MotorTrend and WindingRoad Review The 2011 Vert: Camaro5 Debates

With the launch of the fifth generation Camaro Convertible both the media and enthusiasts have been buzzing about the new drop top version. It seems as though the many of the visibility issues that have plagued the hard top variety have been resolved with the convertible. Camaro5 members have been debating both Motor Trend’s and WindingRoad.com’s reviews of the topless Camaro. When it comes to getting a true enthusiast’s perspective Camaro5 members provide accurate and meaningful evaluations.

Motor Trend clocked the SS vert at 13.2 seconds in the quarter-mile at 109.2 mph during a testing session. Motor Trend also achieved a 0 to 60 time of 4.9 seconds and accomplished the 60 to 0 braking test in just 107 feet.  During a skid pad test the ‘vert laid down .89 g. According to Motor Trend the convertible weighs 253 pounds more than the coupe thanks to the different bracing and convertible-top mechanism. This weight increase added .2 of a second to the quarter-mile of the coupe and .3 of a second to the 0 to 60 time.

WindingRoad’s review also produced complementary results for the Camaro vert. Again, the reviewers were impressed with GM’s improvement of the visual impairments found in the coupe much like the Motor Trend review. However, WindingRoad went into great detail about how solid the new car feels in comparison to previous generations of Camaro convertibles. In fact they reported no shimmies, shakes or other unrefined convertible behavior. Winding Road reported hearing similar results for the 0 to 60 testing as found by Motor Trend.

Overall the new vert is a hit with both seasoned media personnel and enthusiasts alike. One universal finding by both groups is that the Camaro convertible is meant to be driven with the top down; even with it up, GM did an excellent job with designing the top to compliment the exaggerated body lines of the car.