[Optimus Prime]

Ok, ArcAngel & fastball- You guys need to grow up, plain and simple. I'm not one to stir up trouble, and I'm not looking to now, but I'm tired of reading this tripe. I understand you guys are disappointed with the Camaro's interior materials, and that's fine. I also understand you have a problem with the way GM is run, or has been run in the past anyway. The problem is, you're trying to make a connection of the two that is grossly out of proportion. GM's structuring and financial problems did not culminate in the Camaro's interior, which is what you're basically trying to make it look like. It's very juvenile to make something as small (yes, it's small, for the Camaro, IT's SMALL!!) as the interior materials into something as big as "GM's in the toilet and this is why". No... it's not. As fbodfather said, it's a compromise, something the world is full of... always has been, always will be. If you wanted a plush leather interior, maybe they could have given the SS the V6 at the same price. After all, the new 6 has as much HP as the old Z/28 LS1 did. But then I'm sure you'd complain that after 8 years, GM shouldn't have been so stupid as to release a new top-end Camaro with the same power as the last one. Ultimately, if you don't like it, don't buy it. You wanna know who's REALLY going to change the public's perception of American cars? I'll give you a moment...

We are. Yeah, that's right. Personally, and I know I speak for several others here, GM has made not strides, but leaps in the quality of its vehicles. So if someone who's an import fanatic comes up to you and asks why your $34k Camaro SS is better than his $34k 370Z/Accord coupe/Camry Solara/etc., you tell them about the BENEFITS, not the negatives. If you say, "well, the dash isn't as soft as yours, and the mirrors aren't lighted, and the gas cap is on the wrong side", they're gonna leave with a bitter taste in their mouth and confirmation that American cars are still crap. On the other hand, if you tell them how much extra power and handling they're getting, what extra features their getting, not to mention the unique styling, maybe they'll reconsider. But then, maybe they won't. And that's fine, because the Camaro is not for everyone. Maybe they don't want 50 or 100 extra HP and sports car handling, then the Camaro isn't the car, but if they want great comfort, let's move them to the very-impressive Malibu. American cars are better than ever, not perfect, and they're not too far from knocking the imports down for the count...