Why the Camaro was Killed?

GTStang · #1 03-25-2003, 12:34 AM

I'm not posting this in here to start a flame war with this question. I know the sales numbers for F-bodies haved been bad since the late 80's and that's why GM killed them. So I'm asking F-body people why the bad sales numbers?'

DeViL · #2 03-25-2003, 05:14 AM

I've heard of dealers just about convince people to not buy the car but I'm not so sure that is true. When I was just looking around in a car lot at a red 2002 Trans Am one of the vultures as I call them was pretty anxious to sell me the car. Of course I had to explain to the guy 50 times that I was just looking at it and had no intentions of buying one.

BlkCamaroSS · #3 03-25-2003, 05:49 AM

One answer is as good as the next. It's tough to explain, because from my point of view, I'd always consider buying another Camaro, no questions asked. People seem more concerned with having a posh ride, not having asphalt-tearing ability at the flick of your foot. Also, I'm not sure that SUV's aren't to blame as well. The car industry is so diversified that GM didn't want to put anymore effort into what turned out to be a fledgling product at the end of it's run. It's sad, there's plenty of enthusiasts out there, just that most of us have our cars, and can't afford another on to keep the breed

Misundaztood · #4 03-25-2003, 11:58 AM

Probably because of the interior ammentidies. Hard, cheap plastic, the cat sticking up on the driver's side, not much headroom, etc. It's sad really because imho, the Camaro had it's best engine ever in the ls1 right before they ended production.
I think what alot of buyers are forgetting nowadays is it's not the car that matters...it's the motor. The true heart of it.

BlkCamaroSS · #5 03-25-2003, 01:14 PM

Funny think about that cat bump, there weren't cats there in the last several years. It's a carry over from the original floor pans, cheaper to keep it the same than change it

Misundaztood · #6 03-25-2003, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlkCamaroSS
Funny think about that cat bump, there weren't cats there in the last several years. It's a carry over from the original floor pans, cheaper to keep it the same than change it

Man, you gotta be kidding me?! They moved it & still kept the stupid hump in there? It's almost as if they didn't care if it died or not!

BlkCamaroSS · #7 03-25-2003, 01:26 PM

Yup, the floor pan was a carry over from the Vette, I believe. At first, the cat was there, but it definately wasn't in the later years of the 4th Gen. I was surprised when I got under my car the first time and found out there wasn't one there, I was like WTF???

pennyho · #8 03-25-2003, 02:04 PM

i also think they stopped it pecause they ran out of ideas for looks.

Misundaztood · #9 03-25-2003, 02:13 PM

Yeah, I know the cats were on the early 4-gens. I used to have a 94' Z28 a long time ago & I checked(was curious what the hump was for)& sure enuff, there was a cat there.

BlkCamaroSS · #10 03-25-2003, 02:18 PM

I don't think it had anything to do with looks. That's what they pay their designers for. If they were that confounded on what the next generation should look like, I don't think they should have their jobs. It's easy to make a retro rod, it's all about the bottom dollar. GM wasn't getting enough of it...

DeViL · #11 03-25-2003, 02:59 PM

Ah I forgot to mention. Your view perspective inside the car. That probably was the main reason the car died out.

Lets say you get a driver who doesn't really care about Ford vs Chevy thing, no bias, just wants a fast car, or a sporty V6 car. He gets inside the Mustang, not so bad, radio, a/c, traction control. He takes it for a test drive, its pretty easy to see out of, corning isn't so tough. So he likes the Mustang.

Then he tries out a Camaro Z28, V6, whatever. First off he swings open those giant doors. For one thing those doors once you put a little force into them, they want to keep swinging outward. If you're not careful with them you could easily ding a car next to you in a parking lot. Ok back to the main point, he gets in, amount of space is the same, interior looks the same just different placement of radio a/c vents and controls etc. Personally I believe that comment about hard cheap plastic is bullshit because you look at both Mustang and Camaro and they look no different as far as materials. As he pulls out on to the road with the Camaro he easily notices that the front end is so wide it isn't very easy to see clearly out of. Thus the driver doesn't feel very safe and is afraid he could damage his Camaro someday if he decided to buy it.

You don't have as good of a feel of where you are in a Camaro as you do in a Mustang, IF you haven't driven a Camaro before. I don't have that problem in the '88, but it did take some getting used to. That is my main point, and thats what I really think is what made people change their minds when choosing whether to buy a Camaro/Firebird or a Mustang.

If Camaro's went back to that short body that they used to have in the 60's, I bet sales would improve a lot more. A lot of people like certain aspects of it already, such as the placement of the shifter compared to the Mustang, but that hood just seems to scare people away.

BlkCamaroSS · #12 03-25-2003, 04:17 PM

True, it does take time to get used to. I just wish I could drive a Mustang to compare it, not possible for me...

Misundaztood · #13 03-25-2003, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeViL
Personally I believe that comment about hard cheap plastic is bullshit because you look at both Mustang and Camaro and they look no different as far as materials.

Oh, don't get me wrong, man...yes The Mustang's plastic sucks, too. I would know, I've driven several versions of both. I just think that if GM would have improved it to the point that it was better than the Mustang...well, that could've gave them an edge with the fickle public. It's almost as if in the end, GM didn't care at all about trying to gain back sells.

GTStang · #14 03-25-2003, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeViL
Ah I forgot to mention. Your view perspective inside the car. That probably was the main reason the car died out.

Lets say you get a driver who doesn't really care about Ford vs Chevy thing, no bias, just wants a fast car, or a sporty V6 car. He gets inside the Mustang, not so bad, radio, a/c, traction control. He takes it for a test drive, its pretty easy to see out of, corning isn't so tough. So he likes the Mustang.

Then he tries out a Camaro Z28, V6, whatever. First off he swings open those giant doors. For one thing those doors once you put a little force into them, they want to keep swinging outward. If you're not careful with them you could easily ding a car next to you in a parking lot. Ok back to the main point, he gets in, amount of space is the same, interior looks the same just different placement of radio a/c vents and controls etc. Personally I believe that comment about hard cheap plastic is bullshit because you look at both Mustang and Camaro and they look no different as far as materials. As he pulls out on to the road with the Camaro he easily notices that the front end is so wide it isn't very easy to see clearly out of. Thus the driver doesn't feel very safe and is afraid he could damage his Camaro someday if he decided to buy it.

You don't have as good of a feel of where you are in a Camaro as you do in a Mustang, IF you haven't driven a Camaro before. I don't have that problem in the '88, but it did take some getting used to. That is my main point, and thats what I really think is what made people change their minds when choosing whether to buy a Camaro/Firebird or a Mustang.

If Camaro's went back to that short body that they used to have in the 60's, I bet sales would improve a lot more. A lot of people like certain aspects of it already, such as the placement of the shifter compared to the Mustang, but that hood just seems to scare people away.

This is exactly what I feel it is also. I have no problem with either car but I'm 21 and young and don't care. But most of the people who have the money to drop on a brand new Camaro or Mustang are older. If you have 2 cars that are close in performance. But one the interior is more like sitting in a normal passenger car and the other you feel like you are the floor. What is going to appeal to the masses more?

DeViL · #15 03-25-2003, 07:45 PM

Yeah it probably would of made a difference, which is what Ford seems to be trying right now with the Bullitt, Mach I, and 03 Cobra interior. Such as the retro-style guages, shift knob, pedals, leather styling, white guages, wtc.

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