I am truly bummed for anyone who is stuck in that situation and I am not judging anyone, but it simply isn't reasonable to expect that anything to be better but the same price or less as its predecessor 6 years ago. To put it in current situation, can anyone today reasonably expect a new 2016 model year Camaro to be theoretically much better, more powerful, and have more features but cost less than it does right now?

A fully loaded SS wasn't $30k in 2002. Here is my window sticker:
http://www.phantomss.com/camaro/wind...ker/index.html

Heck, my 1996 Camaro SS was around $30k, closer to $31k if I remember correctly. That car was great then, but is only a fraction of what a 2010 Camaro is. Take a 1996 Camaro SS at sticker price. Paying 1996 prices, buy whatever items and services it takes to be equivalent to a 2010 Camaro SS in performance and features and you will be WELL above a 2010 Camaro price.

Make no mistake, I wish it was not as much either. No one is thrilled about paying more for anything. Hell, I wish it was less than $25k for a 2010 Camaro loaded to the hilt but expecting it to be that way simply isn't reasonable.

 

 

I think many of the frustrations lie with the intense focus on the V6 car by GM, which unfortunately is not on many of our (the posters on this board) horizons . The V6 is going to be the home run hitter, and I am hoping that it will register loudly with the general buying public. It just so happens that it's not even anything that most anyone on this board will consider, including myself. Congrats to GM for creating a truly awesome car for the money in the V6, and my condolences to those who wanted a cheaper V8.

 

Unfortunately im in that position. Cost of wages has not gone up with the cost of living, sadly, and in my area, Southern State that it is, unfortunately may be hit harder than other areas.

I am a computer person at USC here, and I can relate to what you say about it not being reasonable to expect that a better product at lower price isnt reasonable, but at the same time, why not? look at computers. Today you can buy and build you a 1000 times better pc than you bought in 2001 or 2002 for LESS. Much less when you incorporate value versus dollar. I've been in Computers for my entire career since 1997, and that's been the trend, lower prices, more product since they debued. yes, the inital price of the part is expensive, but the price does go down hill quite rapidly.

yea, and i think thats my hang up. The fact that I do not make more than i did in 2001 or 2002,(when in fact i now make less) where as cost of gas has tripled, cost of food has doubled, etc etc.. and thus i think the majority of "Joe Sixpack" (lol ) folks are not going to be able to buy a v8 car new... and we all know that the v8 cars is what most of us on the forums here or elsewhere want, and also know that we cant afford them takes the wind out of our sails so to speak.

It's not GM's fault per sae.. its more of the problems we're facing in our economy / government, but thats another argument entirely.

 

I think the price is too close to the vette and will essentially just spur people onto that car instead.

I have not been a fan of this car admittedly and the interior is the deal killer for me (as if the lack of T-tops wasnt)..

At over 35K for a V8 and forcing people to have "packages" instead of strippers its just not worth it. I like my stuff MY WAY.. Burger King got it right..

 

The pricing is nowhere near close to the Vette. Unless of course you're looking at left over 08's with the huge discounts. Let's compare apples to apples to be fair.

 

don't forget to think about full coverage insurance on a brand new vehicle too.

 

and taxes.. shoot in 2003, my 01 z's annual taxes were 650.00

highway robbery.

 

Annual taxes on cars? Must be state-specific. How does it work?

Other than insurance, all we have to do in Michigan is keep the car registered. Costs me ~$100/year for my '02.

 

here in SC we get hit for taxes on our personal property. Both houses and cars. On top of cars, we get hit for registration fees as well, and they have some sort of formula they use for the taxes, based on county / school district. For instance, my taxes and registration for my 91 z droptop was 45.00 this year, however for my 2001 z28 it was 267.00 this year. Every 2 years we also get hit with a license plate renewal as well which doubles the normal registration from 18.00 to like 36.00 or soemthing.. kinda backwards.

houses get the same treatment for property taxes, as does land.

Taxes on autos, was a major reason a couple years ago when we were looking at new Tahoes, for us not getting one. I think first year tax bill for it was somewhere upward of 1600.00

 

Same here in Missouri - houses, cars, boats, livestock. Any "real" property.

They use an amortization schedule, so the taxes on your vehicle are highest when they are new and then gradually go down from there. For a $25,000 vehicle they are usually around $1,200.

It's a real factor when car shopping in states that charge personal property tax.

We also have the joys of having to have an annual state safety inspection of your vehicle to renew your plates here.

 

yea, that amortization scheudle sounds right for SC as well.

We dont have inspection anymore, so at least we have that plus.

 

I think the price is fair... Unfortunatly there will be people bummed out about it as it is out of their budget - can't blame em for wanting it for less It is a privledge and a luxury to own this car, and the price (to me) is about right for that...

 

I totally agree. I don't think I'll be able to budget it this year due to other commitments, but it's definitely on my buy list for the 2011 model, unless I decide to use my down payment on a house, which would be a more intelligent choice.

 

I remember thinking that about the 4th gen - there were some options, like suspension choices, but for an enthusiast car that is likely to get modded, a more a la carte approach would be better, with you being able to order a base model plus exactly what you want. The same type of option structure is present on most Chevys today, looking at the HHR's options, it almost feels like you're paying for the option to have options with some of the trim levels. Can't even have a tailpipe trim on a base model. For the HHR SS there's options for performance seats, and Brembo brakes...no suspension options though. GM's production systems seem to have never been flexible enough to deal with this approach, but they're going to have to change to survive.