What are your thoughts on the 2008 Camaro?

[Two Wheel Peel]

Hi guys. I just wanted to hear your thoughts on this all-new Camaro that will be available in about two years from now.
I am interested to hear what you guys think of this car. I have been a Mustang fan all my life. To me, the Mustang is easy to work on, the aftermarket treats us well, and I personally believe they have had a better build quality over the GM cars.
Anyway, my best friend is a GM nut. He currently has a hogged out 96 SS. He is ready and willing to buy this new Camaro. I visited the websight called www.camaro5.com, and these fans are anticipating this car more than the comming of Christ. Many people have laid down $1000 bucks already to order one. And the sight proclaims that some dealers are marking them up already by $25,000 over the original cost.
Here is my beef with all of this...
The car will be built on the Zeta platform which is very heavy. That is a fact. The projected weight is 3800 pounds +. So, they are going to build a battle tank on wheels, and rave about 400 h.p. That's what I'm getting at here. If your car weighs 4000lbs. with you in it, and you have 400 h.p. with no aftermarket, how fast are you?
I look at the GTO which also weighs about 3800lbs. without the driver. They also have 400 h.p. And from what I see, they only manage 13's in the 1/4. And that's if they don't bust a half-shaft while trying.
What I'm thinking here is this... If I want to upgrade from my 2001 GT, I would be better off going with the 2005+ Stang simply because it's power to weight ratio/ aftermarket will give it the atvantage over the GM battle tanks? Or is the 400 h.p. slug the way to go?
What are your thoughts?

 

[PonyboyIsaac]

Dont go the bow tie way just yet dude, check this out,just a concept sketch of what the face lift on the 09 stang can look like,

I think it looks good and gives it more of a muscle car look.
Heres a lil article on it http://www.americanmuscle.com/2009-ford-mustang-pictures.html
but heres the paragraph that i like the most out of it:
New engines are coming for the 2009 Mustang! Displacement on Demand technology will allow larger engines to conserve fuel while cruising by shutting down 4 cylinders. Furthermore, advancements in the Hurricane engine program offer the promising prospect of a larger 5.8 or 6.2L engine to be fitted in the 2009 Mustang Redesign. Naturally aspirated 3 or 4 valve variants with 5.0 or 5.4L of displacement could also make their way into future mustangs. Some enthusiasts speculate the return of the 03/04 cobra motor into the newer body style but Ford hasn't given any indication that this is likely. The 2009 Mustang engine lineup may yet including the rev-friendly 265hp 3.5L DOHC V6 to replace the current 210hp 4.0L SOHC setups. In any case, Ford will be doing its part to continue development of engines that are more fuel efficient without compromising power.

 

[exindust]

the gt500 is a 4100 pound hog

while the vettes are weighing in at 3300 pounds i think

 

[stangGT97]

If Ford built the 2009 Mustang exactly as it appears in Ponyboy's picture, then I would definitely buy it, especially if they start bringing bigger displacement/higher power engines into the game. I'm still undecided on how i feel about the new camaro though.

 

[san~man]

New Camaro = Ass.

 

[Two Wheel Peel]

Wow, that 2009 GT sketch is great! I love it!
To be honest, I don't really care what Corvette comes up with. If you have $50,000 to blow on a hobby, good for you. I don't have that money and I don't want to challenge those who do.

 

[Black'02]

Im not a big fan of it cosmetically. I dont believe the concept will be the exact production version so i would have to reserve judgement until i see it. The challenger concept looks a lot better imo.

 

[Two Wheel Peel]

Yea, the Challenger. That will be a joke.
Massive horsepower but.... massive weight too. Oh, and let's not forget, ... Massive price tag as well. Is that how the originals sold? I think not.

 

[stangGT97]

Yea, the Challenger. That will be a joke.
Massive horsepower but.... massive weight too. Oh, and let's not forget, ... Massive price tag as well. Is that how the originals sold? I think not.

but it looks so good don't forget you're starting with one hell of an engine platform, and I bet it won't take much to push past 600hp with those cars.

 

[Two Wheel Peel]

Yes you are correct. It really does look good. However, it will be heavy, and it will be expensive. There will be $8000 5.0's and 4.6's blowing there doors off at a fraction of the price.

 

[DBMSTNG]

Yes you are correct. It really does look good. However, it will be heavy, and it will be expensive. There will be $8000 5.0's and 4.6's blowing there doors off at a fraction of the price.

with that logic, noone should ever buy a new sports/muscle car again cause you can build up an old one cheaper.

 

[exindust]

Yes you are correct. It really does look good. However, it will be heavy, and it will be expensive. There will be $8000 5.0's and 4.6's blowing there doors off at a fraction of the price.

With that mentality why buy a V8 when you can buy a civic and make it faster for cheaper?

 

[streetstang03]

it kicks ass and its going to smoke the fugly S197s

 

[Superhereaux]

With that mentality why buy a V8 when you can buy a civic and make it faster for cheaper?

VTEC fo Life!!!!





i personally love the look of the new camaro. like said in many of my previous posts, if the car is smaller and lighter than the pig (aka 'o5+ mustang) i'll pick one up

and like said in many of my previous posts as well, "i doubt that'll happen"

things aren't looking good

 

[mity2]

I like the transam version better then camaro.


But i'm still not too keen on this retro style fever.
I like the front of s197, but just can't love the rearend...
now that we are going back to old school look, I wonder next mustang after S197 gonna look like good 'ol Mustang II...?

 

[speedingpenguin]

I dont think you realize the potential of those cars. I recently sold my 1998 WS6 Trans Am and bought a 2001 GT. I think the GT is agreat car, and is very solid compared to th trans am, bu the 4.6 engine cant hold a candle to an LS1. The 4.6 goes decent from a stop, but mines got gears intake and exhaust. When my LS1 was stock it was a low 13 second car, and pulled harder after 130mph than 4.6's do up to 75.

So, like i said, its not all power to weight ratio, its the powerbnand of the engine, and the gearing. and I dont think the camaro will be as heavy as you think.

 

[BennyBlown2v]

I dont think you realize the potential of those cars. I recently sold my 1998 WS6 Trans Am and bought a 2001 GT. I think the GT is agreat car, and is very solid compared to th trans am, bu the 4.6 engine cant hold a candle to an LS1. The 4.6 goes decent from a stop, but mines got gears intake and exhaust. When my LS1 was stock it was a low 13 second car, and pulled harder after 130mph than 4.6's do up to 75.

So, like i said, its not all power to weight ratio, its the powerbnand of the engine, and the gearing. and I dont think the camaro will be as heavy as you think.

Yeah, LS1 is a great lil motor, I think we all know that unfortunatly Friend of mine has 650whp on a stock bottom end, tuned it himself too.

Anyway - that mustang concept sketch is SICK!!! That's how they should have made the 05's to begin with...they changed the concept SO much in the WRONG direction when it came down to the production car.

 

[Superhereaux]

When my LS1 was stock it was a low 13 second car, and pulled harder after 130mph than 4.6's do up to 75.

built by the hands of god, so yeah

 

[Destiny98]

The car will be built on the Zeta platform which is very heavy. That is a fact. The projected weight is 3800 pounds +. So, they are going to build a battle tank on wheels, and rave about 400 h.p. That's what I'm getting at here. If your car weighs 4000lbs. with you in it, and you have 400 h.p. with no aftermarket, how fast are you?

The new Holden Commodore, the first Zeta car, is in the 3800 pound neighborhood and is a full size, full weight sedan. Zeta is a modular platform that can accomodate both short & long wheelbases, so expect a coupe version to be more in the 3500-3600 pound range, about that of the current Mustang. But it's still all speculation at this point.

 

[VOORHEES]

I have never had any real reason to be a Camaro guy. Ford has always offered exactly what I like in a pony car. I really like the pic above and would love to see the next gen look like that. Thats why I am waiting until at least 2012 before I buy another. I also have other things to fill my time between now and then.