my94blackz

I was taking a break from yard work today and flipped the tv to SPEED. The "American Muscle Car" show was on about the camaro. You know what there intro was about? How smart chevy was by making the camaro highly customizible and have a VERY wide open option list. It also said they made the car to where it could be ordered with almost any engine in the chevy stable.

1. base 6cly
2. base 350
3. SS 350
4. SS 396
5. SS 396 HO

Now this is a vague view of it, but thats a general purpose. WTF GM why cant you do this today. All we got in the 4th gen was

1. base 6cyl
2. Z28
3. SS (with pretty much the same engine as the Z28)

If you wanted the car to appeal as many as possible in 1967 and 2009, why not do the same thing in 2009?

jg95z28

• Cost
• Profit
• Shareholders
• All of the above

TrickStang37

what was a pony car doing on a muscle car show?

my94blackz

They need to tell Ford how bad of a combo that is cause seems they dont mind. But your right the CONSUMER doesnt matter.

DeuceGI

Well for one thing when the original F-car premiered GM did not have to go through the very expensive process of certifying powertrains for EPA emissions and fuel economy standards. Also the base engine in the 4th gen was easily more economical than the thrifty base six in '67 and the V8 (LT1 or LS1) would better any of the RPO V8's (stock for stock) in the 1st gen, so from a production economy perspective why would GM want or need 6 engines when 2 could do the same job. Its the same reason you see cars offered today with maybe three trim levels/option packages and a dozen individual options instead of the ala carte style options of the 60's
This doesn't even take into account the drastically different demographics and market for "pony" cars then and now. I'm not saying its right, I'm just saying it is.

skorpion317

+1.

That's why there's only option packages nowadays.

BitchinCamaro

The automotive market is very different from 40 years ago... There were really only 3 car companies competing in the US then, and every one loved 1 of them. Now there are what, 10 serious competitors? Things need to be much more streamlined and calculated now, no taking chances like the good ol' days.
That being said, Chevy can make the car 'customizable' with cheaper options like wheels, stripe packages, interior accents. Look at Scion, boring cars, that are complete sold based on the "make it your own" idea.

skorpion317

Are you serious? Name one current Ford car where you can pick and choose every individual option separately.

skorpion317

Depending on what you define as "serious", there's really only maybe 5 or 6 "serious" competitors now.

my94blackz

Ford:
1. Base
2. GT
3. Bullet
4. Mach 1
5. Cobra
6. Roush
7. Shelby
8. Salleen

Im pretty sure you could buy most of those at a local ford dealer in the last 9 years.

Gm:
1. Base
2. RS
3. Z28
4. SS

Umm your gonna tell me one company can do it but not the other?

DeuceGI

Roush, Shelby & Saleen are aftermarket tuner cars. Following that logic you'd have to at least include the various GMMG packages in the GM list.

my94blackz

So you cant buy a Roush, Shelby & Saleen right off a dealer lot with 0 miles?

DeuceGI

Plus arguably Firebird, Formula, and Trans Am would fit the GM list as well.

DeuceGI

Sure you can, just like you could buy a Berger or HRM car from Berger Chevrolet w/ 0 miles, the various Dale Earnhardt GMMG cars from his Chevy dealership, The Tom Henry car from Tom Henry Chevrolet...

cmg06s

who cares 3 is good enough