From LS1.com - Lutz says no new Camaro

[Z28x]

True, I think thats when Ford will start to think up the GT500, Bosses, whatever special models that they want to incorporate. It makes some since, after a few years, and news dies down, a special model would boost sells again. Of course, if you can wait a couple of years, which I plan to do, the incentives and dealer rebates will drive the price down to something I can afford, and I'll be out of college, so it'll a graduation gift to myself.

In 2 years I expect the special models to roll in, then 2009-10 it will probably get a restyle (like 98 to 99) then in 2013 it will probably be replaced by the a whole model. I think Ford will keep the styling fresh and The Mustang won't fade like the other retro cars.

 

[Penguin]

Oh, and Penguin talking about the Nova meaning "No Go" in Spanish, you're wrong. Go Here

sigh... I thought it was funny You ruined my fun. Thanks for the education.
but um, technically, I was right about it meaning "No Go" in spanish. It's just not the reason it sucked and died.

 

[KidTwist51]

That's funny... about 5 years I said "You know, they should just kill the Camaro and Firebird bring out a new platform, same idea, and call it the GTO and Chevelle... create a nice little marketing buzz for themselves and start selling lots of musclecars again." Looks like it might actually happen now... they're halfway there.

-Chris

 

[peyotesands]

Either way. I've seen the Chevelle SS and the GTO. They look like 'Kiss Me''Kiss Me''Kiss Me''Kiss Me'. Along with the C6, their all way to furturistic looking. If they had some brains they would do what Ford is doing and bring back the old body style! That's where the sales are at. People loved those old muscle car body styles and Ford is the only company that seens it bring back the old Mustand, the T-Bird, and soon the old Cobra body. My hats off to Ford, we invented the car don't compete against us.
-John

Chevy should build a retro 55' Bel Air. I may be wrong, but that's the only old name I think chevy has left that they haven't raped and insulted yet.

 

[Rootus]

I don't know about the "retro" thing. If it's something that always looked good, is it really retro? It's kind of hard to define IMO.

I agree entirely. Retro is not necessarily bad. It's just another style, no different than if it had been introduced today and looked nothing like a previous model. I think it gets bad when they take the retro theme to an extreme, and sacrifice driveability or cost to get there. The new Mustang may have some styling points that hark back to the earlier days of Mustangs, but it's 100% modern in execution, and no sacrifices have been made to its features in the name of retro.

I think it's going to do great, for more than a couple of years. This presents Ford and the aftermarket with a golden opportunity to come up with some truly kickass designs based on this body style.

Dave

 

[SadbutTrue]

true that peyote...

 

[02gtred]

at least they got the vette

 

[Nicks99GT]

Retro is a novelty, after a year or 2 sales drop like a rock.

I'm not so sure the styling is why "retro" cars fail. Name me one retro car that actually delivers. The Prowler was sweet but had a V6, the PT is just a Neon with Neon performance, the T-Bird didn't deliver anything but looks and the Beetle is way overpriced for what you get.

Now image if the Prowler had a Hemi or the T-Bird actually competed with the Vette, or you could get a Beetle for 12k.

The Mustang may be the first "retro" car that is true to its heritage. It's "Retro", has power, and remains relatively cheap, unlike for example the SSR, which will get romped by a Lightening and costs as much as a Vette.

Finally, what car doesn't loose sales after the first few years? At least Ford has a plan for keeping the Mustang fresh, such as special models. The only things that sell a car once the looks wear off are: price, performance, usability and in the Mustangs case heritage. Unfortunately, until the new Mustang came along, all the retro designs lacked in those areas.

 

[GinoGT]

Plus, Ford can get the Mustang into the mainstream with Hondas and Toyotas if they could step up the build quality. Taking a car with the new Mustang's badass looks, a nice bit of performance, and good craftsmanship isn't just an enthusiast's car, that's something that anyone would want to buy.

 

[Z28x]

I'm not so sure the styling is why "retro" cars fail. Name me one retro car that actually delivers. The Prowler was sweet but had a V6, the PT is just a Neon with Neon performance, the T-Bird didn't deliver anything but looks and the Beetle is way overpriced for what you get.

Now image if the Prowler had a Hemi or the T-Bird actually competed with the Vette, or you could get a Beetle for 12k.

The Mustang may be the first "retro" car that is true to its heritage. It's "Retro", has power, and remains relatively cheap, unlike for example the SSR, which will get romped by a Lightening and costs as much as a Vette.

Finally, what car doesn't loose sales after the first few years? At least Ford has a plan for keeping the Mustang fresh, such as special models. The only things that sell a car once the looks wear off are: price, performance, usability and in the Mustangs case heritage. Unfortunately, until the new Mustang came along, all the retro designs lacked in those areas.

You make some good points, a lot of the drop is probably due to the "gotta it first" crowd being bigger with retro models. THe Mustang has the price and performance that the other didn't so hopfully it will do a lot better.

 

[Wylde]

You know...for a site that has a lot of "heated discussions" there are a lot of very smart people here. I enjoy reading stuff like what Nicks99GT said and often if you just think about comments, it makes sense as to why it was said. Camaro and Firebird gone out of the picture is good for Ford for sales on the only pony car left. I guess they were first into it, they should be the ones to carry it through. One thing though that I keep thinking of, and that is the price of cars...I have never seen a price drop (meaning MSRP) due to lack of sales, but I have seen a lot of incentives. So once the "gotta get it first" crowd is done buying at MSRP or more, that's when the deals come in. How long will that be?

 

[GelatiCruiser]

What about a 442?

 

[CatmanJJ]

What about a 442?

They can't they don't use 4 barrel carb. for 4 on the floor manual trannies any more

 

[mransr]

They can't they don't use 4 barrel carb. for 4 on the floor manual trannies any more

or build Oldsmobiles....

 

[green67]

Plus, Ford can get the Mustang into the mainstream with Hondas and Toyotas if they could step up the build quality. Taking a car with the new Mustang's badass looks, a nice bit of performance, and good craftsmanship isn't just an enthusiast's car, that's something that anyone would want to buy.

Good point, but I don't think I would feel the same way about the Mustang as I do now and always have if it was a "mainstream" car.

 

[Sir Hacksalot]

Just as long as Ford brings the Fairlane back.

2 door coupe
Stretched D2C (Mustang) platform with 112" wheel base.
196" long
IRS
50-50 F/R weight balance
Short front overhang
rear overhang longer than Mustang
350 HP normally aspirated
Actually can fit 4 adults into it
15 cu ft trunk
More bells & whistles heated seats, Nav system etc.
Some slick styling that evokes memories of the 66 - 67 Fairlane

I'd get one of those instead of a 05 Mustang.

You read my mind...I'd be all over that too.

Hax

 

[DBMSTNG]

"son of corvette"???

Is that just a nickname for solstice or is it some other car?

yes and no. it's going to be the Chevy twin to the Solstice. it will look alot like a Vette, but have the inards of the Solstice. inside GM, it's been dubbed "son of corvette". kinda like the 03 Cobra was "terminator" and the Shelby Cobra was "patunia".

 

[SVTdriver]

Wasn't that the opel gt

 

[351CJ]

You read my mind...I'd be all over that too.

Hax

I'm glad that someone here finally agrees with me.

I used to be a Fairlane, Torino guy, had several of them, but since the last one in my mind was made in 1973, I had to switch to Mustangs or switch brands.

 

[sdp3384]

Found this on LS1.com:

GM ends the rumour: Firebird, Camaro no more.

There will be no revival of the Pontiac Firebird and Chevy Camaro no matter how much the fans wish it, according to a higher authority at General Motors.

How high an authority? Try Bob Lutz, vice chairman of General Motors. What Lutz says can be taken to the bank, and he's just put a kibosh of persistent rumours among enthusiasts that the sporty GM twins might be coming back.

Lutz has revealed that in order to get the CAW to agree to the closure of the Camaro plant in Ste. Therese, Que., the company was forced to promise the union it would not build the car anywhere else.

The company intends to honour that pledge, because "a deal's a deal," Lutz said recently. That means no more dead chickens on hoods for a decade or so.

After that? Well, even deal makers do eventually retire.

Comment: Doesnt' mean there won't be a RWD v8 from GM, but it won't be an Fbody and it won't be a Camaro. I expect the GTO to continue and perhaps a Chevelle or completely new car to emerge. Sucks for Fbody fans though.

GM has extremely disappointed me. They killed off an awesome Trans Am and brought out a GTO. The GTO looks like a Honda Accord with an LS1. Just because it has a LS1 does not mean it is cool. I think the GTO looks horrible. Chevrolet also distroyed their heritage by killing the Camaro and bringing out the SSR. The SSR looks like a modern El Camino it too looks horrible. The SSR is too heavy to be fast and looks ridiculous. The F-body is gone and now we have a riced out GTO and a El camino in its place. GM has no clue I will be surprsed if they actually sell a lot of these cars. Since GM has destroyed the F-body I am now going to be a proud Mustang customer. I can not wait to buy a new Mustang when I graduate from college in two years. At least Ford has stuck to their heritage and produce another awesome Mustang.