1989 Chevrolet Camaro Iroc-Z

The 1989 Camaro is Chevrolet's pony car, offered as a coupe or convertible with T-tops that give you open-air driving without a full convertible's compromises. It accelerates hard and handles well, though the ride is low and you will want to take it easy in heavy rain because it hydroplanes easily. The interior is cheaply trimmed, rear seat belts are lap-only, and the factory stereo was poor even when new, but the seats are inviting and the dash has a clean, driver-focused layout. Gas mileage is low and good tires are expensive, but parts are cheap and the simple engine is easy to work on yourself. The RS is the value pick of the Camaro lineup, giving up the Iroc-Z's firmer suspension and body cladding for a smoother daily ride and a lower price. Its 5.0L V8 with the automatic transmission is no drag-strip terror, but it pulls strongly from a stop and cruises quietly at highway speeds while returning 18 mpg combined. The RS came standard with a 5-speed manual, so this automatic example trades some driver engagement for easier stop-and-go driving.