Interesting take on tail lamps... .Mark Phelan in the Detroit Free Press....

[2012-1822]

Originally Posted by classicrockr

I still don't like the tail lights....but I'd take a camaro over a mustang ANY DAY

I'd take a bicycle with a flat tire over a Mustang any day.

[fbodfather]

Originally Posted by Glen e

The simple fact hat someone had to write about this specific issue means to me that somebody has heard the lights are not being well received for many....

and I certainly would expect a Detriot reporter to be a "friend of the family" - I can see a scene right out of the Godfather - where Sonny says " We got still somebody on the paper don't we? Have him write about it"

J/K.... Scott...

I don't agree.


Since Harley Earl started 'styling' cars - we've had people who did not like the 'new' car or truck.

Based on that - we as an industry should sell about 100,000 cars and trucks this year......which of course is ridiculous.....

The difference is that the internet gives you instantaneous feedback - and for us old codgers, we simply shake our heads as people 'Demand' that people be fired because someone doesn't like what they see. (...it matters not that others like what they see.......)

We also shake our heads because Mr. Phelan is correct - 99 percent of the time, the 'panic du jour' is over within 6 months - and while some love to beat the horse about the taillamps, I can give you concrete examples of how some said we'd never sell the 5th gen Camaro - either because it was 'hideous' -- 'the SS Fascia' - "the location of the back-up lamps" - the 'horrible steering wheel version 2010' - or the 'horrible steering wheel version 2012" or the 'B-pillar' --

..........and then there was the I/P...............

.......................we'll never get some to love the tail lamps - but while some said that the C7 would never sell - well - go look at the waiting list.

I posted this NOT to get the pot stirred - but that people could see the humor in all of this..............

[Glen e]

so noted....that's what forums are all about...interesting discussions...

The taillight issue is a polarizing one, one that will fester or die depending on the public long term, not the Camro5 crowd. Personally I think it's fun to discuss here, but I don't think it will affect unit sales velocities....

[meissen]

Great article, thanks for sharing Scott.

I think eventually everyone will come around on the taillights. My knee jerk reaction changed the moment I saw high-quality pictures, and now that I've seen the 2014 Camaros numerous times in person I absolutely love the way they look. The taillights are pure Camaro heritage.

Even diehard owners of the 93-97 Camaro poke fun at the "catfish" 1998-2002 model years and I have a feeling it will be the same for the 2010-2013 owners poking at the 2014+ years.

At the end of the day though, the most important thing for all of us is that the Camaro stays in production, and I'm a supporter of what ever vehicle GM churns out with the "Camaro" nameplate on it. Some of the folks on here may not like the 2014+ Camaro, but we need to quit the constant bashing of the taillights or the re-design or else we may not see a 6th gen Camaro at all.


PS - I do not, however, think I'll ever get over my reaction for the new Cherokee. :yuck: I've seen them in person and their front bumper even more confusing in person (IE: "Are those headlights or fog lights? Are those running lights? Where's the turn signal? Where's the hood and where's the grille?").

[Cincy10SSRS]

I saw plenty of 2014 Camaro's next to plenty of the 2010-13 models at the Fest in Indy. I still honestly prefer the 2010-13 tail lights. I'm entitled to my own opinion.
I also saw the 2014 Vette there and everything about that car, including the tail lights, was stunning, perhaps the most gorgeously styled car I've ever seen in person, no matter the price.

[06_warrior]

Originally Posted by Cincy10SSRS

I saw plenty of 2014 Camaro's next to plenty of the 2010-13 models at the Fest in Indy. I still honestly prefer the 2010-13 tail lights. I'm entitled to my own opinion.
I also saw the 2014 Vette there and everything about that car, including the tail lights, was stunning, perhaps the most gorgeously styled car I've ever seen in person, no matter the price.

+1

[TooCool5]

Originally Posted by Cincy10SSRS

I saw plenty of 2014 Camaro's next to plenty of the 2010-13 models at the Fest in Indy. I still honestly prefer the 2010-13 tail lights. I'm entitled to my own opinion.
I also saw the 2014 Vette there and everything about that car, including the tail lights, was stunning, perhaps the most gorgeously styled car I've ever seen in person, no matter the price.

X2

I actually like the Vette tails.
Still looks Corvette from the rear.

[tonyko1]

Seems that the new Stingray took the 2010-13 Camaro taillights. Wonder if they are the actual spec'd lights? In either case, seems Chevy/GM didn't want both the Camaro and Stingray to have the same taillights, and the vette won.

I like the 2014 Camaros.

[45thAnniversary2SS]

The performance is pretty close across brands when comparing the same engine type. I chose the Camaro based on LOOKS.

So basically this guy is saying just accept the newest model and shut up right? We don't know what looks good and you just have to trust that it will grow on you?

Having said that I LOVE the new Stringray. I will not comment on the '14 Camaro.

This guy is obviously looking at it from the manufacturers point of view, but how about the consumers pov?

[ALLTRBO]

That article...

[90503]

I see part of the "problem" over styling changes is actually the fault of the manufacturer's themselves....That is, take our Gen5 Camaros for example....It's sort of a two-edged sword when the same style is produced and marketed for four years or so with basically no change....

Instead of that system being criticized for encouraging sales by the car companies for pumping out the same look year after year, the consumer is lead to believe that year after year the same style is the best thing they can come up with....and when it does change, or even "re-freshed" the question becomes "Why?"...It was just fine for four years...blah, blah, blah...

Just sayin', if the car-makers feel the dis-like for a change in a certain model, then don't leave it the same for multiple years in the first place...Go back to significant changes EVERY year for all models, and you won't have the embedded resistance to a change that is made after the car has been basically the same, and extremely popular, for four to five years in a row...

[snaphappy]

PS I love the vette tail lights and everything about that car. It's a work of art!

[Cheveey57]

Originally Posted by Glen e

The simple fact hat someone had to write about this specific issue means to me that somebody has heard the lights are not being well received for many....

and I certainly would expect a Detriot reporter to be a "friend of the family" - I can see a scene right out of the Godfather - where Sonny says " We got still somebody on the paper don't we? Have him write about it"

J/K.... Scott...

X 2
And this Phelan guy..... You know what they say about opinions.

[whemming]

While I'm no fan of the new 2014 tail lights. Its not near as bad as the Dodge Charger (That is a true abomination). And the Z51...Love everything about it!