[hotlap]

Originally Posted by Number 3

2 points.

First, I fully agree with 90503. Drive the car and you may not care one bit about the visibility. I drove one and found it horrid. I found it a likely reason to not buy the car. But not being able to get 2 sets of golf clubs in the trunk is probably the only reason I don't have one now. Yes, it's that big a deal for me.

Of course trying to get anyone on here to actually admit that the visibility is poor seems impossible. It's a trade off that many folks are more than willing to make to get this really outstanding car. My only point has been that GM held on to "what worked" and made little effort to go for greatness, which they could have done.

As for my Friend, Mr. Wyndham, well the other point I am hoping people will understand is those passionate enough to come to a website and discuss Camaros everyday ARE NOT the general car buying public. What people on this site are expected to do is crave performance and bada$$ery in their Camaro. I would expect nothing less. What I hope beyond hope is that people realize that GM still has an uphill battle with brand image. And getting people to buy in larger numbers will not happen with an even more focused car where styling trumps function in key areas many people use to compare cars. Not everyone in that GP is willing to make the trade offs for visibility, trunk space and rear seat accommodations. There are people that want a sporty coupe and that is it. The iconic styling and bada$$ery mean nothing. They want a sharp car that is fun to drive and works for them without having too many compromises (all cars have them, I understand that......except Hondas......they generally don't).

So my only point at all is that the Gen4 died not because the V8 didn't work well or that it couldn't beat the Mustang.........it died because the base coupe sales went in the toilet.

I was hoping GM would take a swing at something new with this car. Instead they played it way too safe IMO. Sure it's a wonderful car and almost everyone here loves it.

But remember this. When I started working at GM, they were over 40% market share by quite a bit. Just prior to that, there was Norwood Ohio (now a shopping mall) and Van Nuys California (now building Teslas I belive) building nothing but Camaros and Firebirds. Today, GM has 16% market share, less than 10% share on either Coast for passenger cars and a part of one plant building Camaros. I wanted GM to make a huge statement with this car.

I just wanted more. So I apologize for that.

With all due respect.

Many have acknowledged that gen6 visibility is compromised but you appear to want a mass rejection of the car with everyone’s refusal to buy.

Your reference to GM’s decline in market share, previous production of the Camaro at two plant and the gen4 leading to the Camaro’s demise is a little misleading

GM’s fall in market share during your tenure (IMO) was due to increased foreign competition and GM’s uninspiring, badge engineered cars that only distinguished themselves from the Japanese and European manufactures with their poor quality. That GM destroyed the Cadillac brand with jewels like the Cimarron so I similarly applaud the use of "art and science" design to resurrect it.

Camaro and Firebird volume was very high in the 70s and early 80s because the baby boomers were young (Norwood/Van Nuys). Boomers started families and buying minivans but I do recall there was still a lot of enthusiasm for the Monte SS/442/GN that also lead to sales of lesser versions of the same cars. Then came 1988...

Gen4 production ran 10 model years! Toward the end, the LS engine was the only draw (IMO) to buy the same car a second time. That GM lacked heart, milked the platform and let it die.

I’ve been buying cars 35 years and was die hard GM guy the first 16 but they lost me, with the exception of two V8 rear drive models, due to the reasons listed above. I bought Hondas instead. The new GM has heart again so when wifey’s crossover needs replacing, I’ll look at GM again

FYI - Motor Trend Car of the year! Let's wait a little