Corvette and Camaro back in the UK

[Andy]

Corvette and Camaro will once again be sold in the UK. The Corvette in most models while the Camaro will only be available in the SS variety.

Should also be a bit cheaper than the importers!

http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=22120\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=22120

[Titsy]

[philoldsmobile]

the camaro will be widely panned for being left hand drive, interior build and likely the handling (there is little scope for it being especially good with the setup it has, especially as its a heavy ol' brute) but testers will love the engine and looks. definitely a cool car.

the Vette will be hailed as a supercar bargain, but the LHD will again stop it flying out of the showroom, it really is that big a deal for UK buyers.

given the sales potential of both cars in Aus. and N.Z. you'd think right hand drive would be a no brainer..

*holds head in hands* why chevy, WHY?...... its so obvious what needs to be done, you're *so* nearly there but you've screwed it up again.....as Del Amitri say, the needle returns to the start of the song, and we all sing along as before..

even small manufacturers like Lamborghini have the sense to know that even though they are selling some of the most desirable cars in the world, THEY STILL HAVE TO BE RIGHT HAND DRIVE IN THE U.K.

[Gator]

so you wont be buying either coz of the left hand drive then

[F Body]

I think the Camaro will sell in small numbers, but £106K for a ZR1 Corvette is taking the pee

[philoldsmobile]

seriously? that is exactly how a lot of potential buyers will see it.

given the Vette is likely to cost about £50k, many will look at it, like it, then scurry off for a 6 month old Porsche cayman

even Stevie Wonder can see that...

[philoldsmobile]

Quoting: F Body

but £106K for a ZR1 Corvette is taking the pe

F*CK ME!!!!!!!!!!!



Who's willing to bet sales figures wont top 20 a year!

[HardRockCamaro]

Given that the Camaro has independent suspension I'm not sure what you mean by it's setup being a problem?

And I don't blame them for not making RHD versions.  They made RHD Cadillacs and I doubt the resulting sales covered the tooling costs...

If someone wants a Mustang (or Vette) then they will take it in LHD, just as many people bought LHD Audi TT's and Smart Cars.

I don't think the lack of RHD will be the reason for poor market share, more a combination of factors (relatively high price compared to the US, public perception of US cars, high fuel bills, relatively poor interior quality compared to European cars and so on).

While the Monaro was highly regarded, RHD and cheap it didn't exactly et the world alight in terms of sales figures compared to say the M3 or Audi RS6...

[philoldsmobile]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

Given that the Camaro has independent suspension I'm not sure what you mean by it's setup being a problem?

tall, long throw suspension, small brakes, and budget components. the camaro should have had independent suspension when the 4th gen was introduced, GM are 20 years behind the game.

the Vette will suffer with LHD, as its supposed to be competing with porsche in particular. its a good car in its own right, but its never going to compete with porsche on many levels, not least of which being LHD

badge prestige and build will be other big vices, Porsche really do screw their cars together well, and from top notch materials.

[Gator]

blah blah yadda yadda

yawn

[philoldsmobile]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

While the Monaro was highly regarded, RHD and cheap it didn't exactly et the world alight in terms of sales figures compared to say the M3 or Audi RS6...

and what were its biggest failings against those two? build quality and badge prestige.

unfortunately, they are about the two most important factors in selling high end cars, and nothing is going to change that. a 'pretender' coming in (and coming in from a nation that is less than popular in the eyes of a lot of people in this country) with a car thats too 'self righteous' (how it will be perceived) to be configured for our market is never leaving on the right foot.

the C6 is an excellent car, no doubt about it, but very very few have been sold here, because its seen by the people who buy that type of car as being too cheap, too 'in yer face', and left hand drive. cant ignore its definitely going to cost them a lot of customers.

I don't think Porsche or Maserati are going to be very worried.

[HardRockCamaro]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

tall, long throw suspension, small brakes, and budget components. the camaro should have had independent suspension when the 4th gen was introduced, GM are 20 years behind the game.

GM *were* 20 years behind, I'd hardly say they are 20 years behind now.

As for tall suspension, the travel is 84mm.  I don't know how that compares to European sports cars.

355mm discs are hardly small brakes especially when squeezed by 4 piston Brembo Callipers.

I think your opinion Phil is based on much older cars and is not giving GM a fair go here.  This false information, both in people's minds and passed around is what is hurting Detroit right now.  You assume the car has small brakes, it does not, but you would merrily pass that on to other people who don't know American cars very well as if it were fact.  Journalists are doing the same thing, it's all based on past experience as opposed to giving current vehicles a fair go.  The same happened in reverse with Toyota.  They were given the benefit of the doubt and all sorts of things overlooked by the journos whereas the latest creation from Detroit would be presumed to be bad and the journo would hardly give the car a fair go having already made their mind up before even seeing it or driving it.  Detroits fault for lacklustre cars in the past?  Absolutely.  But hardly fair or professional journalism.

But yes, badge prestige is important in Europe and is why Lexus doesn't sell anywhere as well as BMW, whereas in the US the reverse is true as they go by what is measurably better, which would generally be the Lexus over the BMW and this is borne out by the US sales charts which see Lexus walking all over BMW.

Porsche don't have anything to worry about, or Maserati although only because they appeal to very different customers.  In terms of sales volume Maserati is very niche indeed in the UK.

[HardRockCamaro]

As a case in point, journalists and car enthusiasts over here are keen to point out how good the magnetic damping systems in Ferrari (and now also VW) are.  An expensive but very worth upgrade, a "must have".

Neither seem to know (or at least won't admit) that the technology is licensed from Delco in the USA and was designed for Cadillac.  Even Top Gear admitted it was great when they took that CTS-V through the twisty's in Nevada.  Shame they didn't point out that it is the original whereas most people think it's a Ferrari innovation.

Superior handling suspension coming from the USA?  Can't possibly admit to that...