There is a reason Focus sales aren't eating into Mustang sales. There isn't a such thing as a Focus coupe. There are still tons of people who hate hatchbacks. The Focus is also a much smaller car then the current Mustang.

If you take away the ridiculus wing, I don't think the Cobalt is one bit boy racer.

 

History wasn't exactly on the 4th gen's side anyways. There was no cheap V8. The last year it was offered, 40,000 of the 70,000 '92 Camaros were 305 TBIs. A lot of people want the sound and the feel of the V8, but don't need the all out muscle of a Z28. I've said this a million times...why did a Formula need to cost $4,000 more than a comparable V6 Firebird? All you got was the LS1, one extra gear in a stick, a little better tires and some stiffer springs! Even the brakes are the same! So why the hell was the price so much higher? Can you imagine how many base model V8s they could have sold if the V8 was $1k?

We need volume here. 2 ways for easy volume is a cheap V8 and a base V6. Its amazing more people can't see this. We need a base car to even have a business case to get the damn car back!

 

Wow! Cobalt SS as a replacement for a base Camaro. We don't need a V8 Camaro either because the Monte Carlo now has a V8...It covers that price point of the market and it is a coupe with a V8. It even has an extra seat in the back...WHAT A DEAL!!! No one would even consider a V6 or V8 Camaro because the Monte Carlo and Cobalt cover the Market. [/sarcasm]

If you want your V8 Camaro to be around for more than a few years, there must be a V6. A Cobalt SS can not take the place of a V6 Camaro, They serve two different purposes, different markets. Will there be some cross shopping between them, sure, but it isn't enough to take the place of the V6 Camaro. I will be willing to say a base V8 would be an asset if it was priced and powered between the V6 and SS/Z28 (whichever you think is the faster of the two)

GM tried to say that the Cobalt was an alternative for the Camaro and everyone was up in arms that they would even suggest it.

 

AMEN!

 

Monte Carlo = Full size luxury Coupe FWD 2+3 seating
Camaro = Ponycar (read: ~midsize sports coupe) RWD 2+2 seating


That is one of the funniest things I've read in a while. That is even more of a stretch that the Monte Carlo/Cobalt = Camaro replacement.

 

My 2.4 Lt Cavie has killed many 3.4L camaros. I would never say the two are comparable though.

 

The focus isn't the only car on the market is it? So what if Ford doesn't have another non-hatch 2 door? Chevy does, honda does, toyota does, VW does, as does almost every other manufacturer in the world. Why are they not gobbeling up potential mustang sales? See my point? The mustang sells well as a coupe, not because it is the only Ford coupe on the market, but because the overall package is desireable....even in v6 base trim.

That's what Chevy will have to do with their base v6 cars...make them more desireable. If they do that, no cobalt SS, no monte, etc... would be a real legitimate sales threat.

There are so many things the camaro/mustang have going for them that cars like the Cobalt simply don't.

 

Clicky

Scroll through and see how V6 sales compare to V8 sales.

Here is a hint...most years...V6 out sold both V8s combined, not every year but most, especially in the last 15 years or so.

 

1st reply = ding ding ding!

Not to mention the Cobalt SS is a top of the line Cobalt whereas the V6 Camaro is the bottom of the line Camaro.

 

Well yeah there is a need for the V6 as many people have said not everyone wants the power of the V8 or can afford the insurance so they get the V6 for its looks. Yes, I am the owner of a 2000 V6 and I have raced and beat a 5speed Z24 with intake/exhaust when my cars an auto and only had a crappy flowmaster. But as said there is a need for the V6 to help sales and they will help plus it has to out sale the V6 stang because as always it will be faster and better then it. As for a cobalt SS they are 2 differnt cars in 2 differnt markets. Oh and yeah the 3.4l V6 is a sad thing but the 3.8l isnt as bad it seems they are pretty quick for the hp/engine thats in it.

 

One of two scenerios will happen, both very undesireable:

1. The Cobalt SS will outperform the V6 Camaro for the same amount of money.

2. The V6 Camaro will outperform the Cobalt SS for the same amount of money.


Scenerio 1 is much more likely IMO, since V6 Camaros have never been about all out speed and handling. Now imagine how bad this would make the Camaro look. The legendary Camaro is raped by a car that the Japanese invented. If this scenerio comes to fruition, I'd much rather see the Camaro stay dead for the next 100 years.

Scenerio 2 isn't much better. I cannot imagine why anybody would buy a Cobalt SS when a much better looking RWD Camaro would give you better performence for the same amount of $$$.

I think GM opened Pandora's box regarding affordable performece when they discontinued the f-body.

 

If there is a V6 camaro im sure it will be better in performance then the Cobalt SS.

 

i can, it's called SNOW! i live in new jeresy. we have winters. most people are too accustomed to FWD these days to handle a RWD in foul weather. this deems it necessary for a FWD sports car that is livable all year round. i'm lucky in the fact that i have a truck and a jeep to use when the snow falls, not everyone can afford that luxury. i can definetly see why some people would be more inticed by the cobalt as a year round daily driver.

 

1) Monte Carlo really isn't that sporty. No, really...it isn't. I mean, I covet an '06 MC SS...but compared to a Camaro it looks like a Deville with whitewalls.

2) Females were over 40% of Camaro buyers in '02, IIRC. I rarely, if ever, see a female in a V8 F body. Any questions? It doesn't need to get the sales of the Mustang, but it needs to GET SALES.

3) I would buy a V6 5th gen before I'd buy a Cobalt SS, in all honesty. I'm not a "tuner," and I'm not a big fan of the "tuner" image. Don't get me wrong...I've got love and respect for the Cobalt SS...I think its a great car. But it isn't me. Last time I checked, I was 100%, red-blooded American male. So here's one "young male" from your theoretical pool who will buy a 240hp V6 Camaro over a 205hp Cobalt SS. And I'm pretty sure I'm not alone.

Truth be told though, I want the proposed "$995 RPO LS4 option" on my base model 5th gen, though

 

A car the japanese invented??? WTF? I think the cobalt was invented here. If you are referring to it being a 4cyl compsct and those being invented by the Japanese, there are quite a number of cars theymake that will rape a v6 camaro. So what??