Tell Chevrolet what the Camaro Means to You!

I love my 2000 Z/28 Camaro. I still long to have an 4th gen SS or better yet a 1st gen SS! There's something about the look, mystic, and appeal of the 1st gen model!

I'd love to see and buy Camaro again for the road! Reallistically, I want a forward thinking and evolved design, not a retro for my next Camaro.

When I drive my 4th gen Camaro, it is an attention getter! Not just something to drive, or to say that its this or that to everyone who sees it...people recognize the brand and the look and the rumble as I go by.

Most are shocked by its acceleration and handling performance! People say to me, "Man, that's a sharp car!" and "That's got 300hp? Whoa!". Honestly, I don't think most people know about Camaro. Truly. Only those in the "club" and the "old-school" guys really know about Camaro.

I want this to change with a next generation Camaro. One that is heads above the competition in it class. Something that takes your breath away! Like a 1st gen would, scream with power like a 4th gen should, and be the high tech, styled beast that the 5th gen could!

GM & Chevy...you're well on your way to recovery in the styling and performance and advertisement areas! The response and sales are indicators. Keep up the good work and bring me back to another Camaro soon.

Thanks!
D. Brannon
Driving, buying, and owning GM cars since 1985
('81 Sunbird, '89 GrandAm, '96 Monte, 2000 Z/28 Camaro <- definitely an improving performance trend here)

As far back as I can remember I've dreamed of owning two cars: a Corvette and a Camaro. I currently own a '94 Z28, and am enjoying every mile in it. The Camaro always has been and should continue to be a "sports car for the rest of us." Every time I start my car in the morning, the rumble of the LT1 engine brings a grin to my face. I find myself smiling in corners driving around town. To me, the Camaro is the muscle car.



The Camaro name has a rich history that should not be ignored. Yes, there were quality issues with the previous generation, but GM has proven that it can build quality vehicles. If GM were to build a RWD muscle car of top quality and call it the Camaro, with looks to back up the name, it would sell better than if it were called something else, because of the recognition of the name. Camaro is a name that people will instantly notice.



General Motors is on the comeback trail, and many people are once again eagerly awaiting the next GM show car, or the newest GM production model. I am one of those, but I am also waiting for my next Chevrolet RWD coupe. Here's hoping it comes labelled as a Camaro.

N. Shepherd
1994 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 owner

My first experience with the Chevy Camaro was in 1984.

When I was older, maybe 10, I started to gain an interest in cars further than just hot wheels. And I had started to show and express my young love for sports cars and off road trucks, my uncle told me about the day I was born. And how lucky I was to have such a good experience so early in life.
I was a cesarean baby, so my birth wasn’t very surprising. My uncle gave my mom a trip to the hospital, a few days later, he picked us up and we went home. The car was a 1969 Camaro SS; the Camaro was quite literally my first experience in the auto world. And the Camaro, specifically the 1969 SS will always have a large place in my heart. Although I have a love for every Camaro ever made.
By time I was old enough to start saving for my first Camaro the news was out. 2001 was a Baaaaaaad year the car had been my favorite cars sense my uncle taught me to drive on his at the age of 14, and now the car that really fired my passion for cars, was, well it was going 6 feet under. At first I didn’t believe it I thought it would be the same kind of hiatus that happened the year I was born, and already motor trend, road and track, and car and driver were assuring us this was only a temp issue and not to worry, because it would be right back.
2003 was the 35-year anniversary. And then it was over. Nothing. None of the magazines got there solid info that they where expecting, the renderings they made went from future outlook to wishful thinking.
The car that was supposed to be my first “new car” when I was around 21, is now not even a possibility, now I see myself more waiting for when I turn 22 or 23 to get a Cadillac. I only wish the car that brought me into this wonderful company, wasn’t squished like a insignificant bug. The car was amazing every year it was made. It makes me wonder if GM really knows what they were doing killing this car off, it has to be one of the biggest cars that bring passion in from the streets.
The Camaro was great from the day it first rolled off the assembly line, and no car in existence as ever, and probably will ever have as much as an effect on me than that car, will it return? I say Please. :type:

I own a 2001 Camaro. It is a black SS. This is my 3rd black Camaro, as my first was a '68 RS/SS and my second was a '90 RS.

There is something about the Camaro that has always drawn me to it and others as well. As mentioned in the post above, on a daily basis, I get people asking me about my car. All I have to do is start 'er up, and heads turn. I've been driving it for about 6 months now, and I still get excited when I first start it up in the morning.

Here's what I think GM needs to hear: When I was shopping for cars about 6 months ago, I was looking for a performance coupe. Being a Chevy man all my life, it hurt me to have to look at Mustangs to get what I was looking for. When it was all said and done, I made a decision to purchase a used Camaro over a new Mustang - and not because of the price, but simply because of the car. While waiting for the salesman to drive another car around for me to test, I started looking at this beautiful black SS sitting in the back of the lot. I asked to take it for a spin, just to pass the time. On my way back to the dealership, about two blocks away, I stomped on the pedal. My mind was made up, then and there.

Yeah, the newer Stangs have more horses, but I regret not my purchase. I got a Camaro man! And when I drive that car, I feel good.

If Chevy builds another Camaro (for which I pray daily), I will be a new Camaro owner. And I will sell it to all those who ask me about it, just as I do now.

My wishes for the next Camaro:

- RWD or even AWD
- Enough horsepower and torque to remind all others on the road, who's really got it going on.
- Its gotta be sexy. I can't fathom sticking the Camaro moniker on a conservative body. I am not in the market for a Chrysler K car. Camaro equals sexy.
- Its gotta look powerful, just sitting there.
- Its performance shouldn't be in deference to the Corvette. In the past, there were Camaros with more powerful engines than Vettes, so I don't see why we can't have that option now. Let the consumers decide what they want in their car by providing many options. If I want to spend as much on a Camaro as I spend on a Vette, then let me. As I mentioned above, its not about the money - its about the Camaro. By the same token, someone should also be able to cheaply get themselves into an entry level Camaro. Choices.


That's my story.

Greg (GMInsidenews lurker and fan).

It is hard to put into words what the Camaro means not only to me but the entire auto industry. In High School my friend had a 94 Z28. We used to skip class to drive around in it with the T-tops off and to hear that unmistakable rumble. I would look forward to just riding in that car. Now that I am actually in a position financially to buy one I can’t. What is the formula for Camaro? That car used to scare the crap out of people on the road, kids my age were into the import scene but when the Camaro rolls around it commands attention like no other car in the Chevy lineup (except the Vette) can now do. Chevy has amazing cars out right now but they need an affordable muscle car with aggressive styling and the power to make people fall in love with a car again. The SSR is cool but too expensive, we need a car to destroy the Mustang, which now has free reign over the segment and (sad to say) is probably the best bang for buck on the road.

I will get a Camaro someday and if I need to spend 40 grand rebuilding it I will. All I need to say to GM is this:
If you are going to bring back the Camaro, FWD should not even come into the mind of engineers.
The GTO is cool because we all like sleepers, but the new Camaro needs styling that evokes people to swear when they see it (in a good way) and look fast standing still.
Don’t look to Imports for inspiration; GM is unique, despite what critics say if I wanted a car that does not let me feel anything I will buy a Honda. When I push the gas I want my neck to snap and the rumble to make my teeth chatter.

And last but not least….

Retro styling is a fad. New fresh designs are the way to go. Keep the same styling elements (Wide stance, hood scoops, etc) but in a new design.

If you bring it back GM, rest assured you have one sold.

While I consider myself more of a Firebird guy than a Camaro guy, I would still dearly love to see a 5th gen Camaro. My uncle had (and still has) a 1979 Trans Am that he bought brand new. I remember thinking that was the coolest car I'd ever seen when I was a little kid. Now I myself have a 2002 Trans Am WS6 that I baby...heck it only has ~3,500 miles on it. While I plan to keep this car a long time, I would definitely be in the market for a new Camaro under a few conditions:

- It would have to be RWD or AWD

- It would have to cost no more than $35,000 for a top of the line coupe and $38,000 for a top of the line convertible

- It would have to have several engine options: base V6 ~220 HP, V8 ~350 HP, V8 ~ 425 HP...The top of the line V8 would have to be quicker than a Cobra.

- It needs to be lighter than the 4th gen F-body cars were and the current GTO is.

- The fit and finish needs to be remarkable.

- The interior needs to be upgraded from the 4th gen F-body cars. The GTO and upcoming Corvette are good examples of tastefully designed interiors that are comfortable and stylish.

- Finally, the car needs to be advertised like GM actually cares about it. Maybe the F-body would have sold better if GM had acted like they cared about it a little.

I have never owned a Camaro, but I recognize it's value as an American car icon.
With the talk of the Charger returning, the Mustang redesign, and the return of the GTO(thanks, by the way), there is a large hole in the landscape of high performance american rwd coupes now. GM, you need to bring back the Camaro, with a fresh redesign and enough levels of options, this is a car that will appeal to many people, from the young people looking for a car they can brag about and want to be seen in, to the adults looking for either to recapture their youth or that are looking for a good performance alternative, the Camaro can be a willing suitor.

I believe that you know all of this, but it is important that you hear it from us, the people who will buy these cars. The advances intechnology that are here, along with the ones that will happen by 2007 will make possible the best Camaro ever.

I believe the nameplate of Camaro is more recognizable than any other in Chevrolet, even the vette. More people have enjoyed the Camaro than have even sat in a Corvette. All of the loyal fans at the f-body forums and elsewhere are testament to the impact this car will bring. You will do the car community more of a service and will sell many more vehicles if you build another Camaro than if you reserect any other nameplate. The Camaro holds a special place in the heart of the enthusiast community, please reward them.

I have been a Camaro fan all of my life. The Camaro I now drive was purchased brand new by my mom in 1979. This was the first new car that she bought and she had her eye on it since she first saw advertisements for it. The loan officer tried to talk her out of buying a Camaro as her first car but she wasn't going to buy a car if she couldn't buy a Camaro.

Four years after custom ordering her 1979 Camaro Berlinetta, I was born and brought home from the hospital in it. My earliest memories of childhood are related to that car. There were several instances in my childhood where times were rough and the possibility of selling the Camaro to make ends meet arose. My mom wanted to have something nice and meaningful to be able to hand down to me so my parents did everything they could to keep from selling it.

As our family grew, we needed to expand to a bigger, more "family friendly" car, so the Camaro sat in the garage for 8 years until I was able to drive. When I turned 16 I received it as my Car and have been driving it since. I have put a lot of time, effort, and money into it to keep it in nice driving condition.

Now I am married and hope to start a family of my own in a few years and I would like to have that same car as an heirloom to pass on to one of my children. I plan on doing a complete frame up restoration with the hopes of turning it into as close to factory original condition as I can.

I have always considered the Camaro as being a notch above the other "Pony" cars and have had a special place in my heart for all years. I was extremely sad whenever the announcement was made that the Camaro and Firebird were going to stop being made. I was infuriated whenever I heard rumors of the Camaro coming back as a FWD vehicle. It was one thing to see the Monte Carlo and Impalas come back as FWD but to turn the Camaro into FWD would be a complete mockery of the name. Camaro has always been synonymous with performance and style, bringing it back as anything other than a RWD sports coupe with some serious power would be a disgrace. The Camaro doesn't have to be just like the Corvette, nor should it try to be. The Camaro should be its own distinct flavor and be set apart from the other vehicles in the lineup just as the Corvette is. The Camaro should be a performer that anyone can own, not just a select few with a lot of money to throw around. The Camaro should be something that is able to be driven during the week and then able to be taken to the track on the weekend for some fun competition. The Camaro should be a car that catches people's attention; it needs to generate excitement and a feeling that people need to own it. The Camaro should be offered with different engine and transmission trim levels to appeal to the enthusiast and also to the average person who just wants to have a classy and fun car.

It is my hope that when I have a son he will be able to experience the joy of driving a Camaro, both the classic that was handed down to me and also a new "classic" that lives up to the reputation of the old.

Thank you for your time.
Matthew Simmons

Never owned one, never really fell in love with them but every single camaro I've ever known has had the same unique qualities: Coupe, RWD, well priced and power, power, power. Nobody could ever deny that for it's price the Camaro always had mindblowing power. Sure it didn't handle like it was on rails but that wasn't the point, it had one purpose and it performed it perfectly. To return the name with a FWD or AWD configuration would be sacrilige, simply look at Ford's attempts to turn the Probe into the next Mustang.

For the next gen Camaro I would like to see:
- low price
- better interior
- Power
- Styling: Might as well keep it rocker and remain a tough looking car
- Base model is just that, a base model, meaning no nothing, no ac, no pwr windows etc. anything to keep the entry price low

Though I have never owned a Camaro, I would if I saw the right one. Here is how I would like to see the Camaro:

Camaro RS (Comprises 60% of Sales)

Power:
-3.9L V6 @ 260HP and 280lb/ft
-NO V-8 Option
-Optional Supercharger
-Optional AWD

Transmission:
-Standard 5-Speed Manual
-Optional 5 Speed Automatic

Interior:
-Standard: Cloth
-Optional: Leather & Metallic Accents

-----

Camaro Z/28: (Comprises 25% of Sales)
Power:
-6.0L LS2 V8 @ 400HP & 400lb/ft
-AWD Standard

Transmission:
-Standard 6-Speed Manual
-Optional 5 Speed Automatic

Interior:
-Standard: Leather & Metallic Accents
-Optional: Color Keyed Insterts

-----

Camaro SS: (Comprises 15% of Sales)
Power:
-LS7 V8 @ 490HP & 490lb/ft (GM's Way)
-LS7 V8 @ 500HP & 500lb/feet (What the Customers Want)

Transmission:-Standard 6-Speed Manual
-Possible a 6-Speed auto with Manual Shifting if demand is enough

Interior:-Just think the GTO


....then you have a winner!

Three great Camaro memories:

First, when I was just a toddler, a friend of my aunt's was fortunate enough to have a first generation RS, blue with white stripes. I'm old enough that the car was still fairly new -- and I still remember standing at the front door of our house, just to see the cool car drive away.

Second, when I was 10, my Dad traded his trusty '70 LeMans Sport in in a 1977 Camaro Type LT. I was totally bowled over. The car had the front and rear spoiler options and one of the coolest instrument panels I'd even seen. Sitting in the drivers seat, with the fat four spoke wheel in my hand and the full instruments laid out in front of me like no other car I'd ever seen, I couldn't wait to turn 16.

Third -- when I was a teen, but before I was old enough to drive, a buddy let me drive his Dad's 1976 Sport Coupe (straight 6/auto) on an icy, empty parking lot. I drove tail out for the first time in that night, full opposite lock sideways, playing the throttle against the gas, feeling fast without really going anywhere.

It was years until I knew about the real ground pounders - the COPO cars, the high winding Z-28s, Mark Donahue and Trans Am winners, IROC. So, for me, the Camaro was first and foremost a car the exuded charisma -- it was clearly something special. It looked clean, it looked fast, everything you could see and touch looked and felt, well, cooler than other cars.

It was a style leader, with respectable performance to back up the looks, that almost anyone could afford. It was a way to make a statement - that you cared about cars, that you were willing to give up a big back seat and trunk to drive something distinctive - without having to spend a ridiculous amount of money.