Chevrolet - Listen to your customers and Build the Camaro we Want

[Jefe's SS]

Former TJ/Jeep guy here.
IIRC those Dana 44s had a D44 ring and pinion w/ D30 knuckles and u-joints. The belly pan hangs awfully low as well. Definitely a step in the right direction. Don't forget about the 4:1 TC.

Proving Grounds, Moab. Those are proper Currie built 9" axles.


Holy Cross, Colorado.

[fbodfather]

Originally Posted by HufferSS

I recently purchased my 2011 SS and am busy building it into the car that I want it to be. I want more power, I need a better clutch, apparently the rear axles aren't worth crap etc etc. I just read a thread about the driveshaft being a pile of poo and the list goes on.

I would say this in an open letter to Chevrolet....one of my other hobbies are Jeeps. Jeep for years built shallow versions of what real Jeep enthusiasts wanted in order to satisfy the bean counters. They would never build a Jeep Wrangler that was actually a very capable off-roader, at least not REAL off roading.

For years Jeep enthusiasts asked for stronger axles, they asked for locked differentials, they asked for capable suspensions etc. Jeep never built it and the aftermarket prospered. Jeep FINALLY capitulated and built the Rubicon. They built it almost begrudgingly and expected it to be an utter failure due to the costs involved. This model featured Dana 44 axles front and back, electronic lockable axles, electronic swaybar disconnect....in other words...a very capable Jeep.

It cost more sure...but Jeep enthusiasts FLOCKED to this model Jeep and purchased as many as Jeep could make. The extra price tag made this model very profitable for Jeep and they continue to build them today.

I want a Camaro with a stout clutch, performance suspension, a rock solid set of axles and 500 damn horsepower at the rear wheel. I'd like to buy it and race it....not modify it just to make it capable of running with the big dogs. Don't get me wrong, the base SS is a nice car but I'd gladly pay more for a better axle, a stronger clutch and a strong motor.

Learn from Chrysler/Jeep....one of the most inept companies ever....listening to their enthusiast base was a very profitable move for them.

well - - I'll get to reading the entire thread later - but a couple of thoughts.

1. We are listening to our customers - please search for "The Camaro Disciples" on this site - you'll find that 15 men and women worked with us on the 5th gen......they brought feedback from many clubs and sites.....some of us spend nearly every weekend from April thru Mid-October with Camaro/Firebird Enthusiasts - again, listening to what they want and need......so please believe me - we're listening......

2. Don't assume that what you want is what everyone else wants. We must bring this car in at a reasonable cost. Not everyone wants to run a 12.5 in the 1/4 mile -

3. As I suspect many will mention - there is the soon-to-be available ZL1 -- there are the Berger Camaros - the Tom Henry Racing Camaros - the Hennessey Camaros - there are all kinds of special Camaros out there that may just be exactly what you were looking for.

4. We DID go thru Bankruptcy - and thus a lot of what you will see down the road should have been out there earlier....

5. Lest you forget - we make a car called the Corvette --

6. Your quote:

but Jeep enthusiasts FLOCKED to this model Jeep and purchased as many as Jeep could make
......for how long? Because the Jeep plant isn't running on overtime and hasn't been for some time.......... It's important not to assume something just because some enthusiasts have to wait for a while to get a vehicle.....

Be assured that we continue to talk to and listen to our customers -

[BAD DAB]

If racing is what you want to do, find a Vega body and build yourself a race car.

[Cristoff]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

well - - I'll get to reading the entire thread later - but a couple of thoughts.

1. We are listening to our customers - please search for "The Camaro Disciples" on this site - you'll find that 15 men and women worked with us on the 5th gen......they brought feedback from many clubs and sites.....some of us spend nearly every weekend from April thru Mid-October with Camaro/Firebird Enthusiasts - again, listening to what they want and need......so please believe me - we're listening......

2. Don't assume that what you want is what everyone else wants. We must bring this car in at a reasonable cost. Not everyone wants to run a 12.5 in the 1/4 mile -

3. As I suspect many will mention - there is the soon-to-be available ZL1 -- there are the Berger Camaros - the Tom Henry Racing Camaros - the Hennessey Camaros - there are all kinds of special Camaros out there that may just be exactly what you were looking for.

4. We DID go thru Bankruptcy - and thus a lot of what you will see down the road should have been out there earlier....

5. Lest you forget - we make a car called the Corvette --

6. Your quote:

but Jeep enthusiasts FLOCKED to this model Jeep and purchased as many as Jeep could make
......for how long? Because the Jeep plant isn't running on overtime and hasn't been for some time.......... It's important not to assume something just because some enthusiasts have to wait for a while to get a vehicle.....

Be assured that we continue to talk to and listen to our customers -

Thank you for the voice of reason!

[usa1camaro1969]

Originally Posted by HufferSS

Hindsight is 20/20 I guess.....I should have researched more but I saw Synergy Green and lost my mind..

The ZL1 might be the answer...but by the time it comes out, I will have already built one.

I guess I know how you feel about the green. I don't think I slept good until mine was delivered after I set my eyes on the orange in the sunlight. Then I saw an ABM but it was after they'd canceled the color and my IOM was already home. In fact I was back and forth on so many different colors before I locked in on the IOM. 7-months wait for the ZL1. You could try real hard to leave the SS stock, take the mod$ and slowly stash it away until it comes out. Trade the car in and see what the stock car can really do.

I only pointed the Nickey out because I couldn't afford one and purposely settled with the v6 so I wouldn't do what you're currently planning on doing with the SS and end up with a $40k+ SS. Even with putting mod$ toward the v6, having no car payment is helping me put the Nickey$ together and so far I've done a best 13.88 NA and a 13.69 NA corrected with it in the meantime(I also see a lot of mid 13's out of SS's at our track, mostly a weather thing). I figure another year and the thing I'll have to answer is whether I want the Stage2 NA at 600+hp or what.

[HufferSS]

Originally Posted by Cristoff

Thank you for the voice of reason!

You seem awfully butt hurt over me wanting a faster Camaro. Can I share other things I want too so you can get mad over those too?

[HufferSS]

Originally Posted by usa1camaro1969

I guess I know how you feel about the green. I don't think I slept good until mine was delivered after I set my eyes on the orange in the sunlight. Then I saw an ABM but it was after they'd canceled the color and my IOM was already home. In fact I was back and forth on so many different colors before I locked in on the IOM. 7-months wait for the ZL1. You could try real hard to leave the SS stock, take the mod$ and slowly stash it away until it comes out. Trade the car in and see what the stock car can really do.

I only pointed the Nickey out because I couldn't afford one and purposely settled with the v6 so I wouldn't do what you're currently planning on doing with the SS and end up with a $40k+ SS. Even with putting mod$ toward the v6, having no car payment is helping me put the Nickey$ together and so far I've done a best 13.88 NA and a 13.69 NA corrected with it in the meantime(I also see a lot of mid 13's out of SS's at our track, mostly a weather thing). I figure another year and the thing I'll have to answer is whether I want the Stage2 NA at 600+hp or what.

The IOM is hot...I was very close to buying one of those but the dealer was a bit of tool...so I went elsewhere. I like the out of the ordinary colors....the green and the orange being my two favorite....I hate to post that because the Infiniti guy is probably going to be ticked over that too.

[Ocikat]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

well - - I'll get to reading the entire thread later - but a couple of thoughts.

1. We are listening to our customers - please search for "The Camaro Disciples" on this site - you'll find that 15 men and women worked with us on the 5th gen......they brought feedback from many clubs and sites.....some of us spend nearly every weekend from April thru Mid-October with Camaro/Firebird Enthusiasts - again, listening to what they want and need......so please believe me - we're listening......

2. Don't assume that what you want is what everyone else wants. We must bring this car in at a reasonable cost. Not everyone wants to run a 12.5 in the 1/4 mile -

3. As I suspect many will mention - there is the soon-to-be available ZL1 -- there are the Berger Camaros - the Tom Henry Racing Camaros - the Hennessey Camaros - there are all kinds of special Camaros out there that may just be exactly what you were looking for.

4. We DID go thru Bankruptcy - and thus a lot of what you will see down the road should have been out there earlier....

5. Lest you forget - we make a car called the Corvette --

6. Your quote:

but Jeep enthusiasts FLOCKED to this model Jeep and purchased as many as Jeep could make
......for how long? Because the Jeep plant isn't running on overtime and hasn't been for some time.......... It's important not to assume something just because some enthusiasts have to wait for a while to get a vehicle.....

Be assured that we continue to talk to and listen to our customers -

Chevy has been making changes based on feedback from customers, well demonstrated at Camaro fest in Pheonix, Camaros are marketed to the public for street use not exclusivley for racing. I doubt that many of us Camaro fans would be able to afford what the OP is asking for for our pleasure and or daily driver cars.

fbodfather, You and your teams are doing a great job !!! Thanks for bringing our Camaros back, they look great, perform well, and are reasonably affordable. Keep up the great work

[MikeL]

Originally Posted by HufferSS

Really....that's your contribution?

Nice.

He has a point.

[NicksVSix]

Originally Posted by HufferSS

I want a Camaro with a stout clutch, performance suspension, a rock solid set of axles and 500 damn horsepower at the rear wheel. I'd like to buy it and race it....not modify it just to make it capable of running with the big dogs. Don't get me wrong, the base SS is a nice car but I'd gladly pay more for a better axle, a stronger clutch and a strong motor.

All that would put the Camaro out of its intended price point. It's supposed to be an affordable/everyday sports car...something that the average person could afford. Chevrolet is not gonna make the Camaro 10K+ more expensive to satisfy 5% of Camaro drivers.

There's always the Corvette if you want all that stuff.

[Cristoff]

Originally Posted by HufferSS

You seem awfully butt hurt over me wanting a faster Camaro. Can I share other things I want too so you can get mad over those too?

Not at all. I'm not mad in the least over what you want. I simply think you are a doofus and I'm really enjoying antagonizing you and your foolish, self absorbed point of view.

I was actually done with my response after my first post, but keeping you posting nonsense about Jeep has become somewhat of a hobby for me today.

[HufferSS]

Originally Posted by Cristoff

Not at all. I'm not mad in the least over what you want. I simply think you are a doofus and I'm really enjoying antagonizing you and your foolish, self absorbed point of view.

I was actually done with my response after my first post, but keeping you posting nonsense about Jeep has become somewhat of a hobby for me today.

Well...everyone needs a purpose in life....looks like you found yours. Any chance you'd stop by and polish my wheels? I'll tip you a 20.....

[Sevn86]

Originally Posted by camaroqueen

You sound like spoiled little Violet from Charlie & The Chocolate Factory "...but Daddy, I want it now"! Lmao

[MikeL]

Originally Posted by HufferSS

You seem awfully butt hurt over me wanting a faster Camaro. Can I share other things I want too so you can get mad over those too?

You clearly only want GM to please you and nobody else. Many people have made valid points and you seem to just brush them off. It's a two way street, not everyone wants the car you want. GM has to build a car that the MAJORITY wants, after all they are a business and businesses want to make as much money as possible. That is not a bad connotation either, a business will make good money if they make a good product and treat customers accordingly, which GM does in my opinion.

Do you have the money to make the car the way you want? If so then have the work done, make it the car you want.

If you do not have the money, what is the point in putting the blame on GM? Then you wouldn't have the Camaro because it would be out of your price range yet built to your standards.