The putz Lutz is nutz (Z28 in doubt)

[2000LS1Bird]

Picked up a Motortrend or a Road and Track today at Barnes & Noble. Can't remember which one, but it was fresh off the news stand.

Page 12 discusses the Z28, powered by the Caddy supercharged V8, 500+ horsepower, yada yada.

It goes on to say that Lutz isn't sure this is the right time for GM to be putting a car like this to market, after having to accept bail-out funds. The actual quote from him was something along the lines of, 'We have to make the world right first, before we bring out a flashy, low-gas mileage (13-19mpg) 2-door coupe.'

Are you serious? "Make the world right?"

The article goes on to say that the longer a project is stalled, the less likely it is to make it to market. And the project and the car's release date is on hold.

I guess this does not include the Camaro in general, but the Z28s are on hold.

--

[FORD RECOVERY EXPERT]

It'll be from this...


To this...

[310stanger]

what is so nutty about what he said? we all love cars like the possible z28 but on a business sense its not a bread and butter model. GM its drowning man, they need to get out of the red, not worrying about selling niche vehicles.

[Danger731]

Another reason I bought the Vette.

[levityinc3]

Economically speaking, it's probably not a great idea. I mean, they're not going to sell very well. It's kind of too little too late with the whole, old styled, new performance packaged automobile. But crank those fuckers out IMHO, I'm anxious to see them on the road.

[2000LS1Bird]

I disagree. The Vette is a sorry flagship. Its a 2-seater, and is viewed by middle-class America as unaffordable.

A flagship Camaro should not be shelved. There IS a market for these new retro pony cars. Ford continues to sell Mustangs, and they have a upgraded model coming out next year.

Chrysler did it right with the Challenger. They brought out the heavy-hitter SRT Challenger first, then followed it up with the lower 2 models.

The Chrysler dealership down the street from me can't keep the V8 Challenger R/Ts on the lot. They do have an SRT on the lot, it draws people in, then they go for the "budget" hemi V8 R/T. Even in this economy, people are swiping them up.

Having the Z28 out there will increase Camaro sales across the board.

GM has already invested 99% of what they need to make this car go to market. Shelving it now is the worst thing they can do.

[levityinc3]

I disagree. The Vette is a sorry flagship. Its a 2-seater, and is viewed by middle-class America as unaffordable.

A flagship Camaro should not be shelved. There IS a market for these new retro pony cars. Ford continues to sell Mustangs, and they have a upgraded model coming out next year.

Chrysler did it right with the Challenger. They brought out the heavy-hitter SRT Challenger first, then followed it up with the lower 2 models.

The Chrysler dealership down the street from me can't keep the V8 Challenger R/Ts on the lot. They do have an SRT on the lot, it draws people in, then they go for the "budget" hemi V8 R/T. Even in this economy, people are swiping them up.

Having the Z28 out there will increase Camaro sales across the board.

GM has already invested 99% of what they need to make this car go to market. Shelving it now is the worst thing they can do.

I agree with everything you're saying, except.

I think that Chevrolet did it way too late. There are the die-hard Camaro fans, like me, however I think those that can afford these pony cars have already purchased them, either by way of the Charger, Challenger, Mustang, or some faggy Japanese shit.

[levityinc3]

I also agree that they've come too far to back down now.

To sum my opinion up, I think they should have done it a couple years ago.

[2000LS1Bird]

I also agree that they've come too far to back down now.

To sum my opinion up, I think they should have done it a couple years ago.

I'd go a step further and say they should have had this car designed and ready in '03/04.

Again, Lutz's fault. They sold 12,000 GTOs in '04, when they could have sold 48,000 retro Firebirds and Camaros.

[Mr. Luos]

Ford continues to sell Mustangs

Yeah...the 'flagship' V6's are selling.

[levityinc3]

I'd go a step further and say they should have had this car designed and ready in '03/04.

Again, Lutz's fault. They sold 12,000 GTOs in '04, when they could have sold 48,000 retro Firebirds and Camaros.

Yeah, so we're kind of on the same page.

[SouthernBornThriller]

Yeah...the 'flagship' V6's are selling.

Bingo. I havn't seen a GT in a week, a GT500 since September (and that's cause I was at a Ford dealer), and a Roush since sometime last summer. V6's are more common than Honda Accords though.

I really don't think these things are gonna sell. Like someone said earlier, people who wanted a "retro muscle/pony car" have already bought a Mustang or a Challenger. They aren't economy cars (V6 - 26 mpg? Wtf? Who cares about 300 horses in a V6?). The only thing they've got is a performance edge (on paper...since they're taking so damn long to come out) over the GT and SRT8. Problem with that is, thanks to the economy and market, you can pick up a good used C6 for what you'd pay for a new Camaro at MSRP (and if they follow Dodge's precedent with the Challenger, you might be able to buy a used C6 Z06 for what dealers will be asking for Camaros) that'll outperform the SS easily, and get at least 5 more mpg. Cheaper insurance too.

The only people that are gonna buy a Camaro is someone that wants (and can still afford) a Camaro. I hope they sell, for GM's sake, but I won't be buying one, and don't have faith that many other people will either.