This is my first post after lurking for some time. I have sent my e-mail to GM, and I certainly hope they are listening, because no other vehicle has the following that the F-body has. I'm a Camaro freak, and love the Firebird as well. Here's what I posted:

Please forward this message to Product Chairman Bob Lutz:
I am a loyal GM customer and Camaro enthusiast. When I was 14 my brother owned a '78 Camaro that I absolutely loved. I fell in love with the V8 rumble, the ride and the slick style. Some years later I really wanted a "5.O" Mustang until a good friend gave me a ride in his '94 Z28. I was again hooked, and bought my very own '95 Camaro. Although it's a 3.4L V6, I love the car and have owned it for nearly 9 years now. When the Camaro and Firebird were disontinued in 2002, I lost my opportunity to move up the chain and purchase a NEW Z28 or SS Camaro. I await the 5th generation of Camaro, and request that the next Camaro carry on the fine legacy of being an affordable V8 powered, RWD American muscle machine. Thank you for your time.

I'm proud to be part of this board......

 

Great job GM! (please note sarcasm) I got two responses:
Response #1:
Thank you for contacting Chevrolet and for your interest in the Chevrolet Camaro! Unfortunately, 2002 was the last year of production for the Camaro. General Motors is no longer producing the vehicle. There are no plans at this time to produce a 5th generation Camaro. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Currently, General Motors is not offering any incentives for the 2002 Chevrolet Camaro. Incentive eligibility is based on a number of factors including program dates, credit approval and geographical residency. Please check with your dealer for further details.

Because we know choosing a vehicle can be a big decision, we want to give you more time to experience a new car or truck under real-world conditions. From now until July 31, 2004, you can take one home and "Sleep on It"! General Motors introduces the 24 Hour Test Drive Program.

THEY ARE TRYING TO SELL ME A DIFFERENT CAR WHEN I ASKED THEM TO PLEASE BRING BACK OUR BELOVED CAMARO!

Response #2:
Thank you for contacting the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center. I appreciate you taking the time to contact us about the Camaro discontinuation.

I apologize for the disappointment expressed in your email and want you to know that a number of Chevrolet Camaro owners and enthusiasts have expressed their fondness for this vehicle.

On September 25, 2001 General Motors Corporation announced that 2002 would be the last model year for the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird Due to the decrease in demand for the sport segments, this decision was unavoidable.

Although the Chevrolet Camaro has always had focused appeal, both Chevy and Pontiac will continue the tradition of providing performance vehicles with high value.

GM will continue to support the millions of Camaro owners with replacement parts, reproduction parts, accessories and technical support through its Service Parts Organization. GM has stated previously that the company is committed to continue operation of the St. Therese, Quebec, plant through the term of the current Canadian Auto Workers contract that expires in fall 2002.

At this time, no product has been assigned to the plant after that date, but GM continues to study possible options. Nothing has changed concerning GM's production plans for the Camaro.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to assist you as your complete satisfaction is very important to me.

I have documented your concern under Service Request # 1-226271032. Please refer to this number any time you contact the Customer Assistance Center.

To contact us, please e-mail us again or call our Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020. Customer Relationship Managers are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Please don't hesitate to contact us again if you need further assistance.

Soooooooooo...........one response states "too bad, so sorry, there will be no 5th generation Camaro - but how about test-driving another quality GM vehicle?". And then the other says (this is my favorite part) "...we want you to know that a number of Chevrolet Camaro owners and enthusiasts have expressed their fondness for this vehicle" (You guys rock!).

Basically both responses were meant to blow smoke, and that's exactly why I'm seriously looking at other auto companies offerings, including the Mustang, 300C, and 350Z. GM better AT A MINIMUM let me know SOON that a Camaro will indeed be out in the model years '06-'08, or they'll be losing quite a few loyal drivers who can't resist the horsepower elsewhere....

Sorry, those responses frustrated the crap out of me....

 

You guys are really getting worked up over these response emails. There isn't a chance in hell that any company, let alone GM, would give out production information that's kept under strict wraps about upcoming products unless it is publicly released info. Of course these responses are taylor made for us and run through the PR and Legal departments a hundred times before getting to us, because it's not in GM's best interest to leak that info. If a Camaro is being made, and I'm pretty confident that a 5th gen will come about (though I doubt it will be called an F-body due to GM's plans for the chassis assembly), it will come out with a bang, not a slow spread of whispers across the Internet. Keep the hope alive; this isn't going to happen overnight.

 

If you want to do some good Do what Scott as asked of us several times.
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...hreadid=251052

Write to him & ship photos.

 

Like I said, you're not going to get anything more than that, it means nothing.

But with a shred of light at the end of the tunnel, here's some healthy reading for all of us here: Popular Hot Rodding, August '04. All that's left is the official announcement from GM.

 

Too small I couldn't read it!!

 

Disable Automatic Image Resizing in IE: Tools -> Internet Options -> Advanced, under Multimedia.

The image is 1167x1519 pixels... definitely not small.

 

 

Submitted myself.

Marc

 

"On September 25, 2001 General Motors Corporation announced that 2002 would be the last model year for the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird Due to the decrease in demand for the sport segments, this decision was unavoidable." -From the above GM e-mail

Declining? Erm. How do they explain the Mustang still selling? I know that cars like the Corvette have a niche crowd, but "sports segments declining"?!

They must've figured the goofy-looking-sedan-that-wants-to-try-to-be-a-sports-car "segment" demand has gone up. *cough* GTO *cough*

I'm just failing to see how not participating in the lower priced (cheaper than a Vette) sports car market is a good move.

 

Well if that article didn't convince anyone, here's something that might. Scott Settlemire makes a small comment about that article in PHR. His name is "fbodfather." http://ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=514939

 

I pray nightly for an anouncement of a new Camaro. What sticks in my mind is that I read somewhere that part of the agreement in closing the St. Therese plant was to agree not to use the Camaro name on any future car. Does anyone know anything about this?

Thanks,

 

 

No According to GM they couldnt use the Camaro name for 5 yrs. which puts it back in 2007

 

I heard that they can still use the name 'Camaro' only if the plant is disassembled & the land is sold. I heard that if this is done (the plant leveled, and the land sold) then GM can use the name again right away...no set date or anything. Otherwise if its never leveled, etc then they cannot use the name until 2015(?)