While downtown last night in Woodward for the Dream Cruise I came across a black z06 with the tried and tested way of knowing if its a company car or not, the barcode on the lower part of the windshield.

I spoke with the guy who brought it there, looked at the badging to see if there was a HP figure and no, there was not. No 500, nor 505. I asked the gentleman what the final HP figure was he responded back quickly with a "500hp" remark. To which I said "Under SAE it's 505hp but even that is up in the air I've heard." His response? "What's SAE?"

 

In translation that probably meant " I'm way overpaid, I don't car about this car, nor do I care about you. The only reason why I'm driving this is because it's Woodward time so please leave me alone." You should've offered him a lesson on how to drive that monster.

 

Maybe he works in marketing?

 

 

Yep, or better yet, probably not even a "GM person". For auto shows and special events, they often hire people from marketing firms to babysit and talk about the cars. Those who've been to the auto shows know what I mean. They know nothing more than what they memorize...

I can name LOTS of people within GM who know about the 505 hp.

 

Joe is right...I've talked to many of these people at shows. Some know stuff, many don't know anything over the basics, and some are women that are great to look at Those are the ones I tend to gravitate to, while wifey is at the refreshment stand

 

Not everyone that works at GM is a diehard gearhead ... nor should they have to be. A company needs lots of different people with a wide range of skills besides just knowing the latest horsepower rating of every single model they produce.

Now having said that, it's probably a good idea to choose gearheads to showcase your top-drawer products at public events. But maybe this was just some financal manager out tooling around in the latest toy.

 

At least know the product you are singing and praising about. It's the Woodward Dream Cruise THE car show of America, in your own back yard, you'r driving a sports car enthusiasts loathe after...yet you don't know the simple hp figure? I saw another black z06 as well and spoke with the gentleman who drove that one. He knew his stuff (including a little bit more but obviously couldnt talk).

Just know the product. That's all I'm asking. Not too hard, right?

 

Josh, I am assuming you meant lust after? I don't know too many car enthusiasts who loathe the Z06, well, unless their Porsche got dusted by one of the test cars

 

I guess it's not everyone's job in the company to keep up on horsepower and horsepower ratings... but.... if you are given the new performance falgship of the entire corporatioon to drive around in, you'd think you'd have at leats a passing interest and know...

Maybe he/she did know and was playing dumb.

 

Like I told Darth to tell his boss, it should be a requirement for anyone driving a Z06 to know how much hp it has