GM'S new Alpha Platform under difficulties!!

[fbodfather]

Wow - - Z284ever..........

I don’t know who it is that you claim to be talking to within GM– but let me assure you that they’re not on the Camaro Team – and they’re not working on the car and if they ARE, I can’t understand why they would give out such false information unless they have an axe to grind.

Let’s step back a moment, shall we, and take a deep breath:

>I believe that the “headline’ is both irresponsible and it’s incorrect. It misleads the reader.

>To begin with – it’s way too early to draw any conclusion as to what the next Camaro will be………..

>Every car and truck program that I know of has always had “constant back and forth” privately. (as in ‘within the company’…) When it becomes public, someone needs to be called on the carpet.

I will not address any other of these ‘accusations” because I do not want to inadvertently give out any information that may be confidential other than to say that whomever you are talking to – as I said above – needs to be called upon the carpet. Perhaps there was an employee or two that have concerns – but I sure hope that they see this article and have learned that you are not to be trusted.

As I read thru your posts – I’m both amused and infuriated.

No one has to ‘trust’ you when it comes to weight. You were one of the Camaro Enthusiasts invited to see the unveil of the Camaro Concept on January 9, 2006. You witnessed that the world was simply captivated by the car – and one message from that day forward became a mantra from the Camaro Enthusiast community: Build it and DO NOT CHANGE the look! We listened by talking with hundreds of Camaro Enthusiasts along with Firebird Enthusiasts – Corvette Enthusiasts – Mustang Enthusiasts – and Sport Coupe intenders. I remind you once again that what YOU want in a car is not necessarily what everyone else (in or out of the community) wants. In fact that’s a mantra that we, the custodians of the brand must follow – and if we don’t, we’re in trouble.

“Number 3” knows more than you might assume – and I believe that researching his posts on this site over the past two years will reveal that he’s quite knowledgeable about Camaro – and the future.

As to your being a ‘watchdog’ again I remind you to go back and read my comments above -- what you want may not be what the majority of Camaro/Mustang/Firebird/Corvette owners want. We must still make money and sell the Camaro in volume.

The “lapdog” reference, I believe, is an insult to a lot of people. Just because they do not agree with you does not make them a ‘lapdog.’ I seem to recall that you got into a mess on another site for making similar remarks.

Lastly – anyone with even a modicum of experience in the auto industry knows that weight is our enemy on many fronts – not only from handling, but from a fuel economy viewpoint – which, as we all know, becomes more and more important as we look to 2016 and beyond. That said – what good is producing a car if it does not meet the customer’s expectations in terms of safety, quality, ride, and quietness. ( …and yes, many of our enthusiasts and customers want a relatively quiet ride – save for perhaps the exhaust….) So lectures on “Weight savings” is like telling a fireman that ‘he needs to put out the fire…..’

Please – do everyone a favor here – you are not ‘in the know’ – so I believe that you should stop implying that you are.

I appreciate your passion and your enthusiasm for “Camaro” -- and I’ve told you that many times.

I cannot, however, sit back and watch a thread that’s so far off-base and inflammatory.

[20Camaro11]

I don't really care one way or the other. This Camaro is an exceptional piece of engineering and artwork, but it is still not perfect having different shortfalls and inadequacies. I subscribe to the matra...where there is smoke, there is probably a fire. If thats the case, hopefully GM gets the fire out and comes out with a great product...albeit...probably not perfect. People need to calm the freak down....its not even in production yet.

[anthonyj9h]

its very interesting read all the conjecture and what is to come....however in my "opinion" gm is going to be "forced" into design that is going to kill most car enthusiest in the near future. unless gm comes up with a new engineering design (like they have with the lfx) on the current v8 block that makes at least 40mpg, unfortunately we seeing a dying breed of cars. weight is going to play a big role on fuel consumption, gm knows this and is trying to solve the issue. if they dont its going to cost them more.

[anthonyj9h]

Originally Posted by [B

get ready to pay for it[/B].

exactly the point i was getting at.......well i messed that one up

[anthonyj9h]

so number 3, whos number 2

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Z284ever

Hey Joe, long time no talk!

Sorry you feel that way, but what exactly did you find irresponsible about it?

Out of respect, I won't nitpick...besides, there are far brighter minds than mine here to do that.

But after thinking your question over, and then reading through these most recent remarks...I know of a little story that I think fits well...

A young boy went walking in the woods one day. It was his favorite thing to do; the woods gave him peace and happiness. It was the colors of the trees, the sounds of the birds singing to the sky. Then, he happened upon a well of incredible ability: with just a sip, its water raised his spirits like he had never felt before. Shocked at this strange feeling, the boy ran home so he could think about what to do.

He concluded the well was harmless, but naturally, he wanted more. And he did get more. Visiting the wonderful well every day for several years afterwards, the boy became regarded as one of the happiest members of his village: no storm nor draught could seem to dampen his spirits. And the villagers would ask him for advise on how they too might be as happy as he. Now older, the young man answered their questions, and the people all listened; because logically, they thought, any advice from the happiest person in the village was good advice. The young man realized then, that the well gave him both joy and esteem. Each day, the young man walked straight to the well, finding shortcuts and quicker ways through the forest. Soon, he became so passionate, and so enfatuated with the well and its promise that the reason he used to walk in the woods as a child was soon forgotten...

As time past, the man grew older still, and the well served him loyally. He had begun to give small drops of the well's water to his followers. But this miracle was not to last. One day the well dried up. Obsessed, the man climbed into the well, so confident that there was water at the bottom, he didn't want to believe this was the end. But there was none.

To his credit, the man was inventive. In a panic, and desire to maintain his reputation with the villagers, he gathered up the mud from the bottom of the well and made pots out of them. He hoped that plain water, when poured into these pots would become as powerful as the well's own. So, when they asked for a taste of the beautiful well water, as the villagers had become accustomed to, he gave them water from the pots he made, instead.

No one ever discovered the man's secret, and even he, in his passion for the well, believed nothing to have changed. The happiness they felt was self-made, and some liked it better that way.

Oh....and I didn't appreciate the "lapdog" comment, myself. Most of us simply know our place.

[Caliman93230]

The 6 gen will be released until 2016? So the mustang 5.0 will own the camaro for 4 years, not that I personally care anymore cus my car is moded, but the mustang guys will have bragging rights stock for stock the mustang is lighter, faster, I don't think GM will be doing anything get back on top

[knowitman]

Originally Posted by Caliman93230

The 6 gen will be released until 2016? So the mustang 5.0 will own the camaro for 4 years, not that I personally care anymore cus my car is moded, but the mustang guys will have bragging rights stock for stock the mustang is lighter, faster, I don't think GM will be doing anything get back on top

I am pretty sure that once the new generation of V8's come out, you will be seeing them in a Camaro shortly thereafter.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by Blade

Car and Driver and Motortrend are nothing better than Playboy......I quit reading the articles years ago and just enjoy the pictures now.

- mostly, LOL.

Originally Posted by thePill

I hear you on that one man, the Zeta may be heavy but it is something the Alpha is not... PAID FOR. The Zeta isn't bad either and I think if GM could focus the Zeta chassis on just the Camaro, they could get much more out of it when the time comes to redesign the Camaro. It will be a 6th Gen Camaro but on a revised 5th Gen chassis... It worked on the Mustang with the Fox body that eventually redesigned the Fox body chassis for the SN95 Mustang's and continued until 2004. Corvette also has been using literally the same chassis since 1984.

Maybe I'm not understanding this statement, but that's completely wrong. C5 and C6 have been using hydroformed outer rails and other advancements that are superior to what C4s were running with. You couldn't open the doors on C4, while on a 4-point lift, without the roof collapsing and the car just twisting. There were a lot of stampings I thought I remember C4 using in it's chassis. Maybe I'm not remembering correctly.

[Jekyll-N-Hyde]

not coming out anytime soon so if there are / or if there is not problems they have time to work them out.



Lets enjoy what we got now and cruise