Quote:
Originally posted by kach22i
...decide quickly if they will turn the concept Camaro into a production car before end of the decade.
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As an owner of a 2000 Camaro that my wife and I bought new for her, a new Camaro should have been ready for the 2003 model year, not the 2010 model year. Once again, GM arrives at the party after everyone has gone home...
The Mustang is dominating that segment and GM is left with nothing to compete with. At least Ford has a good looking muscle car to at least draw people to notice Ford (and Ford's other products) if nothing else. The only car GM had to go up against the Mustang is the GTO and that was priced way out of line for the customers that lusted after it...all 6 customers that bought GTO's.
I too was in to the Buick dealership back in 2005 after Buick sent me an invitation to drive the then new LaCrosse in exchange for a $100 hotel voucher (that I needed and used). I was somewhat interested in this new Buick that was marketed toward a mid 30's male with kids.
What a disappointment. It was like driving a sofa on wheels and was definitely geared towards the 60 something crowd verses people my age. Seats were like Grandma's worn out recliner and the handling was remenicent of a motor boat I once piloted on a local lake. The ancient underpinnings dating back to the '90's really made themselves known on my short test drive. The 3800 V6 (what series are they on now with this thing? Series XXIV??) was a great motor in 1986, but it's hopelessly outdated with it's pushrod rattling and lack of refinement. Anything over 2500 rpms and it's just thrashing around.
I could have gotten a base car for under $20k with everything I needed on it, but spending another $3000 on a base Accord with a 4 cylinder would be the better bet.
A lot of GM's problems comes from just plain poor product. Most of the cars they produce might be getting better in reliability, but they are boring, depreciate extremely quickly and are too old school to compete with today's Japanese cars. They just can't get the entire package together like the Japanese (and even Chrysler) can.
Just my $.02.
Jay