honestly, i'd buy a camaro that weight 4000 lbs.. i'd gag, but i'd get over it

that said, i picked 3600 lbs... any more than that and i'll be dissapointed.. but i'd still buy it..

i'd LOVE it to weigh 3300-3400 but i don't see that happening in my wildest dreams

 

A 4,000 lbs Camaro. Hmmmmm.

I don't give a **** what collection of options it took, what reasoning there was, or what chain of events conspired to get a Camaro up to two tons.....but I would vomit on it violently and reject it completely. Not a chance I would buy one.

 

Charlie,

I am not quite sure how you feel about this subject, could you be a little more clear?

 

I would like to ask one question, why would anyone think that the new Camaro is goint to weight MORE then a Cobra? The Cobra now only will have a heavier iron engine but they also added a blower to the motor. How much lighter does a LS1 weight then a '03 or '04 Cobra 4.6 iron engine with the blower? I would be amazed if the new Camaro weighted more then 3600lbs.

That being said, I question the accuracy of the weight of the Challenger in the C&D artical. We get a shorter car with the same under pinnnings of the LX cars. It sure isn't any bulkier then the other LX cars. The SRT8 Magnum weights just more then 4100lbs. No other LX HEMI car weights more then 4100lbs. So you subtract 2 doors, some length to the wheelbase, and you get a car as heavy as a wagon?

 

Agreed...I would definitely join in on the violent vomiting fest

BTW: 200th post, WOOHOOO

 

What were loaded 2002 Camaro SS's weighing in at? Have crash and safety standards incresed since 2002? Will there be more equipment standard on this Camaro?

 

I voted, up to 3600, BUT, I don't want a flemsy, stamped steel collection of suspension and steering parts, requiring me to replace EVERYTHING, and weld braces(as earlier models) to handle a reasonable amount of abuse...bringing the weight back up a couple of hundred pounds more.
I could go for some, fiberglass/ABS-plastic parts such as fenders, hood, trunk lid , door skins...as long as they don't wave in the wind, and can look good with black paint(ie; no dimples/wrinkles everywhere).

 

I might accept more in the other models (like SS), but in a z28 i would like nothing over 3,5XXlbs (3,600lbs flat max). I'd like for it to be relatively inline with the GT in terms of weight. The 5spd GT coupe right now is listed at 3,450lbs (about what the 4th gens weighed) so i would like z28 to be as close to that as possible.

On an SS, i would say the absolute max would be 3,700lbs tops and that's with every single option/fluff.

If the camaro is going to give up the hp advantage to challenger/GT500, then they need to make up for that with a lighter weight and better driving dynamics. From what i've heard, the other two cars are relative porkers (both 3800+).

 

For sure. But more strength and better protection doesn't have to mean 4000 lb car to meet current and furture standards. Better materials, design and engineering can go a long way. Except that costs money. Still, having improved fuel economy and performance in a 3600 lb car as well as being able to brag about meeting or surpsassing govt. standards is surely worth something in terms of sales? And it's not like research into making a 3600 lb Camaro that can do this is worthless... that same know how and knowledge is transferable to other vehicles and platforms. A safer car means reduced insurance premiums which certainly does play a part in people's buying habbits.

A 4000+ lb Camaro will be a huge and very disappointing cop-out. I don't think it will happen though.. today's GM isn't stupid enough to do that.. I hope .

 

This is incorrect. The Kappa cars weigh in at 2850. And there is the issue that was already brought about how a Miata manages to be 400lbs less than a Kappa, while maintaining a multilink IRS setup.

This is also incorrect. Only the Cobra verts weighed in around 3750. The Cobra coupes were right around 3600lbs.

 

I think that the size and weight of the Camaro will depend mostly upon the companion sedan model. The sedan will probably sell in higher volumes than the Camaro. Unless there is unique platform for the Camaro as there is for the Mustang (doubtful), the Camaro may well be heavier than most of you would like.

 

Generally, I agree. However there will be substantial architectural differences between the Camaro and the Zeta sedans. And I also think some of the decisions made regarding content, (ie loss of AWD option in Camaro), were made partially to control weight in the coupe architecture. Weight is definitely something that GM's product developers are aware of - the question is, what if any lengths will they be willing to go to, to reduce it?

I hope that extra weight saving steps will be taken on Z/28 however. Let me be the first to say that I will happily do without power seat adjustments for it's hopefully Recaro-like seats. Hey it's a start.

 

These types of things need to be done carefully so as to send the message that this was done for "weight reduction" and not because "GM is cheap." We'd still need a well designed high quality seat. Even so, if the car was a porker, these type of things wouldn't be perceived as "weight reducing actions." Still, this type of thing is not unheard of. Some cars like the $34,000 STi WRX still have manual seats.

I'd even be happy if the Z/28 didn't have any more HP than an SS - as long as it was much lighter and better handling... i.e. the "track car" of the bunch... like it used to be.

 

Good point! On top of that, also figure the 4.6L Cobra motor is a DOHC engine, so there are 4 times as many cams!!! Twice as many valves as well, and all that goes along with it all (mile long timing chains and multiple timing gears). Hmmm, heavy, heavy! Then the weight difference of the IRS out back.
OK, so if all this is true, Ford stuffed all that extra weight into the Cobra, yet they still came out around ~3600 lbs, then why should the Camaro be any more than that??? It's NOT a full frame car, and even if it WAS, why would it have to weigh ~2 tons?! (think Corvette here for a minute ... full frame ... LSx engine ... true dual exhaust ... IRS ... 18" & 19" wheels ... even with a convertible top ... 3262 lbs!! ).

I realize the 3130 lb Z06 is a bad example because of the aluminum/magnesium chassis, carbon-fibre body parts, and high price tag. We want the Camaro to be affordable, but why on earth does it need to weigh any more than it used to?! (~34xx lbs).

 

I was wondering the same thing.