Affordability is key. Anyone can make an expensive sports coupe. There are PLENTY of them out there.

When I got my Mustang, there were only two cars on the market that excited me, and that I could afford. One was a small japanese roadster. The other had a V8. The decision was made as soon as I turned the key and one of them went luh-luh-luh-luh-luh and the other went bzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[If you're wondering why Camaro never hit my list - the answer is that I already had one and the car was not significantly updated (so what's the point of getting a "new" car then?) and I couldn't swing an SS. The plain, unspired styling of the Z and it's heinous yet small 16" wheels sucked any appeal out of what was left.]

GM, if you're out there (and listening) give us affordable and exciting V6 AND V8 Camaros, because they are no good if we can't afford them.

 

Affordable and exciting is the key. An affordable car is no bargain if no one wants it.

The last car taught us that lesson.

 

The execution of a fantastic base car is critical to the Camaro's success, IMO. Not just that, but why couldn't we have an affordable performance package or trim package on a base model.....something like a Y87 or F41...so the bucks down Camaro enthusiast doesn't have to feel like they're getting a "secretary special". I also think that I find the thought of a blown V6 or Ecotec intriguing in a Camaro "Sport Coupe".

The base model shoudn't just be "basic" and merely the throw away model....it needs to be good, it needs to be exciting, it needs to make a whole bunch of people want to buy it.

 

How about a high winding, DOHC high feature V6? That would be great for the base car, but I wonder if it would cost much less to produce than the pushrod V8. A turbo 4 would also be a fun, 'tweakable' base powerplant, but it wouldn't work well unless the car was significantly lighter than the 4th gen car.

 

I think a 250hp HF V6 for a base motor would be great....but like you said WERM, it probably costs more than an LS6....or the upcoming LS2.

What ever they might do with a base motor will probably hinge around the the HV pushrod V6 family or the Ecotec. Not really so bad if they execute it right.

It's all about proper execution.

 

i'm not so sure about the 4cylinder comments.
they put the "iron duke" (2.5 L) in early third gens (82-85 or 86 i believe) and they didnt do so well. there wasn't really enough power to muscle a 3000+ pound car around. the only thing that helped them was the 3.73 rear gearing.
if you did put a i4 in it, it would have to be blown or turboed i think, or else that's a really really stout 4 cylinder.
IMO, just keep the 6's and 8 but make the v6 better on gas mileage- it was relatively close to z28 gas mileage as of 2002 stats
infact, i think it was the same in the city, and the v6 averaged only like 2-3 more mpg than the z28 on the highway

 

I need to clarify on this by saying, don't badge a Trans Am ZL1, but if you are going to build a Super Car do it under Pontiac name.

I don't know how this will sound written, so if it makes no sence to you just ignore it - Camaro has the little brother syndrome. Have any of you ever had a little brother who has the same car as you? As the older brother you always have more money and know how, so all your old parts you don't use are sold(or given) to your little brother for his car. In the end you both end up with cool cars, but the Older brothers car is much nicer and more powerful than the younger brothers, leaving the younger brother envious of the older brothers car. Now if the younger brother was an only child he would think his own car is the coolest in the world, but since he only has the second coolest car it the household, he will not be entirely satisfied with his car.
Most Camaro guys I know would trade their car for a Corvette in a heartbeat, it is just a nicer car(obviosly if you have tons of time and money into you Camaro that doesn't apply). Obviosly Corvette costs more and that is way it has better features, but who wants second best? I think it is a difficult situation and don't know the solution myself.

How can F-body excape the little brother image? Or do you think that it doesn't need to?

 

Most people do not look at it that way. A Camaro is a Camaro and a Corvette is a Corvette. Most Camaro owners I know would rather have a Camaro. You also neglect that the Firebird is looked at liked that compared to the Camaro.

 

I think a nice motor would be the straight six thats in the trailblazer. It should be tuned more for a performance car than a truck. Or that t-charged 5 cyl that was in the Bel Air(?) show car last year. Those would be great motors for a base model.

 

Well, maybe it can't completely. But I think that it wouldn't hurt if Camaro had it's own independent team making decisions for it...not merely relying on the whims of the Corvette Team....who could very easily put it on the backburner or even actually try to "turn down" the wick.

Also, base C6's will be in the 400+hp range and Z06's closer to 500. That may give more breathing room to hiperf versions of Camaro like Z/28, to be all that they can be.

 

I also think that there needs to be a specific Camaro Team, with new people running it that actually understand the car and know what they're doing this time.

 

Won't fit.