It just occurred to me what is happening here and why there is so much apprehension, fear, uncertainty and doubt: Simply put, faith has been lost.

Nearly all of the threads and their posts express some kind of fear, uncertainty and doubt. Why? Because we've been let down. Even die hard Chevy enthusiasts such as myself have lost the faith. GM has a 20+ year history of missing the mark - either a gross off-target miss, a fumbled execution of a good idea, a fumbled execution of an even mediocre idea, a driven execution of a rotten idea(Aztec), or no idea at all.

We wouldn't be anywhere near as nervous if GM had been firing on all cyliners for the last 10 years. The problem is, GM's engine has either been shutdown, misfiring or blowing smoke chunks for so long, that we just don't know what to expect anymore. Its a friggin crap-shoot as to what they will do next. The variables are too numerous to count.

In other words, our FUD is justified. Toyota fans can be okay with a design that they are not thrilled with because they know, by past demonstration, that the next one in the pipe will likely be great. Betting on the next Toyota or the future of the company is nowhere near as much a gamble.

The other problem we all know deep down inside is that even if the Camaro is a big hit, and what we all wanted, there's still trouble with GM. A big hit can't save GM right now. Two big hits can't save GM right now. Heck, even half a dozen hits can't help. We all know this. If the 5th gen is a hit, and perfectly executed, there's a lurking fear that GM will still be dropping the ball in other areas and could be a goner in a few years time. Yeah, we might get a Camaro, but that won't mean much if the company files bankruptcy and is forced to be split apart by aggressive investors. It only took a year for US Steel, a moniker of Wall Street for a hundred years, to be disassembled and turned into an answering machine in a small New York office.

So we're all excited, holding our breath and counting the days - yet at the same time, we're silently imagining a world without GM and what that means to us - as enthusiasts, as workers, as Americans.

greg

 

Good post, and you are right.
Some of us do look at the last 10 years with negitivity and what GM has done wrong. What GM hasnt done in order to retain sales, market share, etc etc. This is the sort of things that keeps negitivity going. People who are less knowlageable then us here are very hopeful of the future, and when they see the die hards moan and cry about the defaults of GM, it brings them down as well, and its a domino effect.
Toyota has been making a good car for a long time. Thats it, nothing too much to change. They havnet had 100 years of design and engineering done where they can draw on, they havent experianced over 50% of market share ever. They havnet designed some of the worlds most beautiful cars, and THIS is where we put the pressure on GM, to do just that. Make amazing, outstanding, downright beautiful cars that can out duke anything from anyone, anywhere. Toyota doesnt have the pressure of beautiful design, they just have to make a quality car. Thats there image, and thats all they need to do.

I think that GM has nailed it based on present info we have. Every sports car that GM has made in the past 5 years has been clear over the fence as far as performance, design, and comfort. Now, GM has the quality piece together, I can only expect an amazing Camaro at Detroit.

 

We should have been so lucky. I hope they managed to directly copy your concepts or you've been keeping a secret that you actually did design it

 

A lot of the time concepts are also more "futurestic" looking than the final product turns out to be. Normally it gets toned down and ends up looking better in my opinion.

 

I agree, not much we can do it. That is why I was actually hoping the Camaro name would never come back just incase I didn't like it.

 

Probally right.

Maybe some of us ended up invited to see if Camaro's appeal might be expanded beyond just the loyal guys.

 

Speaking as a member of the "Lucky 250", I would say that while we're GM cheerleaders, we're not above finding fault w/ their products. The wife and I are very serious potential buyers of this thing, but not so much so that we'll flash cash if the car isn't what we want.

I promise we will report honestly and truthfully if asked our opinions

 

Just to make ya know that it's fair and balanced Bob, I'll have a scale surreptitiously placed in my undies and will spend a grand total of about 30 seconds looking at the styling and the next hour figuring out the panel splits and fits.

 

I wondered this also. I tried to get alot of people's opinions on it a while back, but no one bit.
I have come to the mind set that I will only be as excited as I should, based on the styling. (They probably won't be talking about production engines, unless they put an ls7 in the Camaro just attract attention, which deviates from the point IMO.) I will not advertise this car for GM. If it cool, I will ask a few people if they've seen it, but I'm not gonna hype up a car for GM, the styling is suppost to do that!
*crosses fingers for breakthrough styling*

 

keep something in mind.

The people who worked on this "concept" are Camaro/Firebird enthusiasts. I can think of at least two dozen of them that have Camaros and/or Firebirds in their garages.......that they own......that they love.......and that they have great passion for.........they also realize that the car has to appeal to a wider audience.

At one time, there was a 'poor unfortunate' that actually said we should look at Delta platform...........I'm not so sure he's ever been seen since. (but the fish in one of the lakes within the Tech Center seem to look 'well fed')

I gotta tell you.....I think 90% of those who see the concept IN PERSON will like it....I'm also wise enough to know that no matter what the car looks like, we will have people who do not like it...and we will have a few that explode on the internet and say horrible things...... .by the way....the concept will be at NAIAS for the entire run.....it will also appear in other cities during the auto show season........so please......before you feel the need to blast it to pieces.......please see it in person first?


You can be assured that GM will be asking for feedback.

One other thing: I really need to think about changing my name from "Fbodfather" to "The Guardian".....because people, I haven't designed this car.....I've attended meetings...I've given a lot of input.....I've been screaming since 1996 that we need a new Camaro........and I will continue to have my fingers in it one way or another. But I should NEVER be considered 'the father' of this car ...or any other Fcar. There are people who deserve that title ......and I don't.

(by the way....the name was given to me by the Hudson Valley Fcar Club)

 

What do you mean by "hand picked?"

I think this was covered in one or more threads on this website.

The sneak peek will occur as the the concept is unveiled to the press (and the world)

 

RP

Was the concept ever compared to the current Mustang in design clinics and, if so, what was the result in the eyes of the judges?

 

Scott,

Comforting words to be sure....I knew that there are Camaro people working on the program....

I was simply trying start a conversation on how important it is for the enthusiasts to support this new program...and to see if there was opportunity to add constructive comments....all of which you just answered....as you always do

I want people to know that a quick condemnation of the concept could be a fatal blow....

As far as the Fbodfather thing.....we ALL know it takes an army of people to build a car....but you were given that title as being the person who has been our mentor throughout the last decade or more....so maybe you weren't our "biological" dad.....but your "the guy" now

 

I know I asked this a few months ago when we first found out about the concept, and you weren't sure at that point, but I guess I can see if anythign new is out...

Do you have any idea what other auto shows will get the concept? In particular Cleveland?

 

Really looking forward to seeing it. This is a car that I want to make my first new car purchase on in a few years so this thing def. has my interest.

Since this is kinda your field Red (or FbodFather, man of the double alias), when will this concept be making it down around the Florida/Georgia area? The Central Florida Auto Show normally falls around November (coming up next week) and I cant wait that long to see it after the "unveiling" . Any idea?