[Doc]

The new Mustang is disappointingly bland. It's okay but to me that's a problem for a car that's supposed to be exciting and get your blood pumping; it shouldn't be just "okay". It doesn't look powerful, it doesn't look fast... it looks like your mom's idea of "sporty". The dash looks overly-busy. I'm not a Ford fan per se but I'd prefer to see a great Mustang instead of not-so-great.

The only reason a 4-cylinder Camaro would sell is not because it has 4-cylinders; the ricer crowd does all kinds of things to their cars trying to get them to perform like an 8-cylinder car. It would sell because of the price being lower. If GM came up with a base model 4-cylinder Camaro priced at $19,990 it would sell because of looks and price; performance would be the secondary issue to that particular demographic. Is that a good marketing move for GM? Personally I don't think so; to me it would dilute the Camaro image and reputation. I'd prefer them to come up with a "sporty" Chevelle that started in the $18,990 range and make that the younger brother to the Camaro. It wouldn't have to have all the performance abilities of the Camaro; it could easily have a nice and peppy 4-cylinder with a turbo option on a reasonably light chassis and it would sell to the younger crowd.

With a V8 Camaro north of $30k, that's why the V6 sells...it's not because V6 owners don't want a V8, it's the much lower price; a great looking car they can afford. An entry-level performance car that looks good; not bland, not like your mom's idea of "sporty", but looks pretty darned good in its own right...priced just below the $20k mark so it's affordable to entry-level buyers... that would sell.

GM should forget what Ford's doing and just take the lead. Let the competition worry about what GM's doing; not the other way around.