The Chevette reference was funny as well as being a bit over the top. Let's assume that we are starting with a CAR to begin with here. Not to compare apples to oranges but, let me cite a few prime "sleeper" examples. BMW M series, distinguished by the 4 exhaust tips, Jaguar XJR, distinguished by the wire mesh grill, M-B AMG, distinguished by the badge. Granted there may be other subtle differences on each of these near exotic sedans, and I don't dare group them among the Pony cars we are all here to discuss and appreciate. I would like very much for the Z/28 to stand out in a crowd of lower performance Camaros. I would also rather it be appreciated by drivers who know what to look for. You can't fool the insurance companies, but the cops might be less inclined to follow you for 10 miles on the open road if their first glimpse only tells them that it is "just a Camaro". I would love to see exclusivity in the color offerings, stripes, interior appointments, and perhaps grill treatments and spoilers. Personally I am not a fan of huge wings and scoops and vents that lead to nowhere. I think Lutz has done a great thing by pulling the body cladding off of several models. They looked good in the 80's, but a cleaner look is what appeals to me nowadays.
BTW, the new Mustang is one helluva a beautiful car. All I wanted from the redesign was to maintain the original silhouette, which they did. The speculation surrounding the next Camaro is that GM will return to the original silhouette as well. I loved that body. The second generation took a minute to get used to, but I liked the change after a few months. The final model wasn't too bad, but for me there was nothing like the original body style. All of us have seen the Horton images, and whether you love them or hate them, you must give this young man all due props. Make MY Z/28 Black with Charcoal stripes and limit the chrome. All Z/28 models should have body color mirrors. But it really is about performance. I don't think of the Cobra as a track car and I hope the next Z/28 won't be that either. From what I have read here, we have a very good idea of what the next Camaro needs to be, but more specifically we know what the top of the food chain needs to have going for it. I like Corvettes, but they really can compete with some of the best exotics. Cobra's aimed at Corvettes? Perhaps the Z/28 should be aimed at the Cobra and the Corvette should really take aim at Porsche. My dream car garage has an American Truck, a European sedan and the Z/28 that we have been designing here on this site.
OK. Just for the fun of it take another hard look at what I hope to drive in a few short years. Hell, I might buy two of these so my son can have his own!
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/fea...ifth_Reloaded/

 

The Z/28 started out as a track car...that is its heritage.....

 

Touche. But we can race on Sunday and still drive it to work all week.

 

is a Z06 incapable of being commuted in? Was the original Z/28 unstreetable?

I don't think so.

 

You have a WS6 T/A. That's about as non-sleeper as you can get!

But take my Z28. It is (as far as the cruise missile body will let it) is a sleeper. No scoops, exagerated spoilers, stripes, or ground effects. I added chromed Z28 exhaust tips and painted the rear exhaust system black to bring out the pipes. When I repainted it, I painted it a aqua that looks great when in the sun, yet doesn't snap heads around the way a loud color would. That's my view of a sleeper (though I'd prefer a less conspicuous body).

I run about 20-25,000 most-all-interstate miles per year on my car and have been pulled over 4 times in the past 3 years (3 helicopters and 1 when I didn't have my detector on), and I routinely run about 90-95 on long runs, so I can probally write a book on how not to get caught, at least here in the west.

(FWIW: Though professional courtesy goes a certain distance, no one likes to be pulled over. )

 

I appreciate what you are saying Guy, but I have to think you are in the minority in terms of 4th gen Z owners. Most buyers probably would have appreciated some differentiation between their $25,000 Z28 and a $16,000 base V6 coupe. For all the extra money all you got was the V8 and bigger springs/swaybars. Even the 245 tires and performance gear was optional.

Like was said above, its no wonder the SS sold so well...it LOOKED the part despite the fact the performance improvement was minimal if any at all and the price was higher.

Let me say, I'm not advocating a gaudy car with tacked on, non-functional crap. I want a tasteful looking car that maybe is a bit more mature than what we are used to in the F-body but still has an aggressive look to it, with performance models having visual distinction from base models. If the performance models look identical to the base car I'll be sorely dissappointed.

 

Right, the 04 GTO has that "sleeper" look and they can't keep them on the lot! Let's see how the 05 does with optional scooped hood, I'd be willing to bet that option is on a high percentage of cars. Also, did the SS ever outsell the Z28 the last few years of production?