GM should learn a lesson from Harley Davidson. When HD was on the ropes and came ever so close to shutting down, once they got some financial backing from Wall Street, Willie G. and his pals put on their leathers and went to Biker Rally after Biker Rally and formed what is now H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) and met with many of the actual bikers to better understand what the actual bikers wanted in their motorcycles. Then they set about designing and building good quality motorcycles that the people who rode them actually wanted. After some help from the government in the form of tarrifs on the rice burners from Japan, HD started seeing great sales and a return of owner loyalty. They eventually went to the government and ASKED, yes asked, the government to remove the tarrifs on the Japanese motorcycles because they knew they had turned the corner. For those of us who ride, we know there is nothing like riding a good Harley, and we are as fiercely loyal to them as we are the 1st gen Camaros. The proof is in the stock performance of HD over the last 15 years. Now look at all the bike mfgs trying to copy the Harley with their version of the V Twin. While they make a good quality bike for the most part, and they are less expensive than the Harley, people spend more money and are willing to go on waiting lists to get their rides because the others just aren't a Harley.
Has anyone seen a GM rep that has design input at the corporate level at any car show, cruise in or club meeting asking us what we wanted in a new Camaro? I am just a newbie and may be mis-informed but I would be surprised if that has happened. Yet, the CEO of GM and President of Chevrolet and the other higher level decision makers make how many millions each year because they are so smart? Maybe a taste of humble pie is needed there. Unfortunately that piece of pie may be the down fall of what was once a great company with fierce owner loyalty just like HD. A look at some of the entries in this thread show people talking good about Mustangs. That is definitely the car lover coming out in us, but who would have thunk it, Camaro owners talking good about Mustangs
I wonder if any GM marketing types or managers and decision makers even monitor this site to get input? Geez, that way they wouldn't even have to take their ties off and put their martinis down, and definitely wouldn't have to get grease under their well manicured fingernails, or horror pf horrors, actually have to talk to a "Commoner". Too bad it has come to this. The proof is in the pudding. My grocery getter is a Toyota Avalon. It is a great car and has 140,000 miles on it. I intend to drive it to 250,000 just so I can pay for my 1968 RS SS. If GM offered a comparable car in quality and price I would gladly drive that, but sadly they just do not have such a beast.
