Because that is supposed to be the SS's role. Remember the SS350 and SS396?? All the options you wanted and performance too if you chose, alot of TQ. Remember the Z28?? All-out performance focused, limited content, factory racecar, alot of HP, handling, braking, factory upgrades. Guess which costed more between a loaded SS396 and Z28? The Z28. You are not in the market for a new 5th Gen Z28. You are in the market for a 5th Gen SS. Although you can always buy used. There's no big blocks today so the 302 vs. 396 characteristics aren't gonna be an issue anymore. It's about HP and TQ with every engine, unless they intend on going SCCA racing! If there's 2 SS variations to choose from like it was originally, all the better. (I recall hearing something about that happening again) Making the Z28 a Z28 and the SS an SS again is not only good for the customers, it's good for image and the car.

We're not asking for a loaded top model Z28, we're not looking to just switch the places of the Z28 and SS of the 4th Gen. Forget the 4th Gen's setup, seriously. We want a performance focused Z28. (kinda like the Z06) If all goes right, the next Gen SS (or top model SS if there are two) will be the sellers and will most likely be up there in price too when loaded but still affordable. The Z28 will hopefully be the enthusiast car and will only bring excitment back to the name/brand again. Performance costs money. They would not let the SS just be some kinda piece with alot of options. Bet on it being a fast car and the Z28 being a really, fast car. This also allows them to put extremely tight suspension in the Z28 and leave some road compliance yet real good handling for the volume SS cars. It's kind of like having 2 top cars just in different ways. We had NO volume before, and that's what we need. It has to change, and being more historically correct to the car is a good thing.

 

JG95Z28 you can't just call people wrong, when u don't know ****, u don't work for GM. Everything is everyone's opinion. It's not about the older models, it's about the newer ones. The whole 4th gen 93-02 has been SS on top, and everyone has that image now, except a 20% or so. If the camaro does come back the status will remain the same, me myself thing the SS is more styling. I couldn't see the Z28 on top.

 

WOW! Weren't you the guy who said that Ford is planning on cancelling the Mustang?

Fasten your seatbelt.....jg is going to rip you a new one.

 

I don't think anyone is pushing for a higher priced Z/28. But if it will have the performance and components that we think it will.....and it comes in around $30K or so.....I think that would be a raging bargain.

Don't you?

 

Since this seems this is evolving into yet another SS vs Z28 thread, I'll point out that the 1LE Camaros of not too long ago were essentially the traditional Z28s in a modern sense.

SS has always been about appearence. A base Z28 with not much more than a K&N filter and catbacks performs on par with (if not better than) an SS.

As far as the next performance Camaro costing just in the mid 20s, I'd say dream on. Base Z28s listed at $23,000 and no one ordered them. Yet $30,000 Camaro SSs & $33,000 loaded WS6 Firebirds steadily had orders till the final days.

You might get a 5th gen 5.3 V8 Camaro for the mid 20s, but anyone expecting to get an LS2 Z28 or SS for anything less than or equal to what a fully loaded Supercharged Impala SS list for really has to lay off the medication. It simply ain't gonna happen.

 

So, back to the original question of the topic, the GTO would equal the SS then, correct? Due to the whole fancier ride part?

 

My one contribution:
Get this through your heads...

You pay for performance, and GM will require you to take the options to do it. That means they won't be building stripped out nonsense with big motors to make a couple of hundred folks happy.

Want the big-gun motor? Well, then you'll be paying for leather, power seat tracks, and upgraded stereos and all kinds of other stuff.

Z06's ARE NOT stripped cars, they're loaded to the gills.

If the car even comes with the right name on it, the top one will have SS on the side. Bet the farm on that one.

 

Yeah, I'm not quite sure where the expectations of $25,000 5th gen Z/28's are coming from.

The next Z/28 will have at least 30% more power and torque than the last Z/28. It will have an all new platform....with a sophisticated IRS designed to handle lots and lots of torque from the get-go, (unlike the the '03/'04 Cobra and CTSv).

If Chevy decides to offer the 5.3 in RWD form (vs 5.3 AWD only), that's the $25,000 Camaro....not the Z/28.

 

5.3 AWD

 

I think the 4th gen spoiled alot of Camaro enthusiasts. Now its like its an understood thing to be able to get a Z28 for low to mid 20's. Car was bang for the buck of the century, but I wouldnt expect that trend to continue into the 5th gen. A 5.3 v8 Camaro maybe, but an LS2 powered Z28? No way.

Also stripper cars are gone. Like Pacer said, u want the bada$$ motor, the options unfortunetly have to come with it.

 

Yall are comparing the GTO to the 5th gen camaro when theres no actual proof of a 5th gen?

 

Wow, just wow.

I will bet against it. I can also bet on GM not getting my money if it doesn't happen too. Everything that we've heard so far indicates the Z28 being brought back to where it should be. Not kept as something it never was like some of you so called "entusiasts" do not seem to care about.

 

Where did you learn your Camaro history... on a bubble gum wrapper?

SS has always been Chevrolet's performance "trim" badge. However the SS was not the Top Camaro in 1967... while the top Camaro may have been an "SS". (Still following?) In 1967 there were no less than 3 versions of the "SS", a 350 cid (295 HP), and two 396's (325 & 375 HP). However it is a well know fact that the 302 cid sbc in the Z-28 was underrated at 290 HP.

Think a bone stock 67 SS-350 convertible could hang with a bone stock 67 Z-28? No friggin' way. The Z-28 was a race car in street clothes. Sure the SS 396 L78 was one bad musclecar and sure it could give the Z-28 a run for its money in straight line acceleration, however that's where the comparison ends. Furthermore many enthusiasts will argue that the top performing Camaro may have actually been the L30/M20 optioned cars. Trouble is... they had no badging whatsoever, unless packaged with RPO-Z22 as a "RS". And then there are the 427 cid Supercars which may or may not have began life as "SS"'s in 1967.

Furthermore, there wasn't much difference between the SS and Z-28 in the 4th generation other than stripes, a hood scoop and the cool sounding exhaust. Internally the drivetrains were identical. Hense, the 4th gen SS's can really only be considered a "trim" package on top of the "base" Z-28. (Yes, actually the early 4th gen "SS"'s were even sold as such.)

It really doesn't matter anyway as the information of a special "Z-28" limited edition racecar in street clothes was first suggested in this forum and was even "rumored" to being considered for 2009 MY by everyone's favorite Camaro-head at GM. Don't like it? Don't buy it! Although there are several here who will.

 

Eh... he might be right, somewhat. Mustang hiatus.

 

the kid on crack was claiming that 2005 was the final year of the mustang.