zzdcar' Expert Review
by the zzdcar Experts
What’s new
New interior colors and fabrics, redundant steering-wheel audio controls, new alloy wheels, and a new exterior color debut. V6 and V8 engines meet California's low emission vehicle (LEV) standards.
zzdcar says
If poor visibility, questionable build quality and a cheapo interior don't bother you, the Camaro is as fast as it gets for under $30K.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2000 Chevrolet Camaro 2 Dr STD Coupe and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$173/mo for Camaro Base
Camaro Base
2 Dr STD Coupe (Most Popular) - N/A MSRP2dr Convertible - N/A MSRP2 Dr Z28 Coupe - N/A MSRPZ28 2dr Convertible - N/A MSRPZ28 SS 2dr Convertible - N/A MSRP2 Dr Z28 SS Coupe - N/A MSRP
vs
$164/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Vehicle overview
"From the country that invented rock 'n' roll" claimed the advertisements for this Quebec, Canada-built sport coupe when it was redesigned in 1993. A small technicality, we suppose, but there are no technicalities when it comes to the Camaro's performance abilities, particularly in Z28 or SS guise. These Camaros are blazingly quick, hold the road tenaciously, cost less than the average price of a new car in this country and get decent gas mileage when they're not being hammered along a twisty, two-lane road.
Two trim levels are available for 2000 in either coupe or convertible bodystyles. Base Camaros are powered by a 3800 Series II V6 that makes 200 horsepower. Mated to a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission, this sufficiently strong motor makes a strong argument for avoiding the higher insurance rates and prices of the Z28. An optional performance-handling package puts dual exhaust, tighter steering and a limited-slip differential on the V6 Camaro.
The Z28 is the go-faster Camaro. Equipped with a detuned Corvette 5.7-liter V8, the Z28 makes 305 horsepower, 45 more horses than the Mustang GT. Opt for the SS performance package and you get 320 horsepower (same as the Mustang Cobra), thanks to forced air induction through an aggressive-looking hood scoop. The SS gets to 60 mph from rest in a little over five seconds. SLP Engineering - known for working magic with GM's F-Bodies since the late '80s - supplies the parts to turn a Z28 into an SS.
For 2000, revisions are few. New interior colors and fabrics, along with steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, freshen the passenger compartment. Engines meet LEV standards in California and other low-emission states, and one new exterior color is available. These changes are welcome. The new, more intricately laced alloy wheels that look like wheelcovers are not. They look difficult to clean, and those beautiful, fat, five-spokers on the SS have been sacrificed for the sake of change.
The interior of the Camaro is functional, but cheap in appearance. Visibility is nothing to brag about either. The Camaro holds a respectable amount of gear in the cargo hold (more than 33 cubic feet of space with the generally useless rear seats folded down), and airbags and antilock brakes are standard.
Rumors are flying that GM is set to kill the Camaro, and since no product is scheduled for the Canadian Camaro plant after 2002, those rumors are likely true. Steadily declining sales are to blame, and the company is eager to slice non-performing models from the lineup. If the Camaro dies, it would be a real shame because - from a bang-for-the-buck standpoint - the Z28 is unbeatable. More mature drivers can order traction control, but that option defeats some of the fun of Chevy's pony car: smoky, adolescent burnouts that leave the drivers behind choking on charred Goodyears.
2000 Camaro Highlights
Type: CoupeConvertibleZ28 SSConvertible
Trim: BaseZ28Z28 SSBase
Engine Type | Gas |
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Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
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Cost to Drive | $173/month |
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Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 7.6 cu.ft. |
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Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
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