Sat in Camaro today, some disappointment

[fbodfather]

Originally Posted by Shurenuff

fbodfather,

I ask you why it has to be one or the other? I understand the need to offer the base car at an affordable price, and not being able to offer certain interior materials to keep costs down, but how much more could a soft touch I.P. add to the total cost? The Malibu is not priced as a high end luxury car and that interior offers a soft touch IP which goes a long way in perceived quality IMO.

Sure, you may not mind all the hard plastics when you're paying $24k for a fantastic bargain of a car (with independent suspension, very nice engine, etc.), but when you plan to buy a fully loaded SS2\RS for close to $40k that opinion will likely change. At the very least, it would be nice to offer upgraded trim piece materials on the higher end models to further differentiate the perception of quality between the two interiors.

BTW, I'm not bashing or attacking you in any form, I'm just voicing my honest opinion and concern as a future Camaro customer.

Important to understand that manufacturers have 'fistfights' over 25 cents per car.

the issue: each person has a 'sacred cow' that MUST be included in the car - and suddenly the $22.995 car is $24,000!!!

COULD the interior be better? Perhaps. What do you want to give up?

To keep it at $22,995 -- we have to give up something........

As to "well - OK - acceptable at $22,995 - but not acceptable at $35,000 -- remember -- each part costs money --

This is why we brought the disciples into the process -- to get their input and ensure we were making the right decisions.

As to 'chrome' or 'bright' interior -- you do NOT want reflections in the windshield of a performance car.

We went to extraordinary lengths with the C5 anc C6 Corvettes to keep the I.P. 'dull' in terms of gloss level - so that it would not reflect back into the windshield.........

...........................and we go nutz when we go to an enthusiast event and see that someone pulled out the 'high gloss' Armor-All -- and slathers it all over the I.P.........overriding the effort we took!

[fbodfather]

Originally Posted by Supermans

Most of us agree that the Corvette's interior is also on the cheap side as well and that costs even more money.. However most of us won't care about how the interior looks in comparison to how it handles and rides. And most would agree the interior's evolution over previous Camaro's has been a good one up to this point. I do like this interior much better than the 3rd and 4th gens..

Good point!

Go look at the performance of the base Corvette - -and then the Z06 -- and then the ZR1 - and look at what the competition costs......

Yes - the competition has a nicer interior -- at twice or three or four times the cost..........

[fbodfather]

Oh - and by the way "Shurenuff" (sp??)

I know you're not bashing - you're asking the question that many ask.......

I just hope you'll understand WHY we do what we do..........

in a perfect world, GM would have made a bajillion dollars -- (that's 1000 times a gagillion!) ....and we could hand stitch each door panel and I.P......

the reality is that this business is more competitive now than it has ever been!

[bobby35ny]

Scott, What about the passenger seat, why not one step movement to get in and out?

-bobby

[fbodfather]

Originally Posted by bobby35ny

Scott, What about the passenger seat, why not one step movement to get in and out?

-bobby

Cost and weight.

[2KZ28_For_Now]

Originally Posted by fad1

<snip>

I sat in a R/T Challenger at the L.A Auto Show, and to be honest, on the outside, the Challenger is Muscle car beauty but from the inside, Its so plain and boring. Still, look at the Camaro once more. You may have a different impression. Thanks for the review.

Indeed.

[25thanniversary]

i love the car the way it is on dislike is the radio you can't put an in dash screen in there you would have to get a kit that has all the knobs for the heater and a/c

[Xanthos]

Originally Posted by bobby35ny

While you read this you must know I bleed Chevy blue, however I refuse to drink the fanboy koolaid.

My past cars that I've owned:
1969 Z-28 DZ motor etc.
1970 1/2 Camaro RS
1970 Chevelle SS
1972 Chevelle SS
1983/84 Camaro Z-28 305-ho LOL!!

After those years I felt the Camaro's got bloated and sticker graphic busy. However some of the motors ran like raped apes...


Fast forward to the past 2 yrs. I wanted a muscle car. To me there are only 2 to choose from, the Chally and the Camaro. The Mustang just felt like a tin box when I drove it. Still being a Chevy blue guy all my life I could not bring myself to buy a Chally when the Camaro was coming out a year later.

So I waited.......Pre-order program started and I ordered just like the rest of us. We went by pictures and looking at the car from a distance at the shows.

Until today I only had 2 gripes with the Camaro, and gripes from pictures.

1-Gas filler on the wrong side of the car.
2-Black wire loom in the trunk.

TODAY was the BIG day!! I left the wife and kids at home so I can have peace and quiet so I can soak up all the Camaro juices...Sitting in the car brought back the good old days. There are TONS of positives about the car that we all know and agree on but there are some things that SCREAM "CHEAP" about the Interior.

Remember, I bleed Chevy blue and I will call a spade a spade. I thank the God above for my family, health and good fortune thoughout my life. I'm blessed and done well. I know the value of a buck and if I wanted a vette I would have bought one. To me 38K is alot of money. Don't tell me, "oh hey the car is cheap, its only 38K".

Today, after I sat in the car at the Ft.Lauderdale show I have 3 more gripes.

1-The ip is hard plastic, not like the cushion dash like most other cars today like the Malibu.

This really doesn't bother me that much, but I come from really low quality cars.

2-What were they thinking......If you are sitting in the passenger seat and want to let the person in the back seat out, its a 2 step operation. Even the colbalt has a 1 step slide. Make matters worse, the passenger seat is half power, only power is recline. Don't tell me the back seat is only for show, if its only show why put it there? It has a back seat and I want to use it otherwise I'd buy a Vette.

I found the backseat no harder to get into or out of than my 1986 IROC's was.

3-No light for vanity mirrors.

I'll be pulling the D*** vanity mirrors out if I can. I've never seen a car where I like the look of them, and I sure as hell won't be using them.

This car costs 38K, how much did Chevy really save by the above cost cutting measures?

Unfortunately, you can't judge the interior of this car on its maximum price tag. Just like any other car, the interior should be judged based on the bottom line price for the car, not its maximum price. At least, thats my opinion on the subject. I don't review cars for a living so I'm not sure where the line should be drawn - only where I draw it.

Bean counters say if we save a dime here times 80,000 cars thats alot of profit. but guess what, you can cut costs TOO MUCH and there will be no volume...:(

I will return to the show tomorrow for a second look and sad to say I will spend some time in the SRT-8.

*******

=bobby

Responses in red. I loved the interior both times I was in it.
- Xanthos

[nester7929]

Having the cap on the right will take getting used to, but it'll be better once we are. No more watching out for concrete posts when opening doors to fill up.

As for the mirror light...well, I know I look good at all times. No need for it.

[Xanthos]

Originally Posted by nester7929

As for the mirror light...well, I know I look good at all times. No need for it.

Quote for truth!
- Xanthos

[ravensjeff]

Bobby- I'm a little surprised that your observations would cause you to question your purchase. It's one thing to critique a car and provide some insight to some [in my opinion] minor observations.

But that they would change your mind in buying it?

[StarkyLuv]

IMO, the gas cap SHOULD be on the opposite site of the car. Who wants to judge how close they are to the tank and worry about opening the door and hitting something?

Having it on the other say saves that bother.

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

and we go nutz when we go to an enthusiast event and see that someone pulled out the 'high gloss' Armor-All -- and slathers it all over the I.P.........overriding the effort we took!

LOL.. I have to stay away from the armor all on this one even though it is very tempting... I have one question of advice, what product would you trust putting on the Camaro dash to protect it from the Sun Scott? I trust your input on this one

[kevin2323]

to me when i buy a muscle car ....interior is low on the list....muscle cars are notorious for giving you the best performance for a bargain while leaving the interior cheap. that is why i dont care about the interior.

I still think the BORING challenger interior is better because of the material used...boring can be changed quickly but comfort cannot.

I will be going to the show saturday and will report back.