Now that's the way to do it.

 

I got my flight itinerary on Friday as well.

I arrive in Detroit at 12:39pm on May 20th, fly back at 7:33pm on May 21st

 

Took me awhile to get over here, but congrats to all. I think with the people that GM has chosen it's a really good mix of people.

 

Hey, if you want to grab a coffee while you're in the bay area before you jet out of the area, let me know!






Few points worth noting.

1. As pointed out, it is relatively pointless having a under-18 group. First, you aren't considered adults meaning that you'd need parental permission simply to fly out.... not to even mention entering into a contact to actually buy something as big as a car. More accurately, there are no new car buyers of that age group.

2. Used Cars aren't a car manufacturer's concern. They don't make money off of them. If a brand new car is a success, it's going to be at least just as much of a success used. Again, it's all moot because it doesn't put money in a manufacturer's pocket.

3. The bulk of new Camaro (and Mustang) buyers (believe it or not) is not in the very low side of the age spectrum. The Mustang's median age of buyer is about 32 for both V6 and GTs. Median age for a Cobra buyer approaching 50. The 4th gen's buyer median age is just under 40. Z28 is over 40. If I remember, SS buyers are about 4-5 years older than median age of Z28 buyers.


Women tend to have a new car before men do. Many women have their 1st new car at college. Most men don't get a brand new car till they are out of school and well into their 1st career, most often, typically not until they're at least in their mid 20s. This is also the age where women tend to get their 1st new car based more on their personality than simply having something that's merely dependable and trouble free.

That's where appealing to young buyers is the key.

You make a point about 18 year old being a buyer in the future. But the point of a consumer clinic is to have people who have actually owned Camaros and have experience with more than 1 generation. These are people who KNOW Camaros more than the average enthusiast (and I include myself) giving their views and opinions on what Camaro means based on their experiences. Knowing a few of the people on the list, it's easy to see GM picked the right people who bring alot to the table. Not sure what a person 17 years old or younger could add in the presence of a group like that.

To steal a sentence from another poster, not trying to be a jerk. But those under 18 simply aren't part of the equasion when it comes to new cars, especially when it comes to cars like the Camaro & Mustang.

 

[quote=guionM;4559601]Hey, if you want to grab a coffee while you're in the bay area before you jet out of the area, let me know!

Thanks! I just might take you up on that! Still trying to dot the i's and cross the t's, but it looks like I might have some time free on that Sat. night/Sun. morning. At this point, I'm likely driving my wife up to a spa that's about an hour north of SF and then come back to a hotel near the airport for the night before flying out on Sunday morning.
I'll keep you posted as soon as I knowthe exact scheduling and timing required for my "chauffeur service" !

Best regardSS,

Elie

 

^ ^ Hey Elie, how'd you score a personal invitation??? Apparently I don't kiss the right a$$e$ or something?!?!

Well, I trust that you'll represent the Oshawa crowd well, and more specifically, the OMSC-type enthusiasts, 'cause we are out there (what's that, ~3400 lbs, stripper Z28?? ).

 

Definitely do my best! Given that most of the basic stuff looks to be a done deal at this stage, a huge priority (AFAIC) is to lobby for a version of the car that will work on a road course, right out of the box.
In my 57 years, I've never enjoyed a car more than my '98 SS simply because it afforded me the opportunity to make a childhood dream come true - that is to learn how to drive my own car on a race track. It's been a fun learning curve for me - gradually exploring my own, as well as the car's limits over the years.
My Bilstein-equipped SS has really surprised a lot of people over the years - it's a natural on the road course and all I've really needed to add is C5 brakes, SFCs and a STB!
I would really like to see Chevy market a take-no-prisoners car for the road course, without having to add those items to make it the best handling car in its class (or even a more expensive class! ) and also give it a set of brakes (again, right out of the box) so that it can stay out for a 30 min. lapping session on VIR or the Mosport GP track without fading.
Of course, we're gonna need all the gauges in the line of sight and a perfect relationship between, seat, pedals , wheel and shifter!

Best regardSS,

Elie

 

Elie-- Chevy markets one, all right. It's the C6 Z06.

 

If you tell them all of that - with conviction - then you are also speaking for me, and afew others around here.

 

Absolutely! And I wouldn't expect a 5th Gen to hang with C6 Z06 on a road course, nor would I expect the same degree of sophistication found in the 'Vet.
But... I'd like to think that given the fact that GM will be upping the bar with the 650 HP Blue Devil (or whatever it will be called) then my hope would be that GM would give the 500+ HP Camaro (all decked out from the factory for the road course) the ability to perhaps keep a C6 Z06 in its sights on a road course.
I seem to recall that the last 1LE Camaro SS cars at Spring Mountain were actually just as quick (if not a tick faster) than a stock C5.
I really hope I'm not out in left field with these expectations...

Best regardSS,

Elie

 

And I'm sure we can expect a Top Dog Camaro that will hang with or be tick faster than a stock C6 .... I doubt we'll be hunting down many C6 Z06's though.

 

ah yes, one of the legends of the 4th gens. True story. SLP took a 1LE SS sporting gForce KDs over to GM to let Heinricy put it through it's paces. John beat his C5 Z51 times around the track.



of course, GM put a gag order on that little tidbit of info.

 

Not "hunting down", for sure, but maybe being able to see the color of the rear licence plate for awhile!

Best regardSS,

Elie

 

I hope there's enough room under the hood to do twin turbos.

Make sure you guys in the focus group check for that.

 

I find it interesting that such a focus group would be held this late into things...

I think it's a great thing, but short of fabrics, colors, etc... how much can really be changed at this point? Not criticizing... just curious!