The interior of the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS Coup is attractive, but some hard plastic surfaces are disappointing. Sitting inside a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe 2SS is like driving a fist. It feels like a blunt object, connected to muscle and twitching for action.
While I was driving on 11th Street in downtown Chattanooga one day last week, the 2019 Camaro prompted a group of middle-age TVA workers to stop in their tracks. Eyes wide, they listened to the big V-8 rumble.
FAST FACTS
* Model: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2ss Coupe* Exterior color: Red Hot* Interior color: Jet Black* Engine: 6.2-liter, V-8* Horsepower: 455* Transmission: 10-speed automatic* Fuel economy: 27 mpg highway, 16 mpg city* Local Dealers: Integrity Chevrolet, Mountain View Chevrolet* Price (as tested): $44,590
If this doesn't seem like a magic trick to you, you've never tried to stop a hungry middle-age guy striding toward a sandwich.
Our bottom line view of the Chevrolet Camaro 2SS Coupe is that it represents the most fun you can have in a new automobile for less than $46,000. A Porsche 911 costing three times as much doesn't get as many admiring looks as this Camaro. Oh, and definitely go with the Red Hot paint - a color name that perfectly conveys the Camaro's vibe.
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Locally, Integrity Chevrolet, at 2110 Chapman Road, had eight Camaros in digital inventory late this week including three SS coupes. Meanwhile, across town, Mountain View Chevrolet, on E. 20th Street, had seven Camaros listed in digital inventory, including two SS coupes.
WHAT IS IT?
The 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS is a two-door muscle coupe with a big engine and a small back seat - a bench suitable for two small kids or a few sacks of groceries. Going for the SS trim, with its 455 horsepower engine, is a worthwhile stretch. The Camaro is also available with a turbo four-cylinder engine or a V-6, but the V-8 in the SS represents the true spirit of the car.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
A Camaro 2SS with a six-speed manual transmission starts at $42,000 plus $995 destination charge. Our tester, provide for a one-week loan by Chevrolet, rings up at $44,590, including the 10-speed automatic transmission's $1,595 up-charge. If you are a purist, go with the manual tranny, but if you do much stop-and-go driving the automatic may better suit your needs.
More Info
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WHAT WE LIKED
So, how do we love the Camaro? Let us count the ways. The Red Hot color is a riot and the engine rumble warms the heart. Acceleration is off the charts - Motor Trend clocked an SS in the 0-60 mph dash in a neck-snapping 4.1 seconds. The torso-hugging front seats and modest price tag are also pretty sweet.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
The architecture of the car severely limits outward visibility. Driving the Camaro safely requires you to focus your attention on its mirrors and potential blind spots. A suite of safety tech features such as a rear vision camera and lane-change alert help mitigate this. Hard plastics on the dash also detract from an otherwise handsome interior.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
Some of the notable standard features on the Camaro 2SS include Brembo performance brakes, 20-inch bright silver wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, Bose sound system, 8-inch touchscreen and a 4g LTE hot-spot capability.
BOTTOM LINE
If you are having a mid-life crisis, the 2019 Chevy Camaro SS Coupe is better than Botox for making you feel like a younger version of yourself.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.