A Muscle Car to the Rescue for General Motors

[elleng]

Believe it or not, General Motors has a hit car on its hands.

Amid the gloom of bankruptcy and a miserable market for new vehicles, G.M.’s new Chevrolet Camaro muscle car is winning over consumers looking for a little excitement in a bland landscape of look-alike sedans and watered-down sport utilities.

G.M. sold 9,300 Camaros during the month of June — more than either its entire Buick or Cadillac divisions could muster on their own.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/business/10auto.html?_r=1&hp


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Who does this appeal to????? and WHY?

[virginia mountainman]

1. It appeals to me..

But, the Camaro is not my flavor... I really like the NEW Pontiac G8, or perhaps a Dodge Challenger.

I love my cars, my cars, are like members of the family. I have always had an "Athletic car" or as you call them a muscle car.

I love a car, that puts a big smile on my face, be it, how well it handles a curvy road, or the power of a V8, or Turbo Charged, or even Super Charged engine...

My wife currently has a Supercharged Pontiac GTP. I have owned all kinds of turbocharged cars, over the years, and a Mustang GT. Even had a old unmarked Souped up State Police car for a long time..

To us, a car is much more than transportation.

And yes, I have a sensible daily driver, but my weekend car, is another story.

[elleng]

5. Thanks for the info, virginia!

NYT called them muscle car, not I!

[MicaelS]

2. It appeals to men of all ages who like cars

A young guy who wants a hot car. A middle age guy who grew up in the 70s-80s who owned a Camaro back then. A man who grew up in the 1960s who owned one of the original Camaro muscle cars. The new Camaro harkens back to the design of the original car. There are damn few rear wheel drive cars (not SUVs) left anymore. This is one of them.

History of the Camaro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Camaro

[OhioChick]

4. It also appeals to the "chicks" of all ages who like cars.

:D

[MicaelS]

7. Well sure, I was just speaking for men.

I figured one or more women who liked cars would post, and I really wanted to see what she / they would say. ;-)

[OhioChick]

8. I know...

Just razzing you. :D

[depakid]

3. " Who does this appeal to????? and WHY?"

As to why:

Nostalgia, reaction formation and cultural inertia.

Coupled with modest gas prices for the moment.

To name but a few things it seems to me are going on.

[elleng]

6. Thanks as usual, depa.

.

[The Traveler]

9. Me, for one

One feature of this car is its low power mode ... it drops into reduced cylinder operation in stop and go traffic to conserve fuel and lower emissions. But stomp that pedal and everything wakes up ...

I drive a 91 Camaro RS. I've been driving it for 15 years. I started rebuilding the car on week ends about 3 years ago. Haven't gotten to the body yet. I built a new engine for it and have done other modifications yielding more power, better mileage, and emissions well within standards. She's pretty beat up, my old girl. She's got some serious dings. The paint is faded. People approach me and gush about the beauty of my old beat up car.

She handles like a dream ... her handling and acceleration saved me and my sons from serious injury a couple of years back ... we avoided an accident by threading the needle eye formed by a pair of out of control car and a bridge abutment ... inches to spare ... no way to stop in time ... had to punch it through the hole before it closed. They guys behind me wasn't so fortunate ...

By today's crash safety standards she rates 4 stars ... not bad given her vintage. But I do regard her performance and maneuverability as safety features.

Muscle cars aren't everyone's cup of tea. But ... yeah ... I understand why people want this car. I want one too. But I think I'll wait a few years ... my 91 RS probably has another quarter of a million miles or so in her.

Trav