[SDG23]

I've seen three gen6 Camaros on the road, two v6 and one v8 since they've been out. Granted I live in rural Ky but I would have thought I'd see a few more than that by now. Mustangs everywhere...they're a dime a dozen mostly v6's driven by women...which makes sense.

I love new gen6 Camaro car and will buy one next year but I can also see why many don't know about it, there's no advertising whatsoever on television. Magazine ads are one thing but when 99.999% of Americans are glued to the tv, that's the place to advertise.

Many who don't know any better (and that's a LOT) really don't know anything except oh it's a Camaro and really don't see (because they don't know) it as much different from the gen5's. To me I can spot it immediately but for those who know very little about them, they cannot.

Dodge has the gas monkey guy extolling the greatness of the overweight 300 HP v6 Challenger/Charger and people see that because it grabs their attention...while they're watching tv and they don't know the v6 Camaro offers more of everything and would be a faster. However the Camaro would also be more expensive and that really is the deal breaker for many. The vast majority of people live essentially paycheck to paycheck and don't have much money to spare so if they're debating on which car to get between the Mustang, Challenger or Camaro, price is a huge factor that will win out nearly everytime. They see it, they want it and they'll take what they can get cheapest even if the difference is merely a few thousand bucks on an already sizeable purchase.

IF Chevy wants the Camaro to sell like hotcakes it needs to both advertise effectively and consider lowering the price a bit, at least for v6's which will dominate the sales. At the same time, I do agree with others that I don't really want to see dozens of other gen6 Camaros on the road, it would make mine feel less unique and more, ughh dare I say it, more like a Mustang.

[hangover]

Originally Posted by 90503

Right, it's just that extra few grand that's apparently making the difference.

If they could afford it, they'd buy a Camaro. That appears to be the "facts" of deciding which to buy...

More like why pay more for less. The Mustang is the better car and costs $5,000 less.

[hotlap]

Originally Posted by hangover

^Perfect example of why GM just doesn't "get it". You don't have to get a different car - just get a Mustang. It's the perfect car in the sweet spots that matter: looks GREAT and stands out from any previous gen (a YUGE issue for Camaro6 which to most people looks exactly like Camaro5 - I happen to love the Camaro6 looks), pricing - the Mustang is again in the sweet spot, and size, you can actually fit a family of 3-4 in it 100% comfortably. Oh yeah, and 435HP with a 6-speed manual. Don't get much more fun than that.

Smaller isn't necessarily better. Funny thing, the 135i is smaller and has plenty of legroom as well. The price you pay GM for building a "parts bin" car as an afterthought on another platform. Not very well thought out.

I think the new Mustang looks a lot like the old one. Six of my car buddies wives drove past a Ford lot and none could tell the difference from the old.

[ChefBorOzzy]

Originally Posted by hangover

More like why pay more for less. The Mustang is the better car and costs $5,000 less.

You're obviously still drunk.

[raptor5244]

Originally Posted by Posaune

$1500 cash back on Camaro.


Again, first year of a new generation, in the spring. This car should not need cash incentives yet...but please go on about how its GM's plan to sell so few.

Well, technically they are done manufacturing 2016s. 2017s are orderable now and will probably hit the lots in July/Aug. So, it is pretty typical to see incentive money at the end of a model year. I bought mine a couple weeks ago and got that $1500 incentive plus a $500 lease incentive plus a $1000 private offer and that was on top of the dealer discount. GM had incentives pretty much running all year, all you had to do qualify for them. One was a $1000 if you just owned another non-GM automobile. Heck, I think if you are a farmer you qualify to get another $500 off.

Keep in mind pretty much the whole auto market was down this month as well, so you will probably see incentives popping up at just about all the manufacturers.

[MovieGuy]

Originally Posted by Posaune

$1500 cash back on Camaro.


Again, first year of a new generation, in the spring. This car should not need cash incentives yet...but please go on about how its GM's plan to sell so few.

They gave me this discount in April. The guy called me up the morning after I had driven the Camaro and said he could give this to me early.

[Red Chief]

Mustangs sell on name alone and always have. It's a nice perk for Ford.

The Challenger sells because of the Hellcat and the huge ad campaign Dodge threw behind it. People walk in because of the Hellcat and drive out with an underpowered, overweight V6 that looks like a Hellcat and would probably get smoked by a Malibu.

The article linked in this thread about GM avoiding fleet sales--quality over quantity in terms of volume--makes some sense of this. I just hate to see a better car sitting in lots because it looks samey and they aren't promoting it.

In the long run this is good for me because my bone stock base V6 with factory wheels is about ready to be paid off and I look for GM to start slashing prices inside of a year from now.

[ChefBorOzzy]

Originally Posted by Posaune

$1500 cash back on Camaro.


Again, first year of a new generation, in the spring. This car should not need cash incentives yet...but please go on about how its GM's plan to sell so few.

At this time last year Ford offered 0 percent financing on 2015 Mustang. Pretty sure they had other incentives as well before that, if not even at same time.

[raptor5244]

Originally Posted by hotlap

I think the new Mustang looks a lot like the old one. Six of my car buddies wives drove past a Ford lot and none could tell the difference from the old.

Agreed. I can only tell by the headlights and the odd elongated rear end. I am ok with the front end but I just can't get used to the rear. Also note the side windows. Is it me or do the Mustang driver door Windows appears to be about the same size as the Camaro?

[MovieGuy]

Maybe it's because I had a 2014 S197, but I see very little similarity between the new generation and the older generation. The front looks like a fusion, the side looks like some European thing, and the rear slants in. I still don't like the new generation. I still feel it wandered too far from the retro look.

This was mine

[ChefBorOzzy]

Originally Posted by raptor5244

Agreed. I can only tell by the headlights and the odd elongated rear end. I am ok with the front end but I just can't get used to the rear. Also note the side windows. Is it me or do the Mustang driver door Windows appears to be about the same size as the Camaro?

Mustang's roof is rounded so it has more glass at the peak. It does drop off with the sloping roofline and window may be similar in height towards the back.

[Raven87]

Originally Posted by raptor5244

So, let's talk Challenger for a minute. I assume we can all agree if we are going to compare a Challenger to an Camaro SS we need to start with a Scat Pak? If so, that car is $40k with no options. If you just add an auto trans and leather you are at 43k. Now if you load up a Challenger with the Scat Pak with Shaker hood and some of the tech you get to $48k msrp. Now, it looks cool but this is a lot of scratch for a car that is running on an aging chassis platform due for significant changes. It only goes up from there..SRT392 is 53k.

Just FYI but the Scat Pack does not require the Shaker or those other options you mentioned. You can buy the Scat Pack optioned as light or heavy that you want but for less than $40k you can get a 485HP 6 speed manual car that is pretty awesome. Yes, a 6th Gen will probably smoke it if all things are equal but don't sell the Challenger short. And you can buy an SRT 392 for a lot less than $53K; MSRP is right at $50K with shipping and that car comes nicely equipped stock and dealers are discounting them too.

The 6th Gen Camaro is very nicely equipped, has a killer drive train, and the interior is amazing. It will run away and hide from a Scat Pack or GT without much effort at all - both are mid/high 12 second cars with the occasional hero Scat Pack (A8 cars) in the low 12's.

Looks are subjective - you either like how a car looks or you don't. But the lack of exciting advertising is KILLING Camaro sales.

When was the last time you saw a Chevy Product advertised doing a smoky burnout? Challenger and Mustang both do that. When was the last time you saw a Camaro in a commercial with the C7 Z06? Never? Dodge does that with the Challenger and Viper. Ever seen a Camaro commercial showing how great the exhaust sounds on an SS like you see of the 5.0? Nope.

There is ZERO performance advertising about a the Camaro (and yes, even the Corvette) which is an OUTSTANDING performance car that is light years better than the other two.

But GM seems to want to keep it a secret. How stupid is it to manufacture the best performing car, winner of multiple awards, and yet not advertise it, much less as a Performance car?

It is INCREDIBLY stupid on their part.

[90503]

Originally Posted by Raven87

Just FYI but the Scat Pack does not require the Shaker or those other options you mentioned. You can buy the Scat Pack optioned as light or heavy that you want but for less than $40k you can get a 485HP 6 speed manual car that is pretty awesome. Yes, a 6th Gen will probably smoke it if all things are equal but don't sell the Challenger short. And you can buy an SRT 392 for a lot less than $53K; MSRP is right at $50K with shipping and that car comes nicely equipped stock and dealers are discounting them too.

The 6th Gen Camaro is very nicely equipped, has a killer drive train, and the interior is amazing. It will run away and hide from a Scat Pack or GT without much effort at all - both are mid/high 12 second cars with the occasional hero Scat Pack (A8 cars) in the low 12's.

Looks are subjective - you either like how a car looks or you don't. But the lack of exciting advertising is KILLING Camaro sales.

When was the last time you saw a Chevy Product advertised doing a smoky burnout? Challenger and Mustang both do that. When was the last time you saw a Camaro in a commercial with the C7 Z06? Never? Dodge does that with the Challenger and Viper. Ever seen a Camaro commercial showing how great the exhaust sounds on an SS like you see of the 5.0? Nope.

There is ZERO performance advertising about a the Camaro (and yes, even the Corvette) which is an OUTSTANDING performance car that is light years better than the other two.

But GM seems to want to keep it a secret. How stupid is it to manufacture the best performing car, winner of multiple awards, and yet not advertise it, much less as a Performance car?

It is INCREDIBLY stupid on their part.

I don't know why it hasn't shown up yet on You tube or whatever, but there is a brand new Camaro commercial....It shows a red SS on a track and does indeed tout it as a performance car....And it's for the Camaro only, without that little fairy that hosts all the other Chevrolet ads....

So, advertising is starting to show up for the Camaro...I've searched but can't find it yet....

[SuperSound]

Originally Posted by Raven87

When was the last time you saw a Chevy Product advertised doing a smoky burnout? Challenger and Mustang both do that. When was the last time you saw a Camaro in a commercial with the C7 Z06? Never? Dodge does that with the Challenger and Viper. Ever seen a Camaro commercial showing how great the exhaust sounds on an SS like you see of the 5.0? Nope.

There is ZERO performance advertising about a the Camaro (and yes, even the Corvette) which is an OUTSTANDING performance car that is light years better than the other two.

But GM seems to want to keep it a secret. How stupid is it to manufacture the best performing car, winner of multiple awards, and yet not advertise it, much less as a Performance car?

It is INCREDIBLY stupid on their part.

Food for thought, I've never seen one actual commercial for the Mustang beyond generic Ford commercials talking about sales and financing offers. Didn't know any existed until someone posted some links to them on Youtube here. I've seen plenty of Dodge commercials, so it's not that I don't watch enough that they would appear. But there are plenty of new Mustangs around here, so obviously not hurting their sales. I think these advertisements are very much targeted to certain areas.

Also of note, I see a lot of people bring up the Dodge advertising. You may be interested to know their sales started climbing way before any of this advertising took place. Sales began a steady climb following the refresh for MY15 which went on sale late '14. They peaked in April '15...again long before Dodge ramped up on adds. Are they helping maintain sales? If you look at the graphs, they appear to be stabilizing again but at a higher resting point than prior to the refresh. Honestly the Challenger probably has the most stable long term sales because it's market is pretty set, big car retro styling buyers. So while advertising helps with awareness, there's not a lot of direct correlation with sales in this segment.