I read some guys vents regarding the new camaro prospect on another site that more or less frusterated me. So I just figured I would throw a couple of ideas out there about (what I think about the idea of a new Camaro).

Unfortunatly the rear-wheel drive, high horse power, (muscle car) image is all but dead. Asside from our little nitch that we have developed here in cyber space and on occasion, out in town, there is very little demand for another Camaro. This hurts me more than anyone, as I am quite possibly the "camaro guy". Next time you are out for a drive, take note of exactly what you see on the road, don't count the F-bodies, just note the majority-as in class designation. Granted sales depend highly on the region (weather paterns and gas prices), it is arguable that the majority of the cars on the road currently belong to the mid-size to mid-size luxury genre or sport compact at best. This is very apparant as GMs attempt at recouping some of the sales lost to the Asian market rest with a small vehichle called the Chevrolet Cobalt SS. A 2.0L, supercharged 4 cyl, making somewhere in the ballpark of 180hp. Not a bad platform, but also, not on my wish list.
With the GTOs prospective styling revison in 2007, I would not see it as feasable, nor economical to create an all new platform just for the Camaro, but to again use the GTO as a base for a revised Chevrolet counterpart to the GTO.

Just my 2cents

Charlie

 

You are new here aren't you?

Welcome.

 

You are correct, there is no demand for Camaros. RWD and pony cars are dead, that is why Ford had to turn the new Mustang into a FWD sport compact.

 

Uh...yes, sure uh huh ok.

 

 

I easily see a combined total of over 60 mustangs and camaro's everyday. Granted I live in a college town but man, that is a lot of pony cars. I bet if I went through the lot someday and counted every fifth car, a buttload of them would be pony cars.

you sir, are wrong as wrong can be.

Plus HAZ-Matt owned your *** all over this thread.

 

You guys beat me to the punch.

 

I guess some people really do spend their life hiding under rocks!!

 

try 205HP rated, ~197hp at the wheels

RWD is making a HUGE comeback, look at the new Mustang (selling like crazy) Solstice, Saturn Sky, RWD Caddys, 300C, Dodge Chrager, GTO, G35, 350Z etc.....

 

 

I see a ton of Camaros, Firebirds, and... ok Mustangs too, and now Magnums, 300c's, and they are all V8 RWD. So IMO you couldn't be more wrong. RWD is where its at always was, always will be. RWD is funner in the snow ... Wooo Hooo! GM just needs to get some vehicle out there to compete again, and hopefully soon. Time's a wastin'!

 

IMO I think that rear wheel drive V-8 have overtaken the import market in popularity. Look at shows like Overhaulin' and Rides. They concentrate on rear wheel drive high hp cars. These shows are highly respected and popular to the public, fueling their desire to own one of those cars. Who here wouldn't want a Shelby GT500E? I can't afford it at 100,000+, but the new Shelby GT500 is more in our reach.

The major 3 are embrassing rear wheel again.

Thats IMO

 

realistically, the mustang took the market for the next 5 years. everyone in their midlife crisis is buying them, along with college kids and who ever else. the the mid life crisisers (sp?) have been taken for the next 5 years.

 

I hope I have a midlife crisis much better than one that results in owning a stinking Mudstain.

Yeesh.

That's like saying you want your trophy wife to be ugly and fat with a wicked case of halitosis and bad teeth.

 

First off, no im not new, if you would have checked it out, im going on what...4 years on the board? As for hiding under rocks? Yea I do that on occasion, granted it's more of a dodging action,and is because I am out defending all those wonderful freedoms you enjoy as an American.
Second off, let us not forget that one of the most influential reasons that our beloved Camaro has been scratched from the Chevrolet lineup in the first place is because of DRASTICALLY declineing sales...argue that...seriously...NOW let us get into who buys our beloved Fbodies...I am 21, I have had my 94Z since the ripe age of 16. I have no less that 25 friends under the age of 25 that own cars similar to mine. Why? Because we can now purcahse a well kept 4th gen, clean, low millage for dirt cheap prices. Why is that? Hmmm, it could'nt be a demand issue could it? Looks like people really care about gas prices after all! The vast majority of what is left is either in their midlife crisis or JUST ABOUT to find out that the vehicle in which they love so much is no longer practical for their applications. Oh, I am probably just talking out of my ***.
Now, studies conducted by the very companies that produce the automobiles...no better yet...studies conducted by contracted, independant companies completely serpeate from any corporate ties and/or design influence do this little thing called cost-benefit anaylisis. Does the product I am producing create a loss or a gain for me? Well the answer is not a matter of loss or gain in this case, the answer is merely that our Fbodies were NOT creating the kind of profit margin acceptable for an automobile to thrive. Especially in a market as violent and hungry as the sports car market. Costs were too high, daily maintenance was through the roof. Who wants to pay 200 a month for insurance then turn around and spend 30 to fill their tank? Well yes...I would. But we are a breed. We are not the norm, and thus overlooked by the bean counters. It's the numbers buddy. It's not me.
OK OK, I know that history has this funny little way of repeating itself and thats fine and dandy. I hope EVERY DAY that we will see a drop in petroleum cost, and that MAYBE JUST MAYBE they were wrong about alternative fuels...O wait, looks like they already got that one covered huh? POINT IS, the auto industry has alot more to worry about concerning new technologies and program advancement including applications directly specific to the issues confronting us TODAY. It would certainly not be in their practical interests to "pro-rate a platform to meet tomorrows POTENTIAL (highly unlikely) enviroment". By this I mean, why create a muscle car today with the hopes that people will buy it tomorrow? If you could answer this question for me, you would certainly be solving a problem GM has faced for centuries.
Fuel prices are up. And newsflash...they are staying up. It's called inflation, a natural evolution... This evolution follows closely the trend of many other drastic changes in technology, ie STEEL and FABRICATION at the turn of the century. This is what happend...steel got OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive thus creating the need of an alternative material, and the incorporation of said material into our every day life. Now, nearly every product in our car, in our home, in our office is plastic or rubber? Coincidence? I truely think not. I sure do love all that chrome on our cars these days!!!!

More 2 come i am sure.

Charlie