LoL we using big words here I have to blow the dust of my dictionary to find out what "Dichotomy" means.

 

I'd like to see it weigh less because I'd end up buying performance parts for the heavier less expensive camaro trying to make it faster or I could just spend a little more in the beginning and have a warrantied camaro that I'm alot happier with. I don't want them to turn this into a challanger, 13.3's.....that sucks! Camaros were beating that ten years ago in 98 and getting double the milage doing it.

 

Hmmm...2/3 of our poster's say cost is more important.
Ofcourse we'd all love to have our cake and eat it too, but there are many more metrics involved here than just performance...that focus didn't sell many Camaro's in the past.
My thinking is; which one will be a determining sales point for Camaro, b/c that's what we must be about right now.
The more they sell, the more likelyhood of having a light 1LE type option in the future is...
If they don't sell, who cares if they weigh 2800lbs or 4500lbs??

On that note I voted cost.

 

Yeah, I find that interesting. I wonder what a professional pollster might find if they followed up with internal polling data.

I mean for those who say that they couldn't care less about weight, is that simply an abstract statement? I mean, I'm sure that they would care about about how it drives, handles, steers, brakes, accelerates and how much gas it burns. All of those items are directly related to weight. So, I'm sure that at a certain point, they in fact do care about how much it weighs.

On the cost side, I'm sure that those not concerned about cost would walk away at a certain price point. And those who are concerned about cost might trade some cost for reduced weight, (and therefore better handling/steering/braking/acceleration/MPG), if the added cost wasn't too great.


My personal opinion? The Camaro's weight will be a bigger issue with consumers than cost. Not that they'll weigh it on a scale, but they'll see it in MPG, bulk and overall feel.

Chevy marketing I'm sure, will price this car right. So all of you guys that voted cost, had better go and buy one! All of those who voted weight - well, we're screwed.

 

I don't remember if I said I didn't care, or if I said it wasn't AS important as....

But either way, I tend to look at the whole issue as making lemonade out of lemons (hows that for abstract?). Since they chose Zeta and the car was consequently 'cursed' with its wieght limitations, I think the engineers did their best with it. IOW, I'm confident that they will make the car handle/accelerate/brakes/etc better than the 4th gens. (how could they not?!) And that's all I'm asking of them.(like I matter...)


If you're looking at it as though there's not going to be a cost issue (see your confidence in Chevy marketing comment) then it's a trap of a statement. Because everything relates to weight indirectly; like mpg/feel/handling. So if consumers aren't worried about cost, then besides asthetics and comfort they can ONLY worry about the things that are tied to weight.

Besides that...like I said above, just because it's heavy doesn't mean is HAS to handle like a truck. I think Chevy got all that right.

 

The results don't surprise me at all. There are simply far more folks that care about gadgets, emblems, B-pillars, bow tie colors, quarter windows, wheel sizes, sound systems, the sound of the exhaust, and various other things than there are those of us that put performance above all those things.

Tis life, and GM has to sell to the masses.

Bob

PS....one interesting question....did any of the "Disciples" vote for weight over cost?

 

See for yourself. It's a public poll.

But it looks to me, (I could be wrong), that no blood was splattered on the wall over weight at the Focus Group.

 

Really, huh? And I guess if the car were 3300 lbs using more expensive, light weight materials and started pricing in the $35-40K for a V6 coupe, then all the "weight" voters better pony up? Because you'll surely save that extra $10K in fuel in what, one or two years? $10K will buy you an econobox to go along with your "overweight" Camaro.

What's the mission of this car, again? What do other mass-produced coupes weigh? Is this the heaviest car in its class? Is price not a key component to its class?

I'm all for light weight. Who isn't? Even those that voted "price" are not downplaying weight. I'm sure GM isn't disregarding it--and we've had that explained to us.

 

Charlie, you have to be careful what conclusions you draw based on the results of this poll. Because you asked "what concerns you more" and not "what is more important to you", you've brought in an extra variable in addition to people's priorities.

Price is by far the more important factor to me, but I voted weight, because I am confident that GM is going to deliver Camaro at an appropriate price, whereas I am pretty sure it's going to be at least a couple hundred pounds more than I want it to be.

 

Charlie your holier than thou attitude is getting tired. Your poll asked the following:

It did not ask "what is your only concern". I'm sure many of us that voted "cost" are also concerned by weight. However, we are more concerned about the price we pay. Being that this nation is in a recession at the moment and everyone is looking to cut costs, how can anyone be surprised by this type of result, even on an enthusiast website?

You think the new Camaro is going to be too heavy. We get it. Let it die now because nothing you, me or anyone else says at this point is going to make a difference if this Camaro is going to make production. They aren't starting over from scratch and they aren't going to delay the launch another 3-5 years just so a lighter platform can be developed. Its time to move on and drop the whole weight thing for now, wait until the Camaro comes out, drive it, own it, live with it and then determine whether or not its "excessive" weight harms its performance. If it does, then add it to the list of desires for the 6th generation Camaro.

I personally don't think it will be as big of an issue as price... at least for me it probably won't be.

 

jg, either you're not getting me or I'm not getting you. Or like you sometimes do - didn't even read my post.

How is telling people that if cost is a concern, that it probably shouldn't be, and that they should just go out and buy this car - a holier than thou attitude?


Thought provoking...

The 5th gen is a go.
Or who knows, it could be killed in a meeting tomorrow or next week. I wouldn't bet on anything right now.

A new one would be built from scratch on a lighter platform.

And I wouldn't be surprised to see one 3 years from today.

And controlling mass will probably be at the top of the priority list on a possible 6th gen.

 

I think you found the MAJOR FLAW in what people are inferring the reasons people voted what they did. Had I thought about it the way you did Jake, I would have voted weight. I have to be honest though. I cant aford much more than around 30k and I want the V8. For me because thats around my ceiling price point before it gets to a point of undoable, then I want the poor mans BMW lowest weight I can get at that price. Unfortunately that wasnt an option. I am forced to choose cost. Ive noticed a few here make alot more than I do and dont have that issue.

I didnt want the B pillars. A drag car is the last thing on my list. I would have perfered the roll down windows I loved, but am happy saving that bit of weight with fixed windows.

Bob If remember correctly your vice was T-Tops that may have added weight and would have taken from the structrue. I dont think that means you dont care about weight... I just think for that ONE thing, you would perfer T Tops MORE than weight... and again to a point Im assuming.

 

Its all relative, I suppose. I do LOVE T-tops, and would sacrifice some weight gain & cost to have them. Don't get me wrong....I'd take a 3500 lbs car without T-tops before I'd take a 3900 lbs car with them....but I'd live with some weight for them.

The car is what it is. I look forward to seeing it up close in Indy.

Bob

 

what's even more tell tale is the fact the poll audience here, being comprised more of enthuisats than the "mainstream buying public".... it's still nearly 2 to 1 cost.

 

I find that interesting too. So what's your take on that Chris?