Another GM Bashing Post: New Camaro's 29 MPG Highway Shocker
OK, guys, feel free to get it out of your system. No flaming TTAC policy switched off for this post. Yes, I know what you’re thinking: TTAC always finds the dark cloud outside the silver lining. Here we have unexpected good news: in V6 form [not shown, ’cause it’s rental car fodder], the new Camaro gets 29 miles per gallon highway. As The Detroit News giddily points out, “The brand initially estimated its highway mileage at 27 mpg but had provided a conservative estimate, said Troy Clarke, GM’s president of North America. ‘We did error on the side of caution,’ Clarke said. ‘This is at least three miles per gallon (more) than the (Ford) Mustang.'” When did error become a verb? See how that works? If TTAC isn’t criticizing GM’s turnaround plan—such as it isn’t—it’s trying to kill the ailing American automaker via death by a thousand cutting remarks. Well, two things: 1) GM should have never wasted money building this car and 2) Is anyone going to buy a Camaro over a Mustang or Challenger because the Chevy’s V6 gets better mileage? Oh, and 3) there’s something really creepy about this quote: “‘We need to seduce new customers,’ Peper said. ‘We feel (the Camaro) will have a very broad reach.'” Is that a reach around? Hey, it had to be said. OK, flameproof suit on. Gopher it.
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Bridge, Be serious. They have been winding down since the early seventies. That was decades ago. The reason they have so many angry ex customers is not some magical myth. It's due to the crud they made all during the eighties and early nineties. Since then, they haven't been able to catch back up. If the competition jumped on the truck and suv market earlier, they would not have lasted this wrong. I really don't get your inability to understand that GM earned their reputation. Now they have to deal with it. I will be happy to give government interference it's fair share of blame, but it won't absolve GM.
A while ago I inferred that TTAC was in danger of "jumping the shark" (to use an american expression). Does everyone still think I was barking mad....? But to play Devil's Haddock, the B&B aren't helping matter by calling people a "whore". Seriously, are we adults or children?
I would think the figure of 29 mpg is just that a figure produced in the Lab, in real life its probably a lot less! When Gasoline increases to $10.00 dollars a Gallon in the USA, its none too good! Also the quality of parts that GM uses in there vehicles today is of dubious quality like the current call back on many GM Models due to a Cable in the Transmission system that can fail and allows the vehicle to move forward if in "Park" I guess time will tell, Happy Motoring.
I would just love to see the V6 at the car rentals. They are so heavy with gutless cars and boring japanese models. I think it would be great to have an option to the gutless family sedan Charger which is a disgrace to its moniker. A littler support for american products would be refreshing also. I rent numerous vehicles every month, and I will gladly stick with my Vette and Mustang GTs over all the various unimpressive cars I am continually driving. I enjoy driving, give me something that is fun and looks good.