IRS

[gettinthere]

What are your thoughts on the independant rear suspension for the new Camaro?

[Chris 96 WS6]

I think its overdue and as long as it is 1) sufficiently strong and 2) not much more expensive, it is a good idea.

If it drives the price too far above Mustangs then the car is doomed.

[gettinthere]

The way I see it for a normal consumer it's a great thing. Better ride quality at not much more $$. But from a racers standpoint, give me a solid axle any day.

[NviouSS]

it'll be good for those auto-x'rs too. i like the solid axle though.

[gettinthere]

I'm sure the auto-x'rs will love it.

[Chad]

I think its a great idea, and like chris said long overdue.

[OctaneSS/RS]

I think it's great for Camaro.
The ride quality from IRS will give Camaro a leg up on Mustang I would say.

Us drag racers might beef about it a little, but we'll get over it. :)

Besides, when done right, IRS is fine for the 1320 too.

[Fenster]

I would like to see a solid axle option for the car available. I don't mind the IRS, but they have to do better than the CTS-v IRS b/c that thing is like driving w/ a glass rear end.

[JakeY2KZ]

Not looking forward to it....give us a strong 12 bolt from factory and sales would be better IMO.

[NviouSS]

or 9" perhaps

[Nocturnal Z]

I say solid rear axle all the way. Keep the cost down and the strength up ;)
Besides, the solid rear axle doesn't seem to be hurting the mustang's sales any.

[OctaneSS/RS]

The only issue with a solid axle is that the chassis is engineered to accept IRS only.
Building a solid axle for it would actually INCREASE the cost.

I see the aftermarket handling that one really.

[Yankee]

As far as an IRS goes, I personally hope it has one. I've lived with live axles pretty much ever since I've been driving in the early 80s, I now have an IRS in my 04 GTO - and I say give me an IRS over a live axle any day. If you've lived with an IRS for any length of time, believe me - you CAN tell a BIG difference between the two - it's almost like night and day. If you live somewhere where all the roads are glass-smooth, maybe you'd be hard pressed to tell a difference. But most roads aren't glass-smooth, and having a car corner on a bumpy road and not feel like it's gonna slide out from under you is a very refreshing change. Folks who mod their cars are gonna decry having an IRS, but I don't mod my cars and I love the sure-footedness and much better ride quality of the IRS over a live axle - so my vote is for the IRS.

[gettinthere]

Sadly I don't see an 12 bolt option. Too much woul dhave to be different from the factory to make it a worth-while desicion for Chevy.

[jon2kz]

Hard to figure which way it might go. The 10 bolt would be fine for a 6cyl but won’t last behind 400hp V8. The IRS is great but seems a little too exotic to me for the Camaro. But if the IRS does stay, you’ll basically have the GTO drivetrain under the Camaro body. Not a bad deal really. I hope they keep the weight closer to 3400lbs rather than the 3700lb GTO. I’m sure the aftermarket or racing community will figure out how to put a solid axle back under it before long.

[Mid]

That would be a nice feature to have. Would it really be necassary in the V6?(to keep costs down)

[NittanyMarine]

I look forward to it. I think it would be a welocmed change.

[Mike2001SS]

I say both have their good points and bad which depends on what the car is most used for. One drawback is you lose more HP going to the wheels with IRS other than that I think it can be set up to run well in the 1320

[Doric]

Unfortunately, enthusiasts are in the minority. The IRS appeals to more people.

I prefer IRS, though. By a large margin.

[gettinthere]

Unfortunately, enthusiasts are in the minority. The IRS appeals to more people.



That's the truth. I never expected Chevy to "cater" to us anyways. We only make up a very small percentage of all buyers.

[DvBoard]

doesn't the vette have IRS? can't they just "borrow" it form that? :D

[OctaneSS/RS]

doesn't the vette have IRS? can't they just "borrow" it form that? :DWell that thought works, but the physics doesn't.
Methinks it will be the same (or similar) IRS rear from the next-gen Cadillac CTS

[gettinthere]

Methinks it will be the same (or similar) IRS rear from the next-gen Cadillac CTS

:werd: That's my thought too.

[CLEAN]

We drive our cars in the real world, not the track, so IRS is a BIG plus for us. This opinion applies to the wife and myself ONLY, no flames from the drag racers please :D .

[Camaro25thann]

IRS is very welcome in my opinion. I understand why people would want a live axle, but the IRS will make the camaro a better all around sports car, not just a muscle car that can only move in a straight line. I not only want to be able to whip ricers at the red light, I want to hang with them in corners as well. Handling has always been the biggest problem for the f-bodies IMO. Thank goodness for IRS. It's about time.

[SOMSS]

We are talking about a fully modern car here not a remade 70's car as Ford foisted on it's unknowing customers. A modern chasis design should be versitle enough to handle all road conditions, not just smoothe roads and the 1320'. Just my opinion!

[Chris 96 WS6]

IRS is very welcome in my opinion. I understand why people would want a live axle, but the IRS will make the camaro a better all around sports car, not just a muscle car that can only move in a straight line. I not only want to be able to whip ricers at the red light, I want to hang with them in corners as well. Handling has always been the biggest problem for the f-bodies IMO. Thank goodness for IRS. It's about time.

What planet have you been on?

You probably don't know this but a 1999 Camaro SS with the SLP level 2 suspension actually outlapped a C5 at the GM test track.

F-bodies have been great handling cars for their time since the mid-70s. The 1982 Z28 was the best handling American car built that year and gave the Porche 911's of the time all they could handle.

[OctaneSS/RS]

True dat. Camaros have historically handled well.
But the addition of IRS will make the ride quality better. :)

[JakeY2KZ]

Wonder how the IRS will handle a 4k-5k launch? :hmm:

[gettinthere]

You read my mind. Let's hop in a H/C Vette and find out.

[CamaroCliff]

GEAR RATIOS.... OPTIONS..... how many ratios are going to be avialable?? How hard will it be to change gears out.... (maybe an aftermarket gearbox) and how STRONG will it be??? Will it have a posi effect? as an option maybe??? IRS would be great if it can handle the power and be "adaptable" Suppose the enthusiast does want to drop a 4.10 in there... is that going to become a nightmare??

[Nightclaw]

There are GTO's pumping some serious HP through the Spicer M80 we have in these cars. The problem with them seems to be the axle stubs and half-shafts giving out well before the center section (though they do have noise problems not entirely dissimilar to the 10-bolt issues with 4th-gen F-bodies). Well, that and a paucity of available gear ratios (3.46, 3.73 and 3.91 only). I think as long as the 5th gen F-body has something at least equal to the M80 (that's actually assembled correctly - another problem for many Aussie cars), the majority of owners will be in good shape.

And for those who want more, expect the aftermarket to step up to the plate with HD posi units, solid-axle conversions, etc.

[maraging]

I would prefer an IRS..

[Doug 97SS]

What planet have you been on?

You probably don't know this but a 1999 Camaro SS with the SLP level 2 suspension actually outlapped a C5 at the GM test track.

F-bodies have been great handling cars for their time since the mid-70s. The 1982 Z28 was the best handling American car built that year and gave the Porche 911's of the time all they could handle.

I agree with Chris. When I was at Summit Point Raceway with my ancient 97 Camaro SS (Lt1, 4.10's, C5 brakes), I blasted PAST a C5, because 99% of the drivers don't push it, and I easily got around him. THe 350Z, WRX's, etc were no problems...its the damn Miatas in the twisties I had problems with....:rotflmao:

IRS makes for a nicer riding car but it doesn't make it a superior performing car.

[Doug 97SS]

if the Camaro comes with IRS, then I am all for it. If it doesn't, then I all for a solid axle. :lol:

[Nmbr1GMfan]

or 9" perhaps
:barf:

[Nmbr1GMfan]

Iv'e got an IRS, give me the real deal. SOLID FOR ME, but wont happen.