The Nissan 350Z is selling well, but I heard that many 300ZX owners dislike the car. It appeals to a different set of tastes than that of the 300ZX. To me, the 350Z is just like the Toyota MR2 Spyder, it is going for that Porsche lover who can't afford a Porsche. The 300ZX, well , I'm not sure, it sort of has Pantera looks, not Porsche perhaps.

 

Would you mind explaining what you mean by having Firebird be less conservative than Camaro? Usually Firebird is the more aggressive of the two. I'm just trying to see your pont of view.

Also, I brought made this poll because I wanted to get a feel for what other people thought. The usual line for a 5th gen firebird return is that "if it's just a different sheetmetal than Camaro, and minor interior changes, it shouldn't come back." So I wanted to see if Firebird returned completely different if there'd be a marketplace for it.

 

I'm not sure if I'm using the term "less conservative" properly or not, I think I am, but I am saying that the Firebird is more wild in design than the Camaro. Of the two designs, the Camaro looks like the car for the guy who wears suits and ties and the Firebird looks like the car for the guy who wears Hawaiian or Club Shirts. (don't make a debate about that last sentence, just reinforcement for the conservative remark.)

I think the Firebird should definitely come back. Ever since 2002 there hasn't been any cars that come close to filling the gap Camaros and Firebirds left. Right now, there's no such thing as a narrow/pointed nosed car that is front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, and seats 4. The Mustang has a boxy front end and all the new cars like RX-8 and 350Z are round or boxy also. The only car that is currently produced, that is similar in looks to them is the Jaguar XK8 and XKR. They are about double the price of the Camaro and Firebird so they really aren't in the same class I suppose.

 

Brangeta:
Gotch ya now . I actually re-read your original post and can see what you're trying to say after the clarification in your other post.

Trust me, I'd rather the 'Bird come back 2+2 RWD, V8 powered like it's always been, but if getting it back means altering it's purpose I can live with it if done properly and if the performance and quality is there. It just has to have that aggressive FIrebird look.

 

And they all said amen.

Can I get a halleujah?

 

I don't really think they should change much at all in comparison to the last few years. I always liked the idea that Firebirds and Camaros were brothers in the fight against Mustangs .

These days it is harder to hold a grudge against Mustangs, I'd rather hold one against BMWs, Lancer Evos, and Imprezas for their boxy ways

...I must admit... The BMW 645ci sure does look nice... it has a Camaro style about it.

 

I know the name of this site is CamaroZ28.com, but I really wish that you guys would treat the Firebird with the same respect you do the Camaro. If you read what people own, there are nearly as many Firebird owners as Camaro owners, or at least enough to show it a little respect.

I know plenty of you (like myself) enjoy both cars, but this is to the people who can't understand that they're nearly the same car.

Let the flaming begin.

 

Wrongo. L98 IROC-Z's/Z28's hit 0-60's anywhere from 5.9-6.3. And I'd bet those TA's weren't running low 14's either.

I can understand people feeling this way about the Firebird, but to me it doesn't make much sense to have both anymore. In the 3rd Gen it was a Chevy powered Pontiac and in the 4th Gen there were less differences between the two than there was in the 3rd Gen, as Pontiac chose to do certain things different than Chevy did. It's just not a Firebird anymore. 1st and 2nd Gen Firebirds are really Firebirds IMO, even though I still have a liking for the ones that came after them. Also we all know that the Camaro is the original F-Body and is the more popular car, the only reason I can see there being a Firebird again is if Pontiac really wanted to get back into that segment of the market, which is doubtful as there are no plans for the car. With the Firebird not around, there will be more money for the Camaro and Pontiac guys will have the GTO. (which will supposedly be a much cooler car that the current one by then) Remember, Pontiac thinks it's BMW, and I don't see affordable performance or even flashy performance coming from them anytime soon. This is supposed to be Chevy's job and they still need help too!

 

[QUOTE=IZ28]With the Firebird not around, there will be more money for the Camaro and Pontiac guys will have the GTO.[QUOTE]
You know, at first I had an unsubstantiated hatred of the GTO for replacing the Bird. As time went by and I heard more about the GTO and its features, I softened on the car. Even began to think about buying one after I graduated and found a job. However, after I had actually seen one next to my car, and the incessant bashing of the firebird at GTO sites (the same sites that can't admit a single fault of the GTO). I would not mind seeing the second death of the GTO after it's first three years. I won't actually root for such a thing, but if it happened, meh.

I suppose my biggest problem is wondering where the heck the fans for the bird are. We have rabid fans for the Camaro and GTO, but what happened to the bird?

 

Maybe they'll come out with a Camaro.. and you could buy an Appearance package.. let's call it the SC package...

So you'd have a Camaro all those packages, then a Camaro SC
The SC would have different body panels, but the interior would be the same, to save on costs.. and all Chevrolet logos would become firebird logos

So you'd have
Camaro
Camaro Z28
Camaro SS

Camaro SC
Camaro SC WS6

Or something like that :P
SC would basically be a camaro with a new body.. to make it a firebird
SC would stand for Screaming Chicken, not sport coupe

 

I wouldn't count a new Firebird out, it'll be made, you can kind of just assume that it will be. SUVs are losing popularity slowly as far as I can tell, but there still isn't a very good sports car market. Two years from now the sports car market may be back, so I wouldn't accept anyone telling me that there wouldn't be a new Firebird.

I don't like the idea of just changing the logos, that's dumb.

 

I was just kidding.. but yeah, but there's a better chance of that happening than a new firebird

New firebird shouldn't be expected anytime before 2009, in my opinion.. and maybe they should just stick to Trans-Am's only
Firebird, Trans-Am, Firehawk

Where as there's just ONE camaro...

But, it doesn't really matter to me... I liked firebirds before I liked camaros.. the only real turnoff to firebirds to me is the popup headlights (and the newer ones are just bulky looking to me)

 

IZ28: I see where you're coming from on the point that 3rd gens, and especially 4th gen firebirds are too similar to the Camaro to justify having both. Point taken.

What I'm trying to get at is if the 'Bird came back completely different from the Camaro it should be able to have a solid business case. Also, just like in the 60's and 70's, why couldn't Pontiac be able to tune the suspension and other characteristics of the Firebird to make it different from Camaro? I think it could be done, as it seems GM is allowing the divisions to tune their cars how they see fit.

 

Yeah... I agree with Last of a Breed.

The cars were just too similar in the end. Not only that, but they were too similar for NINE years(93-02)-no major body syling changes made!

I honestly think that if the CAmaro is re-released, it will spark demand, and actually help the bird get back. And I would have no objection to calling it the Screaming Chicken .

I'd be more than happy with a 2010 release. (after my graduation, and two years of a job, hopefully) If the GTO can come back, the Camaro and Firebird can.

 

To be honest, I absolutely hate the way Pontiac named the versions of the Firebirds, I'd like to see them come back in a way that makes sense.

Here's the Camaro equivalent of the Firebirds as far as I know:
Camaro-Firebird
Camaro RS-???
Camaro Z28-Firebird Formula
Camaro SS- Trans Am
Camaro SS with cold air intake-Firehawk

I'd prefer it be something along these lines:
Camaro-Firebird
Camaro RS-Firebird RS
Camaro Z28-Firebird FV8 (Formula V8)
Camaro SS- Firebird TA
Camaro ZO6- Firebird FO6 (Firehawk LS6)

To me, these are less confusing (plus I'd like a Camaro and Firebird with ZO6 power). At least this way you can see the relation to the Camaro. Until last year I thought the Trans Am was the equivalent of a Z28 and thought a Formula had a V-6. This coming from someone who considers himself to be an extreme 4th gen Camaro and Firebird know it all haha.