2SS Convertible Only 21,500 Miles! Power Top LS3 6-Speed Manual Transmission HUD

Much like its crosstown rival, the Chevy Camaro really offers two distinct types of performance cars in one body shell. No longer is there a six-cylinder base model for “wannabes” and the V8 for the real enthusiast -- now the V6 is more the sports car and the V8 is the in-your-face muscle car. With more than 300 hp and a mechanical, cammy nature, the V6 Camaro isn't a compromise, and that's smart for Chevy because this SS is not for everyone.

With our tester's dual-mode exhaust, the Camaro SS is about as subtle as a 12-gauge; it makes no attempt to hide its intentions whether you're at idle or ripping up a freeway on-ramp, and there's even a burbling pop-pop on the overrun when you're slowing down for a light. Yes, it's fun at times (especially when the hand of God is released on the aforementioned freeway on-ramps), but it's just as often overkill. The same can be said for the engine's lumpy idle, sending shivers through the car as it bounces around in its motor mounts. Obviously modern computer controls could make the LS3 as smooth as a Cadillac without sacrificing power, so the whole operation is a programmed sideshow -- again, a helluva lot of fun at times but exhausting at others.

Those same modern EFI tricks mean the Camaro's big 6.2-liter V8 is perfectly content puttering along in traffic, and huge torque reserves allow the car to be left in fourth gear for just about any driving over 15 mph; at the same time, a sixth gear means the SS cruises at 80 mph on the highway turning fewer than 2,000 rpm, so there's a tremendous amount of flexibility in the powertrain. That's helped by a firm-shifting but very satisfying manual transmission, and a clutch whose smooth, light pedal feel never indicates it's channeling 426 hp. Simply put, the stick-shift SS is an easy car to drive even in rush hour, bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Raucous engine and exhaust aside, the interior of our Camaro SS was a step up from the last model I tested. Leather and soft-touch surfaces covered the dash, and though the large plastic door-panel trim was still present it seemed better integrated. Chevy's excellent MyLink system provided all the infotainment options today's buyers demand (despite the fact we're pretty sure most have no idea how to use 90 percent of the features), and an old-fashioned manually controlled HVAC system made quick work of heating and cooling the small cockpit.

About that space: While a two-door coupe isn't ideal for families with multiple kids, the Camaro does provide excellent rear seating for kids in boosters. The child seats fit well in the pseudo-buckets, which are wide enough to not obscure the seat belt buckle when a booster is in place. It may seem like a small detail, but I've been in station wagons that don't accommodate booster seats as well as this Camaro SS does. There's also a surprisingly large (though shallow) trunk that can easily accommodate several large bags.