Tomorrow is the big day. What are some do's and dont's?

daltron · 01-17-2022, 06:51 PM

I get to pick up my 2SS vert tomorrow after a year and a half of looking and was just wondering as somebody who has never driven a V8 before, if there are things I should be cautious about? It might be worth mentioning that I am by nature a very careful driver (some would probably say too careful for a car like this) but didn't know if there were some things to watch out for? I use to drive a V6 camaro as a DD almost 10 years ago so I understand snow/ice is a big no no but is the V8 a whole different animal?

Also, what are the best do's?!

2SS Capt · 01-17-2022, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daltron

I get to pick up my 2SS vert tomorrow after a year and a half of looking and was just wondering as somebody who has never driven a V8 before, if there are things I should be cautious about? It might be worth mentioning that I am by nature a very careful driver (some would probably say too careful for a car like this) but didn't know if there were some things to watch out for? I use to drive a V6 camaro as a DD almost 10 years ago so I understand snow/ice is a big no no but is the V8 a whole different animal?

Also, what are the best do's?!

Well... It looks like you are in Illinois, an SS comes with "Summer Only Tires", when they are cold they are like hockey pucks (hard and not much grip), so be careful and allow for additional stopping distance and easy on the throttle... If it is wet or snowy out, delay delivery until the roads are dry...

arpad_m · 01-17-2022, 07:44 PM

Just be gentle with the skinny pedal and you'll be fine, especially since you said you'd swap the tires to all-seasons immediately after delivery. Brand new tires are extra slippery for the first 2-3 miles, so don't forget about that, and also you'll probably want to do a proper break-in anyway during the first couple hundred miles. I'm sure you're already aware of obvious general guidance such as waiting for the oil temps to reach 150-160 °F and tire temps to come out of "COLD" or "COOL" into at least "NORMAL" before romping on the pedal and such things.

Don't worry, the V8 isn't some kind of unicorn, you'll feel much more torque much lower than in a V6, but it won't be scary if you don't go crazy with the gas. Keep her in tour or snow/ice mode for this drive, then later when temperatures are "proper", you can go into sport mode and it'll feel like that car has 200 more hp

One thing to note, especially whenever the weather is wet and crappy, the rear may want to break loose earlier then you'd instinctively think, max torque is at 4400 rpm, not at redline.

...last but not least, CONGRATULATIONS and DON'T FORGET TO ENJOY YOUR AMAZING NEW CAMARO

Trochoidal · 01-17-2022, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daltron

I get to pick up my 2SS vert tomorrow after a year and a half of looking and was just wondering as somebody who has never driven a V8 before, if there are things I should be cautious about? It might be worth mentioning that I am by nature a very careful driver (some would probably say too careful for a car like this) but didn't know if there were some things to watch out for? I use to drive a V6 camaro as a DD almost 10 years ago so I understand snow/ice is a big no no but is the V8 a whole different animal?

Also, what are the best do's?!

Congratulations!

If I followed your other thread correctly, this is a brand new car. So I’d suggest not using cruise control for any amount of time. Break-in wants a varied RPM. Good choice on the all-season swap out.

Do check all of the fluids.

Do make sure to set your outside mirrors correctly. You should find driving a lot better when you don’t see the side of the car in the mirror.

Enjoy your ride home!

LT4Greg · 01-17-2022, 11:23 PM

Congratulations on your new Camaro and you will be fine!��

TXCSSU · 01-17-2022, 11:59 PM

I agree with @Trochoidal you will want to drive at various RPMs if possible, although maybe not a high RPM unless it's warm enough for the Summer Only tires. Some people will insist that you need to baby it for the first few thousand miles. I'm from the school of "if it's going to break, I'd rather it break during my warranty than outside of my warranty" so I drive it during the break-in period the way I am going to drive it outside of the break-in period. I don't drive it excessively hard, but I try to give it a few WOT applications here and there. As I said, I'd rather it break during the warranty than me baby it excessively and then after the warranty is expired, it breaks.

Oh and the other thing is take as many pictures as you want, as it'll never be "new" again.

daltron · 01-18-2022, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXCSSU

I agree with @Trochoidal you will want to drive at various RPMs if possible, although maybe not a high RPM unless it's warm enough for the Summer Only tires. Some people will insist that you need to baby it for the first few thousand miles. I'm from the school of "if it's going to break, I'd rather it break during my warranty than outside of my warranty" so I drive it during the break-in period the way I am going to drive it outside of the break-in period. I don't drive it excessively hard, but I try to give it a few WOT applications here and there. As I said, I'd rather it break during the warranty than me baby it excessively and then after the warranty is expired, it breaks.

Oh and the other thing is take as many pictures as you want, as it'll never be "new" again.

I don't plan on hot-rodding this thing so going over 4000 RPM won't be a problem for me. However, I am a little worried about driving at various RPM's right away as my maiden voyage back is 275 miles of interstate. What can be done in this situation?

chevybill · 01-18-2022, 07:32 AM

Photos would be nice, if possible.

Best wishes on your new Camaro.

arpad_m · 01-18-2022, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daltron

I don't plan on hot-rodding this thing so going over 4000 RPM won't be a problem for me. However, I am a little worried about driving at various RPM's right away as my maiden voyage back is 275 miles of interstate. What can be done in this situation?

Vary speed, downshift and upshift.

Hope you'll give it the beans at least after the break-in (many believe in hard break-ins and have evidence, too, but I won't start that discussion here). This ain't a prius, don't drive it as if it were one

SHessler · 01-18-2022, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daltron

I don't plan on hot-rodding this thing so going over 4000 RPM won't be a problem for me. However, I am a little worried about driving at various RPM's right away as my maiden voyage back is 275 miles of interstate. What can be done in this situation?

Take the back roads.

daltron · 01-18-2022, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Vary speed, downshift and upshift.

Hope you'll give it the beans at least after the break-in (many believe in hard break-ins and have evidence, too, but I won't start that discussion here). This ain't a prius, don't drive it as if it were one

Sorry if this sounds stupid but it is an automatic. Are you suggesting to drive it in manual and/or use the paddle shifters?

SSDan · 01-18-2022, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daltron

Sorry if this sounds stupid but it is an automatic. Are you suggesting to drive it in manual and/or use the paddle shifters?

Not necessarily but you could play around with manual mode if you want. The important thing is to not drive at a constant speed (like using cruise control for several minutes) but vary your speed for the first few hundred miles.

Enjoy that new ride!

LT1ornothing · 01-18-2022, 08:43 AM

Definitely want to keep the top up, choose a time of day where you won't run into morning or afternoon traffic congestion. Leave plenty of space between you and others. Use caution when trying to vary rpm during break in, be smart and don't attempt to vary rpm unless the car is pointing straight and going straight. There is a ton of torque at 2000 rpm compared to a v6 so keep that in mind.

TXCSSU · 01-18-2022, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daltron

Sorry if this sounds stupid but it is an automatic. Are you suggesting to drive it in manual and/or use the paddle shifters?

You can vary how much/little you give it gas. Just keep in mind that if it's below 40 degrees, the Summer Only tires may suffer. I'd almost say not to worry about engine speed until you're in a warmer climate. The main concern would be taking it easy with the Summer Only tires, and then worrying about break-in when the weather permits.

I would probably make sure that you're comfortable with the paddle shifters as my first time using them, I forgot which was the upshift and downshift paddle. I wound up revving the hell out of the engine because I grabbed the wrong one.

Oh and most importantly, enjoy!

01-17-2022, 06:51 PM	#1
daltron Drives: 2022 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Illinois Posts: 23	Tomorrow is the big day. What are some do's and dont's? I get to pick up my 2SS vert tomorrow after a year and a half of looking and was just wondering as somebody who has never driven a V8 before, if there are things I should be cautious about? It might be worth mentioning that I am by nature a very careful driver (some would probably say too careful for a car like this) but didn't know if there were some things to watch out for? I use to drive a V6 camaro as a DD almost 10 years ago so I understand snow/ice is a big no no but is the V8 a whole different animal? Also, what are the best do's?!

01-17-2022, 07:44 PM	#3
arpad_m Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 11,623 View My Garage	Just be gentle with the skinny pedal and you'll be fine, especially since you said you'd swap the tires to all-seasons immediately after delivery. Brand new tires are extra slippery for the first 2-3 miles, so don't forget about that, and also you'll probably want to do a proper break-in anyway during the first couple hundred miles. I'm sure you're already aware of obvious general guidance such as waiting for the oil temps to reach 150-160 °F and tire temps to come out of "COLD" or "COOL" into at least "NORMAL" before romping on the pedal and such things. Don't worry, the V8 isn't some kind of unicorn, you'll feel much more torque much lower than in a V6, but it won't be scary if you don't go crazy with the gas. Keep her in tour or snow/ice mode for this drive, then later when temperatures are "proper", you can go into sport mode and it'll feel like that car has 200 more hp One thing to note, especially whenever the weather is wet and crappy, the rear may want to break loose earlier then you'd instinctively think, max torque is at 4400 rpm, not at redline. ...last but not least, CONGRATULATIONS and DON'T FORGET TO ENJOY YOUR AMAZING NEW CAMARO __________________ 2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6 735 rwhp \| 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley \| Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers \| JRE smooth idle terminator cam \| LT4 FS & injectors \| TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX \| DSX flex fuel kit \| Roto-Fab CAI \| Soler 95mm LT5 TB \| 1LE wheels \| 1LE brakes \| BMR rear cradle lockout \| JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 \| 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 \| 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 \| 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 \| 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 \| 6000 - 3/19/18

01-17-2022, 11:23 PM	#5
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	Congratulations on your new Camaro and you will be fine!�� __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

01-17-2022, 11:59 PM	#6
TXCSSU Account Suspended Drives: 2022 ZL1 M6/Nissan Leaf Join Date: May 2016 Location: Dallas Posts: 1,138	I agree with @Trochoidal you will want to drive at various RPMs if possible, although maybe not a high RPM unless it's warm enough for the Summer Only tires. Some people will insist that you need to baby it for the first few thousand miles. I'm from the school of "if it's going to break, I'd rather it break during my warranty than outside of my warranty" so I drive it during the break-in period the way I am going to drive it outside of the break-in period. I don't drive it excessively hard, but I try to give it a few WOT applications here and there. As I said, I'd rather it break during the warranty than me baby it excessively and then after the warranty is expired, it breaks. Oh and the other thing is take as many pictures as you want, as it'll never be "new" again.

01-18-2022, 07:32 AM	#8
chevybill Drives: 1994 z-28, 2017 2ss 6spd Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Mississippi Posts: 191 View My Garage	Photos would be nice, if possible. Best wishes on your new Camaro.

01-18-2022, 08:43 AM	#13
LT1ornothing Drives: 2020 LT1 M6 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: South, the DEEP south Posts: 1,114	Definitely want to keep the top up, choose a time of day where you won't run into morning or afternoon traffic congestion. Leave plenty of space between you and others. Use caution when trying to vary rpm during break in, be smart and don't attempt to vary rpm unless the car is pointing straight and going straight. There is a ton of torque at 2000 rpm compared to a v6 so keep that in mind.

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