Steve Saleen trashes GM, and the Camaro

[stovt001]

Yeah, friendly rivalry is all well and good, and some put-downs up to a certain point, but I think he went overboard, and in some cases flat out lied or misrepresented the facts. I know he was trying to please the Mustang fans, but he should know stuff like this always ends up on You Tube and would be seen by the Camaro guys as well. I would have liked to see Saleen get into the Camaro customizing market (probably wouldn't buy because they are way overpriced, but it would still be cool) but now I think he has made a bit of a problem for himself. His PR guys are probably not too happy right now.

[SilverTurtle]

While racing in the SCCA and following the sport after my 1994 season, I had seen your cars on the track and watched them dominate, at times, in their class. I was glad to see the S7 come to fruition becuase it showed that there was, in fact, still some really great talent in the American auto industry and that there was another American car capable of being called a "supercar." But the days of me admiring you and your products have come to an end. To lie so blatantly is not a way of "kidding" or "rubbing" the competition. Its borderline on slander. Your PR people are probably scrambling to their posts as I type this looking for ways to cover up your words as nothing more than "playful" and to distance the company from your comments.

Have you ever even driven GM's competition to your cars, Mr. Saleen? I have a 2002 Z28 that handily beat down one of your supercharged S281 cars while my Z28 was in bone stock trim. Yes, Mr. Saleen, that is correct. Your cars are not nearly as fast in the hands of John Q. Public as they are in your overqualified testers' hands. Have you ever actually seen any of your supercharged cars race against other cars on the streets? Because I see alot of them from the front but really dont know what the rear ends look like in person. Could that be because those cars were burdened with starting off with an engine that was too small for the weight it was pulling?

Mr. Saleen, what do you have to say for yourself? You were given the opportunity to put together a great car for a major motion picture and you did it. And, in the process, you won the hearts of quite a few of the people who have laughed at your name in the past. Now you have gone and upset the masses. You've lied about what you did, you've lied about the way GM got their cars into the "Transformers" movie, you've made a public spectacle of yourself by pandering to a crowd like a pathetic politician and you've embarassed the company that you used to head. (yes, Mr. Saleen, we do know that you no longer head the company that you founded and that produces the S281 cars) So the question really is, "what do you have to say for yourself?"

[TAG UR IT]

Meh...I'm not offended. It all falls back on the rivalry. If you are going to give, you gotta be able to take. Steve is obviously playing to an all Mustang crowd. And, I could tell that there were some lines tossed in there for use as a joke...like the V6 part. I took it as though he wasn't serious and that he was just kidding around. I'm sure his PR people are freaking out and a little of this and that will fix it.

I can say that after this, I don't see GM doing any business w/ him. So, if he thought he still had a chance, I'd say no dice, Steve. You just lost it.....genious.

[stevenm357]

Damn i cant' wait to smoke a mustang with the word saleen on the side! hell the new base model 47,000 car can't beat a 2002 30,000 Z28 or Trans/Am

[Satriani]

First I read comments, thought he was way out there, then I watched video, and realized he's just ‘ingenious’ goof. Not offended at all. Not a good business move, nor a good public acting. By this he will hurt himself only. Camaro will be back, strong as ever. Actually, that could be a fear talk, all auto makers realize Camaro will own market. If nothing this is a boost for GM, to make special editions of Camaro that will crush competitors.

[acscamarochick06]

I never wanted to see Saleen in the Camaro market because I have always thought Saleen was a joke... Saleen products are way too overpriced for a vehicle you could have taken stock and put aftermarket parts on to acheive just as much horsepower, or more. And why would GM want to use Saleen for the Camaro when we have used such great companies before like GMMG and Berger...We have even had a DALE EARNHARDT edition Camaro! No one else can say that.

If Saleen wants to be a little cry baby and be jealous because Michael Bay obviously chose a better looking vehicle lineup as the main stars of Transformers and HIS vehicle was depicted as the "Bad Guy," then so be it. But next time, he better have a better choice of words and he better make sure no one in the crowd is holding a video camera!

We'll see who wins the bout come 2009, I'm pretty sure Steve Saleen won't be laughing and joking around so much then... he'll need to figure out a way to make a faster car or else he may soon be out of a job!

[TAG UR IT]

^Love it.

That's all so true. GM has so many competitors to help build the Camaro. I'm sure there's a bunch that want in. There'll be a bunch who get in. If you recall Scott saying there were no plans at all in the works for Steve Saleen to build Camaros. It was never going to happen. He did release some info a bit early (not verifiable, but concurrent w/ everything else LS3).

There's no way Saleen isn't worried. He knows GM is more than capable at cleaning house...in sales and in quality (hp, etc.). He knows his crap is over priced. He knows people will pay for it. But, he also knows that competition will be his companies worst nemesis. It's going to hit him where it hurts...in his pockets. Why buy a Saleen Mustang when you could buy a badass Camaro which is lighter, faster, and better looking for half the price???

Saleen's going to have a real tough time.....hehehehe...:middlefinger:

[Mungo]

Well remember it is Saleen bulding the cars, not Ford. Ford can't build real cars. They need Saleen and Shelby to do their work. Is it funny how they take a highly modified Mustang like the Shelby Mustang GT500 or the GT500KR and pit it against a Corvette either the base or the Z06. Even the base Corvette out performed the GT500. If anyone can't build cars it's Ford.

[Mr. Wyndham]

hrm, hrm... just letting you know...I'd consider that on the line between funny, and "oh no he didn't!".
Besides...I thought we like ALL domestic cars, we just like GM's vehicles better

[Good53X]

I respect any car I deem worthy of respect, much in the same way I respect any person I deem worthy of respect.

And Saleen? Not anymore.

[2010_5thgen]

hes just getting pissy because the camaro is gonna be running all over his name again!

[headpunter]

i didnt read the rest of the thread but honestly how can i take this ahole seriously when you look at thier website and they have had the s281 out for years and they dont even have a real dyno hp/tq number to give, all their specs say Estimated.....wtf when i build my camaro i was thinking to aim at the gt500 but know im aiming at killing any s281 extreme with it's "estimated 550 hp."

[stevenm357]

I put feedback into the saleen site.... Steve Saleen is no longer AT saleen.. he's working for a Chinese company now.. what kind of crap that will bring about i don't know. so worse than ditching american giant GM, he went to work for the communists!!!

[Pencil.Fight]

Here's the response I got from my letter to Saleen.

Your email to our customer service department titled "leave our Camaro alone" recently made its way across my desk, and honestly, it was a bit disturbing. I am sorry to admit that I am unaware of any comments that Mr. Saleen may have made with regards to the new Camaro, but what I can say is that his positions and opinions are not those of Saleen, Inc. As you may, or may not be aware, Mr. Saleen is no longer with the company. His retirement was announced in May of this year. As such, any comments that Mr. Saleen makes should not be considered as the comments of Saleen, Inc but rather, communications of his own personal opinion's and perspectives.

Personally, and I will speak for the whole of the Saleen brand when I say this, I welcome the coming of the Camaro. GM reviving the make signals the resurgence of enthusiast focused product in the marketplace. I am excited about the Challenger too. These are precisely the kind of products that the market needs, and the kind of products that will drive Saleen to continue to improve and evolve. So without getting too long winded, I would like to simply apologizes, and say officially that Saleen supports a performance minded marketplace, regardless of what badge it carries. We are focused on being the best and good competition only pushes you to be better.