I am sure he will be back with some details later but he a very busy guy with the Detroit auto show coming up.

Here is how he has addressed somew of your concerns in the past.

I don't think they have crahed any cars yet but the goal from the start has been to have a 5 star rating. THis is important to keep the cars insurance from killing it let alone the passengers.

I can say as many of the rest of us here by reading Scotts past statments this will be the safest Camaro's ever and one of the safest cars on the road today.

As for the V6. It will do as good of a job as any engine will for mileage. The car will have good crash numbers and because of that it will have more mass. A 4 cylinder will be very taxed in a car like this and very unpopular unless they would use the Ecotech with the Turbo. But then cost again becomes a factor. Besides they did a Camaro in the 80's with a 4 cylinder and it only lasted about 2 years if I recall. Thery were not a good match as too much car too little power. You did not want to pull out in front of anyone.

The thing is this is not an economy car but the new engines are as efficent as anything GM has offered and it will see milage numbers never seen in past V6 or V8 Camaro's.

As for E85 Scott would have to answer this. As far as I have seen many of GM engines are now good for E85 and Gas. I would not be suprised if the V6 may have this ablility. Fuel milage and economy are important factors on this car with todays prices

I hope this helps till Scott gets back. He can be more specific on some of this since he is in on the program. Some things he may not address as he may not be able to say as GM does not want some info out yet.

 

Snooter, rest assured the Camaro team understands your position. Your issues are indeed important ones to GM too.

It's a little too soon for specifics, but when all is said and done, I believe your concerns will be addressed.

 

To add to what ChrisL mentioned, ...I believe you will be pleased with GM's committment to Safety and doing everything they can in the new Camaro. As much as most/many on this board as enthusiast are looking forward to the new Camaro for horsepower, etc., ...GM is well aware that this indeed is not the only market for Camaro.
On the contrary, they do realize (and are very in tune to the fact) that there needs to be a low horsepower, economical version for the masses. Ironically (for a "musclecar") it will be these configurations that make the volumes needed to keep the car alive.
You (obviously) have a very valid and sincere concern, ...no question at all. Hopefully Scott will chime in (I'm sure he will) with his perspective...

Kevin

 

NOT EVEN CLOSE

The base V8 Camaro will not be the Z/28

And dont even get me started on the prices.

 

................................

 

Please God no 4 cylinder and no whimpy V6s. This guy can go buy a Malibu or Cobalt

 

Good morning, Snooter --

You can be assured that safety is first and foremost in our minds. Remember - we have children and loved ones, too.

If you go back and look at the safety and engineering we put into the 4th gen car -- you might just find that, for the period in which they were engineered (1990-1993) they were some of the safest cars on the road.....still are in many respects.

The problem is that they ARE performance cars -- and as such, they tend to be involved in spectacular accidents -- simply due to behavior of the driver.

Now -- since 1990 - 1993, we've come up with many other ways to improve the safety -- and crashworthiness -- of our cars and trucks.
I will not get into specifics -- but suffice it to say that the Camaro MUST get a 5-star crash rating (front/rear/side) -- or they'll be nearly impossible to insure for most younger drivers --

We are VERY concerned about safety -- and we also look at things like traction control and VSES.......

Now -- all of this said -- we can make the Camaro the safest car on the highway -- BUT..............

............what are you going to do to ensure that your daughter has received adequate Driver Education? (please -- this is NOT a slam at you.......)

My concern is that most states have little or no driver education programs. In many states, the parents or friends teach our young to drive....and that's simply a disaster waiting to happen.

I strongly suggest that you consider sending her to a school like Spring Mouuntain Motorsports Park -- or Bob Bondurant -- because it's THERE she's going to learn (very comprehensively) ideas like:

>how sit in the car (most people aren't sitting in the car correctly and that's causing untold numbers of injuries....) It isn't a lazy boy easy chair!!!
>how to adequately use Anti-lock brakes
>skid control
>visual scanning
.......the list goes on but I have a conference call in a few minutes.

Bottom line?

We're gonna deliver a very safe Camaro.........

But we (thats you and me and the rest of the enthusiast community) need to start forcing our state legislatures to put into place a comprehensive driver training program.

 

it isn't for him.. is for his daughter

 

I couldn't agree more. As a parent I would have loved for my sons to get proper instruction. What they went through wasn't even close to what I learned when drivers' training was provided by the State as part of the school's curriculum.

 

You hit the nail on the head Scott. You have no idea how much it irks me to see kids drive with the seat moved all the way back and the seatback tilted half way down. Or make some really foolish moves on the road, whether it be due to brazen attitude or complete incompetence.

I got my drivers license after two weeks of driving for 2 hours a day on the road and two weeks of one hour classes. Went to the registrar for the written test and then the on road test in the same day. I'll never forget when I took my test the deputy registrar grading me kept picking at her eyelash or contact, and I don't recall her paying much attention to my driving. In fact I had to keep asking which way she wanted me to go, and that turned out to be a 5 minute jaunt around the block. Not going any more than 35 mph. When we got back to the DMV, I did my parallel test and that was it. She gave me 100 percent and said said congrats, you have your license.

I think the classes and the process is just too easy. I know it's done this way to keep costs down, and most people probably would not vote for any more strict guidlines if it meant increasing costs. But you are right in that most kids are very innept drivers. Anyone can hit the cruise on an open, flat, smooth highway and if you're sober keep the car straight. But driving in adverse weather, trafic, constantly changing conditions, and staying on the lookout for everyone else on the road requires concentration and experience to get good at. You could engineer a tank, but if the person driving it hits another tank, what good is all that safety?

Add cell phones to the mix, and it's no wonder I've changed my tune since I was 16. I'm 30 now and in full favor of making drivers exams and classes HARD.

 

snooter, Just to add to what Scott said, I'm glad your daughter shares interest in the truly amazing Camaro. As of this date GM is still the largest car company on God's green and mostly blue Earth. They have more resources and engineering prowness than any other company building vehicles with 4 or more wheels. I know that because they used to be my employer also. So when you ask about crash testing just know that GM won't bring out a car like the Camaro and have it get poor crash testing results. GM is held to a higher standard politically because they are no. 1.

You seem to be in public service to have seen some of things you describe. Front and side crash testing, air bags and seatbelts can only go so far if the driver is reckless or worse. So make sure your daughter wears her seatbelt and always drives like her beloved father is riding passenger and God forbid her luck isn't great and an accident does result she'll be in a drivers seat as safe as any on the road in 2009.

You ask of fuel economy and engines offered. Your guess is as good as anyones at this time. We know there will be a V6 and a V8 offered and besides that really nothing else. But know that the competition is the Mustang an price, performance and fuel economy. In this day in age GM is very aware of the energy situation and it's impact on passernger vehicles. Again if there is a company out there today more focused on getting more fuel economy than GM I sure have not seen one.

If I was in your shoes I'd wait to see and drive the car when it's on sale in just over 1yr. Then all of your questions will have answers and your decision will be easier to make. Until then keep saving your money like many of us are. This car will be a hit!

 

A 4 cylinder Honda Civic will do 100mph just as easily as a 360 horse Camaro. It may take it longer to get there, but it can easily do it.

Any accident at those speeds is unsafe.

I'm confident the new camaro will be among of the safest cars on the market when it debuts.

 

true.. but you won't have as much trouble in slick conditions with a 4banger civic ..

even my v6 4th gen.. i have to be very careful driving in slick conditions.. it took me a while to get used to my first rear wheel drive car.. just the simple idea to take your foot off the gas if you start fishtailing took a while to become instinct.. and to be honest.. my young, ignorant, stupid self ended up in a ditch more than once.. thankfully nobody got hurt .. including the car

anyway.. i wish i had been instructed earlier on how to drive and not to drive a car like this with RWD.. it is definitely a different animal

though i'm sure the 5th gen won't be as bad cause itll have electronic stability control and better traction control

 

There's a great NHTSA crash video on Youtube of a '95? Camaro. They were/ARE very safe cars. The passenger compartment and footwell holds up VERY well for being designed in the early 1990's. The front end absorbs and transfers energy upward (notice the kick in the rear) and around the passenger cabin. This is why it received the old NHSTA 5-star ratings.

Snooter probably thinks his daughter is safe in a "big truck." Look at the crash test video of a 1997 Ford F150. I wouldn't wish my worst enemies to drive one of those, let alone be around an inexperienced driver behind the wheel of one of those rigs.

Scott--I think I'd REALLY have a great time knowing you in person someday. We think very much alike.

 

I wouldn't either! My boss owns one! (His is actually the same colors as the one shown below.)

Alghough, to Ford's credit, their newer trucks are up to par. The 99-02 silverado's didn't fare too well either (But nowhere near as bad as the ford).