Well first off I would like to mention how some people have a totaly unrealistic view of what the camro should be. Such things like : Outdo the mustang in looks, interior fit and finish, totally destroye it in peformance and have a base price lower then that of the mustang.

How about we try and thinking on how the Camaro could compete with the mustang, not by trumping it on eveyr account, but by intising buyers ot come to it because it offers something different and not just the same but with a chevy badge.. as in inovate instead of following.

Here are a few examples (although already beaten to death, I am sure some guys on here can find some better newer ones):

Mustang has a killer retro look.
Camaro could come in with a very modern car that says muscle.

Base mustang has a solid rear axle
BAse camaro could offer the IRS

Mustang is defenetly far from rice looking
Camaro could offer there base RS model with a kit like the one toyota offers on there celica..a body kit, big wing...basically a rice edition. It would most certanely lure import guys (I would think) and get them drooling and saving up for the ultimate in muscle..the V8 version.

The trick here is to try and find something wrong with the mustang, and incorporate it into our camaro so as to make it unique, distinc from its competitor..to try and lure buyers to camaro because of its differences to the mustang that might appeal more to some then others.

Lets face it, there will not be a super camaro to come along and blow the fantastic mustang out of the water. We need to pick away at things that mustang doesnt offer to make camaro more appealing to other people... make it a winner,but without getting carried away. Why only try and get mustang sales away from ford..when we could try and get some import guys in as well? It could only mean good things for camaro!

The trick is to come up with inovative stuff.

 

It's a Ford

 

No, not something YOU THINK is wrong. I'm no Ford guy by any means, but the Mustang is just right. Good timing, good looks, and it is EXACTLY what GM isn't building: A good-looking, affordable, RWD, V8 coupe. The only thing that comes close is the GTO.

Kris

 

 

How about camaro having an available 4 cylinder for entry level?

 

A 4cyl model is something that isnt Camaro, no matter how bad-*** the Iron Duke was.

Is anyone else deeply saddened that the creator of "5th Gen Camaro" concept that has been pasted on every single car website, and some mags, purchased an 05 Mustang?

 

Hope you don't consider me a sell-out. Fact of the matter is, I got a job in the LA area, needed and could afford a new car, GT was available, price was right, I've always liked the styling, and GM had nothing that could get a second look from me.

Kris

 

No, not even close. I find it sad, in general, that someone as die hard as you who created such a great design now owns a Mustang.
Its your money and you do what you want. Me personaly, I would have picked up a 04 GTO, or went after a 05.
Congrats on the job. I hope that its some sort of design!!

 

I would have also gone with the GTO, Obviously!

 

If you're suggesting the GTO because of brand loyalty, I couldn't care less. It's a damned nice car for the money, but I have NO interest in the GTO at all. I just don't like it.

Ford won me over with the Mustang. I bought it because I liked it better. I didn't buy it thinking "this is going to clash with my image or make people think less of me." I couldn't care less about that. When I designed the 5th gen for PHR I did it because I thought GM was missing something by no longer having a Camaro. A month after I started my work on it, the 05 Mustang concept came out. I had to give credit to Ford right then for making the first Camaro-less year since 1967 the same year they unveil a completely redesigned, retro-themed Mustang.

To me, that said "Hey, look what Ford is giving their enthusiasts while GM takes away an icon from their loyal enthusiasts."

Anyway, I'll stop my little rant there. What it comes down to is, I like the Mustang, I don't like the GTO. There wasn't much more to it than that really.

I still bleed bow-ties, but only when it comes to the classics.

Kris

 

If it does all those things the Mustang does, and then some I don't think that is unrealistic, as that is exactly what the very first Camaros did. However if it does accomplish this, lofty goal. I don't think it has to undercut the mustang price. There could be a lower priced model like RS that could undercut price and maybe offer a little more HP than the base GT with DoD. The more powerful Z/28's or SS's could be higher priced and still siphon off Mustang sales, if it offers much more for the $$. I wasn't going to do this, as I am who Ford wants to get into a Mustang why tell them what I think is wrong. I guess they aren't gonna change it now. So here goes, For me what is wrong with the Mustang is, the back end, and the sides. The sides go straight back and are too flat for me, looks too monotinous. Too much like the Lincoln LS which looks fine on the LS but this is the Mustang, its supposed to convey some muscle. The front shot looks sweet but for me that's as far as it goes! Now the back, and this is just me but the same goes doesn't convey enough muscle here. It should have come back to be a little more bulging in the back. To me all musclecars have this, some more than others obviously, but the new Stang doesn't have any of this. This is where you see its platform mate come through.This is why I like the 99-04's a lot better, the back had a wider look to them. I didn't like it before that, they were too bubbly, and girlie, 99 they sharpened the design it was sweet. still think it looks tougher than the new one. Did I just say that! Granted the GT500 adresses this to some extent in the rear but the sides still leave me cold. The taillights could have had some more flair, as they never did much for me, and seem to be missing something, though I can't figure out what it is. Also I think the Camaro might have to offer a Supercharger at this point to be competitive. Tons of stuff they could do like black out the rocker panels and rear body panels on the big motored versions, like on the old big blocks. Atleast the #s, on the GT500 are very respectable. Anyway that's just my $.02, now lets see if the next design fixes these issues. This is where GM has an advantage, they now know where the competition stands, and what they need to achieve. Oh and I don't think a 4cyl. is not it, as another poster suggests. I think the Camaro can be both modern and retro at the same time, make any sense? IRS would be a big plus, but I think some, would be disapointed unless it works well at the strip.

 

I can only speak for myself but I never bought any cars because of what PPl might or might not think of it, or image or whatever else. I stated what I don't like about the Mustang, and I'm not knocking you for buying one. At least you bought American. I happen to think GM engines are way better than anyone elses that, + interior styling, IRS, are some of the reasons I would take the GTO. Yeah its a little more but it will destroy the GT with 400 ft/lbs on tap. I could care less what anybody thinks. Bottom line I'm into engines, that is what I like about GM, they always made alot of low end torque, these #'s do more for me than HP #'s. I can't argue with the Mustang though especially at that price, its a performance bargain. Ford got their start selling cheap cars people could afford, its no different today, their price is always lower, that is why they sell so much product. Also BTW awsome job on that Camaro, I have not shown it to a single person who was not blown away by it. Another reason I think Chevy will take that direction with it, it has mass appeal. People love the look of first gens. As with your design, I believe it can still be modern looking.

 

Lots of good points. For what it's worth, I already had a bit of a plan when I bought my Mustang. Currently I'm planning to take it to the SEMA show this year and have some cool plans for it. So I don't care too much about power off the showroom floor. If I want fast, I'll take the Chevelle for a spin.

Oh and yeah, definitely buy American. I wouldn't do it any other way.

Kris

 

Kris, you're a sell out!












j/k You gotta do what works for you.

 

Well, congrats on the car. We all have our opinions on what is or isnt worth the cash.