How many Camaros need to be sold?

[FenwickHockey65]

I doubt that GM will be able to maintain 100k sales/year. They can, however, keep interest in the Camaro alive through the convertible a year after production starts...then maybe...a Z28 after that...

[Legend]

Yeah I agree...give the options they have this year, the vert the next and then bring in the Z28 the year after...should keep the interest up.

But...how many folks are holding out for the vert and the Z28? Enough to hold the market share...I don't know?

[TheClassicCarKid]

Originally Posted by I am Legend

Yeah I agree...give the options they have this year, the vert the next and then bring in the Z28 the year after...should keep the interest up.

But...how many folks are holding out for the vert and the Z28? Enough to hold the market share...I don't know?

I forgot about the convertible, that will definitely help second year sales

[fastfret7]

Originally Posted by azfan

It's such a big worry. Sport coupes just don't sell anymore. Discounting two door G6's, and Accords, the only sport coupes left, sold in this country are the mustang and Mitsubishi Eclipse. We can only hope. I do put the GTO in a different category. It wasn't sporty enough, and there was no V6 model. There is a built in Camaro audience out there...42,000 i guess. Of course, with no Firebird, roughly 33,000 they were selling a year should go to the Camaro. So , optimistically, that's 75,000 right there. The big concern is whether they can maintain 100,000 sales a year.

These numbers are blowing my mind. A 100K Camaros a year? I know there is a lot of Camaro lovers, but 100K a year. With the economy in the dump and people loosing their homes. I fear that number might be far in between. But heres to dreaming.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by fastfret7

Who really cares if the car sticks around.. As long as you get your 2010 or 2011 camaro. It should be all good. It would be better if they ended the production, because you will have a collector's item. Ha

I care because I can't get a 2010, maybe not even a 2011 (unless I get used). As for collector items, I doubt it. It is only the cleanest and rarest of cars that end up beating inflation.

[SWHCPA]

Originally Posted by wjones14

If I remember correctly, the GTO didn't even sell that many cars combined for the 2004-06 models! And that was a great car, albeit very homely...

Dudes - not to incite a riot; but, did you sit in and look at the GTO. It was so plastic that I opted to lease a Crossfire. Same blind spot and better performance, fit and finish. Sorry; but, I still like a solid feel and sound when you close the door.

[Tal]

Originally Posted by wjones14

They need to sell 80,000 cars and hope to sell 100,000+ according to Chevy's statements then? This sounds pretty optimistic considering the last year of production they sold 42,000.

If I remember correctly, the GTO didn't even sell that many cars combined for the 2004-06 models! And that was a great car, albeit very homely...

Due to it's price the GTO is only comparable to the Camaro SS. In that regard the Camaro is better or at least as good in most categories such as price/performance/style. I say this liking the GTO, if money is tight when I'm ready to buy a used 06 GTO will be on my shortlist. My point is the SS is planned as only ~20% of the long term Camaro production though which means a goal of 15-20k SS models that going by GTO sales is very realistic IMO. GM is counting on the V6 to bring in the sales though. It's not the most fun or the most practical car but it's a rare mix of both at a price that is in reach of a large number of people. If the auto industry continues to slump overall that will effect all models but this would only delay the Camaro's profitability, which would not kill the car but simply lead to a longer time until it gets refreshed or in the worst case cancelled.

[kmn5]

I just had a vision of seeing a Camaro on every block in nyc

hmmmm would having 80k of the same cars running around, then having one wouldn't so special any more

[Mosher]

Originally Posted by wjones14

They need to sell 80,000 cars and hope to sell 100,000+ according to Chevy's statements then? This sounds pretty optimistic considering the last year of production they sold 42,000.

If I remember correctly, the GTO didn't even sell that many cars combined for the 2004-06 models! And that was a great car, albeit very homely...

Don't forget that Firebird sales were also F-body. I think that they are hoping stronger numbers then that because this time at least to start it is just Camaro.

[jesserayjames]

Remember this new Camaro is far above the other production camaro.

[1967rsss]

GM stopped promoting the F-bodys, and wanted them to die off.

Now they are going to build one of the best looking Camaros of all time.

The problem is the economy.

Now the next question will be, how do they out do them selves for the 6th gen?

[AParker]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

The goal was 80-100k cars a year. Then gas prices spiked. When gas prices started to come down, credit evaporated. But GM is doing better than the other automakers right now and everything says that the Camaro should be better than the competition. I'd say that GM will be closer (as a %) to their sales goal than Dodge will be with the Challenger.

woah that's a lot of cars to sell in this economy! I got faith tho this is one of the best value performance cars available right now. Heres to the economy picking up later this year so GM can reach the target soon

[Cyberfan]

Originally Posted by fastfret7

Who really cares if the car sticks around.. As long as you get your 2010 or 2011 camaro. It should be all good. It would be better if they ended the production, because you will have a collector's item. Ha

I care.... I would like for the General to make money and survive. I may need new parts and warranty work in the future.

My gut tells me that the Camaro will make money for the General because:

1. It is much better looking than either the 02 Camaro or any Mustang;
2. The remarkable OHC V-6 for the low 20's, and
3. The bargain basement SS for low to mid 30's if you stay on a diet from some of the overpriced wheels and other options- no other car offers that much bang for that low a price, including Mustang or Challenger.

And no collector car for at least 30 years! I don't plan to keep it that long. All these cars will depreciate.

Regarding the GTO, it failed BECAUSE it looked like a Grand Am. Ugly (or ordinary) doesn't sell, unless you are shopping for a minivan. Just ask Jaguar, who have been using good looks to sell POS cars for years. Even the biggest Mopar and Ford fanatics couldn't honestly call the new Camaro ugly or ordinary looking.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by AParker

woah that's a lot of cars to sell in this economy! I got faith tho this is one of the best value performance cars available right now. Heres to the economy picking up later this year so GM can reach the target soon

Like I said, that was the goal. I will be very surprised if they sell more than 70 000 for 2010 now, given the market. But there are 10 000+ on order right now and the 2010 MY will have a run of 20 months to add up sales.

Originally Posted by Cyberfan

Regarding the GTO, it failed BECAUSE it looked like a Grand Am. Ugly (or ordinary) doesn't sell, unless you are shopping for a minivan. Just ask Jaguar, who have been using good looks to sell POS cars for years. Even the biggest Mopar and Ford fanatics couldn't honestly call the new Camaro ugly or ordinary looking.

I won't dispute that it looked ordinary, but the Grand Am was the most styled Pontiac car at the time. The G5, G6, GTO, and to a lesser extent the Grand Prix, were all blobs with a split grill.