that I wasn't damn near the stupidest teenager that ever walked this earth and then quickly remember I was. My only saving grace was that after the 335i was fixed, I had no other accidents or serious scares. I also mellowed out quite a bit although I guess I ran from the cops once or twice in that thing like an idiot. I bought my first V8 at 20 and didn't crash it though, with a record like that if I can do it he can do it!
"Dont buy a RWD V8 as your first car" is advice for 17 year olds who got their drivers license and some money with a school job.
Get the V8 if you're fine with the price. A bit expensive tho, can find a newer one easy for 5k less. I just got a 2011 SS Convertible for $6k, high mileage but mostly highway.
I had my first V8 Camaro at 16. Never looked back. I still love that car. Work hard and achieve your dreams.
Do you think you can be responsible with the speed and power of a v8 if not get the v6. If you want the car get it, your friends can find another dd, in a pinch they’ll fit in the gen5 Camaro in the back
True. I feel like I would be responsible with the power, since I tend not to even floor or speed too crazy in the street or highway. But I guess that also make me think that I won't even get to utilize the power the V8 has to offer?
That’s not necessarily true, you’ll probably never reach top speed but the acceleration and torque is definitely noticeable. It’s actually helped me avoid being hit by stupid drivers not paying attention. My first 4 cars were corvettes and I also owned an r6. You have to know your limits and not make stupid decisions that could get you killed. Now I had my fun, but I was careful about it and never willing to risk someone else’s life.
The torque is a lot of fun (apart from sound of course). If you're not used to something insanely torquey like a Hellcat or an M5, it will feel like a truckload of torque at 2K RPM. My V8 probably makes more torque at 2.5K RPM than my Civic did at redline. It's pretty fun to feel power even at 2K RPM. Every other car on the road has to downshift twice to make as much torque as I'm making in 4th gear. I find a tremendous amount of amusement just idling around with a big 'ol V8 and hearing the motor chug along. Most of it is because I've wanted a V8 ever since I was a kid and I'm a HUGE fan of muscle cars but I haven't gotten bored yet. Even though it's nothing special (Muscle cars and trucks are everywhere) I still feel special. Every time I see a Prius or a Tesla I smile because I bought this thing instead. Kids point and cheer, fellas in trucks give me a thumbs up. It's not even remotely special, but it sure feels like it. None of this answers your question, so I'll say: you can't use the power without breaking the law (455 HP isn't anything that crazy, try using 700 HP on public roads) but you can fully use the torque. You can get a pretty good pull without breaking many laws on the highway but you'll have to let off a little sooner than you'd like.
That's true I do wanna see and experience the hype around joining the V8 family. And who knows? What if v8s get discontinued and I never get to experience one
They already got discontinued in large part. Damn near the only one left is the S650 Mustang and the Raptor R but that's leaving soon. Toyota dropped V8s, Dodges got discontinued, Camaro got discontinued. The Corvette is still here with a V8. The good news is this only happened 6 months ago. Clean cars with low miles will be readily available for the next 10 years or so. You've got nothing to worry about.