My guess at 2012 Camaro Z/28 Standard Features

[ponycrusher21]

Magnetic Ride would be the single factor that puts the Camaro Waaayyy on top of the GT500. Without it, GM just needs to tinker with the suspension to a ridiculous degree.



$ is the problem though.

[mondain]

Originally Posted by ponycrusher21

Magnetic Ride would be the single factor that puts the Camaro Waaayyy on top of the GT500. Without it, GM just needs to tinker with the suspension to a ridiculous degree.



$ is the problem though.

Mag ride would certainly make IRS seem like the worlds better choice...

[nick at night]

This might sound stupid but here goes.

Would it be entirely crazy to think that GM would price the Z28 too low to make money off it? Think about it. would putting a package together that destroys the GT500 in every way including cost be a bigger win than making money. I understand that General Motors is a company and needs to make money, however, they make money other places, and the good PR of such a thing would bring big attention to GM, something they can never have enough of. So they break even on the Z28 and have something that rules the road. Anyone think I'm off my rocker???

[mondain]

If GM made the Z28 have the same performance or better than the GT500, and the same base features included, AND be just a few hundred CHEAPER than the GT500, the industry would take notice!

FYI: Ford only makes like 5,500 GT500's per year. It's essentially a loss leader.

[nick at night]

And that's exactly my point. They would steal Ford's thunder right away from them. And that might be much more important than making money at this point.

[garagelogic]

Steal their thunder? Ford has been making GT500's since the 2007 model year and is likely near the end of its production run in the next year or two. I doubt they are too worried about a Johnny-come-lately Z28 offering from GM taking sales away from them.

Sure, if the Z28 offers better performance and an equal or slightly greater price, there will be people that jump ship, but I don't think by the time 2012 rolls around, Ford will be too worried about losing GT500 sales.

If I were Ford, I'd make 2011 the last year of GT500 production and let the Boss 302 be the best performance Mustang offering in 2012.

[nick at night]

Your right about that. But I was more referring to the general population. Not that the Z28 would steal that many sales, as i have stated thats not what i think thats about, but that it would be looked at as the top dog in its class. I think that is where GM is aiming.

[garagelogic]

I don't think the general population gives a crap who the "top dog" is. Usually, that is only the enthusiasts.

[SuperFly03]

Originally Posted by mondain

If GM made the Z28 have the same performance or better than the GT500, and the same base features included, AND be just a few hundred CHEAPER than the GT500, the industry would take notice!

FYI: Ford only makes like 5,500 GT500's per year. It's essentially a loss leader.

That was only for 2011... and I don't believe the GT500 is a loss leader. I believe they make good money on each car.

[MG]

Originally Posted by ponycrusher21

Magnetic Ride would be the single factor that puts the Camaro Waaayyy on top of the GT500. Without it, GM just needs to tinker with the suspension to a ridiculous degree.



$ is the problem though.

Magnetic suspension PLEASE!


I'm willing to pay for it if it is offered.

[mondain]

Originally Posted by SuperFly03

That was only for 2011... and I don't believe the GT500 is a loss leader. I believe they make good money on each car.

I'm sure they make some money on it; my point being that even if they sold all 5,500 cars at a loss, it barely dents their bottom line. Thus, GM should be able to sell a z28 at a loss, in limited quantities, just to establish dominance and take some market share and make a name for itself.

[boxmonkeyracing]

Originally Posted by mondain

I'm sure they make some money on it; my point being that even if they sold all 5,500 cars at a loss, it barely dents their bottom line. Thus, GM should be able to sell a z28 at a loss, in limited quantities, just to establish dominance and take some market share and make a name for itself.

you realize you're talking about a company that just came out of bankruptcy? it's probably not a good idea to sell any car at a loss. . .not for GM at least.

[mondain]

Originally Posted by boxmonkeyracing

you realize you're talking about a company that just came out of bankruptcy? it's probably not a good idea to sell any car at a loss. . .not for GM at least.

I'm not talking a huge loss here. GM sells over 6,000 Camaro's at a profit per month; 5,000 units at a loss is easily swallowed by that over time, and it's still an increase in marketshare for GM.

There's lots of ways to turn a loss into a profit.

[boxmonkeyracing]

Originally Posted by mondain

I'm not talking a huge loss here. GM sells over 6,000 Camaro's at a profit per month; 5,000 units at a loss is easily swallowed by that over time, and it's still an increase in marketshare for GM.

There's lots of ways to turn a loss into a profit.

someone brought up the fact it doesn't really cost that much more to produce an SS over the equivalent v6. but yet it's almost 7-8k more. . .

even if GM dropped the profit margin down on the Z28 I could see them selling them for profit and still being very competitive. what that means I don't know maybe even less then the gt500. but we will see after LA auto show I suspect next year.