Hmm. So It's 335i or Genesis Coupe time then?

I take it she doesn't want FWD? GM has the Cobalt or G6 coupes. But you know that, so I'm guessing FWD is out (as it would be for me).

 

We're looking at the 135.
She probably wouldn't go for a Hyundai.
I've lobbied hard for a Cobalt SS (knowing full well what they can do) but it's been a non-starter as she doesn't want a sport compact - boy racer - econobox type of vehicle.
She is also seriously looking at the G37 coupe and upcoming 370Z.
We haven't entirely ruled out a Solstice GXP coupe.

FWD isn't neccesarily out for her but it is for me obviously. However, if some long lost rich uncle left me his estate and money was no longer an issue, I would really enjoy that Cobalt SS as an everyday driver as long as I could still have a V8 fun car in the garage.

 

So once again you're claiming that you know better than an entire company in terms of what's cost effective and more profitable? Get over yourself Buickman Jr. Your speculations are no better than the one's pertaining to the next Mustang's performance. Even if EVERYONE on this board hated this car it still wouldn't make up but a fraction of the total buying public (which has a drastically different view of cars than this board does.) So to say that "my idea" would have been better is nothing more than pretensious (sp?) garbage.


Even if this car will accelerate, handle, ride, and brake better than your '96 you still CANNOT have this car? Looking at more than just stats or dimensions on paper isn't really giving any car a fair shake.


Just wait till you go sit in the Hyundai. Then the real comparison can begin.
Does your gf want something that "is" lighter than 3500 lbs or "feels" lighter than 3500 lbs? If its only perception then I still wouldn't rule out the Camaro.

 

How about a C6 Corvette? '05s are down to the low-30k range these days. You can even get an LS3-powered '08 with under 10k on the odometer for 37-38k, which is close to the base price of a 135i.

 

Just did a quick comparison of a few of these cars:

Camaro 422 hp 3900lbs $30000

G37 330hp 3650lbs $35000

335i 330hp 3600lbs $38000

135i 300hp 3375lbs $29000

GXPcoupe 260hp 2900lbs $30000

All of these figues are base numbers found from various car rags and their respective websites. This is before any options. If size and weight are paramount the lower the better then the last two choices are pretty much the only option. However, these two cars are EXTREMELY small. To step up into something a little bigger then I still don't see where the Camaro falls short here. Especially since its cheaper while offering better "stats" than the others.

 

My SS is gonna be the perfect car for me. I wont 'track' it. But when I wanna open it up, it'll GO. The weight thing is not THAT big of a deal for me. GM tried to meet all of our desires, collectively. Thats a super hard task. The people on this site are ENTHUSIASTS. We're passionate about our cars(Obviously). I think the people on this site will be the toughest to please. We're also the ones that GM is gonna listen to when trying to perfect the Camaro. I just wanted to show the camaro some love....now back to your regular programming.

 

Saab 9-3 Convertible, say a 2006 with a CPO warranty (6 years or 100k).
It has 2 doors, 4 seats, isn't a pig, and for ~$700 you can tune it to 250hp and almost 290 lb/ft of torque. For a little more you can get the turbo 6. It's also quite the looker IMO.

 

I'll grant you the acceleration and definitely the ride, but handling and braking? No way. Without getting back into it, this just isn't going to happen. Not using the same size tire as the old car. Weight kills, especially in what I do with my cars.

Not looking to debate this. I've been told many times to move on. So, sadly I have. After owning a '68, a new '91 and a new '96, this car just isn't for me. I remain hopeful for a potential 6th gen.

Wife, and near as I can tell... both. And if I can't get her to even drive a Cobalt SS, I seriously doubt I could get her to sit in a Hyundai. I'll suggest it though.

I'd love a C6 and very much prefer the look of those cars over the C5 but I'd have to have a Z06. That brings us back to what I said earlier... why bother spending the extra money? The C5 Z06 still has the C6 Z06 covered and the C6 Z51 is obviously slower than the C6 Z06. I'd really be behind the 8-ball with a "normal" Corvette. I've been seeing 10K - 25K mile '03 - '04 Z06s in the $28 - $32K range. An unbelievable bargain. Besides, most everything parts wise is cheaper on the old car. Parts do wear out when you drive the poo out of cars.

Remember I'm looking for a nice street car that can pull double duty and supplement the Camaro as a race car.

*EDIT* If you mean a Corvette for my wife... I've already suggested it. She doesn't want a 'vette for the same reason she doesn't want a Camaro.

She doesn't want a Camaro. Says it just isn't her. Honestly, I sort of agree with her. Then again, a Corvette isn't me and I'm evidently going to end up in one of those. *shrug*

Once again, I know weight doesn't matter to everybody. Once again, I'm sensitive to it because of what I do with my cars. A few hundred pounds makes a big difference. Trust me. I'm sure the GM engineers would heartily agree with me. My wife has seen firsthand what weight will do to different cars. She has seen/felt the difference in my car from stock to now and from my 3rd gen to this one. I guess she has become sensitive to it as well.

Saab is actually something we've not considered. Does the GM Card money work with Saab?

 

Unfortunately no, but it's pretty easy to haggle the price on these cars. End of year models usually go for upwards of $8k off MSRP. That's not much help to use your points, but in case you did go look at them and got sticker shock that price is NOT what anyone pays.

 

I was just looking at Saab's site. No two doors? No sale.

The wife has stated that she doesn't want another four door. This took Acura and Lexus off the list from the get go. I know Lexus makes a two door in that hardtop 'vert but I refuse to let her drive something that hideous.

 

Thank you!

Your wife's opinions on Camaro (and your concurrence) illustrate that Chevy could use a coupe with a different name, to appeal to all those for whom "a Camaro isn't for me". The stigma is unfortunate, but it's probably easier not to fight it.

 

The convertible has 2 doors.

 

ding ding!

You're still not talking 4,000lb weight here (maybe 3700-3800lb) for a Genesis Coupe with a V8 - perhaps a little more - but that is still for only a 375hp V8.

Really, the shock is that Zeta sedan was meant for 500hp+ and doesnt weigh a bit more than the 375hp Genesis sedan. Not to mention the additional torque of the LS...

Stick an LSA under the hood of all 4 vehicles (with shoehorn if required) and see what happens. The Torque I bet would tear the Genesis apart.

Though I've gotta go back with Z284Ever as always - Chewbacca has proven through his (and his wife's) looking that a slightly smaller and lighter coupe with a high-end V6 would be plenty nice.

Zeta was meant to be a *lot* of vehicles. Now it isnt. This was what justified the Camaro as "profit profit profit" as the chassis costs would be so wide spread. The existence of several other Zeta vehicles would have dropped the Camaro's bottom line and obviously made GMs cars more profitable, which is a problem they have right now.

 

what about an altima coupe?

 

What about the coupe that Toyota and Subaru are supposed to be working on? Supposedly it's small, RWD (or AWD with rear bias) and last I heard was for the 2010 model year. It's supposed to be the spiritual successor to the AE86 Corolla - but hopefully with a little sportier styling.

I'm curious to see how that car pans out. If it comes in at the 20k starting price they're looking for, I think it will do well.

Not sure when it's supposed to actually hit the streets, though.