Lets say the base V8 Camaro comes with a 300HP 5.3L for $24,000 and the base Z28 or SS comes with a 400HP 6.0L for $26,000. would anyone here get the base V8? I know I wouldn't, Id go for the bigger V8 since the price difference would be no more than $2-3K.

now if they make a 475HP ZL1 for $40K I might have to cheap out, due to lack of funds.

 

Me...

And you know there is gonna be a larger difference for 100hp than 2-3k. Come on...to go from a 3800 to a LS1 Formula was 5k, and the only differences were the front springs and the engine!!! Sure, the 5.3 and the 6.0 COST the same...but you know GM is going to do more tweaks to a car to make it a true Z28 than just a bump in displacement to add 100hp. Trim will be different this time around (I hope) at a minimum...

I would buy a base V8. I would not have even bought a Z28 this time unless I had to have an 8. I came from a 2.8 '89 Camaro to this. I hardly ever use the power the LT1 has even...which makes me wonder why I waste $$ on mods Add HP to what I have now in a base car for 24k? Where do I sign up?

A 400hp one will cost 30k or more, guaranteed...

 

More than likely the prices would never be that close. Still, I plan on ordering whichever one has the biggest and baddest powerplant.

 

In the Silverado, the cost of going from the V6 to the 4.8L V8 is about $800 and the jump from 4.8L to 5.3L is about $800 more.

I can't see a 6.0L or 5.7L V8 upgrade costing more than $3K over a 5.3L, there is no trans upgrade like the V6 to V8 move.

The Z28 should NOT cost $10,000 more than a V6 camaro.

 

I would have in 2001 if one had been available, and i DID in 1992 when one WAS available. Most likely, it would be a base V8 on the BASE Camaro, and to step up to Z28/SS, it would cost way more that $2K. Back in '92, the base Z28 engine was the 5.0 TPI, I'm guessing to give you the option of the 5 speed (also, that engine was up to 230hp, pretty close to the 5.7 of the time) which you couldn't get w/ the 5.7.

Since I got my CTS, I've got the 255hp 3.6 in mine, I've found that it's just fine, even a little much, for everyday driving. What I miss most is the sound, and the power reserve (which I enjoyed on occasion) the LS1 offered. I would get a base V8 in a heartbeat, just for the sound and knowing It had 8 cylinders (as any self respecting Camaro should). Especially if the top model was an insurance nightmare.

But hey, I find myself contemplating a C6 Z06 next time around, so who knows. To answer the question, I would lean towards the base V8 over the top end V8, but I would not consider a Camaro w/ a V6, or I4 turbo, or anything else. To me, Camaro means V8, but not necessarily world killer V8, for me. 300 ponies would probably be enough for me (unless the C6 Z06 has 500. hmmmmm).

 

Yes. Zillions of secretaries and Mustang buyers and people who just want something "a bit more."

GM proved it in the late 80s and 90s with the RS, which could be had with a 2.8 V6 or a 5.0 TBI V8, but NOT the 5.0 or 5.7 TPI engines reserved for the Z28/IROC. They sold MORE 5.0 TBIs than 2.8s, because people wanted "something extra."

It doesn't matter if any of us buy it. Other people will. Lots of them. That's the point.

 

Good point. But this isn't the 80's. In order to sell in todays import infested (i mean that in a good way) market, the camaro has to be near perfect. It's going to take more than a mid-level engine or a base v8 to to sell todays discriminating buyer on a car like the camaro. For some reason, the public hasn’t been as forgiving to the 4th camaro as they have been to the Mustang and 3rd gen cam. But then again, the mustang is a bit more compromised and more suited for the masses. This is something the 5th gen will have to do. Lose the steeply racked windshield and huge dash, hump on passenger side floor, position the seats a little more upright, improve rear/side vision, etc…

If there's going to be a base v8, there has to be a big price difference of around 5k or no one will even consider the base 8. How’s that saying go? “Hp sells cars”. Price them too close, and the higher Hp engine will probably outsell the base. But price the z28/SS $5+k more than the base v8, and the base 8 will have no trouble selling. Let the 5k increase comprise engine/suspension/brake upgrades.

 

Nope.

I have no interest whatsoever the base V8 that the Z28's will come with.

I'll take an SS with the big-gun motor, thanks.

 

I think that a V8 in the base model would be a great idea. It would be a good upgrade for people that can't afford the top model. IMO if it's an inexpensive option they will sell a ton of them. But I probably wouldn't get one unless the top performing Camaro is over 40K.

 

Thank you...I've been saying that here for 2 years now!!

RiceEating5.0,

No, this is not the '80s....BUT, the Mustang sells a slew of "tame" Mustang GTs that sold for the same price as a nice V6 F body. Did it hurt them?? NO. History will repeat itself...give a nice, more insurable base V8. Even if it is 270hp, that's in LT1 league, which is still enough to annihilate 98% of the import crap out there anyways...imports will not be the issue.

Give the public a "tamer" V8 base coupe...they will come. I'd even be one of them. Budget performance is what Camaro is all about. CLEAN is right...some of us just want the "respectable" V8, and nothing more...

 

That's a really good point.

This poll is like going over to Consumer Reports website, and taking a poll as to how many people would by a 6.0 liter, 400hp Camaro SS over a base version with an Ecotec 4.

 

I'm with you all the way. A base V-8 would almost certainly find buyers though. The idea of being able to just say that it has a "V-8" would attract a large number of people alone IMO. Most people aren't quite the all-out performance enthusiasts that many of us are on this site. The only question is whether or not GM would shell out the cash for another engine.



-Mike

 

How about taming the rest of the car to be more driver friendly? My argument goes beyond engines alone. A tamer engine alone won't bring in the sales.

Another thing, the author of this topic puts the more powerful z28/ss at only a few thousand dollars more. It'd be assassin to price the base v8 too close to the H.O v8. If there is going to be a base v8, it needs to be significantly cheaper (5k) than the top-v8 models in order for it to be successful. Cheaper insurance may sway buyers, but so does "value" and "bang for your buck". The 2 cars need to be different in many ways (like GT and Cobra). Give the top v8 models a more performance oriented suspension, brakes, and tires/wheels to go with the upgraded Hp and Tq. This would justify the extra $5k sticker price. Only by doing this can a base v8 sell succesfully.

 

I dont want more upright (truckish) seats

BUT, I think an SC'd 3800 would be a good choice for the base motor, or the I6. I would like to see chevy take a somewhat mustang appraoch on the top model, though. Have the base and the Z, then a more limited production HO version, not just an appearance package. It should get whatever the Z06 gets, but in such a limited production (say ~2,000) that the vette guys wont have to get their feathers so ruffled.

So, here's the future line up:

camaro RS- 280HP SC'd buick 3800 - ~$23,000

Z/28- 425HP LS2 or 405 HP LS6 - ~$28,000

SS-475-500hp LS7 - ~$36,000 (with serious suspension, brake and cosmetic upgrades)

 

It's gonna take more than that to get RP to buy your electronic throttle control.