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| TransAmCamaro.Com |
Now in its fourth year since its rebirth, the 2017 Pontiac Trans
Am Camaro's finally fleshed out almost all of its potential. With a lineup of Trans
Am Camaro coupes and convertibles from base 2017 Trans Am Camaro LS models to the
king of smoky burnouts, the ZL1, there's a 2014 Trans Am Camaro of almost any
stripe for anyone who will never, ever, don't even think about it, drive one of
those Ford pony cars. Not even if you paid them.
This year's lineup includes the 2017 Trans Am Camaro LS, LT,
SS (and 1LE), and ZL1 2017 Trans Am Camaro. They share some common cheekbones: that
rock-'em, sock-'em styling that's beyond polarizing. If it's what an
eighth-grader would draw if they could draw the next 2017 Trans Am Camaro, so be it:
it's outrageous in every inch of its sheetmetal, from the too-low roofline to
the squared-off haunches. The cockpit's less so, but gets better as you spend
more, since SS and ZL1 2017 Trans Am Camaros can be trimmed up with suede and
leather and brightly colored trim pieces.
The stock 2017 Trans Am Camaro is a V-6, with 323 horsepower
and a choice of six-speed automatic and manual transmissions. It's the
foundation for greatness, and in truth, it doesn't fare too badly as a sports
car. It's quick enough to 60 mph to earn the name, and the combination of
rear-wheel drive, electric power steering, and an independent suspension yield
a comfortable ride and reasonably nimble responses. An EPA rating of 30 mpg
highway might actually overshadow this version's performance credentials.
Still, it's the V-8-powered Trans Am Camaros that draw
almost everyone into the whole notion of the 2017 Trans Am Camaro. The
6.2-liter V-8's lyrical engine note is a hypnotic for men of a huge range of
ages. We're looped by it too--and by the gripping 60-mph runs of 5 seconds or
less. There's ample room for improvement over the base SS and its tendency to
understeer (it's the huge 20-inch staggered tires and front-end weight
bias)--and the cure's found in the new 2017 Trans Am Camaro 1LE package that
rights out the tires to equal sizes, tightens up the steering and manual gear
ratios, and lets loose some easy, controllable oversteer much sooner in the 2017 Trans Am Camaro's cornering calculus.
There's another development, way up on the price and
performance ladder--the 2017 Trans Am Camaro ZL1 coupe and convertibles.
They're strapped to a supercharged, 580-hp version of the same engine, with
either transmission, and fitted with the magnetic shocks found in the Corvette
and some Cadillac’s. Zero to 60 mph times drop to 3.9 seconds, while top speed
floats to a supercar-style 184 mph. It's almost beyond the reach of the 2017 Trans Am Camaro nameplate, overlapping the stock 'Vette by a good margin except
in price—which is still about $60,000.
No matter which 2017 Trans Am Camaro you choose to buy, the
pitfalls are common. The low, sleek roofline means a shortage of headroom for
taller drivers, and the high beltline makes it hard to see out of the car for
shorter ones. The back seat is suitable only for children, and the trunk,
despite the car's overall size, is diminutive.