I thought the Corvette sold itself?

Why am I seeing more and more Corvette advertisements?
Yesturday I saw a Corvette commercial on TV, with a Corvette driving along in a parade at 5 MPH and the guy in it says "This is SO wrong on so many levels" LoL I gotta laugh outta that one.
I'm seeing more Corvette ads in Magazines too.
My question is WHY?

What else does Chevy have to advertise right now that's even remotely exciting to a performance enthusiast?

They already have enough truck commercials...:D

why not, im sure it doesn't hurt the sales. ;)

It's more of a branding issue than straight advertising. That's like asking why Nike bothers to advertise anymore. Nike doesn't even make their products, they contract them out. All they do is sell the Nike name. So, in a sense, GM is promoting more the Corvette namesake and lifestyle and less the actual product.

Let's see. Chevy is selling every Corvette it makes, yet it's started a new advertising campaign, but Camaro wasn't selling & that's the reason given for not advertising it?

Uh...ok. :rolleyes:

GM puts the Vette on a pedestal and kisses its @$$.:rolleyes:

Bring back the Camaro and hiatus the Corvette!! :D

Originally posted by guionM
Let's see. Chevy is selling every Corvette it makes, yet it's started a new advertising campaign, but Camaro wasn't selling & that's the reason given for not advertising it?

Uh...ok. :rolleyes:


But of course.:think:

Originally posted by CamaroBoy96Z28
GM puts the Vette on a pedestal and

cancels all internal competitors.

omg i loved that commercial.

I have proof that GM is braindead.

Do you have proof that GM is not braindead?

Originally posted by CamaroBoy96Z28
GM puts the Vette on a pedestal and kisses its @$$.:rolleyes:

That certainly wasn't the case for a very long time... Corvette was almost dead several times over.

If you haven't read it yet, read "All Corvettes Are Red"... some interesting stuff, and a lot tied to Camaro as well.

Originally posted by Darth Xed
That certainly wasn't the case for a very long time... Corvette was almost dead several times over.

If you haven't read it yet, read "All Corvettes Are Red"... some interesting stuff, and a lot tied to Camaro as well.

Especially that section where the GM design studio stopped everything they were doing to add in that nearly flat windshield to the then completed 4th gen Camaro! :D

Another interesting fact is that even the Vette now has $2000 in rebate, not including the special regional ones, or 0% for 36mo.

Wow, lots of smart people in this thread. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Mervz
Wow, lots of smart people in this thread. :rolleyes:

You thread killer, you.:death:

Originally posted by Mervz
Wow, lots of smart people in this thread. :rolleyes:

:think: :think: wtf?

Originally posted by Mervz
Wow, lots of smart people in this thread. :rolleyes:

Thank you for your interesting and productive contribution to this forum.

As others have said, I think it's more just brand advertising. If they're gonna show off Chevy, make it a Vette, what else do they have to show off?

On that note, I noticed in a Dodge ad recently that they were showing all of the Dodge cars, but they didn't show the Viper. I thought that was interesting.

Originally posted by MunchE
Thank you for your interesting and productive contribution to this forum.

As others have said, I think it's more just brand advertising. If they're gonna show off Chevy, make it a Vette, what else do they have to show off?

On that note, I noticed in a Dodge ad recently that they were showing all of the Dodge cars, but they didn't show the Viper. I thought that was interesting.

Oh c'mon. I've added more to this forum than you ever will.

I'm just sickened by the pure ignorance of some of the comments expressed on this forum.

Originally posted by Meccadeth
Why am I seeing more and more Corvette advertisements?
Yesturday I saw a Corvette commercial on TV, with a Corvette driving along in a parade at 5 MPH and the guy in it says "This is SO wrong on so many levels" LoL I gotta laugh outta that one.
I'm seeing more Corvette ads in Magazines too.
My question is WHY?

Would you rather see a Malibu or Cavalier commercial?

How many folks remember the discussion at GM a few years ago when they thought about putting the Corvette brand on certain powerplants, in an effort to capitalize on all the goodness of that name? Similar stuff here, but to a lesser degree.

Originally posted by Eric Bryant
How many folks remember the discussion at GM a few years ago when they thought about putting the Corvette brand on certain powerplants, in an effort to capitalize on all the goodness of that name? Similar stuff here, but to a lesser degree.

Ya, there was even talk of separating Corvette from Chevrolet, and making Corvette it's own brand... :think: :rolleyes:

A little extreme and whacky there, but I've always felt Chevrolet had done a poor job of using Corvette as an image car... they should show Corvette more... use that vested interest.

Look how often Dodge shows Viper in their corporate commercials!

Originally posted by Mervz
Oh c'mon. I've added more to this forum than you ever will.

I'm just sickened by the pure ignorance of some of the comments expressed on this forum.

Someone's a bit full of themselves. Go back to trying to lord around whatever "inside information" you think you have, and stop trolling.

If you feel something needs correction, correct it. That would be a contribution. Insulting people is not a contribution, thus making you a troll.

And if it makes you feel better, I'll bow out of the e***** waving contest and let you feel like a big man.

Originally posted by cmc
I have proof that GM is braindead.

Do you have proof that GM is not braindead?

Yes.

Originally posted by 1fastdog
Yes.

Not that I don't believe you....but I'd like to see it.

Originally posted by MunchE
Someone's a bit full of themselves. Go back to trying to lord around whatever "inside information" you think you have, and stop trolling.

If you feel something needs correction, correct it. That would be a contribution. Insulting people is not a contribution, thus making you a troll.

And if it makes you feel better, I'll bow out of the e***** waving contest and let you feel like a big man.

I don't need anyone to make me feel like a "big man".

I'm just sick and tired of people bashing GM for no reason, and then doing so ignorantly. It's to the point where nothing i could ever write could convince some people on this board, so i don't even try much anymore.

Out of anyone on this board (besides Red and other GM employees), i've most likely driven more of GM's new vehicles than most. I take the time to made educated opinions on what GM is doing, why they do it, and the reason why it is done the way it is done. Most here do not use this logic, and simply spout off why they think GM is wrong in one way or another.

If by chance you make it to this years F-Body bash in September, PLEASE seek me out. :)

Originally posted by Mervz
I don't need anyone to make me feel like a "big man".

I'm just sick and tired of people bashing GM for no reason, and then doing so ignorantly.

Mervz......you've got to admit....you are pretty rude.

If you're tired of people bashing GM, maybe give some facts to support you're position, instead of personally attacking everyone for their comments.

Who knows....we might even get an intelligent debate going.:cool:

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Mervz
I'm just sick and tired of people bashing GM for no reason, and then doing so ignorantly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I see where you are coming from Mervz, but there are better ways to get your point across. Yeah, the people on this board are pretty negative, but we need to give them the reasons why not to be this way, rather than insult them. I too have driven every single GM product except Hummer and Saab, and conclude similiar thoughts to your own. But lets distribute these thoughts in a manner that we don't bash another's. :)

Originally posted by Z284ever
Mervz......you've got to admit....you are pretty rude.

If you're tired of people bashing GM, maybe give some facts to support you're position, instead of personally attacking everyone for their comments.

Who knows....we might even get an intelligent debate going.:cool:

Ok, well then I apologize.

Its not my intent to be rude in the least.

The fact that GM is finally making some kick ass commercials is great. I LOVE the new Grand Prix commercial, and the parade vette commercial made me laugh out loud. It's just perfect.

But, to then ask "why??" and rag on the fact that GM never advertised the Camaro is understandable, but needs reason.

But, in the same way that I act like an idiot not providing facts, so do most who bash GM. I guess we're equal.

Now, people understand. The corvette is an image car. Obviously we all know why Chevy would want to promote the car all it can. But, that leads to "why not the camaro? The camaro would have sold if they would have advertised it... etc.."

Now, I'm trying to think of the best way of presenting this. Anyone who wanted a Camaro, knew what a Camaro was. No-one mistook it for a probe, or a mustang, or a corvette. And, as we all know, the V8 vastly outsold the V6.

But well, that's not the case for Mustang, which obviously got more marketing $$ than Camaro. Why? Was GM nuts??

Not really. 40% of Mustang sales are fleet sales (rental car, company car, etc..) Most of those being to Ford itself (Hertz). Only 40% total of Mustang was V8, with very very few being a Cobra.

Taking a look at marketing demographics, we see more insight to why Chevrolet wouldn't have to market Camaro as much, and why more marketing wouldn't have made a difference.

When polled, a group of Camaro and Mustang owners were asked "If (Camaro/Mustang) wasn't made, which car would you most likely choose next?". You'd think that each would pick the other, correct? Not exactly.
The Camaro group showed a heavy bias to buying a Mustang if the Camaro wasn't around. The Mustang group on the other hand chose smaller cars like probe or Cavalier. Waiiiiit one stinking second. Hold the phone.

"So, you're telling me that Mustang buyers wouldn't buy a Camaro, but Camaro buyers would buy a Mustang??". Well, or so the studies have suggested.

Then you have to think, "Ok, so if there was advertisements, who would it effect??". Well, that's the point. If everyone who wants to buy a Camaro knows about one, then what are you doing other than waste money?

The Camaro was a focused, 4 person sports car. No compromises. Obviously not for everyone. Unlike Mustang, which as we all know, does pretty good as a V6 everyday car, but lacks when it really comes down to true performance all around (I'm talking about GT).

Camaro is a car that, in its latest iteration, didn't appeal to as wide of a group of people as other cars did. So, the only way to make a future car viable is to do one of two things. Either make the car more appealing to a wider audience, or made the platform profitable at lower numbers. the best outcome is a combo of each. Thus is the struggle inside GM right now.

I have a hard time swallowing the "All potential Camaro buyers know about Camaro" reason for not advertising the car...

What about those who didn't know they still made the car? We hear this fairly often.

What about those potential buyers who do not own a Mustang, and wouldn't be involved in that one survey (though I am sure that is but one of many surveys)

What about those who visualize the Camaro as a car that is totally incompitant in the snow? They have no clue about ASR. A feature that even Scott himself said makes Camaro actually BETTER in the snow than some FWD cars!

What about those who see the Camaro as the "Mullet-Mobile"? Without fresh marketing, how are they supposed to push past this image?

What about those who visualize the car as 'unsafe' for whatever reason? GM needs to advertise the top-level frontal crash rating!

I could list a bunch more, but you get the idea. :)

Understand what you are saying Mervz, but there seems to be plenty of people who didn't even know Camaro was still around before it was discontinued. Also, as JasonE pointed out, even some dealers knew nothing about them, and in the hands of a knowledgeable sales person, Camaros (or f-bodies in general) could have no doubt done better.

Another point, I'm going to assume you are right about 40% of Mustangs going to fleets. By also upping Camaro's sales 40%, it's still less than 45,000 cars per year. Mustangs sold 180,000 the last year it competed against Camaro. Even adding in Firebird, and a 40% increase there as well, Mustang still has a 100,000 car advantage. Looking at only V8 models, Mustang has a huge advantage. Looking at only the quanity of male buyers, Mustang has a huge advantantage. So it becomes pretty inescapable either the Camaro was purposely run into the ground (for whatever purpose: good or bad) or it's a texbook case of incompetence, especially in the light that in 1997, the f-bodies (at least when combined) did extremely well against the Mustang.

I won't doubt the results of buyers of Camaros & Mustangs flipping, however I went from a Mustang to a Camaro, and so did my sister. I'm open to other models for my next car, but my sis is now strongly Camaro, and plans to be the 1st in line to get a new one. The guy that bought a 93 Camaro Z28 I picked up and resold was also a former Mustang (89 GT) owner. So though I won't doubt the results of that poll, I think it should be kept in perspective and realize it does happen the other way.

There's perhaps a half dozen reasons Camaro was cancelled, and in all honesty, I don't know enough about GM politics to say authoritively if it was for the best, or if it was a completely idiotic move. But being that this is a Z28 site and there's no Z28, and there was no doubt the intent to end it that began many years before it finally was cancelled, of course alot of guys here are going to be near downright hostile to GM.

But at the same time, things can quickly change. If someone had come here 2 1/2 years ago and say Cadillac would be the hottest American auto brand, that person would have been laughed off the site. It will be intresting to jump ahead to June 2006 and see what's being said about GM then. ;)

Originally posted by Mervz

The fact that GM is finally making some kick ass commercials is great. I LOVE the new Grand Prix commercial, and the parade vette commercial made me laugh out loud. It's just perfect.

But, to then ask "why??" and rag on the fact that GM never advertised the Camaro is understandable, but needs reason.



Where would we be if we never asked "why?" I'm pretty sure that was aimed at me, and I have plenty of reasons to back up why I would ask why. Everyone KNOWS what a Corvette is if their older than the age of 10. Its like knowing the name Michael Jordan. Sure it was a funny commercial, but why waste the money on that, rather than getting a Cavalier a little spotlight? Making it look a little more 'cool' to the young crowd...

Originally posted my Mervz

Now, people understand. The corvette is an image car. Obviously we all know why Chevy would want to promote the car all it can. But, that leads to "why not the camaro? The camaro would have sold if they would have advertised it... etc.."

Now, I'm trying to think of the best way of presenting this. Anyone who wanted a Camaro, knew what a Camaro was. No-one mistook it for a probe, or a mustang, or a corvette. And, as we all know, the V8 vastly outsold the V6.

Taking a look at marketing demographics, we see more insight to why Chevrolet wouldn't have to market Camaro as much, and why more marketing wouldn't have made a difference.

Then you have to think, "Ok, so if there was advertisements, who would it effect??". Well, that's the point. If everyone who wants to buy a Camaro knows about one, then what are you doing other than waste money?



Untrue, this may be opening a whole new discussion, but I gotta say this for the point of arguement. I was never really a 'car guy' until a few years ago when I saw a '01 Camaro Z28 SOM...It was beautiful! I saw it at a local car dealership. Until then I never really knew more about Camaro's other than my friend had a 3rd Gen and it was pretty cool looking. Never saw any commercials, never really heard anything about it other than some 'car guy' friends talking about them in convo's every once in a while...

I was a potential car buyer for this car, based solely on looks and comfort. I got to sit in that car, and I loved it, never test drove it though (I was 17 at the time). It had a 23K sticker, and I was thinking that seemed pretty fair. I had no idea about the performance of the car. I had no idea about its history. The only reason I didn't buy it was because I asked my mom to cosign for it w/ me, she went along w/ it, then I showed her the car when I got there and she had a fit about the insurance and that pretty much ended that for me :) Then it was gone a week later. :(

It was by LUCK that I became a Camaro enthusiast and later a 'car guy'. Think of how many more people missed their chance to be Camaro enthusiasts or Camaro buyers based solely on GMs lack of advertising for the product...

Originally posted by Darth Xed
but I've always felt Chevrolet had done a poor job of using Corvette as an image car... they should show Corvette more... use that vested interest.

Look how often Dodge shows Viper in their corporate commercials!

Wow, imagine that I agree with Darth :) Must be something they put in the Ohio water!

Ford puts the Cobra in anything they can get their hands on, the GT is all over. DC uses the Viper similar. Acura/Honda use the NSX and S2k. Even Caddy is putting the XLR all over.

Use the halo car for what its worth, halo-ing (new word?).

I think it's odd that GM would think that no advertising was necessary when a signifant number of the general population didn't even know they still made camaros. I was surprised how often I got comments like "they still make those?"

Besides, remember all those commercials in the 90's where they would show practically EVERY chevrolet EXCEPT camaro in the same commercial? :think:

It's all too eerie to me. I think a vast right foot conspiracy killed affordable performance at GM.

Originally posted by Z284ever
Not that I don't believe you....but I'd like to see it.

It all depends on what it is you are looking for, and how you perceive what you see.

I'm not ever going to make someone less angry or more happy with GM in a few lines. Customers always make their own choices and, like it or not, that's their own reality.

A few examples of what leads me to believe GM isn't, for a fact. braindead?

Let's consider the avid exploration of improving the pushrod motor, active R&D in overhead cam tech, fuels cell tech, fuel cells R&D, and leading tech in computer control of vehicle systems.

Factory backed racing efforts in multiple venues particularly in roadracing. Look to see Caddy racing again but with something akin to what they sell.

Strong families of engines coming that will continue to prove pushrods ain't dead, that OHC is not the sole domain of eurotech or asiantech, that there's over the counter toys for more than just the SBC.

Feel what you might, but GM lead the way with keeping the economy going through car deals that were hard to refuse post 9-11.

More RWD is coming and a revitalized car lineup is taking shape faster than you think. Caddy, first, then Pontiac, run down the list... what's here is good, what's coming is even more impressive. Expect proof that going fast and paying a penalty in MPG isn't how it has to be.

Keep in mind smallblocks can get to golden age displacements and beyond golden age power ratings....

I've seen what GM is already doing, and peeked over the fence and have seen what's coming... like I said, it's perception. It may not appeal to everyone but it certainly isn't braindead.

I'm hoping that what winds your personal watch is coming soon from GM. I hope it will be priced where you feel it's worth it.

Originally posted by 1fastdog


I'm hoping that what winds your personal watch is coming soon from GM. I hope it will be priced where you feel it's worth it.

Me too. And I pretty much agree with your whole post.

I think that I'll kiss and make up with GM when the cars that we are speculating about actually hit the street. I'll feel even better if some of those cars rise above the lowest common (GM) denominator and actually become special.


Did I ever mention that I'm waiting for a REAL Z/28?

Originally posted by Z284ever
Me too. And I pretty much agree with your whole post.

I think that I'll kiss and make up with GM when the cars that we are speculating about actually hit the street. I'll feel even better if some of those cars rise above the lowest common (GM) denominator and actually become special.


Did I ever mention that I'm waiting for a REAL Z/28?

If GM doesn't earn your business then shame on us.

GM wants your business and I hope you will be patient, if possible.

I would like to point out that no part of my post was directed at any particular person. So, please, no-one take it personal.

Anyone who did not know the camaro was still being made is obviously very out of touch.

I'm just telling you what happened. The choice to stop making the car was made in 1999 (i think thats the correct year). It was all Ron Zarrella and the CAFE restrictions that never happened. By the time GM realised that there would not be any restrictions, there wasn't enough time to put anything together for the 03 model year.

Why spend money on an old model? Do you know how much money a TV commercial or print ad costs??????

Originally posted by 1fastdog
If GM doesn't earn your business then shame on us.

GM wants your business and I hope you will be patient, if possible.


That's refreshing.:)

Originally posted by Chuck!
Wow, imagine that I agree with Darth :) Must be something they put in the Ohio water!

Ford puts the Cobra in anything they can get their hands on, the GT is all over. DC uses the Viper similar. Acura/Honda use the NSX and S2k. Even Caddy is putting the XLR all over.

Use the halo car for what its worth, halo-ing (new word?).

Great minds think alike, my friend! :D

I think you, me and Z28Wilson may have been seperated at birth or something!! :lol:

Originally posted by Darth Xed
I think you, me and Z28Wilson may have been seperated at birth or something!! :lol:

I don't know, but being born and raised in Michigan I can assure you Ohio water is garbage! :eek: ;) :lol: