Ok, not really but hear me out.

I posted briefly about this in the G6 GTP coupe six speed thread. It was the first time I'd driven a 3.9L ( Camaro 5th gen base motor?). Add manual trans, a 2+2 coupe body of similar size and mass, suspension tune that "I think" might be comparable a base 5th gen, and it's not hard to imagine what a base 5th gen might kinda, sorta, feel like.

Of course G6 coupe is FWD....and I'd expect a Zeta RWD Camaro to feel more balanced - and be more fun. And of course, I also hope it would look waaaaay cooler and be afew inches shorter. But the general packaging, powertrain, etc., got me thinking about it. Could make a nice, FUN, affordable daily driver for lots of people. Think about it! People buying a base Camaro because it's fun.

BTW, if the current V6 Mustang -for some weird reason- came with the new GM 3.9L V6, instead of that loud, coarse, truck motor it currently has......the whole car would be raised to the next level. Imagine the next Camaro having that motor and a better chassis than the current Mustang. Cheap fun!

 

Sounds like a plan. If thats what it takes for the base model to get the volume it needs, I hope it is a big hit. But how much HP is the V6 going to need? It cant be slower than V6 maximas and others can it? Im not even sure what the Gm 3.9L is rated at now...

 

How is the performance of that combo? I have not driven a 3.9 car and I have not seen the performance data for the G6 3.9.

 

0-60 is quoted at 6.6 seconds, per GM. So basically, its as fast as a 3800 s/c W body

With the G6 weighing in around 3,400 lbs, and a new Camaro probably...what...3,500 lbs in base trim at the most? Here's your new base car, as Charlie said. And to me, that's awesome

I think of old base cars, and I've been excited to think this "HV" 3.9 would be our new base engine long before I drove one. Now that I've driven one? Wow...refined...torquey...18/29 with the 6 speed. Its GMs best V6 right now aside from the HF 3.6, in my opinion. Its funny to think of base models from years past. 3800s were solid for their time, but the pre '96 base models? Forget it. I've mentioned before my 2.8 '89 Camaro that was my first car. When it was NEW it was obsolete. By '02? It was painful. I remember my father asking the dealership shortly after purchase if the car was really running on all 6 cylinders, it was so slow 135hp in 3,100 lbs, and a 0-60 of 11 seconds with an AT will do that to you.

Great first car for me, because it was impossible to kill myself. But this new base car? Its gonna be great...its funny, because if I do indeed buy my dad's Formula in another 2 years when the GP is paid off, my first "new Camaro" might actually be a V6 driver

 

It doesn't need to be faster than Maximas/Altimas/350Z/G35... because it is a base engine in a vehicle that costs anywhere from 3K to 15K less. The Nissan VQ 3.5 is the top engine in its lineup (discard 5.6 V8 which shows up in FX56 and Titan).

It should be decent enough to run with most imports, and anything that gets low 15's is sufficient. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

 

What are you talking about Jason? My RS hauls @$$ down the highway.

I agree with muckz. This is a base engine. I think anything over 200 is sufficient enough. If you need more, just pony up for the base V8.

 

A 6.5 second 0-60 would probably feel quick enough for most people in the volume car. My wife had a '99 Maxima manual that did about that, and if the base Camaro can hang with that car in terms of straight line acceleration, I think you would definitely have a volume winner. Just make it handle better.

Makes sense too, give it similar displacement as the base Mustang, but better performance.

Agreed on the 4.0 v6 Mustang, not inspiring at all, even with the manual. Maybe the "Pony" package will help it out, but definitely a pure "looks" cruiser. Felt slow and boat like. For that kind of performance, I better get closer to 30mpg.

 

Yeah, I'd say the 3.9 is substantially smoother than the 3800. A couple of generations smoother/more refined than the Mustang's 4.0.

I don't want to give the impression that this V6 is as refined or smooth as BMW's I6, but the 3.9 in a relatively compact RWD car, could be like a (very) poor man's 325i. That sure would make a nice driving base Camaro to me.

 

I would hope a base v6 Camaro runs miod 14s, The last 02 v6s were already turning low 15s. The 3.9 could very well be making more power by the time the Camaro comes out as well. I definetly think mid 14s in a base would appeal to alot of people, it is not blazing fast, but quick enough to have fun.

 

Say what you want about Mustang's V6 being rough, but it sure does move!

With the base Mustang slated to get a cammer with even more power soon, the bar's going to be raised.

One thing that I think people tend to forget when making predictions on how one current car might do next to a future one from a competitor is that the competition IS NOT STATIONARY!!!! A hypothetical 2008 Camaro might run circles around a comparable 2005 Mustang, but what about the 2008 Mustang.

It pays to know what your competition is doing. Another big reason for secrecy.

 

Good thing you added that smily Saying that is so wrong, on so many levels...

Slow or not, I wish I still had it. As I've said before, the $4k I got for it, while a ton of cash for a mint, 96k mile 13 year old V6 Camaro, wasn't worth getting rid of the car for. I actually dream about finding it somewhere and bringing it home...I know I never will, because I know it was totaled 6 months after I bought it.

My fiance is offended I dream of my old car, and not her. I told her she should be happy I'm not dreaming of someone else

I slept on the couch that night

 

Yes, Jason, I have to say, everytime you bring up your old car, it makes my clutch on for dear life on mine even more. Not sure how I could ever bring myself to sell it. It's now a part of me I suppose.
You need to sell one of your cars and get an IROC man. Best of both worlds. The old bodystyle of your RS with the V8 that the car deserves.

 

Put it this way...I've considered selling my GP, taking the equity and buying a $3-4k beater, and buying an IROC. But, I drive 17-20k per year...I need something I know will give me minimal headaches. Plus, I really love my car. I've had it 2 years, and while its brought me far worse luck than any car I've ever owned (2 small accidents within the first 30 days of ownership (neither my fault), broken into and Alpine stolen a month ago), I love that car. The shape, the ride, everything...except it needs more juice. If I had known how much I'd love it, I woulda bought a GTP.

Right now the dash is in a million pieces, as my best friend is installing an Avatar alarm/remote start with battery backups (yes, I said "ups" ) today. I can't sell it. The GA in the sig is hers, not mine.

The IROC is coming...its a matter of when, not if. I have to decide if I want my dad's Formula or not. I know when he sees a 5th gen, he'll want it and the Formula will go bye bye. Ideally, I'd have an IROC and the Formula...but that probably won't happen. And because I've lusted after an IROC since I was 5 (25 now), guess which one I will probably end up with?

And yeah, everytime I see your sig, I'm reminded I had a 3rd gen V6 and a 4th gen Z at the same time as well, for a full year. What can I say...I'm an idiot

 

True. (except the 2008 Camaro part ). Not only is Mustang rumored to be getting a Duratec V6, it's also getting an IRS by '08/'09. Not sure if the IRS will be across the board though.

The bar will certainly be raised.

 

Depends on your definiton of move. If you mean, "will propel said vehicle down the road", than yes, I suppose it does move.

The bars not really all that impressive now. If you were theoritically driving a 2005 v6 Mustang, and you pulled up next to a theoritically 2005 v6 Accord (a commuter car), you should be prepared to get your theoritical *** handed to you.

I agree with this, but who is to say the Mustang will get the 3.5 Duratec anytime soon. I believe it should have had the 3.0 Duratec in there from the beginning. Makes the same power, is alot smoother, and would probably yield better gas mileage.