I know this has been done before, but I want to do this again in a different way.


GM is very aware of the impact the new Mustang has, and is also very aware of the gapping hole in it's product line to compete. If there is a Chrysler entry forthcoming, you can probally bet the farm GM is aware of it.

GM's current management has been on the job just 2 years, and is still dealing with the fallout from the last regime, which all but mandated FWD for every car that didn't wear a Cadillac crest or a Corvette logo. But it takes years to develop a new chassis, even if it's a lower cost modification of an existing one. In essence, GM's current leadership is NOT to blame for the current lack of an F-body.

We all heard word that a RWD Chevrolet performance coupe is soon on it's way. Maybe it will be the size of the new Mustang, maybe it will be "big" like the 4th gen was. But let's assume the car looks every bit like a Camaro & is a credible size for one. However, by no fault of the current GM people, the car has to be named something other than Camaro in order to be produced.

If GM spent millions of dollars already, created a great car, & did everything they reasonablly could do to bring out a new car with the Camaro name, but was forced to name the car something else, would you still be enthusiastic about the car? Would you still buy it? Would you still be bashing GM, knowing that they tried everything they could to bring the name back on a car that fits it?

 

I dont believe that GM would be so stupid to bring out a car that looked like a Camaro and not call it a Camaro. The only thing that would accomplish would be pissing off the enthusiasts who have still stood loyal to this car since 2001 when we offically found out it'd be the last year of production. I dont care about legal stuff, I dont care about union stuff, I dont care about stupid-*** stereotypes, I care about the Camaro - and God damnit, if there's a Camaro car out there, it better be a Camaro.

 

To answer your questions...

1) Yes, I would be enthusiastic about it...very much so.
2) Depending on how great this new car is, without the name I would honestly shop a third gen first...less than 1/2 the money for a pristine IROC versus a new car that isn't
"perfect" is a no-brainer for me.
3) I don't bash GM so much as I am so sincerely dissappointed we are in this situation in the first place.

The car is not more or less important than the name...but the name is every bit as important as the car. Can you honestly picture the new Mustang being called anything but? If it was the Ford Maverick, would you care nearly as much?

The defense rests...

 

One more thing...I'd honestly buy a GTO instread. I don't care what the goofballs on here say about the GTO not being true to the original...it is as true to the original as the Mustang, without looking JUST LIKE the old one from certain angles...

Heritage matters...and this question is all about heritage. Camaro is Chevrolet's performance car. Are you saying there is sincerely a reason why a car that deserves the name may really be called something different? I thought it was the other way around, and that a car not deserving of the name may debut...

I trust your judgement guion...but with Ste. Therese leveled and sold, we only have one more year on the name embargo...I was beginning to think we were golden!

 

I'm a member of the car buying public with little to no brand loyalty, and that includes individual badges (no doubt manufacturers cringe at the thought of a buyer such as myself). However, there are two badges that carry a bit of equity with me: Camaro and Corvette. If the C6 actually had come out looking like an Aztek, I would have found things I like about it.

That said, I could certainly see myself buying a "Camaro" under an alias. Would I be dissapointed if it wasn't called Camaro? Yes. Would I run straight over to Ford with a cashiers check? Not necessarily; the Chevy coupe would have to flat out be superior to the comperable Mustang model (GT, Mach 1, etc...)

 

If it looks like a Camaro and feels like a Camaro it should be called Camaro.
If it was called something else I would think twice (probably buy a used M3/M4). I really don't think anyone is loyal these days. If that was the case there wouldn't be such a thing as $5000 rebates and 0%. Thats the only reason I bought my turd Impala SS ($22600 OTD no GMS and no GM points) what a mistake .

 

If they can't call it a Camaro they shoudl make it a Pontiac and call it Firebird


(No I don't need an explanation of why that wouldn't happen.)

 

Doesn't have the Camaro name?

Then I wouldn't go anywhere near the new car or anything GM until it was fixed.

 

Why are they still toying with us? If they want to make a camaro, make one. If they dont then dont. Are they that stupid?

 

Nobody's toying with you.
Yes, it's probally a safe bet they want to make one.
No, they aren't that stupid.

They may move a bit sluggishly, but they are aware of what needs to be done.

 

I purchase a vehicle for its attributes, not its name. So no, the Camaro name is most definitely not more important than the vehicle itself.

Or: would I still marry Cindy Crawford if her was name was Helga Fredegunde? Yeah, I think I would.

 

Well, I like to think I'm loyal, but I'm only 18, hardly the general buying public. I've owned three GM's in my short term as a driver, two of those cars were Camaros, one of which I still own and drive. I believe they haven't done everything possible to save the name if they can't use it. I frankly don't care about the Canadians or their government... hell lets invade rolleyes: because this is getting out of hand. Camaro is a GM trademark, not a Canadian trademark.

If it's a Camaro and it's not called Camaro, I will be extremely disappointed, possibly to the point of not buying one. Not that GM cares whether they disappoint me or not, hell that happened in 2002, but I would hope that under their new leadership they have more sense than that, me being at least one potential sale, if not two.

 

Its all about the car and the bottom dollar for me, not the name. It would be nice if the two rivals Mustang and Camaro were back again.

 

As others have said, if it looks like a Camaro........... smells like a Camaro.............. performs like a Camaro........... and is priced like a Camaro.............. it HAS to be called Camaro !!!!!

Longstanding automotive companies like Ford and GM do owe something to their heritage. Their heritage is what got them to where they are today. It is something to EXTREMELY proud of. To dishonor that heritage by ignoring one of its most treasured names would almost be a crime.

To have a "Camaro" that is called anything else is a slap in the face to all Camaro enthusiasts.

Ford has definitally understood its heritage with the Mustang. Many people buy Mustangs because they are Mustangs. They are buying the past, and the present. They see a value in 40 years of Mustang history. The Mustang has not always been the best value........... the best performer.......... or the best "deal" for its price range. However, it has always been a Mustang........... and has sold accordingly.

The neat thing about being true to your heritage, is that you can truly appeal to those "outside" your target demographic. People from 16-70 are buying the new Mustang. While they all have different reasons for doing so, heritage certainly does play strongly into this.

As the owner of a First Gen Camaro, I hope GM does the right thing.............. and makes a proper Camaro, that just reeks of heritage.

 

Name wouldn't bother me (unless it was called the Chevrolet "Driverofthiscarisgay" or something like that. ). I mean, I'd rather have it be called Camaro, but the car is what it's about.

Oh, and since you mentioned being Mustang size or 4th gen size, the new Mustang isn't exactly small. I think it is quite comparable to a 4th gen in size and weight, on a 4 or 5 inch longer wheelbase (still has a small back seat, too - 30 vs. 43 cubic feet, give or take, according to the Mustang vs GTO test in Car and Driver).