We’ll just come right out and say it: the situation with the Chevy Camaro isn’t pretty. In fact, it’s downright ugly.
During its first model year back on the market, the fifth-generation, Chevy Camaro recorded over 81,000 deliveries in 2010. Comparatively, the sixth-generation Camaro saw only 29,775 deliveries in 2020. That was during a year riddled with COVID-related production issues, so let’s wind the clock back a year to 2019, when the muscle car sold only 48,265 units. But those figures were also impacted by the UAW’s infamous strike that sapped roughly 40 days of production, not to mention development of vehicle programs. In 2018, a year not impacted by any issues, the Camaro recorded a measly 50,963 deliveries. No matter which way you slice it, Camaro sales have been on a downward trajectory ever since 2014 – the high point of fifth- and sixth-gen sales volume.
Sales Results - USA - Camaro
| Year | Total |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 58 |
| 2024 | 5,859 |
| 2023 | 31,028 |
| 2022 | 24,652 |
| 2021 | 21,893 |
| 2020 | 29,775 |
| 2019 | 48,265 |
| 2018 | 50,963 |
| 2017 | 67,940 |
| 2016 | 72,705 |
| 2015 | 77,502 |
| 2014 | 86,297 |
| 2013 | 80,567 |
| 2012 | 84,391 |
| 2011 | 88,249 |
| 2010 | 81,299 |
*** This manufacturer is now publishing only quarterly numbers for this market. Monthly figures may be averages.
With the Camaro set to be discontinued after the 2024 model year, let’s take a step back and explore what led to the legendary nameplate’s second demise.
GM’s Strategic Pivot
Arguably the biggest reason for the Camaro’s upcoming demise was not the car itself, but rather the monumental change in business strategy by Chevy parent, General Motors. The Detroit-based automaker made a very conscious and strategic decision to go all-in electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous vehicles (AVs), and other new business ventures such as BrightDrop, GM Defense, HydroTec, Cruise, and the now-discontinued Maven, Book by Cadillac and Ariv.
All of those areas required massive financial outlays in the billions, absorbing capital from low-volume, low-margin products like the Camaro. The newfound direction also meant redirecting planning, design, and engineering staff to those new projects, with the most famous example being the assignment of Camaro chief engineer, Al Oppenheiser, to the GMC Hummer EV program. All that resulted in less important yet fun products like the Camaro being put out to pasture.
However, the problems with the Camaro started way before GM’s major strategic pivot. Let’s now explore the product-related issues that plagued the sixth-gen Camaro.
Issue 1: More Expensive Entry-Level Models
When the sixth-gen Camaro launched for the 2016 model year, its starting price was $1,995 higher than that of the previous-generation 2015 model. The difference grew to $3,490 for models equipped with the 3.6L LGX V6 engine, since the base 2016 Camaro was equipped with a turbo four-cylinder – the 2.0L LTG I4 – a first for the nameplate. Then, SS models with the 6.2L LT1 V8 engine started $2,795 more than their fifth-gen equivalents. The increase in price appeared to create a scenario that pushed price-conscious buyers to more affordable offerings from Ford and Dodge.
GM reacted by introducing the 3LT trim level for the 2019 model year, which enabled Chevy to offer the Camaro 1LT and 2LT trim levels with less equipment and at lower price points than the 2016-2018 Camaro models. By this time, though, the downward spiral in Camaro sales figures had already taken hold.
Similarly, higher prices of Camaro V8 models compared to those of the Mustang GT base and Challenger R/T compounded the issue and resulted in the introduction of the bare-bones LT1 model for the 2020 model year. When it entered the market, the LT1 had a starting price of $34,995, making it more affordable than the V8-powered Challenger and Mustang models and about $2,000 less than a 2019 Camaro 1SS. Although it was more affordable, the LT1 still offered respectable components, including Brembo brakes and Recaro performance seats.
Issue 2: Controversial Design
Whether you love it, like it, or hate it, the styling of the sixth-generation Chevy Camaro has always been a point of contention. The general consensus is that the new model wasn’t different enough from its fifth-gen predecessor, which ultimately worked against the muscle car.
While this is indeed a subjective measure, the way a vehicle looks and its perception in the public eye can surely be a contributing factor when it comes to sales performance. To that end, this is not merely a reflection of what we think of the car ourselves. Yours truly was a big fan of the sixth-gen Camaro, particularly the monstrous ZL1 1LE. In fact, I liked it so much that I decided to purchase my very own.
To assuage criticism that the design of the sixth-gen Camaro wasn’t different enough from the fifth-gen model, Chevy updated the styling in conjunction with the 2019 model year refresh. Notably, the ZL1 trim level was the only model to forego the updated fascia, which ended up backfiring on The Bow Tie. The short-lived facelift generated such a negative reaction that the automaker made a snap decision to introduce a “concept” fascia design for the car during the 2018 SEMA show. The revised front end was then rolled out for the 2020 model year, effectively representing a facelift to the facelift.
Despite rolling out a hasty correction for the questionable change – which was ironically done to boost sales in the first place – interest in the pony car continued to dwindle. To put it in perspective, 48,265 units of the Camaro were sold in 2019 versus 29,775 units in 2020.
Issue 3: Poor Outward Visibility
The sixth-gen Camaro was often hammered for its less-than-optimal outward visibility. While some might disagree with this criticism (myself included), the point stands that it is much harder to see out of one of these Camaros than its direct rival – the Mustang. In its defense, select trim levels come standard with blind spot detection, and some drivers appreciate a vehicle that requires a heightened sense of awareness.
Inspiring a sense of confidence is a major selling point for cars in this segment, and while the Camaro certainly does so mechanically, it arguably leaves much to be desired when one is actually sitting behind the steering wheel, which brings us to our next point: the interior.
Issue 4: Sub-Par Interior Materials And Quality
Another demerit for the Gen Six Camaro was its interior quality, or lack thereof. Generally speaking, the Camaro cost more than its rivals, creating the expectation of a superior cabin than its competitors. For some, the Camaro’s higher levels of performance, handling and driver engagement more than overcame the demerits of its cabin, but that also wasn’t the case for many.
Aside from feeling cramped, the plastics and seating materials were often criticized for “feeling cheap” and leaving much to be desired. The forward-leaning center screen was also a bit strange, though in its defense, it does prevent sun glare in Convertible models.
Issue 5: Little To No Marketing
Unfortunately, many are simply unaware of the Camaro’s existence, even today. Sure, the Camaro has more presence than the Holden Commodore-based Chevy SS sedan, but the fact remains that we rarely saw any commercials or ads for the sixth-gen Camaro. In fact, my own Camaro was even mistaken for a Mustang. While a more passionate car enthusiast would have never made this mistake, a car needs to be recognized and well-received by the general public and broader consumer base if it has any chance of achieving sales success (see Tesla), which is the number-one priority in a business that aims to turn a profit.
Ironically, the Chevy Camaro ZL1 has finally made it to the big screen in the movie Free Guy in which it plays a supporting role for Ryan Reynolds’ character, Guy. The spotlight is, however, perhaps a bit too late to have any positive impact on the muscle car’s future.
Issue 6: More Sports Car Than Muscle Car
Speaking of performance, did we mention the fact that the 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE ran a 7 minute and 16 second lap at the Nürburgring? While the Gen Six Camaro was praised for this feat, it began to be referred to as a sports coupe. Moving away from its muscle car roots may have done more harm than good to the nameplate, as its lesser-capable rivals began to widen the sales gap. In addition, Chevy already has a bonafide sports car in its stable – the Corvette. Despite the latter being twice as expensive (or even more), having two sports cars in the family might not have been a winning formula.
Ultimately, this is where the Camaro fell short. It’s beloved by enthusiasts who want top-dollar performance on a budget, but doesn’t really deliver for anyone else. While it can be praised as being one of the most capable vehicles of its time and lauded for giving buyers affordable performance, it looks like a failed product in the eyes of the accounting department.
Looking back, all of these factors contributed to the seemingly inevitable demise of the Chevy Camaro. Plans for the seventh-gen ICE model have been shelved, and GM has been very mum on whether or not the nameplate will live on as a high-performance electric vehicle. At least GM execs haven’t completely ruled out the possibility.
Want the latest on all things Camaro? Then subscribe to GM Authority for more Camaro news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Camaro News
NASCAR Chevy Driver Kyle Larson Sweeps Bristol Cup, Xfinity Races
An emotional pair of victories for a grieving team.
Read More »
NASCAR Chevy, 160 Laps Down, Gets Taken Out Out By Lead-Lap Competitor: Video
Attempted race manipulation, or a genuine mistake?
Read More »
Comments
#1 GM never sold many entry cars. Females bought most and went to Ford. They do have a better car base car but lacked the V8 option as many mass cars came with a cheaper V8. Challenger did this. The real issues is the lack of female buyers. This has been the advantage to the others and even Ford is losing now to the wrangler. Utility is key. No trunk or back seat.
#2 the car looks like a fifth gen that sold ok. But then the Mustang also look look like the one before. The Challenger never changes.
#3 visibility in this group was never a strong point in the original 69 for which it is based. May not help but the least if the issues.
#4 the interior styling is more odd than cheap.
#5 This was never a primary car this was a niche car at best. FBodFather from GM said when the 5th gen returned 100,000 in sales was expected to be viable. Well it has always fallen short in a declining segment. The other two are not pulling great numbers.
#6 The pony car died with the cheap RWD platforms they were based on. You may have missed that one. The formula has passed. Today the customer base moved to trucks and Wranglers. Our aftermarket parts sales transitioned over the last 10 years. We used to live in Mustang and Camaro now it is truck and Wrangler. Many females now from Mustang to Wrangler. Bronco is now entering the picture and GM has no entry but the trucks.
This entire segment is drying.
Agree or disagree just my opinion from the inside of the performance after market.
Look at SEMA and what most displayed the last 5 years.
C8.R: The mustang looks like the one before?! We must be looking at different cars then, because S550 looks nothing like the S197 before it. The challenger never changes because it is literally the same vehicle that’s been refreshed all this time.
My hat goes off to the author for writing this. Well done Mr. Cruz. Well done indeed.
Jake the stang still relies on retro looks and only has evolved in the last few years with the same basic shape.
Camaro-$38,000 got a young man a head turning Babe magnet car with a loud powerful v-8 that could smoke the tires and go 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds. What more could you ask for. Red necks want to impress other red necks with trucks and their small engines( compared to the v-8 Camaro ) and girls want to own little whining wranglers. Stick with the muscle cars and get the pretty girls faster.
Let’s go Brandon!
Let`s go Darwin!
C8.r/Scott3: Your 1, 5, & 6 arguments are dissonant. They didn’t try to make a rwd based platform for regular guys/gals. You can’t argue against poor volume entry cars. Chasing Caddy’s rivals hurt the Camaro & eventually the segment.
Many in Chevy’s base that saw it through the 90’s and bankruptcy to today are now hardened iconoclasts. Do they care about small dohc motors & turbos, IRS?
Your #2 argument is wrong. Anyone into Camaros can easily tell the difference.
I somewhat agree the Camaro needs better utility (not bigger size) for successful lower trims. That also includes at least one part sharing factory mate with an SUV body. A big clue GM is letting the segment die.
There is always going to be a demand for inexpensive sports cars. With the Camaro it costs double to get a V8 with power you can never use on congested DC area (DMV)roads but I see muscle cars everywhere. I have a V6 Csmaro. Then I strapped on a Supercharger and suspension so I (eventually) got a very fast car but that is the only trick. Being fast and driving stick is for weekends. My daily driver is a beat up Kia. It gets me where I need to go, has A/C and a phone system and a stereo.
I’ve got a 2019 Camaro 1LT RS with the 2.0L Turbo that I paid $31k CAD or $24k USD, brand new from the dealership. People always make fun and disrespect the 4 cylinder, but considering I paid the same money as someone would for a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla… let me as you this, would you rather have a Camaro that does 0-60 in 5.4s that’s light and nimble or would you rather have a Corolla/Civic for the same money?
It does not matter what Camaro you may own. Fact is you own one. I guess they are jealous. They did not hear of the limited edition Camaro 1000 HP Model did they? It will blow the doors off of of any Challenger Charger and Mustang. Its sad to see the Camaro discontinued in 2024. Rumor is GM plans to bring back the 69-70 Chevelle Restomod in its place. GM also is considering building a Camaro Heritage model. The new C8 Camaro if built is rumored to be a Mid Engine model. It is also rumored the GM may build it as a 4 door sedan. All well and good GM for families. But the rest of us GearHeads want you to still build the Camaro as a 2door coupe.
Yea V8 Camaros from gen 1 to gen 4 we’re doing 0-60 in that 5s range, if a 4 cylinder Camaro is able to do 5.4s I’m okay with it. Sure I don’t get the rumbles of a V8, but for the price I paid I can’t complain. It sure beats driving a Civic or Corolla for the same price.
Also don’t be discouraged about the Camaro getting cancelled, from my understanding the 7th gen Camaro is not cancelled but only delayed. The 6th gen Mustang came out in 2014, and the 7th gen Mustang is coming out in 2024 making it a 10 year gap. The 6th gen Camaro came out in 2016, I got a feeling we might be getting the 7th gen in 2026. The 6th gen Camaro was based off the Cadillac ATS, now there’s the Cadillac CT4, and I also wouldn’t be surprised if the 7th gen is based off that. I know GM is keeping things very hush hush, but until we know for sure don’t be discouraged. And even if we don’t get a 7th gen Camaro we still have the S650 Ford Camaro (I mean Mustang) as an option lol.
I’ll take a Civic hatchback with manual transmission because it is a More utilitarian design and gets 40 mpg.
lol… have fun shifting gears for 8 seconds to reach 60mph, in your front wheel drive ricer. All show no go. I would rather take an 8 speed automatic Camaro with a 2.0T for the same price as your hatchback manual Civic. I’ll beat you while sipping coffee with my right hand, while you’re over shift gears in your front wheel drive Civic.
What matters more? How hard the dog bites or how loud the dog barks?
I have an equinox for daily and the gen 6 ss is for weekends
If they had just restyled the ATS coupe and made it cheaper they would have had a world beater
But the 6th gen Camaro IS based on the Cadillac ATS coupe….
In a nutshell…too expensive, no visibility, 4 cyl., ugly front facia.
Inside door panel also, sits too high. All around not comfortable. People get tired of driving it. Exterior styling nice, but it’s a pass for most of the market. Needs a full redesign, but now unlikely.
Funny, I have no problem with the interior of my 2017 ‘50’ Anniversary Camaro. Very comfortable power seats, no visibility issues, decent materials used, screen just right. If it needs a full redesign, it’s only because it is now 7 model years old, but I believe the current design still holds up well.
GM will still make this car disappear just as it did with the fabulous Pontiac
G8. Let them keep making dull SUVs and pickups of all sizes, I won’t be buying.
Yup I agree. People who complain are not people who own them. I’ve never met a 6th gen Camaro OWNER who has these issues, people go for a 5 min test drive think their opinion is the end all be all. I have a 2019 Camaro 2.0L Turbo that I drive every single day and I don’t have any problems. You get used to the visibility really quickly and forget about it even being an issue. And I love the 6.5 gen front fascia of the RS, reminds me of the front of the 2010 Camaro. People disrespect the 4cylinder all the time, but it’s faster than the 5th gen V6 and about the same performance as V8 Camaros from 1st gen to 4th gen. Old V8 Camaros were doing 0-60 in 5-6s, the 4cyl Camaro does 5.4s, but it’s lighter and handles much better.
People from the outside looking in always have something negative to say, but I’ve never met a 6th gen Camaro OWNER complain. People always have something to say, well how about put your money where your mouth is? Why did the Camaro lose in sales numbers to the Mustang and Challenger? Because YOU didn’t buy one. And for those who spent their hard earned money to keep the Camaro name alive, thank you for not letting the Camaro die.
There is always going to be a demand for inexpensive sports cars. With the Camsro it costs double to get a V8 with power you can never use on congested DC area (DMV) but I see muscle cars everywhere. I have a V6 Csmaro. Then I strapped on a Supercharger and suspension so I (eventually) got a very fast car but that is the only trick. Being fast and driving stick is for weekends. My daily dri wr is a beat up Kia. The Camaro IS a cheap ATS but quality was lost in translation. Performance was not lost.
Camaro driver is sitting in a dark cave. Not nice.
I’ve had one for 5 years. Not a problem.
So get a convertible! Plenty of visibility and plenty of light.
Had a ‘19 2SS 1LE with a sunroof. Lots of light and blind spot monitors. Never felt claustrophobic or afraid to change lanes.
3 of my four cars are GM. The fourth is a 2017 base Mustang v6. Awesome styling, fun to drive, surprising practical, irs, last year v6, $25k out the door. My first pony car. Didn’t consider anything else. Had 2 Corvettes including a ’12 GS ‘vert I bought new.
I love my 2014 (5th Gen) 2SS Convertible. At 6-5”, 300 lbs, my first option on any car is fitting in the driver’s seat. This Camaro fits me fine. With the top down (95% of my use), there is no visibility issue. The LS3 with simple bolt ons of intake, polished throttle body and LT headers adds ~50hp to 475 at the crank. Sporty ride, fantastic looks, great NA power, sound and handling plus the magic of drop-top open air travel is 100% in my sweet spot. I will never sell this car. If you haven’t driven this configuration of Camaro, you’ve missed the best this car has to offer.
“……the monumental change in business strategy by Chevy parent, General Motors………..”
“…… we rarely saw any commercials or ads for the sixth-gen Camaro…………..”
^^^^THESE.
This carline is going away because GM (oops) gm WANTS it to go away. It’s not about cost; there are many other, much-higher-priced performance cars on the market that a ZL1/1LE will absolutely blow off the road—or track. The car is a BEAST.
It’s not about “styling;” beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and buyers of performance cars —or at least those who REALLY know what’s going on under the hood—will care far more about the car’s potential performance than about some lack of “styling.”
It’s not about some perceived lack of “visibility;” I can see just fine from the seat of any newer Camaro (it has mirrors as well as a large windshield) , and I’m average height. It’s likely that most such ‘visibility’ complains come from people who have never actually driven a 6th gen, and are merely parroting what they’ve read from other parrots on the interwebz.
It’s not about the ridiculous statement, “More Sports Car Than Muscle Car.” Huh? Not even worth debating.
I’ll end this overly-long post by simply stating that if you’ve actually been behind the wheel of a ZL1, and have had one on a lift so you can see the excellent engineering that went into these awesome cars, you’ll QUICKLY realize that the reason why the Camaro is going away isn’t at all about the car, but about gm.
I suspect the Camaro name will eventually appear again at some point in the future on some cookie-cutter EV.
smh……………………………
I totally agree.
Totally Agree
I agree with much of what you say, but there is no denying the fact that the market is moving away from these types of cars. The proliferation of SUVs/CUVs/Trucks/Blah Blah Blah is very much the proof of this. Yes, one might say that this is being driven by the manufacturers themselves, but I think that’s just ignoring the evidence. I think the manufacturers are simply following the market.
I would love for the Camaro to continue to survive. I would love for GM to put more money behind the car. But I truly don’t believe it would make any difference. If it did, it would only be a small (and probably short-lived) bump. The market simply isn’t interested in these types of cars anymore. It was always a niche vehicle and that niche even continues to decline.
If that’s true (Camaro’s declining sales due to a market shift), how do you explain the relatively very high sales numbers of Camaro’s direct competitors—Ford’s Mustang and Dodge’s performance models?
Mustang and Challenger sales have also been declining year-over-year. I will grant you that their numbers are higher, but they have been (especially the Mustang) for a LONG time.
Still, the overall market for these cars is dwindling and that is backed by sales figures for all three cars. If GM did suddenly find a way to increase Camaro sales, it would most likely be a temporary increase and would just be a larger portion of a shrinking market.
Love my 69 Z28 Camaro 2010 RS Camaro 2014 Camaro SS and now I am the proud owner of a new 2021 Camaro 2SS. I have heard negative and positive reviews about the 6th Generation Camaro. Yes it might have some issues. But having driven 4 different Camaros I can honestly say my 6th Generation Camaro is a sheer full blown exciting driving experience. Just hearing that Growl of the LT1 455HP with 455 Foot pounds of Torque is enough to rattle anyones interest. I have 6500 miles on the car since it was bought in September 2021. I have been all over Arizona. In the desert of Tucson to the mountains of Flagstaff and Prescott. The car performs flawlessly. It is a pleasure to drive. The car has an excellent suspension and handles the roads with ease. I could of easily bought the ZL1 but for me the 2SS is the car for me. I get plenty of looks and inquiries as to the cars handling performance and styling. Yes the Camaro is going away in 2024. But I have seen some concept renderings of a possible 7 Generation Camaro. The new Camaro looks like mid engine racecar. Looks somewhat like the new 8th Generation Corvette. Now I don’t know whether GM plans on building a 7th Generation Camaro. If they do and the Camaro looks like a racecar Its going to blow the doors off Challenger and Mustangs sales for sure. I would like to bet that the new Camaro won’t last but 3 days to 7 days on their showroom floor of any dealerships. I would only hope that the new Camaro would not come with an LT2 engine 495HP but with a whopping 800HP. Being a Camaro owner I can dream can’t I. And to the many owners of the new 6th Generation Camaros I salute you. Now to you Camaro haters We have the better car Its been proven time and time again. Perhaps you guys need to watch a You Tube video called why you should buy a 6th Generation Camaro 2SS. Listen to the review It may enlighten you all. Bow Tie Baby for Life.
Where are all the Mustang Commercials?
Are you kidding? Ford actually makes ads dedicated to the Mustang. Google/YouTube them.
The most Camaro gets in the modern era is a cameo in other Chevrolet ads.
Mustang hasn’t had any commercials for a while either, but when the current gen launched there was a couple of different commercials Ford ran (just for it) over the first year or two. Camaro has not had a dedicated Commercial ran in the U.S. since the 5th generation ZL1.
If GM would stick to a true retro idea like with the Challenger, it would have had far more success. The Camaro is too big, too flat, and has such poor visibility issues that it fell from a buyers list of cars to buy. And of course, GM well know ability to NOT market it’s models helped to bury it deep in the ground.
When you do true retro styling where does the vehicle go from there? Look at the Challenger the only reason it is outselling the other muscle cars in the class is not its looks, but the size the Challenger drives like a boat. There is nothing that says the Challenger is a female car. It is fun to drive compared to the Stang and Challenger. Retro styling gets old after a while and sales dwindle even the stang got away from retro styling in 2015.
Not to mention the Challenger is a modern PLC, all it’s missing is the white wall tires and oprea lamps. The Challenger loses it’s retro looks next generation also.
The Challenger looks like a bloated boat. The reason it sells is it is cheap. But it is over weight and old but price wins.
The trouble with the Camaro styling is the retro styling,I got grew old on the 5 th gen and should have advanced. You can only live on retro for so long. The Camaro just did not change enough.
A bloated boat, huh? To each his own…but the “bloated boat” has beaten the mustang and obviously the Camaro in sales for a good while now because it stuck to its roots. I like how the previous gen Camaro looked, but that’s it. Like the article said, it dug its own grave when it started becoming more of a sports car. Heck, I’d even consider the Charger more of a muscle car despite its 4 doors. Don’t hate on Dodge for outsmarting GM. Jealousy is a female trait
Sticking to the roots is somewhat of a complex issue for the Camaro. These cars are as they were in the 1960s, pony cars. Packages like the GT350 and Z/28 were designed for circuit driving, so there was always a track DNA within the car. However I can understand the muscle car roots argument as in the ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s there was more of a muscle car emphasis on them.
As for the sticking to the roots for sales, the Mustang has been more sporty since 2015, but the Challenger didn’t overtake it in sales until halfway through 2021, and even then its by a slim margin.
So I really don’t think that’s the biggest reason why they have such a large gap in sales. The Challenger’s popularity really rose in the past few years due to Dodge being the main cars for sideshow culture. I live in Detroit and in 2018 you’d barely see any Challengers or Chargers in the city, flash forward to today and you can’t go a day without seeing 5 in the city. Dodge understands this growing popularity and started allowing leasing of Scat Packs giving easier access to the cars and is really pushing their marketing by making the whole brotherhood of muscle commercials and basically making any new F&F movie an ad for Dodge. Also the announcement of an electric muscle car back in August has helped the sales increase as more people want the ICE cars before they get discontinued.
The problem with the Camaro is well put in the article, but it’s also fighting an uphill battle when it comes to sales, the Mustang can really rely on its name alone to do a lot of the heavy lifting (it’s just a more popular nameplate and that’s really reflected in its competitive sales since 1967) plus it’s global influence and it being the best selling sports car in the world helps Ford keep a strong budget for the car. That with Dodge’s efforts put into marketing and making the car more available the Camaro has been doomed for a while now.
Issue 7 black wheels!
Buy some rims
The Camaro nameplate will be back as an EV. Probably with LED rear sequencing turn signal lights like the Stangs.
the mustang was a total hit in 1965 ,camaro came late and with much less style,so the retro look for it was never going to work the same as mustang.maybe a 70s camaro retro or futuristic look would work, anyway too bad like the impala the last may have been the best but not the right time!
I have a 2019 camaro ,it has plenty of room for four adults average hight to 6 ft. 5 in, people who see it love it,visibility isn’t a problem .Also there is plenty of trunk space.I cannot believe the negative things that are written about it.Who says these things and why ? I don’t know why ,but what a car of excellence. Chevy sure has got it right Good Job ! Truly appreciate American Muscle, and it’s for the world to enjoy
Bringing the Camaro to the market three years after the Mustang was a shrewd move. Back in those days, the common car payment was 36 months. As that 36th month approached, people were thinking about a new car.
Presto change oh!
Here comes a new sporty car from Chevrolet.
I believe General Motors could have brought the car out sooner, but I think strategy won the race on that one.
It was just too cramped. Even as a salesman if Chevrolet would have given standard Blind Side indicators and the Rear vision mirror standard it would have helped a lot. The car was just too small even though it would bring a smile to your face. Not every female is single when the children come to play with bulky car seats it just not good. Why would I put my hard earn money into something that first will depreciate and I will get rid of in one to two years. Camaros did not have good lease options because of banks trying to figure out what exactly your using the car for.
Why would a mother with a child car seat buy a Camaro ? That is a ridiculous comparison, this is a sports car not a family car. If you want roominess, you don’t buy a sports car in the first place, Camaro or otherwise. If you were a camping
enthusiast, would you buy a sports car to carry all your gear ? Next time you make a comment, ensure that it makes sense first, and isn’t totally silly.
Because of the looks we have a lot of internet leads for Camaro but it is the test drive that goes south because of the room. It is a great car just not enough room.
All the complaint about visibility are BS, The Corvette is no better. Ill keep mine and have a great car for the money. Dodge is to big and heavy, I’ve had those also but the Camaro is a sports car and that’s what I bought, Muscle car no, that’s an old Chevelle, Cuda, Buick GS etc. Those will not handle like a Camaro and never were supposed to. Enough with the stupid comparisons . Another Mary Barra screw up, give it time GM will be Chinese.
No sports car is
As someone who owned both a Camaro and a corvette C7, I’ll arrest that visibility out of the corvette is substantially better than out of the Camaro.
……I’ll attest to the fact that visibility out of the Corvette is substantially better than that of the Camaro.
The text line just got through mentioning females. The lower models are bought by females. My point is how many females buy the corvette versus males
A muscle car is supposed to be big and heavy…not sure why people keep stating this like it’s a bad thing. If the Challenger and Charger were meant for the track, it’d be different. But that’s not the case. Mustangs and Camaros are more so track cars which proves that Dodge sells the closest to a muscle car than any other brand. My 392 is heavy, yes…but it’s maneuverable enough for my liking. Plus, I’m not trying to take it to the track. If I wanted to do that, I would’ve gotten a Camaro. But…its visibility doesn’t work for me. To each his or her own
What definition says muscle cars are supposed to be big and heavy?
From Miriam Webster:
Definition of muscle car
: any of a group of American-made 2-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving
For that reason I’ve always hated the term “muscle car”. I drive a ‘19 Camaro, and I never liked calling my Camaro a “muscle car”, because people always associated “muscle car” with heavy cars that are ONLY fast in a STRAIGHT LINE. I’ve just always called them “American Sports Cars” because 6th gen Camaros have amazing handling and puts down very good track lap times.
But I’m glad you put that definition there.
GM WILL BE CHINESE AND SO WILL THE COUNTRY.
Right Wing conspiracies knows no limits though we’re talking about the Camaro…..
The One world global playbook is already upon us. Caterpillar is following this with a gaggle of plants in China. Walmart is a retail distribution outlet for the Chinese. Grab your ankles America and bend over. No lubricants offered.
Your shift key is stuck.
You are speaking like a conservative. The problem with your view is that you think that America is for just certain people that is the reason why this country is in this position!
Jeez, they still sell minivans, eh? And America is just for certain people….those that obey the law, immigrate legally and assimilate.
No where did he state that he feels America is just for certain people. He said we are getting taken over by the Chinese…and that is true. They sell us everything, they are buying up our large manufacturing businesses, and buying up large amounts of land.
#1 cheap
#2 ugly
#3 slow
#4 plastic interior
#5 flowtie
#6 gm makes it
What a load of cobblers – except for Point 5. Some advertising would help.
For about $35K, GM is offering fantastic performance and handling that would cost twice or thrice the price anywhere else.
The LT1 gets to 60 in 4.0 seconds flat and his mid-range muscle galore. It’s fantastic!
HERE ARE THE REAL PROBLEMS :
1/ Stupid electric parking brake. Stupid, stupid, stupid…
2/ Stupid electric proximity keys. Just give me a real key, for God’s sake, and spare me the gimmicks.
3/ Stupid electric steering. No feel, no feedback, no fun.
4/ At 75 inches she’s just too wide. In traffic or two laners, just too unwieldy. 3″ narrower would be better.
But….. I’m going hunting for a LT1 – no options please! – as soon as dealers get a few.
SO COULD YOU MAKE A FEW, GM?
I just bought a 2022 Camaro LT1 RS in vivid orange metallic. Perhaps I am in the minority, but I have been in love with the Gen 6 Camaro since it debuted. It is drop-dead gorgeous to me, and that’s all it needs to be. The Gen 5 was a bit “bloated” for my taste (especially the rear end), but otherwise I was glad for the Camaro’s revival. I have been back and forth between Mustang and Camaro my whole life, so I guess I’m a pony car lover for good. There is nothing like the scream of an American V-8 (especially with the dual-mode exhaust)! Yes, the visibility out could be better, but it’s not as bad as I was led to believe. I’m 6′ 2″ tall, but I have plenty of headroom (even with the sunroof), legroom and shoulder room. The back seat is a cruel joke, but who cares? It’s a surprisingly comfortable and smooth highway cruiser, relatively quiet, and easy to drive. I love the LT1’s slight lumpiness at idle – like a caged animal – and the rifle-quick shifts from the 10-speed automatic. It could easily be a daily driver for me, but I’m trying (trying!) to reserve it for occasional use. Overall, it’s made this 60 year old feel like he’s 18 again – if only for a little while. And that what it’s all about for me!
Right on! The car is fantastic to drive. (I have a 2016 SS Camaro). I just recently drove a loaded C8 Corvette…and yes I know the Corvette performs better than my SS, but just from the back roads test drive I had and a few WOT pulls, it did not make me feel bad at all about my SS. Felt pretty similar.
Love my 6th Gen Camaro 2SS Convertible! This is my 5th Camaro and the 6th Gen is the best handling and strongest running (in my experience with older 3rd and 4th Gen Z28’s) of them all. It’s a little cramped in the backseat, but no smaller than the BMW650i convertible I owned a couple of years ago. And the pull of the 455hp LT1 V-8 is way more exhilarating than the BMW V-8 (which was refined and more uncommon, but not exciting like the SS Camaro). It doesn’t matter to me that it’s not the best-selling car of the U.S. pony cars, because I know it’s the best all-around car of the three, as now based on the Alpha platform. As many car magazines have pointed out, the Camaro’s real competition today are various models from BMW, Audi, and other sophisticated imports. I plan to stay with the 6th Gen SS – perhaps with an update to a 2022 MY – for the foreseeable future.
Since the 5th Gen camaro came out , the interior in the new design has been crap. Visibility was horrible and the overall layout was horrible. I’m sorry if this offends anyone but the Mustangs had way way better interiors. I’m a GM fan for life and even I thought the new Camaro interiors we’re trash.
In 2019 I decided I wanted an affordable convertible with a rear seat. So Challenger out of the running. The Camaro lost out due to dull interior design, no trunk space when the top is down, and Hot Wheels exterior design.
So I have a Mustang. Best convertible I’ve ever owned out of 15. If the 2019 Camaro was more like a 67 Camaro it would have been in the running, but a good 67 is hardly affordable.
How much trunk space do you need when the top is down? I had a 2017 convertible, and was able to take my family of 4 on a weekend road trip, with 2 carry-on sized suitcases, 2 duffel bags, and more “luggage” in the trunk with the top down … no problem. I miss my Camaro, and I’m trying to pressure my wife into getting another one now. I never had a problem with the visibility, but then again, my first Camaro was an ’86 Z-28 (which unfortunately had no T-Tops). I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll own another convertible before they actually stop making them again. I do think the styling engineers messed up in 2018, as well as by not listening to people about the difficulty of seeing out of the car. Then again, I couldn’t see the front of my 2019 Silverado either, nor can I see the front of my 2009 G8, my 2018 Cruze, Volt, or 2019 Equinox. Visibility is an issue in EVERY car when you really think about it, just depends upon what you prefer to drive and what’s practical for you.
Very sad.
Chevy has no interest in anything other than Silverados and Suburbans to maximize their revenue and price per unit. Maximum margin but leaves everything else as ignored or phased out. Example: Cruze, malibu, equinox, etc.
Who wants to sit in a dark cave with huge blindspots ?
Don’t forget about the awesome technology they had in the Volt, and the full size truck/SUV Hybrids they had in the mid 2000’s that had better city mpg than most sedans at that time! They have a new vision … or rather Mary has a vision … of an EV world, and you’ll either agree or buy another brand. The technology for EV’s just isn’t there yet when it comes to towing any type of load. Watch the several TFLtruck youtube videos on EV towing ranges versus ICE.
Had a ‘17 Vette Z51. Forward visibility was better than my ‘19 2SS 1LE, but other than that….nope. When GM announced a change for the ‘20 front end I was thinking 57 years in the past. Anyone remember the ‘63 Vette, looked awesome but people hated the rear visibility. Another Chevy one-off, perhaps some value 30-40 years from now….who knows. Give it to my grandkids.
It was the styling.
Some say it looked too much like the 5th gen, but I say it didn’t look ENOUGH like the 5th gen.
The general public loved the 5th gen due to it’s retro design.
The 6th gen forego all of that in favor of a weak, generic, foreign design.
They 86ed the coke-bottle look for a bland design. The rear quarter window shape is awkward. The gap between the rear quarter window and rear shoulder line was too big. The coving on the door opened at the front instead of the back.
I studied transportation design at CCS. The 6th gen design is a disaster.
Most of the 6th gen concepts were way better looking than what was actually released
Being a 50 year Chev/ Camaro owner, I recently rented a 2020 Camaro in Las Vegas and came away with the opinion of who would buy one of these. Was hard to climb in and out of, low visibility, hard to drive in traffic, ugly grill, back seat so small only a small child can sit and a lame ass 4 cylinder. Sorry, the only thing it had going on was the name plate.
I LIKE driving a car (Buciks, & Camaro) BUT park where you have to back out and have 2 SUV/Trucks park on either side of you … by the time the “rear” alarm or camera shows anything, You been hit. I’m 70, my first car was a “used” ’67 Camaro SS (1969) still love Camaros & Vettes, just not getting hit in a parking lot (twice already in 4 yrs)
I only agree with reason 5, 6. GM,s commercials suck all together theses days so they would be better not to market cause they suck! The 5th gen camaro commercials was good, talking about the magna ride and it’s performance. Which in turn got 90 lbs girls to buy it cause of its looks. And the outward visibility wasn’t much different back then and people didn’t care then. The 6th gen Became less of a gimmick and more of a purpose built machine that did better then its nameplate if you ask me. It was a 2+2 corvette which if you ask me is suited with the vette going mid engine. Moving forward do you ignore what the original purpose for the creation of the camaro is for which is to beat the mustang, and literally try to be a mustang and create a car that something for everyone and more practical?
Love my 6th Gen Camaro SS!! Fast and very fun to drive! The convertible eliminates any perceived “visibility” issues, especially with the top down most of the year here in central Florida. I don’t really care how many they sell – if there are fewer on the road, it makes mine that more noticeable.
I’m awfully tired about low visibility comments unless you own one.
What’s funny is that no one has mentioned NASCAR as the Camaro is the Chevy nameplate for the sport. They tried with the SS and screwed that up so making the move to the Camaro along with Ford to the Mustang made total sense. Too bad numerous Chevy wins by big names and big teams couldn’t help the car either.
For whatever reason, Chevy and GM just can’t get this right and shifted attention to the Stingray because why not?
I am not a Ford guy, but if I had the money I would own a Mustang. The Camero just doesn’t ooze the classic look that it needs to survive. It needs to show some heritage. And it just doesn’t.
The interior is strange looking . It doesn’t look classy or expensive.
I agree it’s going away because that’s what gm wants.
How stupid is the lower case gm??! Idiots….
I don’t think GM will survive the future. They or is it she (Mary) has no idea what people want….
And female customers. Well my wife has a Pontiac Solstice and she likes it a lot. It’s small and easy to park.
But even she would take the Mustang over the Camero..
Ed Welburn and company were told by enthusiasts 14 years ago to style the 2010 as a total clone of the 69. We all know what they gave us. And this is a guy who owns a 69. Geez.
Thereafter, enhancements every few years in terms of horsepower and models. They’d have a Challenger on their hands which wouldn’t have been a bad thing, no ?
I always felt the 5.3 would have been a great and economical engine choice for the Camaro but it was never offered.
Love the 6th generation, have owned two of them….a 2017 and a 2021….The camaro is a great car…The one thing is the LT1 base model V8 should have come out a lot sooner priced at $29,995…If that would have come out in 2016 that would have flown off the shelf…The 6th generation camaro was in a couple of movies, but it would have been nice just to see one, “just one” nice Chevy Camaro commercial sort of like the old 1980’s Bob Seger “like a rock” commercials. Belleive me, image through marketing works…I think bringing the Camaro back was Oppeneimer and Ed Welburn’s “baby” and they did bring it back and did a fantastic job! people went crazy. I think the 6th generation needed some more “muscle” to be a muscle car instead of a sports car. if only they could have a 7th generation camaro and combined somehow the 5th and 6th generation they could have come up with something great…Well, how about bringing back the Chevelle? Shape it like the 68-72 models and you would have a big winner!….
Trust GM
Too hard to see out of.
Don’t care. Love my 6th gen 1LT V6. Period.
The Camaro failed because it is pretty hideous looking, and you can’t see out of it, poor materials, and it isn’t doing anything really impressive anymore. Most pople don’t care about a car that goes really fast because it has a huge V8 engine putting out alot of horsepower. People want to go vast in a smaller V6 o 4 cylinder engine with good gas mileage and less emission. And no the Camaro doesn’t outperform the Challenger or the Musang. The Mustang GT with PP goes 0-60 in 3.9 with the auto and low 12s. The Camaro has been dying for years, the Fan boys just keep ignoring the truth about that and keep up with lies about how great of a car it is, and how its a great value. It really isn’t if it was, more people would buy it.
For all you naysayers about the Camaro visibility. Take a look at the link below. Fill in the (dot) with a period. There you’ll see the three competitors in comparison and notice the height of the front side window. On each the heights are nearly identical. The perception of low visibility is the rear window slope. The Camaro is more raked with a higher deck lid. What is certain is the vehicle sits low. While in my Camaro and I’m next to a Challenger or Mustang I’m slightly looking up and the other door belt lines are higher. The roofs are higher. Glass wise they are nearly the same.
www (Dot) motortrend (Dot) com/features/ford-mustang-chevrolet-camaro-dodge-challenger-insurance-prices-premiums/
GM should bring back one plant 4 car lines where by the slow build can be compensated by the faster selling line, Canada built the Autoplex and the USA Corporation did away with it. The bean counters like one plant one line. Open up Canada with the lines that only sell 15,000 a month cars and Trucks as it did for 100 years it worked there.
I have a terrific 2019 Black Camaro SS 6 speed that outruns everything except supercars. With 455 horses and 455 torque it is a really fun car to drive on the street. The seats are quite comfortable as opposed to C7 Vette seats. With 42000 miles I have never had a problem. I have raced Scat Pack Challengers and always won. I paid only $34,300 when new. The value proposition compared to much more expensive supercars is much better. Yes, Chevy Marketing sucks big time. The flow tie sucks but it doesn’t matter. The sill lines are kinda high. The Goodyear tires were terrible, but now the Michelin 4s tires are perfect. So I will buy another one hopefully with an LT2. I think the Engineering has been excellent. My kids are grown so the back seat is fine for my small coolers. I am a computer professional. – Hey Mary building electric cars for California will be a disaster because the grid is not reliable. Collusion with Biden should be illegal! FJB! No electric here.
ONE REASON. GM cheapness and penny pinching! GM missmanagment will spend a dollar to save a dime. Their other position is save a dime now knowing it will cost a dollar later. GM think is what causes problems at GM. The entire entrenched management needs to be flushed and replaced..
Ding Ding Ding
This is the correct answer.
And it needs to start with Mary
Did you see the video of the big over paid fat guy from Ford saying Elon Musk will learn just how hard it is to build cars.
Now Ford is saying they need to watch and learn from Musk…….
Geez…. I hate reading people’s opinions on the camaro or other enthusiast vehicles. Because it’s always the poser writing the article.
First off, the Camaro 1-LT is the musclest muscle car engine out there. It bucks and grunts like a high torque mule. It’s loud and raucous. And it’s powerful.
Adding a nimble race car suspension, that can outperform some 6 figure sports cars at $45k pricing is only a point of contention to morons.
Secondly… I could say that the cheap plastic interior is a sore spot. But the mustang & challenger look like the interior was made with melted G.I. Joe’s. It just seems for some reason, people think that Chevy is supposed to give you a Mercedes interior for that $2k pricing premium. Not saying that ALL the muscle cars need to step up their interiors for the asking prices of all of the muscle car arena. But singling out the camaro is hypocrisy considering the mustang reminds me of 90s hyundai accent in terms of plastic quality. So I can’t see someone buying a mustang or challenger based on this. As cheap looking as the Camaro is, the competition is worse…
The tilted screen. Talk about petty. This is a talking point for a car review in the movie idiocracy. I guess tilted screens boggle people with a 90 IQ that God has gifted them with the ability to make enough money to buy a camaro. It may be odd but it’s one of the most efficient and accurate touch screens on the market. But we can’t talk about that now. We gotta find something wrong!!
NEXT!! Visibility…. what true sports car is open, airy, and highly visible? None. Though the mustang is not, it’s also not as capable as the camaro because they don’t take the same level of risks to achieve the same level of chassis rigidity and suspension geometry at the lower price points. But that said, placing your mirrors properly and ensuring the blind spot option makes this car totally drivable. I’d say the FAIL of Chevy was NOT making BSM standard.
THE LOOKS… So the challenger has looked identical for 14 years but the Chevy is supposed make the Gen 6 space ship that still looks and feels like a muscle car. The American market is so finicky. It’s no wonder Europe and Asia doesn’t sell us their best models. Who wants to hear a bunch of overweight, overprivileged, elitists that eat fast and frozen food all year complain about car quality. It’s an oxymoron for even my red blooded American arse. The dribble is boring.
Let’s really get to why the camaro has failed.
1. Too optimistic pricing in the overall market. All car companies overpriced cars. What ends up selling the car, is the dealership service and pricing. And finally… their willingness to honor warranties. GM is famous for dealers being uncooperative and unhelpful when a warranty issue occurs. This is where Chevy loses 50% of its repeat customers.
2. Poor feature packaging structures and overpriced options. Too much nickel and dimming and not enough features on the base cars.
The 1ss interior needs to be the base interior for all cars. Mustang doesn’t do that so Ford eliminated the alienation from the interior side of things. The 7″ and 8″ screen gimmick. You pay thousands more for a couple hundred dollars in improvements.
3. Overzealous pricing for the most desired 1le package. Once a 5k upgrade is now nearly an 8k upgrade.
No one is expecting to pay more than 50k for a top line SS which would add 1le to a 2SS. 45K for a 1SS.
V6 camaros going for over 40k… Who wants a 40k v6 muscle car??? The options at 40k over a v6 camaro are ridiculous.
And lastly, they did not do enough to get a good sound out of the 4 cylinder turbo, nor provide good aftermarket support for the turbo 4
When you add in poor corporate decision making. Abandoning combustion engine enthusiasts and not marketing the camaro properly. Yes, no one wants to buy an enthusiast car with a questionable future of support, when mustang and challenger are actually supporting the culture. So despite the cars being inferior to the camaro. The enthusiast culture is more grounded in mustang and dodge.
That’s where Chevy failed. Also why nissan has struggled as well. Just throwing that in…
The product doesn’t sell itself these days. People are drones and need to be brainwashed into buying your product. Having a superior product is not good enough.
Lastly. GM sold out to political hacks… AGAIN.
END OF STORY!
Ismael Rivera, terrific analysis and comment on the demise of the famed Camaro. A++
BTW: EV’s are not the cure for climate improvement. It’s the over population of the planet with eight billion+ souls, and all the ancillary support thereof. As Albert Einstein stated, ” Energy is neither created nor destroyed.”
Wow another smart person …..
Yes this planet is severely over populated
And that is why it is in so much trouble..
But when you tell people that they get angry…..
I think it’s a religious thing…
Just 2 countries in this world make up over half the population…
World population is increasing exponentially, meaning the higher the population growth, the faster it rises. 8 billion now will rise to double that in short order. It took all of human existence up to 1950 to reach
2.5 billion souls on earth, and witness what’s happened since then.
The planet Earth cannot sustain such growth indefinitely, and as with any natural ecosystem, will reduce the numbers until it can support
a given level of population. Religion won’t fix it, little will, except natural
forces. Anger will be a waste of time and energy.
You are on the money with your points
Especially when it comes to GMs reputation about warranty work.
Pricing is ridiculous too.
I hope they don’t do what Ford did and come out with a Camaro E…….
Back in the day no one could touch GM when it came to innovation.
GM was first with most all options.
Back in the 80s The Camaro and Firebird were the hot ticket items.
I had an 83 Firebird… known as kitt, from knight Rider….. Yes they weren’t high HP But they were gorgeous…..
Ford nor Dodge had anything that looked as good.
But what happened at GM ? They have lost there way….
GM killed Camaro sales by not EVER advertising it. I have had a 5th gen 2SS and 2 6th gen 2SS and I absolutely LOVE the cars. Most of the criticisms I hear about the car do not ring true at all. They sound like people repeating someone else’s lies about the car. I currently drive a 2020 2SS with 10 speed transmission and it is the best driving and performing car I have ever owned, hands down. I hate to think about this line being killed off over ignorance and a failure by GM to advertise the car in any way. As far as calling it ugly, I get more compliments about how beautiful the car is than any other car I’ve owned. It is FAR from ugly. What car are you all looking at???
SIX THINGS THAT WENT WRONG WITH THE 6TH GEN; OPINION
1 Mary Barra
2 Designers
3 EV bs
4 No Camaro advertising
5 GM totally lost touch with consumer and apparently doesn’t care
6 Trucks, trucks, trucks
Don’t forget to include SUVs, SUVs, and more SUVs ! That’s not only GM
as we should all know by now. This has to be the most boring era in vehicle design history.
Expensive low tier models never stopped people who wanted them bad enough. There are the performance enthusiasts to cater to for sure, and all the points raised above have their merits to certain degrees, but I think we can single out the major factor.
The outward appearance of the base models.
The current high end (mostly out of reach for the average consumer) Camaro models are the idealized version to get, but when I look at the base models, they just seem unacceptably terrible. I bet if GM flipped the design to where the higher end cosmetic stylings were the base model, more folks would get on board, especially the hugely underestimated female demographic.
Personally, I don’t like this latest gen trend of making the Camaro look like they hired ex-Honda designers. What happened to the distinctive design body lines? Why do the taillights look about as generic as they can possibly be? GM shouldn’t be keeping up with the crowd in the looks department. They should be ahead of them.
My ‘19 2SS 1LE was the best handling car I’ve ever owned, and I had a ‘17 C7 Z51 with a 7 speed. The Vette’s ass end would get jittery when pushed close to it’s limits in the corners. The Camaro was planted and was astonishing through the corners. 285s up front and 305s in the rear definitely helped. It had alcantara shifter, wheel and Recaro seats, blind spot monitors and one of the best HUD systems. PDR was cool too. Having a sunroof eliminated the whole claustrophobic, sitting in a cave thing. Ya there was some plastic pieces but when I’m blasting through S bends at 160kph (Canadian Eh) and not even sensing wheel slippage, to me that’s a hell of a trade off. Watch Throttle House, they compare a 1LE to a GT with the PP2 package and they like the Camaro better except the visibility. Plus the Camaro whooped it’s ass in the track test.
I love my 17 RS 3.6. I plan to add an SS in two years, to the garage. Perks of no kids.
I will admit I think its the styling of the 2019+ (they took all of the sharp lines out of the front), pricing, and interior storage.
Otherwise, fantastic car.
Biggest problem: Mary B.
Compared to the Dodge Challenger and Charger, the Camaro is tight on the inside with no rear seat roo at all.
Why is the Camaro (and GM – for that matter) dying?
One reason:
Mary Barra (and her “leadership”).
Durability, reliability, styling, materials, engine offerings, and pricing have ALL gone in the wrong direction ever since she has become CEO.
Argue if you wish (you’ll lose) but the numbers don’t lie.
Sales are in the toilet – Even before COVID.
Styling is not keeping up except for a few models (trucks, Corvette)
Materials (plastics) are often considered the worst of all manufacturers.
GM is among, if not the worst in reliability/durability issues – short and long-term.
The new vehicles and “reimagined” models are off-the-mark at best and, more often than not, are dead on arrival.
The engine offerings are anemic at best – A sea of underpowered, unreliable 4 cylinders are replacing V6s and the V8 engines that have been the staple of GM for going on 70 years.
A 4 cylinder full-size pickup truck ?!?!?!!!!
(Ford tried it, their Ecoboost trucks & SUVs were/are junk) – Way to pay attention to the market, Mary…..🤦🏻♂️
I love the 6th gen Camaro, and I think it’s the greatest Camaro ever made. I love the fact that it’s evolved into a SPORTS CAR. Calling a Camaro a “Muscle Car” is almost an insult to how good it is. Muscle Car means only fast in a straight line. Sports car means it’s track capable. The 2019 to current facelift looks great, and brings back the retro look from the 2010 Camaros, and I prefer it way more than the 2016-2018 models. I love my 6th gen Camaro, and I can’t wait to see the 7th gen.
Keep the retro styling. Keep it a sports car, and NOT a muscle car. The one reason that makes the Camaro better than any other American sports car, is the AMAZING handling that comes with it. I don’t care about what the general mass of the haters say, I absolutely LOVE the 6th gen Camaro, and is one of the greatest sports cars ever made.
As my last new car(04 Monte Carlo) fades into rust world, I ordered a 21 RS.. after 6 months I was told my order became a 22 RS.. now I’m told maybe may or June, or maybe never.. I like the car, faults and all, and am willing to pay 40g,,, and I still can’t get a car?..F… suv s and trucks…will nascar go to racing suv s? Ohhh , can’t wait
“No visibility”, – that`s what side view mirrors are for. In my opinion, that Camaro roof looks great, sitting low respective to the body. Sitting inside, the windows are like gun slits, so what, it`s COOL!
I have a Riverside Blue Camaro 3.6 with the Tremec 6 speed manual. 6.8k. I bought it to race it. I added an Edelbrock E-Force Supercharger and a Bilstein B-14 PSS system. I took it to Universally Modified Performance. They totally added a custom tune with 468RWHP. That’s 518 SAE Horsepower. I added a SS splitter, SS diffuser, SS tailights including blacked out 3rd light. A 30% tint, Pioneer powered subwoofer TS-WX1210A
Let me tell you. It is damn scary to keep ypur foot in it. Drive Carefully.
I have loved owning 6 generations of the Camaro. Yes I agree the Camaro is lacking in sales indeed. The Camaro is going away in 2024. I have seen pictures of a concept 7th generation Camaro. If GM decides to build a new Camaro and its a mid engine design built to look a MCCLAREN racecar its going to smoke the hell out of Challenger and Mustang sales. Hell GM build one thats EV and a Hybrid while your at it. And if your going to build a new Camaro thats looks like a racecar make sure its mid engine design has 800 HP. Now that the the Camaro will be gone in 2024 are they planning to bring back a Retro 69-70 Chevelle? Well Guys and Gals I guess we will all have to wait and see what GM does. GM get it right this time.
love the 6th generation. ive owned a 2017 4cyl then i traded it in for 2021 camaro v6, both great cars, both fun to drive, no problems with visibilyt or anything…the real problem is that it lost its “muscular” look, go to a camaro show and just “look” at a 5th generation and 6th generation sitting next to each other…I love the alpha platform and what the 6th generation offers, but man, the 5th generation is just muscular and awesome. it was heavier, but hey it had a hand brake, nice wheels, nice look, had the camaro name written on the side, it was just a great looking car. the 6th is great, but too sleek….if they could have somehow just left the 5th geneartion alone and let its body style go for 15 years the camaro would be the top seller and crush the challenger and mustang…look at the challenger and still musclar, and they have over 18 exterior color options as well…if the camaro could have just had exterior color options and stayed muscular there would never be this conversation…if they could somehow have a 7th geneartion camaro combining the 5th and 6th together, take the muscular look of the 5th and the enginnerring of the 6th they could have the best car out there….
I’ll add my analysis as I have owned and driven mote F bodies than anyone who doesn’t work for a car magazine.
It’s ugly.The retro styling is a fad with a shelf life of roughly 2 months.Then it’s a caricature.
It’s overweight.Obvious when the 6th gen needed 130 plus horsepower to finally out run a 2002 SS or WS6
GM uses Porsche’s option pricing as in one needs to oder a package for 1 desirable item that also includes alot of unessasary tech options that do nothing for the driving g experience and everything to add thousands of dollars to an already overpriced vehicle. It’s a Camaro, for years many came with crank windows but you didn’t mind cause you wanted the acceleration and handling..
Finally. ..the Transformers movie drove up interest in the car just like the IROC and Ram Air packages were introduced. Once that subscided,all but the dedicated GM fans lost interest in the ge hicken overnight.
Honestly, you sound like someone who never drove the 6th gen and can’t catch up with inflation to afford one.
I’ll give you this much, the current pricing has gone out too far. A 1SS in my opinion is worth about 37,000 and a 2SS is worth 40,000 and with a 1LE pkg I’d say 5,500 on each corresponding model is good enough. Their 50k pricing is a stretch in terms of quality.
But I own a 2SS with breather mods and a 1LE suspension upgrade and have beat everything I’ve raced except a GTR and a modified M3v8.
Being an former owner of several imports I found the 6th gen camaro SS to handle far superior to any car of its past. Maybe it could use a more consistent automatic transmission, like a DCT, And if it weighed a straight 3600 lbs it would’ve been optimum.
But the mag ride suspension was often compared to Ferrari for its vastly different mode settings. I agree as I’ve driven a 458. While I’m not ready to compare the 2 in overall driving experience. There’s no way a camaro drives like a Ferrari. But what it does do is achieve the same differences in road agility thru a mag ride technology. Both cars can drive soft and compliant. Then turn it up and it’s stiff and nimble.
The camaro has nothing in its price range that outperforms it at the moment. Not even the old mustang gt350 with an 80k price tag could out handle the SS. Jump to a 1LE and it got destroyed from a handling perspective. It’s built on a cadillac chassis which was 2nd in stiffness only to an Alfa Romeo Giulia and its hp to tq ratio kept the car in its power band in every gear at every RPM.
I’m not going to knock your favorite cars, they were good in their day. But even then, JDM cars had a better advantage in handling. What I will say though, your perception of the 6th gen clearly either comes from ignorance, hate or just trolling?
Enjoy your car. Have a goodnight.
How many of you see a late 1960s Camaro and say wow that thing is so cool looking ?
And how many say the same today? Not many.
The Camero just doesn’t have the look of the original car.
Today’s Mustang still looks good. I still do a double take. Especially if it has the muscular look of the Boss ect.
The Camero just doesn’t have the look anymore.
And Mary doesn’t give a crap because it’s not a Cadillac or EV.
Dump Cadillac and bring back PONTIAC. Pontiac was the division for the masses
Bring back MANUAL transmissions
Bring back GM
Dump Mary
The latest mistake with the 6th gen is the $1800 price hike. I was going to try and get into one before they killed it, but it looks that’s not going to happen now. Hope the new mustang is nice.
Latest issue is an $1800 price hike. Hello Mustang , here I come.
The reason the 6th gen Camaro lost in sales to the Mustang or Challenger is because YOU didn’t buy one. For every non-Camaro-owner who’s out there complaining, how about put your money where your mouth is. If the Camaro gets cancelled after 6th gen, that’s because YOU didn’t buy one. Camaro 6th was an excellent sports car, the best handling one, and the one who puts down the fastest track lap times. We vote with our money. If there ends up being a 7th gen Camaro, thank you to everyone who spent their hard earned money on a 6th gen, you are the reason the Camaro name lives on.
We’ll if you can tell me where to pick up a 4cyl with a manual for the price of a corrola, let me know, I’ll run over and pick it up.
well right now there is a shortage, so if you order one it might take a while for you to get one. But a new Toyota Corolla hatchback XSE costs $32k cad. New Honda Civic hatchback is $38k cad. You can get a base 2.0T Camaro with a 6 speed manual for less than that.
Used car prices right now are abnormally high, so I’m only comparing new to new. A base Camaro starts below $30k cad.
Just announced GM plans to build a Camaro All Electric Performance 4 door sedan. There are hints of a new platform Camaro. It may be a mid engine design like the C8 Corvette. We will have to wait and see what GM decides. In other news in 2024 the Camaro goes away. Hints are they may decide to build a 69-70 Chevelle Restomod to replace the outgoing Camaro. One can only hope.
I will just go ahead and say it. This article is horrible and whoever wrote it needs to get a real job.
I bought a ZL1 Camaro because it is a better all around fun to drive performance car then Mustangs and Challengers . Every time I read unbiased reviews of the Camaro vs. the others the results are always that the Camaro just kicks ass . Never had a problem with visibility and I love the tight cabin , I feel like I’m in a freakin missile . I don’t want to feel like I’m driving a big boat and I dont care about the size of the trunk and lack of back seat functionality. I bought this car to have fun in and not for trips to the grocery store . Cheap interior materials ? Who cares , I’m glad the money was spent on performance instead of a fancy interior to keep the cost affordable.