The concept 2010 Camaro has been hyped in the media and entertainment industry for the last two years. Those of you that have been waiting in great anticipation to order the new Camaro, we have good news: the wait is finally over!
GM recently began unveiling the production-ready Camaro at various shows and events across the country. With a current estimated production timeframe of March 2009, these fifth-generation Camaros should begin hitting the streets in April 2009. We will walk you through the steps and options so that you can pre-order your Camaro now, and be among the first to thrash the roads in one. Your author placed an order for a Camaro SS prior to writing this story, so this comes from first-hand experience!
The first order of business is locating a Chevrolet dealership that has an allocation to order a new Camaro for you. Each dealership gets a first-year limit on how many Camaros they can order, which is usually based on previous sales figures from that dealership. Some dealerships will be marking the prices up beyond MSRP in order to make a quick buck. A keen shopper will do more thorough research and call around to get the best price available. Most dealerships will require a $500 deposit in order to process the order with GM. Ordering a new Camaro at MSRP pricing is your realistic goal, since these will be hot items for the first year. Open your mind and expand your range of distance when considering different dealers. A one-way plane ticket is only a couple hundred bucks, and any place within 1,000 miles is only a one-day drive home. That plane ticket might be a cheaper option than paying the greedy dealership markup in your hometown. Plus, the added bonus of driving your Camaro home on a road trip in early spring is sure to create some gearhead memories to last a lifetime. For dealerships at distances beyond your driving limits, those out-of-state dealers are usually willing to ship a car to your doorstep. This may also be a less expensive option than paying the dreaded mark-up. We placed our order for a 2010 Camaro through Shaheen Chevrolet in Lansing, MI. They were willing to order the car at MSRP without any games, and it will only cost $900 to have it transported home to Houston, TX. The sales team at this dealership walked us through the ordering process, and we hope to pass this info on to you readers.
The Camaro comes in several different trim levels, with three available engines to choose from. The entry-level car is designated as the 1LS trim level. It comes standard with the 300 hp, 3.6L direct injection V-6. The upgraded V-6 models are the 1LT and 2LT trim packages, which come with more creature comforts and aesthetic enhancements. But, we know the GMHTP crowd will most likely jump into the V-8 Camaro SS package, so lets get into more detail about the more potent offering.
There are two different 6.2L V-8 engines to choose from when considering a Camaro SS. Unfortunately, your choice of transmission is what decides the engine for you. If you select the six-speed automatic transmission (code MX0), the car will come with the code L99 400hp, 395tq V-8 engine. Put a check mark next to the Tremec six-speed manual (code MN6), and you are rewarded with a few more horses via the Corvette-derived code LS3 422hp, 408tq engine. The reason that the automatic transmission engine has less horsepower is due to increased parasitic losses related to an automatic versus manual transmission. The automatic transmission is also less fuel efficient, so the L99 comes standard with Displacement on Demand technology. This deactivates half of the engine cylinders when at cruising rpm on the highway. We opted to grab our own gears, and also put a check mark next to the optional Hurst shifter (code VYV).
 This yellow Camaro has the...  This yellow Camaro has the optional VTD ground effects package installed, as well as the VZN machined 21-inch wheels, and the VYQ black hockey stripe. |  The rear shot shows the VTD...  The rear shot shows the VTD ground effects and the squared-off exhaust tips that come with the setup. Notice the RS trunk emblem, and the slightly darkened taillight lenses. These are part of the WRS Rally Sport package. The blackened section between the taillights is rumored to be a dealer accessory available from the parts counter. |  This blacked-out look can...  This blacked-out look can be accomplished by ordering your Camaro with the VZP 21-inch wheels and the VTD ground effects package. |