I was just thinking about this. What if the 04-06 GTOs are better than the 07 Zeta GTOs? I, personally, wouldn't mind the current GTO rebadged as a Chevy and called Camaro. That's just my CURRENT opinion. I'll have to see what happens to the 07 GTO and Zeta 2+2 Chevy Coupe to make my decision on whether I should pick up a used GTO or new Cama....yeah....you know the rest of that word.

What do you guys think?

 

DON'T EVEN GIVE GM THAT IDEA!

 

If you think the GTO makes a good Camaro, buy the GTO, and save yourself afew years of drama.

 

Wow, you guys sure do know how to take things out of context.

If I don't like the Zeta GTO or Camaro. I will pick up a used 05/06 LS2 GTO. If I like the Zeta GTO and Camaro I'll pick up the one I like most.

What I said was. The current GTO is nice and I, personally, not everyone, just me, as in not you, or anyone else, me, singular, wouldn't mind if there was a Chevy version of the current car named whatever on it. I also said that I'm wating to see what happens in 07 with the GTO and 08? to see what happens with the Camaro.

 

I would love if GM did a complete exterior restyle of the current GTO to give it some excitement and called it a Camaro. If all they do is put new wheels, a different front clip, and swap the badges and call it Camaro, then that would be a humongous dissappointment.

 

At a glance, I'd say the GTO body and components would make a great Camaro, but there's more to it than that.

The GTO has more comfort items. Although the GTO is the right size, it's also very roomy. The GTO feels like a lightened up BMW, not a light weight performance car. The GTO is also tank-like.

The GTO is what the MN12 Thunderbird should have evolved into, instead of a 2 passenger Boulevarder. Oddly enough, I'd have to say the GTO is too nice to be a Camaro.

 

Thanks Aron and Guy. Yes, if they rebadged the current GTO as a Camaro it would be a disappointment. I haven't driven a GTO but I have been given a ride in two. I understand that it is extremely roomy for what it is, but not having driven one can you explain the "tankiness" of the car?

Just for the sake of humor, what could be done to the current GTO to make it more "Camaro"?

 

The GTO is a great car, but it could never, ever be a Camaro...ride height is too high, price tag is too high, weighs too much, doesn't have any t-top or convertible options, lacks the styling of the 4th-gens (well, notably Trans Ams, 4th-gen Camaros had "OK" styling at best).

As I said in another thread, GTO is what the Monte Carlo should be-- powerful RWD V8 car with roominess and creature comforts.

Dont' get me wrong, GTO is an excellent car, but making it into a Camaro is downright silly.

 

There are a number of things, IMO, that keep GTO from being a good basis for a Camaro. Please don't take this as a rag on GTO, I like GTO...but it's no Camaro.

1) Weight. At 3750 lbs, that's just too heavy for a modern Camaro. I'm hoping most of you will agree with me.

2) Size. GTO is a perfect size for a GTO/Monte Carlo/GrandPrix/Chevelle. But for a modern Camaro, IMO, it's abit too large. A Camaro, does not require as much interior space as a GTO either. And please spare me the "well, it's smaller than a 4th gen" comments.

3) Too upright. The GTO is a 2 door version of the Commodore...it is essentially a 2 door sedan.

4) Suspension. GTO's front MacPherson struts and rear semi-trailing arm suspension was pretty decent for the early '90s Opel Omega sedan it was designed for...but if you have any plans for your new 5th gen Camaro, to run with any sport coupes and sport sedans in the next few years, it will need a much more sophisticated set-up....something like Sigma.
I think I posted afew months ago, my impressions after running a GTO and CTS at an autocross track, back to back. The difference in vehicle dynamics was staggering. The CTS felt like a race car (even with 95 less hp and an auto). The GTO felt like a boulevard cruiser.

 

Hmmmmm... maybe I should find someone willing to let me take their CTS around the block a few times.

 

You should.

 

I got waaay off topic. Do you think the states built GTO will be better than the current one?

 

The quality of build is so close on ANY car you buy it does not even matter. What matters is how many problems that slip thru to production. The auto rags just blow this build quality thing so far out of proportion.

 

At a glance, GTO is very close to what the 1st gen Camaro was to the Mustang. It's size, even it's height, is very close. But I think everyone has gotten used to the lowslung looks & feel of the 2nd to 4th gen, and that's what they are basing alot of observation on. But, I'm going on a 1st gen Camaro perspective, so here goes:

1. GTO has electric seats. Not just power seats, but you need the electric motor to move the seats forward just to get into the back seats. This should be jetisoned.

2. Camaro has had nice interiors in the past, but never flashy. GTO's interior with it's colors and metal trim is too flashy. I'd tone it down...alot!

3. I only drove a Monaro CV6 (supercharged V6) and rode passenger in the CV8, so I can only base GTO's drive feel on that. It has no "roughness", and is a smooth ride. It handles alot like a cross between my SC & my Z28. It doesn't dance around uneven pavement like my Z does and the car feels very refined. Almost BMW-like. Though it sounds like a leap backwards, I feel Camaro should be a little less sophisticated, and have a little more "rawness" to it's handling.

4. The thing feels like a tank. You feel like you could drive the thing through a brick wall. Although you probally could with the 4th gen as well (ever see a cross section of it's roof, door sill, or front structure! ) at least the 4th gen doesn't feel like it.

5. The GTO is l-o-a-d-e-d! Unless you absolutely need OnStar or a power sunroof, there's nothing else you would want on that car.

As for complaints about it's size and weight, it's within a 100 pounds of the Cobra (IRS is heavy, and unless the next Camaro shrinks in size or has a live axle, it's likely to be plump as well), and it's exterior size, including height, is SN95 Mustang. It isn't a big car (except in interor room).

Now, if you ask me my own idea of a Camaro, I'd say an LS2 powered G35 coupe without all the frills. Or better yet, the current Mitsubishi Eclipse with RWD and an LS2.

But, from the perspective of the 1st gen Camaro, GTO is pretty close, but too loaded & too nice.

 

It's kind of funny you mention this... since I kind of feel the opposite.

Yes, GTO comes with a lot of stuff, but I feel it's missing a lot fo things that should be included:

Heated Seats.
Dual-Zone climate control.
Sunroof.
OnStar.
HUD.
HID headlamps.
Electrochromatic Mirrors.
Compass.
External Temp. Meter
Navigation would be nice.
I'd love to see a heated steering wheel on it too...

I love my car so far, but thought these were things that shold be at least available, but frankly, included... at least a good chunk of the more basic stuff...