Camaro SS as first stick car - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

jhsocal · 02-12-2017, 10:50 AM

Hey, I'm new on here. I've wanted a 5th gen SS Camaro since the first Transformers movie came out but couldn't afford one because I was a broke college student at the time. Since then, I've been working overseas but will be returning to the states in 4-5 months and I plan on buying a 2013 Camaro SS.

I rode a motorcycle (GSXR-600) for about 5 years so I know the concept of driving stick but have never actually driven a manual car. How hard would it be to learn on a Camaro driving out of a dealership?

zr1chris · 02-12-2017, 10:56 AM

Seeing how you had a bike for 5 years it shouldn't take long to adjust. Go for it!

Welker2 · 02-12-2017, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zr1chris

Seeing how you had a bike for 5 years it shouldn't take long to adjust. Go for it!

Totally agree. When I was a teen, I had a couple of bikes (dirt & street) before driving a stick. The first time I tried, it was a friend's dune buggy on a beach; took me all of a couple of minutes before I was tearing up the beach.

O.F. · 02-12-2017, 11:11 AM

Please bring a friend with a video cam and post on here.

BubbaSS · 02-12-2017, 11:12 AM

I've taught 2 newly licensed kids to drive stick with my car already. They picked it up quick. Just have someone who knows how to ride along with you and give some pointers

2010reddevil · 02-12-2017, 11:19 AM

Gotta say that the 5th Gen is one of the easiest stick cars I've ever driven. Should be cake.

erickangulo · 02-12-2017, 11:21 AM

That's exactly my story with the Camaro. The biggest difference is just that the Camaro's clutch is very sensitive, so it's not really as forgiving as a bikes. Best decision I ever made lol. But yeah, I think it's very safe to say that you've got the concept down at least.

JLSuperfly · 02-12-2017, 11:30 AM

I would bring someone who can thoroughly test drive the vehicle.
Post pics once you get it.

redcoats1976 · 02-12-2017, 11:59 AM

a friend of mine learned on a dodge super bee(440,tripower,cam,etc.)you should be ok,the newer camaros are a lot easier to drive.

lbls1 · 02-12-2017, 12:28 PM

Try to get a lesson or seat time before you pick up your Camaro. That's what I did before picking up my m6 ZL1. You will learn after driving it awhile, and also learn how to finesse the clutch.

Gunmetal Speedster · 02-13-2017, 01:38 AM

My 2010 Camaro SS is my first manual car. I've only ever practiced on a buddies so experience was limited. Out of all the manuals I have driven though, I think it's the most forgiving so it's pretty easy to get the hang of. It has a long clutch travel and really snaps back towards you after the biting point compared to the other cars I've driven. It's all around a pretty easy car to learn on I would say. Even having to navigate tight spots in parking lots isn't bad, the car responds well. Take it for a 15 minute test drive before you buy it and you'll have it down pat, especially if you can handle a bike haha.

snarky · 02-13-2017, 05:44 AM

save some money for a new clutch and get used to hearing 'kuh-chunk kuh-chunk'

jhsocal · 02-13-2017, 06:58 AM

Thanks the advice everyone. I pretty much learned how to really ride a bike by driving it home after purchase. At least with the Camaro, I can bring a friend haha

sherob · 02-13-2017, 08:19 AM

The Camaro clutch isn't the slickest of the bunch, and is longer than most... but since you've been riding bikes, you'll understand the basics.

Good luck with your purchase!

02-12-2017, 10:50 AM	#1
jhsocal Drives: 2018 Camaro RS Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Southern California Posts: 78	Camaro SS as first stick car Hey, I'm new on here. I've wanted a 5th gen SS Camaro since the first Transformers movie came out but couldn't afford one because I was a broke college student at the time. Since then, I've been working overseas but will be returning to the states in 4-5 months and I plan on buying a 2013 Camaro SS. I rode a motorcycle (GSXR-600) for about 5 years so I know the concept of driving stick but have never actually driven a manual car. How hard would it be to learn on a Camaro driving out of a dealership?

02-12-2017, 11:12 AM	#5
BubbaSS WHAT RED LIGHT?! Drives: 2011 Black Camaro 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,115	I've taught 2 newly licensed kids to drive stick with my car already. They picked it up quick. Just have someone who knows how to ride along with you and give some pointers __________________ 2011 2SS/RS M6 BLACK - VARARAM NO TUNE INTAKE, MODDED AND PORTED TB, PORTED INTAKE MANIFOLD, VITESSE THROTTLE CONTROLLER, DOUG THORLEY LT'S, CATLESS, X-PIPE, 25" STAINLESS WORKS RETRO CHAMBERED MUFFLERS, CUSTOM 2.5" MANDREL BENT EXHAUST, RICHMOND 4.10 GEARS, CUSTOM CAM (231/242 @ 114LSA), MUSTANG DYNO TUNED BY TORQ, 20% CERAMIC TINTS, EIBACH PROKIT SPRINGS 1" DROP, HAWK PERFORMANCE CERAMIC BRAKES, NITTO INVO TIRES, HYDROCARBON TAIL LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT BEZELS BY EMBLEMPROS, METRA DASH KIT, JVC KW-AV71BT, PHOENIX GOLD iAMP GM1, PASSPORT QI45 - 450 RWHP 415 RWTQ

02-12-2017, 11:19 AM	#6
2010reddevil Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Victory Red 6M Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Gulf Coast, TX Posts: 1,424	Gotta say that the 5th Gen is one of the easiest stick cars I've ever driven. Should be cake. __________________ 2011 2SS 6A Red Jewel Metallic, Vararam Tune CAI, Magnaflow 3" Competition c/b, Speed Engineering 1-7/8 LT's, Circle D 5C, M/T 275/40R20 S/S, HPTuners tune by Ryan@GPI 12.3 @ 112 ACM as of 12/22/19 Gone on 12/28/19 R I P 2010 2SS 6M Victory Red/Black (old ride) CAI intake, Speed Engineering 1 7/8" LT's, X4 base tune, Flowmaster Outlaw axle-back. 12.6 @ 115 SAR as of 9/19/15 Gone but never forgotten.

02-12-2017, 12:28 PM	#10
lbls1 Drives: 2002 Camaro SS SOM; 2015 Malibu LTZ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 4,037	Try to get a lesson or seat time before you pick up your Camaro. That's what I did before picking up my m6 ZL1. You will learn after driving it awhile, and also learn how to finesse the clutch. __________________ '02 CAMARO SS SOM; 5.7L LS1/FLS6B '08 TBSS AWD Black Granite Metallic '15 Malibu LTZ 2LZ Turbo *'14 CAMARO ZL1 Blue Ray Metallic*

02-13-2017, 01:38 AM	#11
Gunmetal Speedster Drives: Savitar; The 500rwhp N/A Monster! Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Middletown, Ohio Posts: 2,914 View My Garage	My 2010 Camaro SS is my first manual car. I've only ever practiced on a buddies so experience was limited. Out of all the manuals I have driven though, I think it's the most forgiving so it's pretty easy to get the hang of. It has a long clutch travel and really snaps back towards you after the biting point compared to the other cars I've driven. It's all around a pretty easy car to learn on I would say. Even having to navigate tight spots in parking lots isn't bad, the car responds well. Take it for a 15 minute test drive before you buy it and you'll have it down pat, especially if you can handle a bike haha. __________________ **SOLD504HP/433**TQ \| Night Fury cammed • Cold Air Inductions intake • Bo White ported TB • Speed Engineering 1 7/8 longtubes • NPP catback • QTP low profile cutouts • Powerbond 25% UDP • 3.73 gears • JRE scoop • ZL1 grille • R1 Concepts drilled/slotted rotors • built/tuned by Weapon X Motorsports Instagram \| YouTube \| Build Thread

02-12-2017, 10:56 AM	#2
zr1chris Drives: 2018 Camaro 1SS/1LE Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Port Saint Lucie FL Posts: 1,224	Seeing how you had a bike for 5 years it shouldn't take long to adjust. Go for it!

02-12-2017, 11:11 AM	#4
O.F. Drives: 2015 BLK/BLK 2SS/RS MN6 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: New Hampshuh Posts: 266	Please bring a friend with a video cam and post on here.

02-12-2017, 11:21 AM	#7
erickangulo Drives: 2014 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Valley Center Posts: 186	That's exactly my story with the Camaro. The biggest difference is just that the Camaro's clutch is very sensitive, so it's not really as forgiving as a bikes. Best decision I ever made lol. But yeah, I think it's very safe to say that you've got the concept down at least.

02-12-2017, 11:30 AM	#8
JLSuperfly Drives: 2014 Red Hot LS3 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 4,266	I would bring someone who can thoroughly test drive the vehicle. Post pics once you get it.

02-12-2017, 11:59 AM	#9
redcoats1976 Drives: LT W/2LT,blue metallic Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: central florida Posts: 4,920	a friend of mine learned on a dodge super bee(440,tripower,cam,etc.)you should be ok,the newer camaros are a lot easier to drive.

02-13-2017, 05:44 AM	#12
snarky ultracrepidarianism Drives: '14 1SS/RS/1LE/NPP '18 Accord Sport Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: where folks drive like shit Posts: 1,297	save some money for a new clutch and get used to hearing 'kuh-chunk kuh-chunk' __________________

02-13-2017, 06:58 AM	#13
jhsocal Drives: 2018 Camaro RS Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Southern California Posts: 78	Thanks the advice everyone. I pretty much learned how to really ride a bike by driving it home after purchase. At least with the Camaro, I can bring a friend haha

02-13-2017, 08:19 AM	#14
sherob Drives: 2015 SW 1SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Brighton, CO Posts: 2,736	The Camaro clutch isn't the slickest of the bunch, and is longer than most... but since you've been riding bikes, you'll understand the basics. Good luck with your purchase! __________________ “The Eagles and the Captain and Tennille ruled the airwaves, and we were the answer to it.” - Joey Ramone