View Full Version : Scott Settlemire on the recent Camaro news


OverAnxious
Jan 10th, 09, 03:50 PM
This was posted by Scott on www.5thgen.org this week:

....sorry but we're putting the final touches on NAIAS so I was not able to get on the site for the past couple of days -- but I started to read thru the IDL thread -- and DEAR GOD there is WAY too much mis-information out there.

Thoughts:

1. The one month delay is to bring you the BEST POSSIBLE Camaro ever....Let me assure you that the 'easy' thing to do would be to build the car -- get your money -- and then have you bring the cars back for 'little dissatisfiers' -- which, in reality would be upsetting to most people that they had to take a new car back for service -- .......and we are NOT willing to do that. The Camaro team feels that we need to sweat every detail on this car so that you will be completely satisfied at delivery - but MORE importantly -- you'll still have that grin on your face years after delivery.

BELIEVE ME - no one wants to 'delay' a start-up -- but we are doing this in YOUR interest as well as ours. (.....we could use the money right now....but it isn't worth it to ignore little nuances that need to be addressed.......)

2. We are NOT focusing only on V6s. We understand -- and frankly, are blessed -- that we have so many Camaro enthusiasts that have turned this car into a lifestyle -- (and some might say: addiction!)

Now for a personal comment: whomever feels we don't care about enthusiasts is living in a vacuum.
I could list for hours the things we have done to involve our valued enthusiasts in everything about this car........from electing "the 12 disciples of which there are 15" to sharing information about this car LONNGGGGGGGGGG before we -- or any other manufacturer -- has done ....EVER........

I have personally put in thousands of hours of my own time to keep the community together -- and to try and keep the faith within the community. I don't expect anyone to thank me -- or to 'cowtow' to me -- I chose to do it because, like you, I LOVE THE CAMARO -- and it was -- and is -- the right thing to do.......but when I hear someone say "GM doesn't care about us" I get a *bit upset*......

We ARE going to provide each dealer with a new Camaro -- for many reasons: We want people to come in and sit in the car -- to drive the car -- to fall in love with the car -- and to order the car of their dreams -- and we're doing it with the V6 car because we KNOW that a large percentage of our enthusiasts want a V8 engine -- so rather than build a 'stock' V8 -- we'll build V6s for stock -- and build V8s to get you your 'sold' order as soon as we can.

I know for a fact that many dealers have asked us to build them a 'stock' car so that they can have a "Camaro Celebration" with their local Camaro clubs. And -- it's no surprise that most of these cars will be Silver -- because, you see -- the Silver Concept blew people away --even people who would never normally consider a Camaro as their 'car of choice' -- and the production car is a dead ringer to the concept --......

.....oh - by the way -- CAFE will play a role in future years of the Camaro -- but right now, we're safe.......

We are not **completely stupid** -- we KNOW how badly you want your new Camaros -- and it's our intent to do whatever we can to get them to you ASAP -- BUT - we won't ship cars until we're confident that we've taken care of any outstanding issue.

Now -- I must warn you -- John, Cheryl and I are going to be tied up with NAIAS for the next several days -- so we won't be able to come onto this site at will and answer your questions - and if the thread goes to a couple of hundred posts -- I won't be able to read 'em all.......

What I would simply ask you to do is know that:

>We are BLESSED to have you as a Camaro Enthusiast
>We want your new Camaro to be the best car you've ever owned..
>We only wish we could see the grins on your collective faces the first time you get behind the wheel -- turn the key -- and drive at a *lively pace* out of the dealership.
>We are working long into the night to address any issues that we feel need to be addressed before shipping new Camaros to you.
>We want to sell as many Camaros as possible -- because that allows us to work on a 6th gen........but to do that, we also know that the car has to appeal to more than just enthusiasts -- and that's where the V6 comes into play.......


Thanks for your continued patience -- I think you'll find the wait was more than worthwhile..........

:cool:

nashcar
Jan 10th, 09, 06:29 PM
Nice words, very straight forward with no sugar coating.

yellow69RS
Jan 10th, 09, 08:17 PM
Nice words, very straight forward with no sugar coating.
Seems like that kind of guy. He came to our table at the Indy F car gathering to apologize for the lousy service by the caterers.

Jeff

OverAnxious
Jan 10th, 09, 08:41 PM
Nice words, very straight forward with no sugar coating.

Sounds like Scott :D

DOUG G
Jan 11th, 09, 06:12 AM
Sounds like a straight talker....time will tell, as will production :yes:

Joe Harrison
Jan 11th, 09, 11:11 AM
I think built to order V-8 will be a great idea. You get what you want and not what some dealer thinks you need or don't need. Worth the wait if your buying one. As for the v-6, I bet it's good performer and will keep the car alive.

Jack Eggers
Jan 11th, 09, 01:31 PM
Scott,
FYI, I've replied a few times on the New Camaro in this and other forums under the same name.

I applaud your support to the Camaro community. Your track record leaves no doubt that you've dedicated a huge amount of energy to both the sport and your company. Your posts on multiple sites show that for both sides (personal and corporate) you've repeatedly and consistently weathered the storms over the introductory "New Camaro" years and that you personally are the primary spokesmodel to the performance/sport/excitment audience.

It's difficult from the enthusiust community perspective to identify what comments we've made over the developmental years that have affected the new Camaro design and, more importantly, the options. What is clear is that the 2010 Camaro exists in large part because of your persisent and consistent (that word again) efforts to find out what the Legacy Camaro community wants and then to successfully communicate/advocate those consumer desires to your company.

Thanks

67SS&99SS
Jan 13th, 09, 10:53 PM
I've met Scott at the f-body gathering in Atlanta a few years ago and he is a real nice guy. I had some questions about the Camaro program and he took about 10 minutes of his time to answer the questions I had. That meant a lot to me. He signed my fourth gen that day too. :D

http://people.clemson.edu/~jaander/Images/DSC02585.JPG


I got a chance to see him again this past year when he brought the silver prototype down to the f-body gathering. The entire time I was at the show on Saturday, he was in there with the car answering everyone's questions about it. The car is awesome and I can't wait to see it in the showrooms!

captcanuck68
Jan 13th, 09, 11:10 PM
Sounds like a straight talker....time will tell, as will production :yes:


You got that right, Doug.:thumbsup: Your words reminded me of a quote that Henry Ford made many years ago..."Quality means doing it right when no one is looking".

capt

kencar69
Jan 14th, 09, 05:18 AM
So when is the release date for the Camaro?