I have been put off lately by cars that pretend to be engaging and fun to drive but wind up feeling more like drones in which the driver is decoration.
Cars really are taking over the point-A-to-point-B exercise. One can barely start the engine, shift into drive or change lanes without the vehicle issuing a chiding chime, tone, flashing light or vibration.
A BMW I drove recently simulated the sound and feel of a rumble strip if I ventured too close to the lane-dividing line. Some Volvos stop automatically before hitting an obstacle, in case you forget to do this yourself. And many vehicles ring a bell to let you know it is cold enough outside for ice to form on the road.
The Chevrolet Camaro Convertible thinks we’re spoiled.
The rag-top version of the classic muscle car that Chevy revived last year hangs on to many of the seemingly old-fashioned formalities that make driving seem like more than a passive endeavor. First, you have to slide the key into the ignition slot and turn it. No smart key here. My test car, a V8 super sport model, also has a six-speed manual transmission, so driving it requires some work.
But oh, the rewards! As soon as the engine turns over I’m reminded of why people enjoy vintage muscle cars so much. The Camaro sounds wonderful and feels like a real machine. It rumbles and vibrates. Turning the steering wheel, pressing the clutch and shifting gears takes effort, though not enough to make driving a chore.
Of course the Camaro, like other modern vehicles, is packed with advanced electronics that control its engine and other systems. How else could a heavy car with 426 horsepower have a 25-mile-per-gallon fuel-economy rating?
But what makes this Camaro desirable is its convertible top. Chevy didn’t bother with an overly complicated, overrated retractable hard top that would use up trunk space. Instead it has a cloth soft top that is attractive, but of course looks best when it is folded down. Where the Camaro coupe looks a bit thick in the middle, the convertible shows off its hourglass waist and shapely hips once you get rid of the roof.
Driving top-down is a joy, in part because it lets the driver hear the howling engine more clearly when winding it out to 5000 rpm. It also improves visibility, which is a weakness in the hard-top Camaro’s pillbox cabin.
The Camaro convertible attacks twisting, narrow roads enthusiastically, without the loose, flexible and creaky feeling characteristic of many convertibles. It may incite recklessness by encouraging drivers to flout speed limits. But it also urges you to drive smoothly and conservatively enough to keep the rear wheels from spinning out of control. After all, the car has enough power to wear out its rear tires in an hour or two.
Convertibles are known for impracticality, and the Camaro is no family sedan. But it tries hard to be your daily driver. The interior is comfortable and the back seat is surprisingly accommodating for children’s safety seats. Our two boys loved riding in it to school, in part because of their friends’ reactions. Indeed, the way people look at you when you drive this drop-top is among its selling points.
The base Camaro convertible with a 312-horsepower V6 engine costs $29,150 while the top-of-the-line super sport version is $39,650. The base model has more than enough power and is a great value. But the V8′s muscle and song are hard to resist. Either way, the Camaro convertible is a lot of car, enjoyment and appeal, for the money.
![Click to enlarge [A photo of the Camaro would have been more interesting, we know...]](http://www.autoevolution.com/images/news/chevy-camaro-gets-new-cylinder-heads-thumb-35340_1.jpg)
2011 Chevrolet Cruze is an efficient car that is fun to drive due to its small yet powerful engine that is designed for high performance. It gives you a driving experience that a motorist usually does not expect from a small compact car. It is tested several times for its brakes and comfortable drive. It is launched with ABS (Anti-lock brakes), ESC (Electronic Stability Control), Engine immobilizer, Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors and many options to make Cruze the way you like it. It is not just a car it is the sanctuary.
