New Camaros are in the showrooms

[bill dedman]

Thanks, Clay. I'm not too swift when it comes to the letters/numbers game that involves foreign cars.

I just look at a '65 Mustang, and a '65 Barracuda and wonder what justifies the addition of at LEAST 800 pounds of weight to those cars in the 2009-2010 versions, Camaro included. Those cars had a few aluminum parts (automatic transmissions, mainly), but everything else was cast iron and steel and the both came in at very close to 3,000 pounds, curb weight.

Think about it.... EIGHT HUNDRED POUNDS (and in some cases, more.) And, the cars are basically the same size... or, should be if they're not. I don't remember anybody not buying a new Mustang because it was too small.

Weight is a very important element in the performance makeup of any car; particularly, these.

Can you IMAGINE how an SRT-8 Hemi would motivate a 3,000-pound '65 Barracuda??? Instant low- 12's (maybe better) on the street.

What a shame...

[blkjack]

.......Who's ugly now?

[Clay Arnett]

Originally Posted by Bunkster

The 2009 Kia Rio, at 2365 pounds, which has to meet the same standards, does not seem all that heavy.

I didn't say that all new cars were heavy. What I meant were all the cars in that class were heavy. A Kia Rio has the following size

Length 158.1 in
Width 66.7 in
Height 57.9 in

Camaro

Length 190.4 in ( 2' 8" longer)
Width 75.5 in (8" wider)
Height 54.2 in (4" shorter)

Also the Kia has a 1.6L 98 hp engine to the Camaro's 6.2L 426hp engine.
Someone mentioned the RX-8 and yes it is lighter as well. RX-8 is a slightly smaller car but it also has aluminum body panels. It has a carbon fiber driveshaft as well. Take that rotary out and put a LS in there and you got a nice piece although the FD body is better for that.

That being said I do think they could have done a much better job with weight reduction. The Corvette is a good example. It is a very light car but with this lighter weight also comes a bigger price.

[Dave Turner]

I saw one on the way home tonight; red with RS badges - dual exhaust. No way to tell what was under the hood.

[bill dedman]

Good post, Clay. So, one reason the RX-8 only weighs 3,060 is that it has aluminum body panels.

If they can do it, why can't the BIG THREE? The RX-8 isn't a high dollar car.


You said:"although the FD body is better for that."

What is the "FD body?" My head is pretty thick.... 'scuse me.


Bill

[Jeff Lee]

Based on the press release pictures, I really thought I would like this new Camaro. Saw my first real one tonight. It was in the opposite lane facing me with both of us at a red light. It was the color I would probably choose, yellow. It looked "pudgy" or something. I hate to follow the lead here but yea, maybe it was cartoony. So I flipped a u-turn to get a better look at it. This one had a sunroof and the driver definetly looked cramed in there. This was a solid yellow with no stripes or graphics. I think the biggest problem I had was with the aero-rocker moldings. I do think with race rubber & graphics it will look good on the track.
At first I didn't even like the new Challenger. I didn't like the slab siding. It's grown on me and a little graphics go a long way on the Challenger.
So far the Mustang & Shelby have the least amount of visual objections to me. I think it has the right proportions and lines.

[denny harvey]

i dont think any of the 3 will ever be a classic.they all look like they have the same mother..they will never be around like the first gen cars.factory hipe and the net are keeping them going ,5 years from now no one will care,i dont now..

[Clay Arnett]

Bill, Your right they could have used lighter weight materials. GM does this with the Corvette and it would have been nice if they translated that over to the Camaro.

The FD is the 92-02 RX-7 body. This car is considered a better chassis than the new RX-8 and a LS engine with the tremec 6 speed fits perfect. It's also a lighter car than the RX-8. Here is a link to a company that make a complete conversion package.

http://www.hinsonsupercars.com/s-1-m...-fd-93-99.aspx

[Chipper Chapman]

I beleive they should go back to checking off the options you want, not so many packages, would probably make them a bunch cheaper and a better sell.