Huh? Nobody is condeming GM in this thread. No one has been critical of their efforts. We are discussing your hypothetical 3900lb car. Besides, we DO have real data regarding what the car could potentially turn out to be. Just take a look at similar cars built on related platforms.

No, the issue here is not what GM is doing. Rather, the issue is the ludicrous assertion that a 3900 lb car would be the "best handling and best stopping daily driver Camaro in history". Cold hard facts and physics dictate that this is not possible no matter how optimistic we are. To think otherwise shows no understanding of how a car works.

For the record, I don't believe that the new car will come anywhere near that. I honestly believe the new car will be within 100lbs of the Mustang. Given the fact that the Mustang Shelby GTs (NOT the GT500) are just over 3500 lbs and a regular GT can be had at under 3500 lbs (these are real world Stock class weights on certified scales), I'm optimistic we'll be in decent shape (3600lbs for an optioned up car).

If it exceeds that estimate by a large margin, we'll have a real problem and definitely not have the "best handling and best stopping daily driver Camaro in history". Anyone who thinks a Camaro that heavy (3900 lbs) will be a long term sales success is delusional.

 

It may still be a sales success, but it would be with the general car-buying public, NOT with the "enthusiast" crowd .

And like you're saying (you're absolutely right) ... we already have evidence (GTO) that the Camaro won't be 3900 lbs. The GTO was what, ~37xx?? I would say that can be our "expected" target weight, while it shouldn't be outrageous to hope for ~3600 or less .

BTW, how did we get back onto the weight-debate anyway?!?!?!?!

 

The GT500 also has 300 more HP than the Miata. It accomplishes a better lap time through brute force.

 

I won't step into the weight or ABS arguements going on, but I will add that GM MUST introduce some sort of high performance Z28-esque type option the day these things hit the dealers. There may be a lot of hype around these cars, but first impressions are what counts. Offering up a watered down version that only comes with a V6 (no matter how powerful) the first year and the whole thing will flop. They're already behind in the scheduled release, why prolong the Z28?

 

There will be a V6 and V8 available at launch. Don't worry.

 

Says who? Where have you seen ANY information concerning a "scheduled release"?

 

I thought this section was recently referred to as "2009 Chevrolet Camaro Forums". Perhaps "scheduled release" was a poorly chosen phrase. Does release timeframe fit better? I might be incorrect in believing that I've seen many different potential release dates for the Camaro, with each pushing the date back farther. And if my info is incorrect I apologize - it's hard sifting through the 100 miles of worthless crap this section provides just to find a piece of credible info. I'd say CamaroZ28.com is one of the better sources though, and even they pushed the date back too

GM did the same thing with the SSR and GTO, offering the good engine too late. Look how well that strategy worked.

 

There is no change in Camaro's release - that being Feb. '09. The only thing which has changed is confirmation that Camaro will be MY2010.

 

True that. If you'll recall Marc, GM never said 2009, the media made that up and called the car a MY2009. I sort of found out by accident from my spies that it was a MY2010, but was sworn to silence .

 

If you think about it and how other recent GM vehicles like the 2007 Tahoe for example, were released earlier but still tagged as a later MY, it makes sense.

Traditionally vehicles are released the fall before the MY. So why would a Feb. 2009 released vehicle be a MY2009? Following GMs recent history it could only have been a MY2010.

 

I honestly can't remember what is what with this issue anymore after hearing so many contradictory statements from many different "reliable sources" All it comes down to is that when (if ever ) this car is released I would like to know a few more details about it than the average buyer - it will be my first new car purchase. I don't want to end up like the few that bought an LS1 GTO only to see the LS2 come out a year later with better incentives

 

Well then the ONLY 2 sources you should rely on for 100% accuracy is GM themselves, and the Fbodfather. There are several others here that you can safely say have 90+% reliability as well. Frankly, I wouldn't belive ANY mainstream media at this point, as most of them still have the car coming w/ an LS2

jg95z28, I'm with you, but there have been a few instances where a car was brought out in the first quarter and still kept the old MY. The C5 has been mentioned, and if memory serves, the 4th gen Fbodys came out in Jan 93 did they not? And they were MY1993's. This one though has been a MY2010 for some time, even though it wasn't said out loud.

 

... and what about the 1970-1/2 Camaro????

 

Of course there have been. I was referring to more recent releases by GM. Public perception today is that it's better to get something new and improved early than late. Hense one explanation for the change in philosphy.

Actually the 1970 1/2 designation was adopted by enthusiasts. Back in the day, before the internet, I can remember the theory that the 1970 Camaro (1st series) was a carry over of the MY1969 and hense the reason for a 1970 1/2 when the new design showed up later. However we now know that the MY1969 production was simply continued longer (until Nov. 1969) because the new design wasn't ready yet. I may be mistaken, however I have yet to see any "official" documentation from GM indicating otherwise.

 

That was kind of my point.