Quote:
Originally Posted by fastball
Everyone is missing the point here, and for all of our sakes we better hope GM doesn't.....
The real competition in the V6 isn't the Mustang or Challenger..... it's the Honda Accord EX V6, BMW 1-Series, Nissan Altima 3.5 SE V6, and Toyota Camry Solara SE V6. Before anyone starts flaming, let me elaborate:
All of the cars I mentioned will fall directly in the price range of LS and LT Camaros (mid 20's to low 30s). They are generally reguared as upper class, sophisticated cars that don't really even compete with a Mustang V6 or Challenger V6. GM has been saying all along they want the Camaro to be a cut above the Mustang and Challenger in fit, finish, refinement, and sophistication. Well, as the old saying goes, be carefull what you ask for, you just might get it.
Europe and Japan have really moved ahead of America in the personal performance coupe market. The Accord has 268 hp and can be had with a 6 speed stick, not to mention it comes with everything from leather heated seats to 6 disc in dash changer standard. All for $28k. Same for the Altima and 1-Series.
The Solara isn't as performance oriented as the other cars, but it's still a major player in the market at this price range.
So, it's one thing to outshine and outclass Ford and Dodge. It's another thing to go head to head with Europe and Japan.
It is in the best interest for GM that they do. The Mustang and Challenger won't even be on the radar if GM succeeds in providing a true alternative to Japan and Europe. Top notch interior quality, refined, solid suspension tuning that still handles and performs awesome, and absolutely no cheapness or cut corners. So far it appears as if GM is doing it. An engine that's got all the high tech acronyms (DOHC VVT DI 24V) that people want, whether or not it's any better than a pushrod. 4 wheel independent suspension. Tight, clean body panel fit, and a refined interior (Scott said they were doing their do dilligence in the touch and feel of all the switchgear on the dashboard, and getting graining and fit down perfect on the materials).
That's what sells cars today. If GM succeeds in doing that for the V6 Camaro, the Camaro will sell and live a long, prosperous life.
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You just opened the scope of the Camaro by a great deal. We've been talking about rivalries, but the real competition isn't in our conference. We need to look at both the other cars in the same price and power range (referred herein as "class") and potential buyers of the Camaro.
First, we should discuss the class of cars that the Camaro will enter. It will feature fairly to very powerful domestics and imports, as well as luxury cars. In order to compete with the power of foreign cars, the Camaro will have to use its heritage to argue that it is the better car. American cars are notorious for torque-packing V8 motors. We can expect that the Camaro will feel more powerful that the competition with thanks to GM engineers. Next, we need to look at the luxuries of the Camaro. Most of us are muscle car enthusiasts, but don't expect someone who is also looking at a BMW 1-series to have the same passion as us. BMW buyers like power, but they don't like it as much as the appearance of success, chrome rims, and buttons on their steering wheels. Fortunately, GM has instilled the Camaro with lots of features to compete with luxury cars. The only downside of Camaro tradition for these buyers is its low price. In order to take away luxury car buyers, GM will have to advertise the Camaro as more luxurious for less cost. This is where price comes into play. The Camaro has a tradition of being cheap in comparison to other powerful cars.
If the Camaro is priced with the Mustang, then we can expect to convert a lot of buyers away from the domestic pony car competition. If the Camaro has features like a BMW, we can expect to take away from some of the luxury crowd. Finally, if GM runs more than one Camaro ad campaign targeting both the sporty and luxury crowds, we can expect the Camaro to steal large amounts of market share from the competition. The scope of the competition isn't domestic anymore, and GM knows how to compete. With the success of cars like the Malibu, we can have full confidence in GM's upcoming Camaro.