My Two Cents on the Interior

[levi1922]

Originally Posted by FNKNSTN

Did you expect the dash to be leather wrapped? Not worried about sun damage? The door panels are all plastic... just like in the GM trucks. Would you prefer an upholstered door? I think it's fine... and it's practical.



The seats are nice... leather... heated... and the back seats - I don't plan on ever riding with more than myself and one other person (maybe on the rare occasion), so that doesn't concern me.



The steering wheel is big, and the controls are set deep towards the center... but that's ok, I've got big hands.



I think the AC/Heater control panel and the stereo controls are highly practical. One thing that I would have liked to have seen was dual-zone climate control. I know my old lady is gonna be bitching at me for having it so cold all the time! BUT - she can just turn on the heater for her seat.



Navigation would have been nice... but I think it takes away from the style of the car. I'm very happy with the stereo interface. I'm sure later models will be offered with navigation. I would have liked it, but it wasn't a deal breaker for me. After driving the ol' lady's GMC SIERRA across California, I'm very happy with everything about it.



The 2010 Camaro is about style... MUSCLE... class... and a lil bit of luxury accompanied by technology. This is the first 21st Century sports car that I give a damn about.



...it would be bad-ass to get my hands on one of the original concepts though, even if it was just for show and cruising at 25mph 'cause of all the crap on it that isn't "legal" or "practical".

Originally Posted by Shortbus

You sound like my dealer. He says cars with Navi are worth less later on than the one's without it. Yeah ok. Sorry but a map is a map. How often do the roads change in your area? In Boston they've been the same for 100 years so I don't see how having Navi would be quickly outdated. And you can get updated map DVD's if you live in an area that's constantly building new roads.



And it's not a bright idea to be looking at your cell phone for directions when driving.

its not the roads that change and people want the updates for, its the points of interest. which, do change alot. Onstar is updated constantly, and has over 3 million. built in one are only updated once a year, or less.

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

It looks like a freakin videogame!



Honestly... who's got time to use all those freakin buttons!!??!?!



Look at the iPod, it did everything with 2 controls! Nobody tossed them out because they didn't have a zillion buttons!

[UCF w00t]

Originally Posted by Shortbus

You sound like my dealer. He says cars with Navi are worth less later on than the one's without it. Yeah ok. Sorry but a map is a map. How often do the roads change in your area? In Boston they've been the same for 100 years so I don't see how having Navi would be quickly outdated. And you can get updated map DVD's if you live in an area that's constantly building new roads.

And it's not a bright idea to be looking at your cell phone for directions when driving.

Sounds like you've got one of the few dealers that's not an idiot
It's not about the maps. It's about the tech that runs the maps. And the stores, addresses, etc that do change often. And the price that it costs to get a nav unit from the factory. Like I said, go buy a laptop with a GPS unit, mount it in your dash. You would be able to watch DVDs (or blu ray for that matter), play video games, AND use it as a nav unit for the same cost that they would charge for your nav unit. I know it wouldn't be integrated into the paneling, etc but still... the crap they pass off as nav units is outdated before production even starts.

So if it's not a good idea to look at your phone for directions, why is it a good idea to look down at a nav unit? What's the difference? My phone talks to me and says "turn left" etc. I don't see how that's any different.

[SpeedDemon]

the tech that runs the maps? your kidding right? what do you mean? you are acting like they will suddenly stop working in a few years just because something new comes out. well, when that something new gets old, something else will come out on top of that,....lol. it never ends.lol. when does it stop with you.lol. by the time the nav units or whatever become inpractical in say 5 years or so, by that time you will probably be ready for a new car anyways.......lol. Just like with anything you buy you will always be stuck with old antiquated gadgets in your car.lol.
Personally im not even going to keep the interior factory stereo of the new camaro, i think it has a 1930s era roundish look with the knobs and such and i don't like it, Can buy one that looks better and will sound better.
I think the night time driving experience would be much better in a Camaro then in a mustang or Challenger just cause of the Ambient Lighting and that unique interior which always makes the night driving more fun. But during the day i think the interior of the Mustang or Challenger is better.

I bet you, since that ambient lighting streak on the right door panel is such a hit they will add a second ambient lighting line slightly below it that will curve out farther and longer in a few years.

[fdjizm]

You guys talking about touch screen nav systems being antiquated and outdated and not updateable software wise obviously do not know much about computer systems.

[levi1922]

Originally Posted by UCF w00t

Sounds like you've got one of the few dealers that's not an idiot
It's not about the maps. It's about the tech that runs the maps. And the stores, addresses, etc that do change often. And the price that it costs to get a nav unit from the factory. Like I said, go buy a laptop with a GPS unit, mount it in your dash. You would be able to watch DVDs (or blu ray for that matter), play video games, AND use it as a nav unit for the same cost that they would charge for your nav unit. I know it wouldn't be integrated into the paneling, etc but still... the crap they pass off as nav units is outdated before production even starts.

So if it's not a good idea to look at your phone for directions, why is it a good idea to look down at a nav unit? What's the difference? My phone talks to me and says "turn left" etc. I don't see how that's any different.

yess!

You guys talking about touch screen nav systems being antiquated and outdated and not updateable software wise obviously do not know much about computer systems.

im sure they said the same thing about the cassette tape. probably said it about DVDs to. I never said it wasnt able to be updated...it you just ahve to wait a year or so, buy the DVD that was made 3 months ago, and doesnt have the new taco place on the other side of town that opened two months ago. eventually, the touch screen sat nav as we know it will have changed so much that the systems that are now integrated will be not able to handle the updates.
It would be like having a windows 95 PC, and updating it to Vista.
it cannot be done with the hardware it has.
even some PCs with XP cannot handle vista.
the navy units are the most powerful computers out there

[edog]

Originally Posted by Shortbus

You sound like my dealer. He says cars with Navi are worth less later on than the one's without it. Yeah ok. Sorry but a map is a map. How often do the roads change in your area? In Boston they've been the same for 100 years so I don't see how having Navi would be quickly outdated. And you can get updated map DVD's if you live in an area that's constantly building new roads.

And it's not a bright idea to be looking at your cell phone for directions when driving.

Come on, the cell phones from Sprint TALK to you. You do not need to look but every so often. Also, the software updates are not free from the NAV systems in the car. They are costly. If you only stay in Boston there is probably no need for NAV in your car, but you want current maps when you leave Boston. With On Star the directions pop up in the DIC with the 2ss and I think the 2lt. That should be more than enough.

I agree with your dealer and others. The NAV in a car is status and not necessary.

[UCF w00t]

Originally Posted by fdjizm

You guys talking about touch screen nav systems being antiquated and outdated and not updateable software wise obviously do not know much about computer systems.

LOL. I might know a thing or 2 about computer systems.

Of course their applications COULD be updated from software, but will they? They have no reason to update the software. Maps, yea. They'll probably release updates for $200 or something each year. But for how long?

And what about the hardware? Are you somehow going to update the RAM and CPU of an embedded system? There comes a point where software can only do so much. Look at the GPS hardware that was available 3 years ago. And look what's out now. It's going to do the same thing in the next 3years. This kind of technology gets replaced much, much sooner than a car does.

OnStar really is a better solution but I think even better/cheaper is a standalone GPS unit.

[Justin]

I wouldn't mind a screen like what's in the G8 however, even though it doesn't do nav, but I agree. The GPS experience on my Nextel is pretty awesome, even if it's a bit slow to redirect me sometimes, it's always gotten me home.

[fbodfather]

A couple of thoughts........

.......someone brought this up earlier in the thread -- about "soft" interior panels -

We KNOW that a fair number of Camaro owners will purchase this car -- and keep it -- the car MAY be a 'daily driver'' -- but at some point, a number of these cars will be put in the garage at some point and used on weekends and such.........

Therefore- we know that the interior materials MUST last. There ARE some parts that are going to wear - namely the leather on the seats -- and the seat bolsters no matter whether cloth or leather -

......but it's simply unacceptable to have I.P. pads 'crack' early on -



Instruments -- the Camaro is a high performance car -- the last thing anyone needs is to have someone behind the wheel of a high performance car -- and have them 'monkeying around' with buttons and knobs and anything that takes your attention AWAY FROM THE ROAD.......

Go look very closely at the I.P. and the knobs and buttons on the new Camaro.......

The radio -- notice that it's very much like Radios from years ago -- two knobs -- one controls on/off and volume -- the other allows you to 'tune' a station - and then there are pre-set buttons -- all very intuitive and you don't have to take your eyes off the road in order to adjust.......
(you DO if you want to go into the many menus -- please pull off the road to do so......)

The HVAC -- it takes a couple of minutes to learn each button - but once you do, it's second nature --

Notice the steering wheel controls - esp. on the 2LT and 2SS -- again - designed to keep your eyes on the road.

One thing that we tried to keep in mind with Camaro -- and it was something that caused quite a stir in many meetings: More is sometimes less......

Did we make some bad calls?

Yup -- the Disciples have told us in no uncertain terms (my blisters from that heat are still healing...) that we need a power passenger seat - and that we need climate control and that we need memory seats -- all as options.......


We hope that those who are 'not happy' with the interior will spend some time behind the wheel - we think, for the most part, you'll change your minds......not everyone, but a very large percentage.

[PQ]

Uh, Mr. fbodfather sir. I like it.






Ass kisser 101.

[kdbolt70]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

We hope that those who are 'not happy' with the interior will spend some time behind the wheel - we think, for the most part, you'll change your minds......not everyone, but a very large percentage.

Great points Scott. I think the last part bears repeating. I was 50/50 on the interior, thinking it looked a little goofy compared to today standards for car interiors. Now that I've had about a week to really familiarize myself with the usability of the interior, I absolutely love it. It did take a little time to get used to; I won't deny it was an acquired taste. But I am now phenomenally pleased with the layout and interface of the interior.

My only gripe is the little selector wheel on the steering wheel. Its a little iffy to control without pushing it and changing the source. I would've preferred a rocker, but I'm getting used to it.

[kdoske]

Originally Posted by fdjizm

You guys talking about touch screen nav systems being antiquated and outdated and not updateable software wise obviously do not know much about computer systems.

I have a factory NAV in my current car and I can tell you it really isn't updated. You can only get map updates every OTHER year and at the cost of $200.00 each update.

I will never get a factory NAV again unless some serious things change. I would put an aftermarket NAV though or maybe even build a car PC using Windows XP Embedded.

[levi1922]

i agree with fbodfather!

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by Shortbus

You sound like my dealer. He says cars with Navi are worth less later on than the one's without it. Yeah ok. Sorry but a map is a map. How often do the roads change in your area? In Boston they've been the same for 100 years so I don't see how having Navi would be quickly outdated. And you can get updated map DVD's if you live in an area that's constantly building new roads.

And it's not a bright idea to be looking at your cell phone for directions when driving.

I just always have a phone with GPS, so in dash stuff really is just not necessary. Sure, you would have the nice big screen and all, but usually if I'm going somewhere new I map it out ahead of time, because GPS isn't always right (gotten me lost a few times).