Why The 2009 Camaro Is Doomed

NMA ^ | 5/16/08 | Eric Peters

[j_tull]

So, I guess a big-block version is out of the question? Curious post from a poster with a Ford trim level as a screen name.

[wastedyears]

[Yo-Yo]

Remember that unlike Challenger (which is "spun off" the existing Charger sedan) GM has had to invest a great deal in what amounts to a brand-new platform/tooling and so on to make this happen. Big sales are needed to make it up. It increasingly looks as though that is extremely unlikely to happen.

Bull. The Camaro is based on the Australia Holden Zeta RWD platform.

Regardless of what GM decides to do about the Camaro in the US, the Zeta rear wheel drive platform is going to be built for the European and Australian markets, so the platform costs for the Camaro is in sheet metal.

Motor Trend: GM Rationalizes Rear Drive: Sigma and Zeta architectures to be converged, Impala likely to stay FWD

[Hoffer Rand]

I can’t believe nobody’s posted “this thread is useless without pictures” yet...

[Incorrigible]

Related thread:

Less Is More For Ford's New V-6 Engine [Federal Regs Kill the V-8]
 

 

[sheik yerbouty]

At least the last batch had VW engines..

[Dr. Sivana]

I think Chevrolet should simply come out with a fairly conventional but lightweight 9/10 scale replica of a ‘57 Chevy

How do you make a 9/10 scale version when the modern Americans are at least 10/9 scale?

My '94 Caprice Wagon has a 350 V-8 and seats 8-9. It gets 26 hwy. When mostly full, it is a better value than a 4 seater econobox (because you would need to drive TWO of them).

[TalBlack]

With all of this sort of bull coming down the pikeI don’t think I’ll be buying any new cars. I have a ‘98 firebird v6 I’m looking to bolt a supercharger to (anyone out there selling one?). I’ll make do with that. Off the line it’ll probably do a shade better than the factory V8 (300HP). Can’t imagine what it’ll sound like though, a little angry and hollow I’d imagine.

[duckworth]

1993 red Mustang LX convertible 4 cyl. 2.3L. People laughed when I bought it for my son two years ago. “Secretary car,” one punk told me to my face! Ha ha ha ha ha! Who’s laughing now? All the chicks know is that it’s a Mustang convertible! I know it gets 30 mpg hwy and 22 city.

[tet68]

Well, I don’t know about his predictions but I’m driving a thirty year old truck that gets LESS than 15mpg and while it’s a pinch for me it’s what I have.
Any less than thirty something who has a decent job today should be able to afford to drive a Camaro if they want...

[ltc8k6]

There are plenty of people who don’t care about gas mileage.

Should be enough to keep the gas guzzlers going in niche markets where they won’t hurt CAFE much.

The Challenger currently only has a 5 speed auto.

The Viper 8.4L V10 with the 6 speed manual gets 22mpg on the highway. So the Challenger will probably better that with a 6 speed manual.

[llevrok]

Laying down rubber with a front wheel drive car is just plain wrong.

[Snickering Hound]

"Cold dead hands baby..."

[advertising guy]

not only is what you said in support of him slinging bull, but he has no clue when he mentioned the guzzler tax.......I train product knowlege for Chevy at times thru the southwest......that guzzler assumption ain’t making an as outta me

[evets]

1982 Camaro 2.2L 4 cylinder 3 speed. wow

[the anti-liberal]

I suppose the Bugatti, the Lamborghini, and the Ferrari will become illegal to own in the US?

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Trust me. With both political parties embracing global warming hysteria to buy votes and this ridiculous 35mpg standard, the Corvette ZR1 is going to be the last american muscle car ever made. Take a look at it. Its the last of american automotive greatness.

Everyone go out and buy a prius and forget about freedom of choice. America no longer stands for such things.

[pandemoniumreigns]

...”Those of us who still have jobs and have been able to maintain the same income we had a year or so ago are few, thankful — and nervous.”...

Thats the line that jumped out at me too...

A little odd I guess to go on a car thread and the first thing I see is the political bias of the author...but I guess that is what we do here eh?

As to the Camaro or the Mustang or any current production muscle car...My mpg should be none of the govments d@mn bidness...If I can afford the gas I should be able to buy whatever I want...

Market forces will dictate the success or failure of these cars...they should not be essentially outlawed by govment fiat..Just a glance at the current market for suv's vs econocars should make that pretty clear...

[stompk]

"1982 Camaro 2.2L 4 cylinder 3 speed. wow"

zero to sixty in . . . < checking calendar > . . .

[Between the Lines]

The article implies that all cars by 2012 must get 35 mpg. This is far from the truth. The fuel economy bill requires that manufacturers must meet an average fleet (all cars sold) fuel economy of 35 mpg.