Interview with a GM Employee about the Camaro VS Mustang

NissanSkylineN1

NissanSkylineN1

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NissanSkylineN1
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Xbox??? Who is this Xbox??
That's right, theres ANOTHER version of the Camaro coming out. On Saturday, one of my relatives who works for GM (Oshawa, Ont.) came over and we talked about the GM lineup. Even though he works in the engineering department, he know all the rumors about the future of Chevy, which includes the Camaro. We talked about the Camaro (obviously) and discussed about every part of it. However, the most interesting part of the talk was its future. He told me that the Z28 one is a definate go, however, it is very likely for a Camaro HP to come out. This "HP" would have a tuned V8 engine producing 600 horsepower, and it will be limited to 69 cars. Here's some proof:

http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet...aro-hp-edition-detailed-to-chevy-dealers.html

After, he sat in my Dad's 'Stang and checked it out and was impressed. The first difference he noticed was the handbrake being on the driver's side unlike the Camaro... he blamed it on the "Austrailian Design". Also, the 'Stang felt more spacious due to the rear quarter panel windows and the larger rear window. Once we viewed the outside of the car, he looked at the panel work and noticed the large gaps between the panels. He claimed it was a common problem and a "bad fit" can happen quite often since not all parts are exactly the same. And being a GM worker, he had a camera with him, taking pictures of the Mustang's faults. :)

Anyways, I thought I'd post it since this isn't something that happens everyday. I hope it was helpful.
 
NissanSkylineN1
Once we viewed the outside of the car, he looked at the panel work and noticed the large gaps between the panels. He claimed it was a common problem and a "bad fit" can happen quite often since not all parts are exactly the same. And being a GM worker, he had a camera with him, taking pictures of the Mustang's faults. :)
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And this is where it falls apart. This is like a Yugo owner complaining that the Chevy Cruze has a cheap feeling interior. The interior of the Mustang is much more solid and has infinitely better materials than the Camaro. I personally think the Camaro's "panel gaps" are something to be desired more so than the Mustang. Yes, both are not perfect but saying one is faulty over the other is ludicrous. They (GM) need to raise the roofline to increase headroom, and reduce the size of the interior horizontally so it can be occupied comfortably by anyone over 5'11". My 6'0" 225lbs frame does not like the Camaro one bit for creature comfort. :D

If your dad wants to take pictures of an interior better than the competition so his company can learn something have him take a picture of one of these:

2011-hyundai-genesis-coupe-r-interior-picture.jpg


That is how you do an interior. Both Ford and GM could learn from this.
 
Well, he DID claim that the Mustang was obviously better, and GM knows that. He also claimed that the Camaro material/ interior didn't feel luxurious. However, the instrument cluster was critiszed and claimed taht the oil temp and fuel gauges shouldnt be very close to the speedometer, causing distraction, and also the HUD was in the Camaro's favour. But another thing he said was quite interesting. "In my opinion, these two cars are in tight competition with one another. However, neither companies even look at the Challenger." That's right, the Challenger sucks. :P Also to answer the ZL1 question, the HP is limited production.
 
Ask your relative why the bumpers on a Camaro never paintmatch the body.

Next time you see one in a parking lot, take a look. Doesn't matter the color; red, silver, white is especially bad, yellow, etc. It never looks right.
 
Lmao, the funny thing is, he can actually tell the others to fix that problem. He's the guy who helps engineer the parts so that assembly is easier and makes sure that they are in place on the assembly line.
 
NissanSkylineN1
However, the instrument cluster was critiszed and claimed taht the oil temp and fuel gauges shouldnt be very close to the speedometer, causing distraction,
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That's ludicrous. They should be on the floor, where you can't see them, like in the Camaro?

If my oil pressure takes a dump I want to know immediately, not whenever the next time I happen to glance down at the front bottom of the center stack/center console.
 
NissanSkylineN1
Lmao, the funny thing is, he can actually tell the others to fix that problem. He's the guy who helps engineer the parts so that assembly is easier and makes sure that they are in place on the assembly line.
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Then have him tell someone that white & Navajo white are not the same color. Seriously, next time you see a white camaro the bumper will look like something you'd paint your living room with while the rest of the car is a clean white.

And have him tell whoever is in charge of putting the 'sparkly' crap in black paint to just stop what they're doing. It looks like a cheap carnival ride in certain light and the orange-peel is rough enough to put an edge on your kitchen knife. What happened to black just being black? GM's sparkle & glitter committee needs to sent somewhere far far away.
 
I looked online regarding this problem and apparently GM doesn't make the bumpers.. they come pre-painted. And I'll be sure to tell him about the sparkly crap too next time I see him.. which will be in around a month or so. And also regarding the oil pressure thing, if you're going fast, you'll be wanting to know your speed and RPM, especially if in a manual.
EDIT: Link about mismatch http://camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42940&highlight=mismatch
 
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JCE
And this is where it falls apart. This is like a Yugo owner complaining that the Chevy Cruze has a cheap feeling interior. The interior of the Mustang is much more solid and has infinitely better materials than the Camaro. I personally think the Camaro's "panel gaps" are something to be desired more so than the Mustang. Yes, both are not perfect but saying one is faulty over the other is ludicrous. They (GM) need to raise the roofline to increase headroom, and reduce the size of the interior horizontally so it can be occupied comfortably by anyone over 5'11". My 6'0" 225lbs frame does not like the Camaro one bit for creature comfort. :D

If your dad wants to take pictures of an interior better than the competition so his company can learn something have him take a picture of one of these:

2011-hyundai-genesis-coupe-r-interior-picture.jpg


That is how you do an interior. Both Ford and GM could learn from this.
Click to expand...

Now thats good and all, but I don't think any car company does a cockpit better than Nissan. Everything is easy to reach, and nothings intrusive.

nissan_gtr_official_interior.jpg


Why does that GTR have a Clutch Pedal?

nissan-370z-5-201.jpg


0509it_06z+Nissan_Skyline_GTR+Interior_View_Steering_Wheel.jpg


2007_Nissan_Altima_Hybrid_-_interior.jpg


That last one's an Altima.
 
Zenith013
Panel gaps=build quality?

:confused:
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No one really notices panel gaps until they start rubbing and squeaking every time you decide to...well...drive.

Who really sits in their Audi and says "ooooooh, look at those gaps!"? No one who doesn't deserve to reside in a rubber room. However, if you have a panel in the back that squeaks when you take a turn or your console rattles...it pisses you off and you remember it. Panel gaps are neither here nor there until they become a nuisance.

If you can build a car that'll be rattle-free for 10years; you've got a winner. GM's glorious use of quick clips, harsh materials, and shoddy workmanship since Nixon was president isn't going to change people's perception any time soon.

As soon as GM's performance oriented vehicles stop looking like cartoons, maybe I'll visit a dealer. But their products from the past decade are all kinds of awful.

Panel gaps are the least of their worries.
 
NissanSkylineN1
That's right, theres ANOTHER version of the Camaro coming out. On Saturday, one of my relatives who works for GM (Oshawa, Ont.) came over and we talked about the GM lineup. Even though he works in the engineering department, he know all the rumors about the future of Chevy, which includes the Camaro. We talked about the Camaro (obviously) and discussed about every part of it. However, the most interesting part of the talk was its future. He told me that the Z28 one is a definate go, however, it is very likely for a Camaro HP to come out. This "HP" would have a tuned V8 engine producing 600 horsepower, and it will be limited to 69 cars. Here's some proof:

http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/camaro/z28-or-not-camaro-hp-edition-detailed-to-chevy-dealers.html

And being a GM worker, he had a camera with him, taking pictures of the Mustang's faults. :)
Click to expand...

I was at GM's (Holden) design centre a couple of years ago and the Camaro was everywhere. But also out the side of one area was 3 left hand drive, never registered Ford Mustangs. I don't think GM needs photos of a car they already own. I also don't think that they would be the only car company that 'borrows' ideas when designing new cars.

Also, what is surprising about a new model coming out of any model car soon. The car companies release the so called 'next years model' at around August every year.
 
crispychicken49
nissan_gtr_official_interior.jpg


Why does that GTR have a Clutch Pedal?
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That there ain't a clutch pedal mate. The pedal on the far left is actually a plate to rest your left foot. Manual cars have four "pedals", if you take a look at the R34 GT-R interior you posted you can clearly see three of them - footrest, clutch and brake - and you can just see the corner of the throttle in the far right. My Skyline, as it's an auto, has the same pedal layout as the R35 GT-R just, you know, a little downmarket. On the very far left there's a footrest and there's a deliberately large gap between it, and the brake and accelerator where the clutch would be in the manual version.
 
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Oh, and he said that the new Caprice will be replacing the G8, and will come out in the States first, then in Canada
 
Ahem... replace the Holden badge with a Chevrolet badge and a slight front restyle and there's your Caprice for the US. It's a direct import of the Holden Caprice.

At the moment it is only in PPV but I believe what NissanSkylineN1 meant is that a road-going version will be going on sale in the US soon.

16337077_opt.jpg
 
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I don't know why they'd want to bring it over here really. The G8 flopped. Calling it a Caprice sounds like an old person's car to most people, and its likely too big and fat to have any redeeming performance.
 
Eric.
I don't know why they'd want to bring it over here really. The G8 flopped. Calling it a Caprice sounds like an old person's car to most people, and its likely too big and fat to have any redeeming performance.
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At least it validates the existence of any unmarked police vehicles, I suppose. I can't see them working very effectively undercover while they're not actually available to the public - you might as well turn up in a Land Rover Tangi...
 
Eric.
I don't know why they'd want to bring it over here really. The G8 flopped. Calling it a Caprice sounds like an old person's car to most people, and its likely too big and fat to have any redeeming performance.
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Its a shame, because the G8 is one of my favorite cars to come out in the last few year and I plan on getting a used one in a few years. I wish getting a full size rear wheel drive car was affordable, not everybody can afford a BMW, Benz or Lexus.
 
Eric.
I don't know why they'd want to bring it over here really. The G8 flopped. Calling it a Caprice sounds like an old person's car to most people, and its likely too big and fat to have any redeeming performance.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but not because it was a bad car. People that wanted them couldn't really afford them. The G8 was a great car.
 

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