Your thoughts on why Camaro is important to success of Chevy/GM

[StuMac]

I believe the Camaro is important to GM's future because it will remake or break their reputation. If the Camaro runs well and is nearly problem free right out of the gate, it will go a long way to repairing GM's reputation. If it's a non-stop lemon fest, it'll be their final mistake. I'm betting on fixing their reputation incidentally, mainly based on what I've read here.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by StuMac

I believe the Camaro is important to GM's future because it will remake or break their reputation. If the Camaro runs well and is nearly problem free right out of the gate, it will go a long way to repairing GM's reputation. If it's a non-stop lemon fest, it'll be their final mistake. I'm betting on fixing their reputation incidentally, mainly based on what I've read here.

The problem isn't as much the reliability of a GM vehicle, it's providing a product which the public wants at the right time. A very difficult task but one that must be done accurately. GM messed up on the Aztec, SSR, Avalanche (ugly version), and Envoy XUV. The quality of these vehicles may have been good to extremely good but the products were not products that the public were willing to buy.

With respect to Camaro quality, you can go back to the LS1 4th gen and realize that (aside from the PW motors and some materials) it was and is a highly reliable and good quality vehicle. I have yet to find one person that had a problem with the engine, tranny or rear-end. My 2001 SS has over 80K but still feels like a 2 year old car. I have always said that the true quality of a vehicle lies with it's performance after it is 5 years old.

[DerbyChamp06]

Great input everyone! Long live the Camaro!!!

[DerbyChamp06]

Originally Posted by dbotsfordtat

OMG I got a schwinn just like that for christmas one year. I loved that bike, 5 speed w/banana seat. I got hit by a car on it and it was totaled out (bent frame). lucky for me just a few scrapes and a renewed sense of respect for traffic. Merry Christmas everybody!

Great to hear you had a Krate! Sorry to hear about it being totalled, though. These original Krates are highly collectable now....I have a repro Apple Krate single speed made in 98'-Hope to get a nice original eventually to display (the gov outlawed the top-frame mounted stik shift in 74'.....like so many other cool things...lol)-Merry Christmas

[DerbyChamp06]

Happy Holidays!!!

[tbss1]

Originally Posted by camaro_corvette

It just happens to come out at a time where GM needs to sell cars the most. Oh, and everything you said.

+1

[Inspector 17]

Lots of good thoughts by everyone. I think in addition to all of that, this proves that GM can create an awesome concept (true to it's roots, but with all the modern technology) and deliver a car that is possibly as close to the concept's design as any car ever made. It's all about delivering on a long awaited commitment.

[2KZ28_For_Now]

Originally Posted by garfin

I don't think the importance/success of this car can be overestimated.

The acceptance of this car by the public will be a real shot in the arm for GM in the sense that it is a very high profile car which has already grabbed the attention of a whole lot of people, more so (I believe) than even the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze would have. So...

A successful launch, along with excellent reviews from the press as well as sales figures that meet projections will indicate that even with all this crap going on, the controversy surrounding the gov't loans (bailout) plus all the doom and gloom, GM can build successful and profitable vehicles that are world-class, an excellent value and that people want!

I for one, am looking forward to watching this car succeed in the marketplace despite current circumstances and as well, at some time down the road, being able to throw this success in the face of so many naysayers.

Best regardSS,

Elie

This car has as much "buzz" with the general public as has been generated for GM in many, many years.

It has been a home-run at every car show it has attended.

The only factor will be (the most important one) - Is - do those that WANT this will be able to actually BUY it?

Let's hope so.

I, for one, will need some help from Santa to actually bring it home.

I think I am not alone here.

Too bad.

The sales figures would be about 30% higher, I surmise, if the demographic that WANTS it can actually sign a pre-order at their dealer now, or in February.

Let's hope that ObamaConomics will create a situation wherein those that WANT can HAVE.

(oops, I just made a political post).

[SilverTurtle]

prepare for a long read


The Beginning of the End
back in 2002, GM made a classic blunder and cancelled the F-body... a car that, at the time, was celebrating its 35th anniversary... lackluster sales was the biggest contributing factor to the demise of the f-body, but there were other reasons... reasons that self perpetuated the fall of the car... there was almost no development in the car (the same dual key system that was installed into the 3rd gen in the '88 models was used all the way until the last car rolled off the line in '02), GM was concentrating heavily on its top selling SUVs and pickups, there were no crossover cars for the Camaro and Firebird to share production costs with, the car was selling a ton of V8 models but not enough V6s to support the cost of production for the entire line... all of these made a big case in some GM execs heads to pull the plug on the then suffering Camaro... what was overlooked was the history of the car and what it symbolized in the car community.

The History and the Community
since 1966, when the Camaro first went into production, the f-body had brought together a community that, when combined with the other Pony Car crowd, is the defining car group of the middle class American... Corvettes are nice and all, but they're a little pricey for the average blue collar guy or girl to go out and buy... combine that with the fact that it only has two seats, and you have a situation where either the spouse or the kiddo has to stay at home... the Camaro filled that void and drew people into dealerships... sometimes they'd drive out in a Camaro... more often than not, they drove off in a truck, Cavalier, Malibu or Caprice/Impala... some folks KNOW they can't afford a Corvette, so why go into a dealership and look at something you can't have? there are pics of them all over every car magazine in the free world, there are advertisements galore (oh, hey, when was the last time you saw a Camaro commercial that was nationally syndicated? '93? '97? ever seen an LS1 Camaro commercial? didn't think so), every stock optioned mid level exec owns one... so why torture yourself by going into a dealership to look at one when you can go look at the Mustang (which has been in production since 1964) and probably drive home with one today?

the Camaro brings people into dealerships... it revives interest in a brand that needs it desperately... it brings together a community that has been, since 2002, carrying the weight of the name on its shoulders and carrying on the tradition of peformance and keeping the Camaro a household name... for the 41 months that GM didn't talk about a Camaro publicly, the enthusiasts have been keeping the torch lit and watching the battle field for GM... and now, as we reach the upcoming production date (which is 78 months after the last 4th gen Camaro rolled off the production line), GM finally is giving back to its community that has given so generously during the Camaro's absence.


The Other Players
looking at sales since last year, when gas got expensive, if the Camaro had been in production already, there would have been a RWD V6 and V8 car to fill the void the trucks left... the better gas mileage and smaller size of the Camaro would have recaptured at least a little of the sales that slipped away to the foreign car makers... because only Nissan and Honda offer a RWD, Pony car sized vehicle to jump to from the import scene... and both of those offerings are two seaters more akin to the Corvette than the Camaro (and yes, there is an Infiniti offering, too, by Nissan, but the price is just a little north of where the Camaro plans to play)... the new Genesis coupe will be a player, too... and the Challenger is back to bring some spice to the mix... and dont think Toyota isn't watching this market, too, and planning a return to the game... they may not be talking about it, but Toyota didn't get big by just sitting there and watching other car companies be successful while sitting idly by.

The Bottom Line
but with the 5th gen Camaro, GM has raised the bar... gone is the mullet wearing live axle rear end cars of the past and in comes the sharp edged design of the 2010 model with its big, 400+hp V8, independent rear suspension and fancy technology to make it not only go fast, but be stable doing it and keep the driver comfortable and secure during anything that might go wrong... and it couldn't come at a better time... GM is borrowing money to stay alive and this, the new Car for the Middle Class, is the beginning of the upswing... when it was debuted in July, stock prices went up overnight... when it goes on sale, expect prices to jump again... and stay up as sales grow and popularity on the streets intensifies... and, once again, the middle class American will have a car to draw him into a dealership... and maybe he buys that Camaro... or maybe he buys a Cobalt SS... or a hybrid Malibu because his wife says its more practical... but no matter what, it brings the customer back to the showroom... and without the Camaro, that customer just drives on by and goes to the nearest Ford, Toyota, Honda or Nissan dealership.







My Own Reality Check
with all of that said, we will be cancelling our order tomorrow... there are a myriad of reasons for us to do it... there's a long list of reasons to keep our order, too... but the bottom line is: we dont want to get the Beta version of a car... we want HUD, ambient lighting and, just maybe, a 'vert... we'd like to see if GM will come out with a Z28... we'd like to see GM offer more colors and have more time to make sure that this car lives up to the expectations we've built up for it in our heads... and as of right now, I just dont think the car can do that... maybe we'll get a 2012 Anniversary Edition 'vert... or maybe next year we'll order that JetStream Blue Z06 that I've been wanting... the future is wide open... but, for now, we're just going to enjoy everyone else's cars and enjoy some much needed time away from the scene... we've been carrying this torch without thanks for several years now in our local community, and to say that we're burnt out is an understatement.

but, of course, I'll still be here online to call GM or anyone else out there out on their BS... because, ya know, somebody's gotta do it.

[The_Blur]

Heritage
The Camaro represents the past of GM. The past has been endangered with new designs inspired by overseas brands and technologies that have damned anything with more than 4 cylinders or power beyond a Prius. That heritage must survive for GM to continue to be taken seriously as a performance automaker. For us enthusiasts, the Camaro makes GM's image. Without it, we still have the Corvette, but a crown brand like the Corvette isn't worth much without a few jewels to support its credentials. That is why we can all be proud of Super Sport markers. What GM needed to supplement the proliferation of Super Sport brands was more heritage to back it up. Traditionalists seem to believe that the only SS-marked vehicles should run on 8 cylinders and crush the competition. GM has compromised to allow any overwhelming performer to receive the SS label; however, many enthusiasts still feel that the V8 must be respected and revered. The Camaro continues the old heritage of V8 power, and that will appeal to GM's American performance base.

Image
GM has a green image to uphold. As a compromise between its performance image and its green image, the Chevrolet Camaro will make for a perfect medium. It has impressive fuel efficiency for its power, and that makes it lucrative to both the green buyer who wants an environmentally friendly car and the performance buyer who simply cannot afford a V8. Additionally, the performance of the V8 at the Nurburgring makes it a fierce opponent against any exotic. This contributes to the performance image of Chevrolet, a brand that needs some redemption since the Aveo joined the brand.

Design
Unlike any cars of the Chevrolet brand except for the Corvette, the Camaro does not match the front end style of new Chevy models. What this says about the future of GM is that classic cars apparently don't have to follow the current design trends at Chevrolet, like that bar across the grill for instance. A high-profile car like this is sure to make a big splash. The only danger is that it reinforces GM's image of not being green enough. If GM fails to appeal to its critics, then GM may not get the positive publicity necessary to make it through a year of cynical politicians and an aggressive press corps.

Money
If GM fulfills its goals in production sales of the Camaro, then GM will be in pretty good shape next year. The car is new, hot, and selling even before the test drives that GM associates have claimed made them change their underwear. This car is amazing, and it features technology not available in many competitors. The performance for the dollar makes it an easy sell for intelligent buyers. Even the stupid ones will take one look and trade in for a brand new, beautiful Camaro. Numbers are already impressive at this juncture, so we can only expect the Camaro to hit the market with a much needed splash.

[TonytheTiger]

It is coming out in a time where GM needs these sales more then ever from ANY car, but i have faith that the camaro wil impress Gm in sales and also the consumer. Thats pretty much it all you said was all there is to it.