Originally posted by *NDM*JohnnyX
Look, I've read these threads on all sorts of message boards, and here is my take....
This isn't 1969. There are different things fueling this current ponycar war. People have different tastes now. It's a v8 RWD coupe. That's all I care about. Dodge and Ford are making them too now. It's not a carbon copy, nor will it ever be. Blame Dodge for making a 4 door Charger. Ignore the fact it's a better car all around then the original. Oh no, I don't like the new Mustang. Too bad it's the fastest ever. I'm sure this Camaro will also outperform its older brothers. The Challenger is the same.
Take out the sheer dominance in performance of the new cars. Add in heated seats. Satellite radio. ABS. Better gas milage. Shall I continue?
Adjusted for inflation these cars are just as affordable as the old ones. They are just better in every aspect now.
Sure its great they built a concept for a RWD V8 car. It aint on a production line yet. The ONLY reason its RWD now is ............... thats what people WANT. They know damn well they'll never get interest up from the camaro buying public in a FWD car, no matter how well it performs or how good it looks.
I dont hear anyone complaining about the new Mustang. IMO they were the only ones that got it right! It looks very much like the car that inspired it. Well, include the new Challenger too. Thats a sweet ride, and looks very much like the original also. With the success of the Mustang, and the hype over the new Challenger, you would think GM would have gotten the hint. Apparently you didnt either. No musclecar fan wants to drive a moon-buggy.
As far as "a better car all around than the original," thats debateable. Sure it handles better. So does a Honda Civic. Take a 67-69 Camaro, gut it, put a modern engine in it with a modern drive train and braking system and an updated interior, and you pretty much have what Camaro fans would like to see. Heck, even a 70-73 design would be nice (my preference). And it would be a "better" car, using your definition. The reasons why they WONT are simply because the F-body design had several inherent flaws that couldnt be rectified through simple updating. My buddy autocross races F-body camaros and Firebirds, and I've heard numerous times how expensive it is to make even a modern car handle on the track like an import. I discussed the issues with some of the GM Quality Control people when we got the last of the old models, and even they didnt know how the issues would be solved, or even IF they would be. GM did what they had to do and designed an entirely new car. I can understand that and live with it. But that doesnt make it a Camaro. They need alot more cues from the original if they want to pass this car off as one. IMO they would have been better off with this design if they had named it something entirely different. Is this a "better car" than the original Camaro? Yes, of course. What it's NOT, is a "better Camaro".
