Asking for a friend because he is really sold on wanting a fun camaro from the 2016-2018 generation for the weekends that isn't a v8. He definitely wants a manual as well. However, is the turbo 2.0 i4 or the 3.6 N/A more reliable? Also is the manual more reliable than the automatic? I would guess maybe the v6 because it is a more simple engine but I wouldn't know. Thanks
Please do a search on our forum. This has been discussed before. See below for an example: I’d stay away from the Camaro, period, even for a weekend vehicle. GM already has issues with their halo car the Corvette for that time period, and Camaro will be no better.
.
The 3.6L naturally aspirated motor and a manual transmission is his best bet. Turbos have direct injection, and, unless it's supplemented by ordinary fuel injection to keep carbon buildup at bay, you will eventually have carbon buildup problems. The only thing keeping them up with big boy engines is their direct injection, which means it would be a dog without the fancy stuff. It will cause the engine to give out quicker, if you're always hammering it.
fun camaro from the 2016-2018 generation for the weekends that isn't a v8.
"fun" & "not a V8" dont really go together.
turbo 2.0 i4 or the 3.6 N/A more reliable?
GM has a pretty bad rep when it comes to small turbo engines, of the two id avoid the 4cyl and get the 3.6. The 3.6 is actually a decent engine, they have guts too.
Also is the manual more reliable than the automatic?
Generally speaking yes, they're more simple. A manual here is a better option.
Id tell them to reconsider on getting a V8. If it were a daily driver I understand why not wanting it, but for a weekend toy I think they'd be disappointed. I bought a V6 2000 Camaro in highschool (2015), and planned on having it through college. It was great as a daily, good gas millage, reliable as can be, it still runs as I occasionally take it to work. I bought a WRX in 2021 as my new daily, planning on doing a bunch of work to the Camaro in the coming years. But I'm now at a point where my fun weekend car is less fun to drive than my daily.
My Mustang is a 2017 V6 and produces as much horsepower as the V8s did, ten years before. After a while, it's irrelevant what kind of horsepower you have. You're also dealing with a used V8, typically people drive the living heck out of them, small mileage doesn't always mean lightly used. It could veu well already be worn out.
Well, that kind of depends on the driver. If you want the extra hp & torque, it matters. If you dont ever plan on going WOT, it doesnt matter. Plus the owner may in a few years decide they want to do some work to it, the LT platform has so much more in the aftermarket vs the 3.6. I dont know where their head is at. To me, when I hear weekend driver I think good handling and plenty of power. The 3.6 has enough power to be fun dont get me wrong ive driven one, but my buddies 2016 SS pulls pretty hard and sounds amazing.
edit: Yes a used V8 would probably be driven harder, but so may a V6 owner who could afford a V8 so is constantly pushing it to the limit. Any used car should be analyzed, particularly a sports car.
My 3.7L Mustang does 0-60 in 5 seconds, and V8s are almost always abused. The fact that more mods are available for V8s just furthers it. My step dad has a 2020 Mustang GT, California Special edition. If there's even a low chance of rain, it stays in the garage. He drives the crap out of that car. There's more than enough horsepower to have fun. The V6 is the most likely not to be abused, plain and simple.