Quote:
Originally Posted by arpad_m
Let's assume for a second you are 100% spot on with this analysis. When did this MOOOHHHHRRRRRRR moment happen, in 2013, maybe 2014? That was 9 or 10 years ago. What about making changes in the meantime based on the lower than expected initial sales figures? Like, for example, what Ford did with their Mustang, several times, even though they have advantages for daily use from the get-go?
I don't think anybody suggesting more advertising would also advocate for standing still and just trying to sell the same product with more and more aggressive marketing/ad campaigns and nothing else. The lack of advertising certainly hurt this car, and I know you hate sounding like a broken record, but you keep referencing this one data point from a decade ago as if that was an immutable conclusion that shall never be changed or challenged.
One more small thing: you are still "in the system", ie your mindset is heavily influenced by your in-depth involvement with GM, but we "critics" exist outside this corporation. Never hurts to ditch some basic assumptions, sometimes even data, to avoid getting stuck in an echo chamber and a specific corporate culture. I fell into the same trap over and over again, so please don't take it as preaching, this applies to all of us.
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To be clear, and I’ve stated it clearly, I am no longer with GM and have not been there for 12 years.
You are correct, much of the Gen6 was determined around 2011 or 12. I actually got to see the first early clays for the Gen6 and I swear to god it was a 7/8 scale Gen5. And this was before I left in 2011.
Those decisions, however, were architectural. So like your house, you can change cabinets or counter tops but changing the layout is very expensive. So changing the car to have more trunk space, better rear seat room and better visibility was hugely expensive and something TV ads would never fix.
Now at the point GM realized it had failed, there was no business case to redo the car, e.g. a CT5 coupe rather than a CT5 front for the V8 and a CT4 rear for size and weight. So we were left to watch our beloved Camaro waste away to the end.
Now what comes next is actually exciting for me. I just hope the Camaro name stays on a coupe.