CAMARO

[SIMON HOLTBY]

With great reluctance I sold my 84 urq last week and bought an '88 Chevy
Camaro Iroc Z28 5.7 TPI. I have been thinking of buying an american car
for some time, initially considering a Corvette. The price of these was
outside my price range so I opted for a Camaro. 
I did not know much about these cars but it was mostly its looks that won
me over. I think it is the top of the range Camaro with the 230 BHP
corvette engine, has an auto box, burgundy in colour and has a lot of
options such as T tops, air con, cruise, Bose sound system, limited slip
rear diff etc.
Initial driving impressions are that it is quite a bit quicker than my Ur
but handleing is a poor comparison (UK readers, it is a bit like a large
engine Capri). Fuel consumption is OK 23 mpg worst 29 best so far. The Ur
averaged 22 so I think economy is better. This seems strange for a 5.7
litre engine but revs rarely exceed 2000 even on the motorway.
I'll miss my Ur I liked its looks, performance and handleing but hated its
reliability and cost of parts. It was a fashion in the eighties to add
turbos to small engines to give large engine performance but reliability
suffered, the Ur is a prime example.
Advantages of my new car is that it will hopefully be more reliable, parts
are very cheap I have ordered some parts from www.carparts.com and
insurance is cheap on american cars in the UK 250 GBP fully comp.
It seemed strange driving a left hand drive car at first (I still get in
the wrong side!) but you can drive closer to the kerb and I have had no
near misses yet, automatic helps. The biggest problem is overtaking large
vehicles. It sure looks a big car but it is an inch shorter and only an
inch wider than an Audi 100/5000.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this car there are pictures and
facts at www.iroc-z.com
I would be interested to hear from anyone who knows of good links to sites
about this car and parts suppliers.
When my sanity returns I think I may buy an Audi again but something more
simple like 2.3 coupe or possibly an 80 or A4 tdi.
Finally, thanks to all of you who have replied to problems I have had with
my Audi especially  Jim Haseltine, Ian Atkinson (long time no sound!) and
Phill.

Regards

Simon Holtby

'88 Camaro IROC Z28 5.7 TPI


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