Sat in Camaro today, some disappointment

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by classicrockr

Some type of lever that would allow the front seat to collapse forward AND slide forward at the same time could not possibly cost that much.... although if it had to somehow override the power motor on the seat, then yes it may cost a LITTLE extra to R&D.

Weight - some type of lever set up would add virtually no weight - sorry but this one I don't agree with.


My opinion - as you go higher in model, so should the quality & fine tuned detail of the interior....

Sorry but virtually no weight is more than no weight.

[fastball]

Originally Posted by fireresq157

people want cadillac interiors but the don't want the weight and the price.

There's a way to do Cadillac interiors without the weight and the price - it's called using the right materials and getting your cost structure in line with the 21st century.

[fastball]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

Cost and weight.

The 2002-2006 Acura CL and CL Type-S had dual power front seats with one touch easy access. It was the most ingenius design I'd ever seen on a 2 door car, and I think GM should have adopted it:

When you flip the lever on the side of the seat, the seatback folds down and the seat moves forward by itself (power operated), all the way up, in one motion. When you pull the seatback back up, the seatback and the seat both automatically return to the set position they were in before you flipped the lever.

I think the GTO may have had something similar.

Excellent design, and something worth the extra few bucks it would have cost to implement on the Camaro.

Were you even aware of such a design?

[Shifty 6]

First let me say, I am HYPER Crytical of interiors now that I have owned a VW. VW/Audi interiors in the past 5-7 years have eclipsed anything out there, AT ANY PRICE POINT.

I will say I too was a LITTLE (little) disappointed in the interior, mostly the dash, and mostly on the passenger side. I think GM could have done things differently (sat in a Malibu the other day, I have been talking this car up, and someone finally bought one - GREAT interior....GREAT), for me I think it is more the shape than the materials, although I feel there is room for improvement on the material side.

I would say the reasons given for switching to the Challenger don't seem to add up. The interior issues...OK I can see that. Gas cap side, I don't get that. One of the first things I noticed about my VW was the tach was on the other side compared to my '99 Z. It was different, but I didn't regret getting the VW. I would say recognize that as a "peeve" and work on letting it go. (its OK I have some of those issues too)

The mirrors....Can I say THANK YOU SCOTT!!!!! I HATE when my wife puts on Make up in the car (one of those "let it go" things. Now she can't do that! Yeah!!!!

Seat thing...meh. it is what it is.

Overall interior...my 99 had t-tops. they leaked, there was a ton of wind noise, the windows pulled out of the seal at 80 (and higher), the seat was flimsy and uncomfortable, the dash didn't fit right, there were gaps all over the place, the GM performance parts shifter I put in the car, would not fit...it broke the console, it squeaked AND rattled....and when that car went away (lease turn in), I teared up. I felt like Apollo 13..."so long Aquarius and we thank you". It was probably the best car I have every owned (desire wise) the VW is the best quality wise.

Buy the Camaro, the Challenger is going to let you down as well - every car does at some point.

You seem thirsty from all that talking... here have a drink....no I'll pour it... now drink it down, yeah that's right. It tastes good doesn't it? That's better.

[mstrfdsstr]

At the price of the car i would be happy for a roll cage and a seat at 38 grand.The car is a vette with more lb.who cares what the dash is made of as long as it dont rattle appart like the 3rd gen and 4th gen.but if you dont like it you dont have to buy it.

[ArcAngel]

FASTBALL I agree with everything you said 10000000000000%!!!! DJSnoflake if thats the situation in Canada that stinks but here in the USA the 370Z is not 7000 dollars more. fully loaded without the navigation it's 38,843 almost the same as a fully loaded 2SS so the competition is there like it or not

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by ArcAngel

FASTBALL I agree with everything you said 10000000000000%!!!! DJSnoflake if thats the situation in Canada that stinks but here in the USA the 370Z is not 7000 dollars more. fully loaded without the navigation it's 38,843 almost the same as a fully loaded 2SS so the competition is there like it or not

The 370Z lacks 2 back seats and is lighter and smaller than the Camaro. It is not in the same class in my opinion for those two reasons alone regardless of price. Now in terms of performance, the 370Z will match the Camaro's 0-60 times at 4.7 give or take a tenth of a sec here and there and the Camaro will be faster at higher speeds while the Z will be more nimble in the turns. It will make for some interesting races around different tracks around the world..

Now, the base 370Z is more expensive than the base Camaro SS which should make the Camaro appeal to a wider range of buyers as well... Muscle car vs Sports car and they will be rivals since the Mustang GT currently can't hang..

As for the 370z cars interior, it is very nice.. I do agree with you that the interior is better than the Camaro's in many ways, however I love the looks of the Camaro a whole lot more.. I even like the 350Z looks better than the 370z.. The one thing that stands out though with the Z is their manual transmission. I do like the technology behind "SynchroRev Match" so you don't have to do the "heel to toe" maneuver when downshifting. That is something very cool to consider when test driving the new Z..

Either way I am sticking with the Camaro since the Z is way too small for my taste..

[ArcAngel]

Supermans that is a very honest reply and I thank you for it. I am waiting to drive all the cars I am considering( see previous post for list) Before I decide. for me it is about the whole package and how it affects me. That will be the deciding factor when I walk away from it will it call to me?!

[duder4thgen]

Originally Posted by fastball

Explain to me why their interiors can have such a high quality, soft touch materials, and vault like solidity when you shut the doors even on a $17k Civic, and you never hear their engineers talk about heated arguements in staff meetings over a $.05 switch.

I have to respectfully disagree. Every new foreign car I've seen uses materials no better (and sometimes worse, in the case of Toyota) than my 01 bird. The layout is much better, but so is the 5th gen's. I've also heard some pretty nasty road noise on those entry level cars like civics and corolla's.

I agree with everyone else when they say some sacrifices have to be made to meet a certain price point, as is the case with every car, foreign or domestic. Take the ZR1- if you want an interior better than what you would expect for a $50k car, and still only wanted to pay $110k for the entire package, you certainly wouldn't find a ls9 under the hood or carbon ceramic brakes behind the wheels anymore.

Where GM is excelling is they have figured out what everyone else already knew- good design is free.

[Optimus Prime]

Originally Posted by ArcAngel

FASTBALL I agree with everything you said 10000000000000%!!!! DJSnoflake if thats the situation in Canada that stinks but here in the USA the 370Z is not 7000 dollars more. fully loaded without the navigation it's 38,843 almost the same as a fully loaded 2SS so the competition is there like it or not

Not actually a fair comparison though. I don't know if DJSnoflake was comparing fully loaded. He just said what he wants and what a comparable 370Z has makes for a $7,000 difference. If you option both out equally, you end up with about a $3,500 difference. The 370Z doesn't offer a sunroof of any kind, so that's out, so the only thing you really add to the 2SS is the RS package, since the 370Z comes with HID's standard. Keep in mind too, that the Z has slightly smaller wheels, and you have to get the $1850 nav package to get the IPod PDIM that comes standard on 2SS. So, ultimately it's tough to compare them equally, but a roughly $3,500 difference, or $4,700 if you drop the RS package since it's just cosmetic (but still very nice-looking ), could definitely make a difference in the interior material quality department. One other little thing is the Z has a Bose audio system, whereas the Camaro has the Boston Acoustics. Of course, it comes down to individual tastes in the end, but from what I hear, Bose often leaves people wanting, whereas I've heard (no pun intended) that the BA system is awesome, and I've listened to BA home speakers and can attest that they sound amazing.

[ArcAngel]

Optimus at the touring level without the sport package which Includes 370Z™ features, plus: Leather-appointed power heated seats with synthetic suede inserts, driver’s adjustable lumbar support, digital Bose® audio system with 8 speakers, including 2 subwoofers, XM® Satellite Radio, [2] Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver, auto-dimming rearview mirror, aluminum-trimmed pedals and footrest, passenger’s seatback map pocket and rear cargo coverStarting at $34,460 So even at 34- the interior is already better,
Then if you add the sport Ultimate performance for the Touring model: Nissan sport brakes (14.0" 4-piston front brakes/13.8" 2-piston rear brakes), SynchroRev Match (manual transmission), Viscous limited-slip rear differential, 19" RAYS® super-lightweight forged aluminum-alloy wheels, 245/40WR19 and 275/35WR19 Bridgestone® Potenza® high-performance tires, body-color rear spoiler and front chin spoiler.Starting at $37,460 ...
The only option here would be the Nav, and yes the pdim is an option, but the other steros have a regular ipod connectivity. Oh and by the way you can't get Nav in the Camaro

[Optimus Prime]

That's why I say, it is tough to equally compare them. I went with the touring model with sport package, mainly because of the leather seats, uplevel audio, uplevel brakes, LSD, and better wheels, all of which are standard on the 2SS. Just trying to keep it even... Truth is, the Camaro will have it's hands full competing with the Z, for those who make the comparison. The Z is a nice car in many ways, Nissan did their homework, simple as that. But I'm still not getting one though...

[ArcAngel]

Yes I totally agree Optimus totally agree. By the way on a slightly related unrelated note did you see that Megatrons new toy is a 370Z LOL

[Redwolf20]

Again, though, is there a performance car like the Camaro that has the same STANDARD equipment like IRS and Brembo brakes plus performance marks, that's more affordable? No, there is not. Period.

The Malibu isn't a performance car. Has the luxury of upgraded interior along with Acura.