That is a very good point. It will have the power and performance, more than ever before I'm sure, and it does carry the Camaro name and heritage. I am extremely happy that the Camaro is back even if I don't like the new design, I was severely dissappointed to see it go in the first place. Arguing about the apperance of the new Camaro is actually very pointless for 2 reasons.

1:It is allready done. My bitching at this point will change nothing.
2:It's completely objectionable.

I hope it has GREAT success even though I don't like it, I don't want to see the Camaro go away agian. Will I buy one? Yes, I will, if it continues the Camaro's history for offering strong performance at an affordable price, at least I can't see the outside while I'm driving it. I will just hope that Chevrolet builds another Camaro body that I like before I'm too old to enjoy it. I like the way the Corvette has evolved. Each new model changes a little, but it has never re-started like they are doing with the Camaro. Thats what I would have liked, an evolution of the 4th gen. I wasn't hoping for a completely new un-recognizable Camaro, nor did I want to start over again at square one with a 60's re-hash. I just wanted the next step.

 

I'm not a self proclaimed 4thgen expert but I was heavily into Camaros at the time right at driving age in highschool, and ALOT of people myself included didn't like the 93s at all initially (obviously alot did, I and many others liked the drivetrain improvements though). Most grew to like them well enough, I really didn't for a very long time. Then in 97/98 ALOT of people hated the catfish mouth redesign (I did), it again grew on most people (including me, 98+ looks fairly good to me now especially an SS). But I don't think you can say the 93+ was universally heralded, and yeah sales numbers do back it up, the car died steadily and it wasn't all due to no advertising or poor seating position, alot of people just weren't sold on the exterior styling among other things...

Obviously if you don't even like firstgens at all you're not going to dig the new one. I'm betting you honestly don't like many or maybe even any of the pre-93 Camaros do you?

Oh and I also predict alot of the people slamming it now will decide it's pretty sweet as times goes on as some did with the 4thgens. I think it has more mass appeal than the 4thgens but I'm just pulling that out of thin air, maybe I'm off...

 

This is strictly opinion, but I don't think many of the previous generation of Camaro owners liked the 4th gen, however, people who never liked the older Camaros were "ga-ga" over it. I can't cite any specific examples really, but for one, my dad was a Ford guy, and he converted because of the 4th gen Camaro.

To answer your question, I don't like the 1st gen much (too short -- like the Cuda better because it looks like a longer Camaro), the 2nd gen is so-so, the 3rd gen is pretty cool, and the 4th gen is one of my favorite car designs ever. However, I was certainly not a Camaro fan until the 4th gen came out. When the '98s came out, I didn't like the new grill, kind of liked the new lights, but the standard/Z28 hood bothered me because it was just smooth and round.

I understand why many people like the new car, but it is a real shame to disappoint many of us who didn't just buy 4th gen Camaros because they made good drag racers and stuff. My family bought them nearly ONLY because we liked the way they looked :-\.

Will I like it as much as the 4th gens in the future? No. But will I possibly buy one? Maybe, it depends how gigantic the car actually looks, what options it has, and other stuff. Since it has 22s and 21s holding its corners up, it doesn't seem like something I would want, but we'll see.

The fact that I can't afford the next Jaguar XK since it starts at $75,500 puts me closer to buying a Camaro if anything

 

I'm 46. One of my earliest muscle car memories was of my neighbor doing a burnout with his 1968 canary yellow 327 Camaro. So that part of your statement I agree with, I do have a fondness for the 1gen. But I have also owned an IROC-Z and three 4gen V8 Firebirds. As I said, I loved those cars too. Sorry if some criticism of the 4gen is bothersome to you. But the fact is, the foibles I mentioned were a real obstacle to widespread acceptance (and sales) of those cars. My sister for example - despite my objections, she bought a 2000 Sebring vert after concluding the 4gen Camaro "was too low and felt big" (likely due in part to the huge flat windshield and the long overhangs). THIS is one of the reasons I'm excited about the 5gen concept - I believe it solves a LOT of those problems, while still connecting with the "essence of Camaro".

Excuse me for a second, didn't GM just recover from a severe beating last year, when 'enthusiasts' bashed GM endlessly for providing a GTO with ( *gasp* ) no hood scoops or dual exhaust tips? Now some peeps want a Jaguar - Camaro. Make up your mind please

I've worked hard all my life, done without a Camaro in my 20's since I could not afford the insurance (thanks, fellow young hormone-crazed males, for denying me the opportunity), and yep, I do want what I missed. Oops, forgot to ask your permission! ( ) I've been married to the same wonderful gal for 17 years and am blessed that she tolerates my car hobby. I couldn't care less if the twinkies out there can see me when I listen to the enchanting song of my aluminum LS2 V8. In fact I do not care if the 5gen Camaro ends up with T-tops. I had them in all my previous Fbodies... and frequently lacked the time to pull them out for enjoying the sun anyway.
Maybe the Camaro isn't for you? It's not meant to be a BlueTooth and ventilated seats technology showcase. True muscle cars have always had a simple central mission - big, torquey, honkin' V8 stuffed into a small or midsize RWD coupe with distinctive styling. The new concept fits the bill and it's going to make a whole new generation of young Americans come to the altar of V8 RWD power and torque

 

You know, after everything that has been said, my main hope is that this generation does well. I want it to make GM a couple of bucks so it can stay around for some more generations.
I think it looks the best out of all the new pony cars from the big 3, but I still don't know if I like it. Then again, i tend to change my mind about big purchases every day =] Took me a year to decide to buy my 93 camaro lol

I'm getting out of college soon and I think I am going to buy a 98+ transam (my favorite looking car in my price range haha) and earn some money for a few years. By then the new camaro should be out and I can decide if it is good or bad then.

I'd prefer a more 4th gen look to it, but I think it holds its own and should sell well.

 

If you walk up to the average person-on-the-street and ask them "Think of an old Mustang", the image that pops into their head will probably be 1960s model of some sort.

Then ask them "Think of an old Camaro" .. and they're likely going to think of a 1970s second-gen. They simply have no idea what the first generation looks like.

Even if a 1967 was driving down the street (very rarely happens), they're probably going to think "Hey, that's a pretty cool old Mustang!" Because, face it, the first-gen wasn't all that "distinct" ... it was a Mustang-clone.

So while the new car looks f*ing great, and really is Retro Done Right, it doesn't "Scream Camaro" (except to superfans). If anything it screams "Hey, I'm a Mustang Clone", just like the first gen. Which could be a problem if the car is really going to define it's spot in the market (being slightly faster or what have you is not a distinction for most customers.)

Anyway, if I was running GM, I would have started with the 1970 model with the bigmouth grille and the scupted fenders. It would look a lot more "Camaro" to the average man on the street.

http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/1970/70bro-c.jpg

PS: Porsche has always been retro -- even their 60s/70s/80s models were conciously styled like a 30s car.

 

It's very interesting how you quoted me up there since I happen to be 23... lol.

 

Wow. I feel the need to speak easy so as not to rehash what has been said.

Thats very true.


It seemed to me as though the 4th gen was a logical evolutionary step for the Fbody.It made use of as much new technology as was practical and adaptable at the time. IMO, it did it while managing a new look that still said Fbody, and could be directly linked to previous generations.

I am not a retro fan. But it seems that this is a logical evolution based upon what a good portion of the market wants. If this is Fbody...I'll buy it. Even if it isnt anywhere close to what I'm driving right now.

One question lingers...and I pose it to Chrysler, and Ford as well.

What do you do when it is time for a redesign?

 

funny thing is I didnt buy my car 5 years used, it came off lease and was practically brand new the guy never drove it.

The car has to appeal to more than just the guys like you said you bought it cus of the cockpit style...well that dosnt help the average joe that gets in and feels like hes crampt..

 

THAT sums it up..

 

and you get it...

 

I can't speak for others but I can tell you that I love the 4th gens as well as EVERY other generation of Camaro, including the 1st gen. I truely love every Camaro. I am not dissapointed that there are no 4th gen cues in the car, I figured there wouldn't be, but what I am dissapointed about is that there is very little that is new in that concept. Like I said before, I was blown away when I saw the 4th gen F-body because it looked like NOTHING on the road. I am the type of person who likes modern stuff so that is what appeals to me. You know what, I think I might be able to live with the car if they replace that front end with something more modern along with the interior. I really hope I will be pleasantly surprised when I see it (it better be at the Atlanta auto show).

 

Why do you think this is a "logical evolution"?

 

The market exists for a retro Camaro. And the market probably will still exist in five years. Therefore, that makes it a logical step in the evolution of the design, just like the 05 Mustang.

 

What makes you so sure the market will exist in 5 years and thus a logical step? The retro movement has been around for close to 10 now. What if Ford decides to pull a coupe like they did in the '80s with the T-bird and Taurus and redoes the Mustang around '09 or '10 with sharp, disctinctive fresh styling that captures a new generation's heart and isn't retro?