the govt. will not let a car like the z28 come out now. not with the control they have. too much pressure right now on being enviromentaly safe and hybrid bs. yes the z28 is probably dead for now. it could come back. but not any time soon. not while obama is in office.

 

I'm not sure it has anything to do with the gov't, although the new CAFE legislation probably doesn't help.

I personally wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a supercharged Z28, at least for the 5th Gen. You have to remember, GM is so broke right now they were removing everything from office refridgerators to light bulbs to save on energy bills. They already have a large amount of development money tied up in the Volt and other small car programs. Everything else would be on the back burner.

Yeah, we know Camaro came about when many were speculating it wouldn't happen, but we got pretty lucky. Bob Lutz is no longer in a position to ram things through. In fact, the story goes that if Camaro had been any earlier along in its development when the economic bomb hit, it would have been killed just like the other North American Zeta projects were.

 

who do you think makes the CAFE regulations. who do you think is overseeing where money is spent after loaned to?

 

Believe me, I don't trust gov't "help" any more than you do. I do still think (hope?) they're smart enough to realize that GM has to build what is profitable first and foremost. That means a broad spectrum of vehicles.

http://www.freep.com/article/2009052...+what+to+build?

Let's put it this way, with the overwhelming number of problems GM is facing right now, and the product decisions that need to be made in order to return them to profitability, a limited niche uber-horsepower supercharged coupe is probably priority #847.

 

You don't think that GM taking the bailout and having to appease the tastes of Washington now that they own their soul has anything to do with what kind of cars GM produces in the future? Really?

 

This totally blows re: the convertible. I have now been waiting 3+ years for the Camaro to return and now that it has I have to wait 2 more. To a consumer this is totally unacceptable. I am willing to shell out my hard earned money to support a US company but they do not have what I want? How much more am I going to half to pay 2 years from now? Just priced out a 2010 GT Mustang Vert and it came in at $34840. That is just a tad about a 1SS with similar options. Heck my Firebird will almost be a classic by the time I can buy the Camaro I want. I know things can and will change but if they cannot get this car out by next summer I am not waiting anymore. I will pick up a new Vette. Heck last weekend the dealer offered me a new 2008 Vert for $42K out the door plus my Firebird. Still trying to get momma to bite on that one but she says I need a back seat for my 12 and 9 year old.
Enough of my rant.

 

why not buy a coupe camaro and take it and have a custom vert job done to it? you would be the first.

if you cant wait and you HAVE to have a convertable, get the vette. 42k is a sweet deal. concidering a base model coupe is about 40k.

 

So whats GM going to for money when the Volt is a big flop? Hang on for the ride guys....this whole thing could get uglier than you think after all the money they put into producing the Volt to appease the tree huggers.
It would be cheaper for GM to give $1000 vouchers to anyone who wants an electric car to buy a Prius.....

 

Sorry but convertibles are niche cars and as such when a company like GM is in crisis they must focus on cars that are higher in volume and thus results or should result in more profits. I am sure that GM would like to make this car available asap but they really cannot. Yes cannot. Read a bit about the financial shape of GM and you will see a company fighting for survival. I am afraid if you want a convertible you will as you have said above look elsewhere.

 

ive already heard there isnt much profit margin in the volt unless they were to sell it for 40+. they are better off putting cadillac badges on it and selling it as the converj and then makring it up. toom uch money invested in that car for not alot of profit.

 

If the government were forcing GM to kill performance cars, the ZR1 would have already been canceled by now.

 

I think the gov just wants GM & Chrysler (and really all the automakers) to have a more balanced portfolio.
They can't put all their eggs into one basket.
That's all.