For a long time there was considerable doubt that GM's boy racer cars would return for the 2000 model year because of declining sales, but here they are back with a couple of changes and bigger sticker prices.
Those bigger stickers on Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird are not inconsequential. The base price for a coupe with the famous Camaro moniker is now $25,890, up from $23,100, while the base Firebird goes from $24,865 to $27,430.
For those who don't want to do the math, those are increases well in excess of 10 per cent on each model. And there are precious few new or extra standard features to account for the increases -- just integrated child seat tether anchors and a couple of new exterior color choices.
Both of those models come with a 3.8-litre V-6 which delivers 200 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 225 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm, delivered to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission.
There's also a 5.7-litre V-8 that produces 305 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 335 pound-feet of torque at 4000, attached to either a 6-speed manual or the 4-speed automatic. This is the standard engine on the Camaro Z28 and the Pontiac Trans Am and optional on the lower-priced models.
To get the 4-speed automatic on base models of Firebird and Camaro, it costs an extra $1,100.