Being nice to GM??

Someone here posted his opinion of the Genesis Coup earlier. He was pretty impressed with the styling, both interior and exterior once he saw it in person. Well, I can't comment on the GC since I've not seen one in person but I have seen the genesis sedan and was quite impressed with it (other than it's 3-year old MB styling). Anyway, I read a comparo in C/D I think where they compared the GC to the V-6 Camaro. They gave the win to the Camaro despite the fact that the GC was faster on every account except it's governed top speed (it gives up 5 mpg to the camaro). C/D gave the win to the Camaro because the GC rode stiffer and seemed less refined than the Camaro. Quite alot of thier comments in favor of the Camaro were about it's cushy ride or the like. Now, maybe it we are comparing a car that will be in the garage of a 45-year old man then maybe the softer-on-the-buttocks ride would be a big deal but I think the target demographic for the GC and V-6 Camaro isn't going to be that concerned with the soft ride. Anyway, I'm getting off on a tangent here. After reading that article and an article loving the hybrid pick-up I'm starting to wonder if the major rags are just being nice to GM to help them out of the gutter. Maybe they see it as unpatriotic to say "well, the Camaro is real nice but the newcomer from Korea is better in every criteria that's important to us enthusiasts."

Whaddya think?

I agree that the press is cutting GM a break and being nice to them.

I also think that they are 2 totally different cars targeting different people and aren't the best comparison to each other.

Day late and a dollar short.....

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/this-is-why-i-am-keeping-my-grm-script/9906/page1/

Comparing the cars is akin to comparing a 1993 Nissan 240SX with a 1993 Chevrolet Camaro.

Both were semi high performance RWD 2 door hatchbacks. Both had a motorsports following. They are polar opposite cars.

Comparing a Challenger to a Mustang to a Camaro I see. Comparing a 370Z to a GenCoupe I see.

Bobzilla wrote: Day late and a dollar short..... http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/this-is-why-i-am-keeping-my-grm-script/9906/page1/

Sorry, didn't see that post. Either way, I'm writing the mag tomorrow. Not that they'll care or anything......

7 minutes or so of Jon Stewart:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=228973&title=BiG-Mess

I see a big difference here as the Camaro w/a V6 can be offered cheaper than a GC 2.0T base and almost as expensive as a fully loaded GC V6 coupe, but you can almost get into a 1SS for a fully loaded V6 GC (right now you can because of the huge GC markups at the dealers, least around Atlanta), and those 2 cars are in different leagues. Price points should be matched when doing comparos, I hate "well this car is 2k more, or 4k more, or 15k more" as is often the case with the rags...

I'm not saying the GC isn't a killer car in it's own right, and I think there was some bias to promote GM. But be that as it may, I don't think the 2 cars are totally comparable in this specific test. You have to remember they were testing a GC V6 Track w/LSD and Brembo brakes against a 'preproduction' 2LT Camaro, but didn't list the options installed on the Camaro. Makes me wonder how 'fair' the test was. I also find it funny people are in disbelief that American cars may actually be 'good'. All those years of relative disparaity between foreign and domestics has jaded most of us...

I guess I'm saying I don't like being asked this question, it makes me question my own bias, and makes me more jaded toward the rags...

You can get the Camaro for under $22k?

EDIT: Nope. $23,040 for a base Camaro, $22,000 for a base GC.

I have no disbelief that American automakers are building good vehicles. I just find it funny that the fastest, best handling, best braking car didn't win a comparison test becaue it road stiff.

Bobzilla wrote: You can get the Camaro for under $22k? EDIT: Nope. $23,040 for a base Camaro, $22,000 for a base GC.

I stand corrected, knew it was close, but like I said, I haven't seen the base prices even on the low end models around here, the dealers have both these cars marked up like crazy, but the GCs have been having larger markups on a % basis over the Camaro. Then again, finding a Camaro is like finding a needle in a haystack around here. I only know this because my bud has been looking at both, and trying desperatly to get a TD on either, needless to say, I think he'll be waiting months...

Finding a 2.0T Base GC with a 6-spd is darn near impossible too!

The V6 2LT Camaro here is marked up $7500!!!

The GC I saw was only marked up $1500, and it was the only one for miles and miles. V6 GT and I'm sure anybody could get it for sticker if they tried.

P71 wrote: The V6 2LT Camaro here is marked up $7500!!! The GC I saw was only marked up $1500, and it was the *only* one for miles and miles. V6 GT and I'm sure anybody could get it for sticker if they tried.

Wow! Guess they're pushing the Camaros here in the deep south, surprise!

the GC i looked at in houston wasn't marked up at all. i didn't talk to a salesman or anything, so that might be something they sprung on you later though. they also had three examples, a 2.0T base with the 6spd, a 3.8 GT, and a 3.8 track with the 6spd. conveniently the 2.0t base was unlocked and i got a chance to sit in it, and WOW! the interior felt more like something from vw or bmw than what you'd expect from korea.

that said, i was irritated that C/D basically gave the camaro a pass on this one, hopefully they learn from all of the nasty letters i'm sure they're getting.

also, lets not forget the article comparing the mustang and some other foreign car (370z or GC, i can't remember) and the cover said "ford has nothing to worry about" or something to that effect.

It is not to probable that someone shopping a camaro is going to be stopping by the hyundai dealership or vice versa. I'm positive that the staff of C&D or M/T whichever it was, realizes this. But at the same time you can at best do mustang vs. camaro once a year, what are they supposed to do the other 11 months???

I don't actually think that the comparison is to far a stretch. Similar price, I would have to assume having not read the article vaguely similar performance, and both are brand spanking new. The way that the winner was awarded seems completely arbitrary.

The GC was faster, stopped quicker, handeled better and got better gas mileage. Every test it bested the Camaro. That's not "similar performance".