New Chevrolet Commercial

[droptop62]

If you haven't seen the new chevrolet commercial on TV, you shoul go to their website and check it out.
The full 2 minute version is awesome.
Then again I am partial to the Chevelle at the end.
Check it out.
http://www.chevrolet.com/index_home.html
:cheers

[ss409cid]

It is good, but it must have been on TV 50 times yesterday....SS

[droptop62]

With the money they put out for the commercial you'll probably see alot more of it.

[Ed51]

It is a cool commercial,but you gotta ask yourself if there is any car that Chevrolet is currently marketing ( excluding the 'vette or trucks) that you would be enthusiastic about buying? It's a pretty dreary selection,to me they are ALL the latest rehash of the 1980 Citation.Yecchh!
GM should take page from Mopars history...68 Road Runner. Low cost V8 RWD performance. Yeah!

[droptop62]

There really isn't any car I would be interested in made by any manufacturer today. I love the new trucks, but not any cars.
It has been a long time since I have been excited about a newer car.
None the less, The SSR is interesting, (wouldn't want one)
The New Corvette is appealing but (wouldn't want one).
But it is still CHEVROLET, and you have to hope they will one day again build cars that are worth remembering.

[jim_ss409]

Check out this Chevy Talk thread to see the new Vette and new 3 valve heads. You've got to scroll down a few posts to see the car. http://www.chevytalk.org/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=678954&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&fpart=1

[Fran Preve]

New Corvette came off super in commercial. Feathured in this weeks Autoweek and this months Motor Trend, big articles (I haven't read yet. Did note 2 valve heads however, I think 3 valvers wil be found on new Z06 when it come out, 500 hp. Personally, ya, it's better, I didn't think I'd like it but seems to look good. Wife has 79 L-82, I have 85 coupe. Sell both, then put $25,000 with that money and by a C6. I don't think so.

You missed one from Chevy, 2 door Blazer Xtreme, mine's in school bus yellow, down another 2 inches, Torque Thrust D's, 7's front 8's rear. No it's not a world beater, but it looks neat and gets out of it's own way. Not much other than that that turns me on. But the new Malibuis a helluva nice car for the money!.

[tmracing62]

The ad is creative and got my attention the first few times. At least they used Steppenwolf (sort of) and not the Beach Boys for the music like on that Impala ad. Somebody needed to be fired for that one.

I thought the SSR was kind of cool, sort of like a worked 51 pickup, until I saw it up close. It's kind of a bubble gummer's truckette and way too cutsie. Too complicated and lots of stuff and gadgets to go wrong. The marketing idea for the Signature Series is a good one though. Taking them on a road trip and picking up neat stuff and making an album of the trip.

Remembering that new cars have to meet some pretty tough standards, mostly passed by politicians that don't know diddly, I suppose an unpredictable car has to turn out so predicably as this one. They are aiming at kids with money. They need to build something with balls, lose the jellybean look and market to people that remember what a car should be. It could be done and I feel sorry for the designers and engineers that have to use so many cookie cutter ideas to keep misguided management and the execs happy. We are unfortunately in the Fordoletmoparondazuki era of automobiles.

[walkerheaders]

she's real fine, my 4.9, my 4door, dual cup holder, front drive 4.9

i'm glad i'm a caveman and still riding a dinosaur.

[Dan Hunt]

I was at the SEMA show where I saw lots of interesting fords and mopars.Chevrolet had all the new motors with lots of power but nothing to put them in.I just can't see a new FWD Impala with the LS6 in it.
Dan

[Fran Preve]

First time I saw SSR up close I thought it was WAY to big, this after arguing with a guy at work about the 4700 lb weight. Then he saw one too, ya, every bit of 4700, 15.8 1/4 mile, so it's a DOG. Isn't performance, useless as truck, $10,000 plus over priced. Like the T-bird, loser all around. Wife just came home, said she saw a red one on road, white haired guy driving it, said it SOUNDED cool, but agrees it's butt ugly. I told white haired guys only ones that can afford it.

You like sharp edges, you'll love '05 Mustang, very retro, kinda neat, Camro and F-bird in '05 MUCH better looking, quicker too. Oh, I forgot, GM dropped out. That said, computer sketches in Hot Rod (?) of some guys idea of a new retro Camaro spot on, anyone see those?. GM should hire him!.

[tripowerguy]

I saw a news story on the new Pontiac GTO. Fantastic performance but it looks like a Grand Am. If they could have put a little thought in the styling it would be an alright car. The problem is that the design departments are in lockstep. No one has any guts to make something that the public wants. The reason that the pickups are hot sellers is they have a frame and are rear wheel drive. They also have V-8's. My wife has a front drive car and she loves it but I don't drive it unless I have to. Chevrolet makes rear drive V-8's but they're Austrailian. I want to know why Chevrolet likes them better than us. Maybe it is because they make Foster's. :D Roy

[JokersBel]

The worst part about any NEW car with ANY appealing characteristics, is that you have to BUY your right to BUY one. (Unless you reserve one early enough)

My dad was delivering mail to the For# dealership a little while back (when the Thunderbird was the one to be had) and during the couple minutes he was there, the price rose from $41000 to $45000. I don't know of any kids able to buy anything like that. Cripe, the trucks are rediculously priced too. It is a TRUCK people. No wonder so many are buying imports, you get a darn good car for the price. i will admit to "looking" at a Toyota Solara last week, $18000 start, now what does Chevy have to compete? The Cavalier Z? (for looks and performance) Nah, that Toyota will last a lifetime! Chevy has been boring for quite some time. My brother-in-law , the die-hard bowtie fan, just bought a new Chevy truck and admits it is ugly and some $32000 even after his GM discount. Oh well, i'll just stick with my 76 Burban...Jim

[Rockfish39]

Originally posted by tmracing62
It's kind of a bubble gummer's truckette and way too cutsie. Too complicated and lots of stuff and gadgets to go wrong. .

Wife and I went to the new car and truck show in Orlando, FL near Thanksgiving time..

I agree with you ... Its even worse, you have to get out of the vehicle and manually lift up the toneau on the back to put anything behind the driver's seat...

Bel Air Concept Car: Upside down red blob that has no recognizable features what-so-ever

YUK!!!!!!

Im not a Ford guy, BUT.. new GT40???? WAY COOL CAR !!! and IT LOOKS like a 1967 Series-II...

[dq409]

Yep !! and today in the paper GM says they are " focusing on building cars that people "just-gotta-have-one" type looks !!

HUH??,,,,, WHAT?? ,,,Where???

They started out talking about the new Corvette and the SSR but what else do they think they build that "you just gotta have"?
Then they talk about building cars that LOOK like Chevies ,,,,cars that stand out and you know they are Chevies !!

Again,,,,HUH ???? ,,,,,,WHAT????,,,,Where????

Now if they build a Camaro like that 19 year old kid in Calif designed and powered it up,,,, THAT one I would have to have !!

But,,, We`ll get a car like the SS Sedan De-Crap that they have the balls to call an SS !!,,,,dq :cuss

[Fran Preve]

It gets worse, now they're planning two new atrocious looking "retro" truck/wagons", PT Cruiser wanna be's that aren't.
I don't know where Lutz is coming from anymore. That said, their concept "Nomad"'s hit the mark, even tho' FWD. Look at it this way, new Impala SS will go into the mid to high 14's with a couple of bolt on's. Not that bad compared to the muscle cars of the 60's.

[oil4kids]

Sorry Fran

Why oh Why did Chevy drop the best 4 door hotrod they ever made???
A few years ago, I bought a 1996 unmarked 9C1 Caprice with the LT1 with 99,000 miles on it at a police auction after taking one out for a test drive. This is by far the best all around family car anyone could ever own. Its very fast, like an old big block muscle car, gets very good gas mileage stops great with 4 wheel fact antilock disc brakes and fact sway bars heavy duty everything including frame. has 169,000 on it now and dont miss a beat. Just when Chevrolet comes up with a real winner they stop producing it. Then they drop the Camaro. Did you ever drive a police 9c1 Camaro-It was beyond belief!! It would put a smile on every face.

And they want us to buy the present day Impala? Give me a break- maybe I would if they put Hilborn fuel injection on it and stick the injector stacks through the hood.

Bring Back a real Impala SS with real wheel drive and a real LS1 or 8.4L V8. Some thing that you could drive a Nascar event with out changing the entire drive train from FWD to RWD.

Everyone is sleeping in the design and engineering department and we dont even realise it.

Just venting!



http://www.modernracer.com/features/chevroletcamarocop.html

[JokersBel]

I agree with you Oil4kids, about the Caprice and its performance/reliabilty...BUT...

they are just FUGLY!~ We all call them Tuna Boats around here, for obvious aesthetic reasons. haha I've considered buying one many times, but I just can't get by the looks. The looks that Chevrolet keeps trying to change for the better and sludges it all up!

[oil4kids]

Joker,

I know its dog ugly but like any moster you can get to like it. I actually hated the redesigned caprice in 91, Like Scotty from Star Trek once said "every woman has there own beauty- you just have to know where to find it"

Here's more info from some website

9C1 is home to the LT1 350 engine (supposedly a 'corporate' engine, but give us a break, it's a small-block Chevy), derived from the LT1s used in the Corvette. (This motor is radically different from, and should not be confused with, the early-70's "LT-1" motors Chevy used to build!) GM used a different camshaft in the Caprice than in the Corvette, bringing maximum horsepower down from 305 to 260, but adding more torque in the process. The Caprice LT1 also got iron heads (essentially Vortec heads with an intake bolt pattern unique to the LT1) rather than the aluminum heads of the 'Vette's LT1 (but which outflow the aluminum pieces by 20cfm!), and a two-bolt block instead of the 4-bolt 'Vette motor. These motors were options for the civilian Caprice, but they were limited by the computers to 105mph. The police cars generally have no such restriction, and at stock power levels are drag-limited to a 139mph top speed. A number GM used to proudly publicize.

The LT1 itself is a marvel of engineering. GM realized that compression could be raised without detonation/knock problems if the cool water from the radiator was first routed to the heads instead of to the cylinder water jacket. This required a redesign of the block, heads, and intake manifold, but resulted in a 'reverse-flow' cooling system which provides superior engine cooling. (Who else can run 10.5:1 compression on 87 octane without knocking?) Along the way, they redesigned the water pump to be driven off the camshaft rather than by a serpentine belt. This adds reliability to the pump (since bearings are no longer side-loaded, they last longer) and to the car itself (since the car can run without overheating even if the serpentine belt is lost). Because the coolant enters through the heads and returns directly to the water pump, the coolant crossover pipe in the intake manifold can be eliminated.

There are other features in the engine compartment besides the motor that set the 9C1 apart from the civilian Caprice. The coolant hoses are made of 100% silicone rubber, will last the lifetime of the car, and have a truly unique bright green color. The hose clamps are 100% stainless steel and have solid backings to prevent the hose from extruding through the slots. Auxiliary engine oil, transmission oil, and power steering coolers help keep essential lubricants cool during high-speed pursuits. The lower air dam was redesigned to direct air flow to the front brakes, keeping them cooler and free of dust.

Behind the motor is a 4L60E 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission (the latest rendition of the venerable TH700-R4) with a 0.7:1 ratio overdrive. The 9C1 (and Impala SS) can run at high speeds in overdrive, unlike the civilian Caprice, which will downshift to third gear. The torque converter has a higher-than-stock stall speed, and the shift characteristics are also reprogrammed for more performance. The motor itself breathes through a true dual-exhaust system - each side has its own cat, muffler, and resonator. Power is transmitted through a limited-slip 'posi' rear end with 3.08:1 gears.

The chassis is also different. The frame for the 9C1 Caprice (and the derivative Impala SS) is made from a thicker gauge of steel than the civilian Caprice. In addition, body/frame bushings are present at all 14 body/frame mounting points (on the civilian Caprice and Impala SS, GM left out three pairs of bushings), resulting in less body roll. The springs are also much stiffer, as are the stock Bilstein shocks. You can't see them through the steel wheels, but there are disc brakes at all four corners of the car, with the front calipers wearing thicker pads than the civilian Caprice and Impala SS. You can, however, see the beefy rear anti-sway bar hanging below the rear axle.

The 9C1 wears steel wheels since because of the rear disc brakes, standard Caprice rims will not fit the rear axle. (The Impala SS copes by going to alloy 17" rims.) The strength of the steel wheels, though, combined with the stiff suspension, LT1 power, and heavy-duty cooling, give the 9C1 a towing capacity of 5000 pounds. (Because of the softer suspension and alloy rims, the Impala is rated at 2000 pounds, though many Impala owners swap rims with the 9C1 units and tow much heavier loads.)

The interior bears some differences too. Law enforcement agencies had a fair amount of variety in selecting interior packages, and I got what is probably pretty representative of the common selections. The front bucket seats are made with heavier cloth and thicker foam to hold up better to wear, and with armor plate in the backs to prevent occupants from being stabbed. The rear bench seat, though is vinyl, and the floor is covered in black rubber in lieu of carpet. In addition to the stock dome light, there's also a 'ticket-writing' light located up front. There's a switch on the dash to turn off the dash lights.

Speaking of interior lights, the cars ship with the dome light disabled at the door switches. The rear door linkages also ship in a state of incompleteness, and the window switches aren't hooked up at all. The passenger seat also sits on a factory bracket which offsets it to the right just enough for an aftermarket police console to fit in between the front seats.

All this adds up to a pretty quick car for its size. In stock form, I've run a best (uncorrected) 1/4 mile time of 15.875@87.75 mph Keep in mind that this is a 4200+ lb. beast

I changed the waterpump and platinum plugs at 135,000m and starter at 167,000miles.

[JokersBel]

The 9C1 reminds of the Trek saying when Kirk says to Scottie and he replies back, "Keep her together while I'm gone," "I always do." Sounds like a great car, reliable AND durable.

There is a local who has a 9C1 frame and drive under a 40's Ford convertible. I now understand his choice. Thanks for the great information...oh, didn't the law enforcement cars have only one key for ALL locks and ignition?

Jim

[Rockfish39]

Well written Oil4 !!!

I enjoyed reading your essay on the 9C1...

Those '94-'96 "B" bodies: (Caprice, Roadmaster, Fleetwood) were kinda ugly, but you're right, they did have the right stuff underneath the skin...

Unfortunate that here we are ten years later...

... and the GM offerings just continually get worse and worse.

An interesting side note: The Clarke Ave Plant (home of Fleetwood for 60 consecutive years) was demolished 3 weeks after the last '96 rolled off the line...Cadillac has not made a full-sized formal car since.

Lutz ended an era... All the old legacy nameplates were scrapped and replaced with new three letter designations.

The new XLR??? Didnt we learn something with the Allante???
It wont be able to compete with M5 BMW at $75K a pop

Those bean counters in Detroit are simply not listening...





:rolleyes:

[dq409]

bUT,,,,tHIS IS WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE,,,
http://dq409.com/Cool_Cars/IMAG019A.JPG

[oil4kids]

dq

Those photos are very interesting! Im sure GM would have never offered them, there out to lunch....., It would have put the other Big 2 under duress. They would have sold like hotcakes and GM is obviously not interested in making millions of dollars in the process. There on a whole other agenda. One which I have not figured out yet. It could be that the Arlington Plant in Texas- was too good at what they were doing.

[Fran Preve]

Interesting posts, frankly the 91 later Impala was butt ugley, BUT, heh, heh, heh, the WAS one you could live with, the station wagon. SS conversions are abundant, and when the RIGHT one crosses the auction line I probably will spring for one, got a buddy looking for one too. Had a MINT 1995 woodgrain go by me a couple of months ago, all it needed was the 15x7/ 15x8 Torque Thrusts from my Xtreme and it woulda been a looker. Unfortunately it went for $5000, and I'm cheap. Also reworking a 1995 350 into a muscle car engine also costs big money, and it's a SOB to work on (do it once and do it right). That said,

2004 SS will run better than that 9C, or an SS, and if you dick with the RWD let me do similar mods to a 04. just pointing out, UP TO A POINT, the new one isn't a complete dog.

GM had the choice, convert ARlington to pickups, big profits, or build a new plant. rather than expand the RWD line to include those two cars pictured AND a El Camino (I sat by one, a concept car, a couple of years ago at a GM display at the Daytona Turkey Rod Run, TONS of people asking me about it, GM took the easy was out and GAVE the RWD market to Ford. Stupid, ignorant, a MISTAKE bar none, but they did it, it's done, scream at them and it MAY get them to THINK. But I doubt it.

GM does STUPID things.