Camaro Chief Engineer:"we've called Jenny Craig"!
ALMIGHTY MEMBER
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,298
From: Detroit, MI USA
Yeah, that's the thing. People say things for different reasons. Maybe as a joke. Maybe not as a joke. Is this a breakthrough or BS. If you know them personally or are present, you can get a better impression of their true meaning.
I met Doug Houlihan very briefly in Detroit last year, but I really didn't get a chance to talk to him or get to know him, (Doug Harden and his crew were pretty much hoggin' him
).
I will say that I have tried to speak to anyone and everyone possible, who might have any influence on the Camaro - and who will listen - regarding my obsession with controlling weight/size/mass on the Camaro. In fact, I had a very long, enjoyable and interesting phone conference with the VLE of the program last year, (GREAT GUY!!), regarding my input into the Camaro. This was just one of the messages I pressed home with him - and also on different occassions, with Bob Lutz and many others. I think if I mention it one more time to our buddy Scott, he's going to punch me in the forehead.
Anyway, weight is an issue which everyone I spoke to is concerned with regarding the Camaro, and GM has set some very optimistic target weights. On the other hand, Zeta is a generally very heavy architecture to start with, and upcoming crash standards will only exacerbate the "weight issue".
So, was Houlihan just making an off the cuff remark - or was he serious? Maybe Scott can chime in, not on specifics, but on Doug Houlihan's intent.
I met Doug Houlihan very briefly in Detroit last year, but I really didn't get a chance to talk to him or get to know him, (Doug Harden and his crew were pretty much hoggin' him
).I will say that I have tried to speak to anyone and everyone possible, who might have any influence on the Camaro - and who will listen - regarding my obsession with controlling weight/size/mass on the Camaro. In fact, I had a very long, enjoyable and interesting phone conference with the VLE of the program last year, (GREAT GUY!!), regarding my input into the Camaro. This was just one of the messages I pressed home with him - and also on different occassions, with Bob Lutz and many others. I think if I mention it one more time to our buddy Scott, he's going to punch me in the forehead.
Anyway, weight is an issue which everyone I spoke to is concerned with regarding the Camaro, and GM has set some very optimistic target weights. On the other hand, Zeta is a generally very heavy architecture to start with, and upcoming crash standards will only exacerbate the "weight issue".
So, was Houlihan just making an off the cuff remark - or was he serious? Maybe Scott can chime in, not on specifics, but on Doug Houlihan's intent.
Yes - you are correct, I AM going to punch you!
That is the EXACT reason I posted that post in the first place!!!!
AS I've been saying for -- let me see-- FOREVER -- is this: Weight is our enemy -- we need to do whatever we can to reduce it. That said -- we also have to bring the car in at an affordable price.......so it IS a balancing act. We have to think out of the box on this one..........and we are!
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 27
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
I don't care if the interior is 2 milk crates, just give me the 6.2 supercharged in a car that weighs under 3700lb's. Just think what this thing would run, the 03-04 Cobra's are still kicking @ss on the streets and this is an even more powerful engine combo. I would really like to see another 1SC package like my old one but I don't think that is gonna happen anymore according to Scott.
Another member of the "Engine-In-A-Box" brigade.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 336
From: Indianapolis
Registered User
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 3,252
From: Knoxville, TN
We all have our personal preferences - and noones personal preference is better or worse than anybody else's. Just different.
And BTW, I don't advocate milk crates....though cloth, manual seats would be nice.
And BTW, I don't advocate milk crates....though cloth, manual seats would be nice.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 311
I live in Texas. and i have a personal preference for Black on Black cars, so i do not want to have to get *** burning leather, but at the same time, i want all my power features, and a manual tranny, with some nice other features, aka: HUD, Upgraded Stereo.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 150
Weight bad. Spendy bad. Broken stuff bad. Light good. Simple good. Inexpensive good.
Although, having said that, if the car is going to have the wiring installed anyway then the question becomes "how much do we really save by offering manual seats". If the weight/complexity/cost savings are negligible then they'll just offer one type of seat and go for it.
Registered User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,557
From: Dallas, Texas
I'm definitely in the minority. I want the car to have some items to make the car be comparable to a BMW on the inside (the GTO was very close to what I want on the inside). I want
1) paddle shifters and a 6-speed auto
2) GPS navigation (NOT onstar; I want a display screen)
3) A very nice leather interior even if it is vinyl, just as long as it is thick and plush
4) soft plastic that doesn't make squeaks or rattles, I can't stand how hard the plastic is in the current Mustang
5) tilt steering wheel and electric adjustable seats
Note to anyone who says I should just buy a vette: NO.
Other than that, I want
1) it to sound so good that I never have to turn on the radio (just like our 35th LE SS)
2) be powerful enough to give me a rush, but not enough to rush me to the hospital
3) not have body panels that get so easily door dinged (like those damn steel rear quarterpanels on our 4th gens--those should have been made of RMC or whatever in my opinion)
Things I couldn't care less about:
1) how much it weighs; so long as the car is safe, isn't sluggish, and doesn't break my jack when I raise it for an oil change
2) heated seats
3) t-tops or any other removeable roof (moonroof/sunroof might be nice to just be able to slide a plastic cover back to expose though)
4) onstar
1) paddle shifters and a 6-speed auto
2) GPS navigation (NOT onstar; I want a display screen)
3) A very nice leather interior even if it is vinyl, just as long as it is thick and plush
4) soft plastic that doesn't make squeaks or rattles, I can't stand how hard the plastic is in the current Mustang
5) tilt steering wheel and electric adjustable seats
Note to anyone who says I should just buy a vette: NO.
Other than that, I want
1) it to sound so good that I never have to turn on the radio (just like our 35th LE SS)
2) be powerful enough to give me a rush, but not enough to rush me to the hospital
3) not have body panels that get so easily door dinged (like those damn steel rear quarterpanels on our 4th gens--those should have been made of RMC or whatever in my opinion)
Things I couldn't care less about:
1) how much it weighs; so long as the car is safe, isn't sluggish, and doesn't break my jack when I raise it for an oil change
2) heated seats
3) t-tops or any other removeable roof (moonroof/sunroof might be nice to just be able to slide a plastic cover back to expose though)
4) onstar
Last edited by Brangeta; Jan 30, 2007 at 07:20 PM.